The new chassis finally arrived!

[John Mcgraw]

Freight truck pulls up to my dock at work today, and unloads my new SRIII chassis for the 65. Yipiee! Mike was a couple of weeks late with it, but it was worth the wait. Hauled it home tonight and put it out in the shop. Boy, I am really going to have to get motivated to get the 59 done and over into the other garage to make room for the 65 project! I went ahead and paid the adder to have the chassis TIG welded, and it was money well spent. The 59 chassis looked nice but the mig welds were not near as nice looking as the 65! For anyone who is considering one of their chassis, opt for the C5 front suspension. I have 5 more total inches of engine room on the new chassis over the old C4 one that I used on the 59. I may even be able to get a low-mount alternator and A/C compressor squeezed in on the 65!

http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?folder_id=1342584

Regards, John McGraw

 

[IH2LOSE]

Wow


another work of art. the rear cross member looks different then that of one I have allready seen.Did you request it like that for excaust or I guess he made a slight change.

I sure could use a couple of extra inches my self,I am trying to fit a low mount march system on the 62 and may not clear the front sway bar.

John good luck I do have to say you have to be insane to be collecting parts for the 65 when the 59 is not finished yet. With all you probably learned from the 59 build this one should be out of control.Allthough you have set the bar real high with the 59.

You know I just recently learned what this smiley means

:BOW

I sincerley mean it.

For sure I will be in your area this January I am inviting myself to your place to play around with you. I keep you posted as we get closer

 

[richscorvettes]

John,

Glad your new chassis arrived. It sure seems like you need less of a breather in between projects than I do.

I've also looked at the increased space available for mounting the A/C unit in the stock location. But, from the test fit we did of a bare LS1 block, it looks like the motor mount adapters could be the in the way if you used the small block motor mounts on the frame. It might clear though if the C5 Vette "donut" style mounts were used.

Rich

 

[studiog]

John, congrats on the new chassis. You guys are giving me resto rod fever.

 

[John Mcgraw]

Larry,
I had the exhaust holes in the trans crossmember, moved outboard a little to allow better pipe fit, and increased in size a little. The rearmost crossmember is a stock reproduction C2 crossmember.

 

[John Mcgraw]

Thanks Rich,

The motor mounts look as though they might be a problem, but if there is any way that I can use a low mount A/C and alternator, I will!

 

[firstgear]

John, I see that the frame came not painted......what kind of prep work dod you need to do for that before you either have it wet painted or powder painted? I heavily leaning to the tube frame and will want to get it powder coated. I have access to a powder paint booth and oven......is the frame good enough as is to allow some phosphate washing and then on to powder painting or what?

Herb

 

[John Mcgraw]

Herb,

I don't think that any powdercoat operation would paint the chassis without blasting it first. I have not decided whether I will use paint of powdrcoat on this one, but I will blast it prior to coating. I am lucky enough to have a large lot that I can drag out the pot blaster without annoying the neighbors too much!
I have a lot of little brackets and nutserts to install in the chassis prior to applying the finish. I painted my 59 chassis way too soon, and was constantly welding or drilling on the freshly painted chassis.

Regards, John McGraw

 

[John Mcgraw]

Larry,

You know that you are allways welcome in my shop. Mi casa su casa!

 

[wapaugh]

Yikes, John...two projects going at the same time! Don't know how you do it. Good to see you've taken delivery - that means mine is 1 step closer to the fabrication line. I followed your advice and ordered the C5 front, but I went with the Stage II option and should be able to roll it home. Which reminds me... was it expensive to ship? I had been planning on driving up to get mine

Anyway, congrats and can't wait to see what you have planned for 65.

Wes

 

[richscorvettes]

Thanks Rich,

The motor mounts look as though they might be a problem, but if there is any way that I can use a low mount A/C and alternator, I will!

John, while the stock location mount might not work I wonder if the low mounted A/C setup from S & P would move the compresser far enough forward to clear the mount.

Rich

 

[RugHead]

Wow. That's cool.

As a friend told me last weekend, "Dwelling on all your unfinished projects seems to be hampering your ability to start new ones."

That frame sure is food for thought...

 

[John Mcgraw]

Rich,

That was kind of what I was thinking as well. A small Sanden compressor and some of S&P's brackets are probably just the ticket. The nice thing about buying from Mark, is that if it doesn't fit, he will take it back and send you something else!
I went through 3 different power steering pump brackets before I ended up with something that mounted the pump where the hoses exited at the correct angle.
People ***** about their prices, but their customer service is first-class.
Let me know if you get yours fitted up before I do, so I don't have to reinvent the wheel!

Regards, John McGraw

 

[maxrevs85]

If the chassis is rust free as in new like yours , they chemicaly clean it before powdercoating. blasting is only neccessaruy when it has old, rusty. We had a change in color on our chassis from black to a metalic silver . It was cleaned and scotchbrighted and coated.
Awesome chassis by the way.

 

[firstgear]

If the chassis is rust free as in new like yours , they chemicaly clean it before powdercoating. blasting is only neccessaruy when it has old, rusty. We had a change in color on our chassis from black to a metalic silver . It was cleaned and scotchbrighted and coated.
Awesome chassis by the way.

any pictures?????

 

[67HEAVEN]

John,

You have amazing projects going on. Two at a time would wear me out completely.

Your garage must be air-conditioned in that Texas sun.

 

[maxrevs85]

It was a tubular race chassis. Not sure if we photograghed or not . I will check.