OddTodd
New member
Newbie here looking for some chassis advice.
I'm in the very early planning stages of a COE build. I'm not ready to let the cat out of the bag just yet on what the cab is though.
The cab is really wide at 95"
I would like to have an air bagged IFS under the cab, not a beam style solid axle. The diesel engine will not be under the cab, it will instead be behind the cab. I was looking at getting a GM P series widetrack chassis from a motorhome as a possible donor for the following reasons.
The wide track width
The correct steering box orientation
Some, I believe have 10 lugs
And I THOUGHT that they utilized the same IFS suspension components as the 1ton trucks of the same era, which the air bag kits are readily available for. After asking questions on an RV forum, I was told that they do not share the same components and that parts are very hard to come by.
Back to the drawing board.
My next option (which just might be better as it would gain me a badass drivetrain) a 2007-2010 2wd 1ton GM dually with Duramax & 6spd Allison. I would then have to buy aftermarket extended upper and lower control arms and a front facing rack and pinion.
The 3rd option would be to buy a custom front clip from Scott's Hot Rods. However, this option would cost as much as the aforementioned donor dually with drivetrain and kinda gets away from the ratrod spirit of things.
One more option that I was thinking about. This build is going to have a rectangular tubing frame that will be Zee'd front and rear to "lay frame" when the bags are emptied. I suppose that instead of welding the donor ifs frame to the front ends of the rectangular tubing, I could instead weld the donor ifs frame pieces to the outside of the rectangular tubing. Effectively spreading them apart.
I welcome any feedback, thoughts, ideas and experiences.
I'm in the very early planning stages of a COE build. I'm not ready to let the cat out of the bag just yet on what the cab is though.
The cab is really wide at 95"
I would like to have an air bagged IFS under the cab, not a beam style solid axle. The diesel engine will not be under the cab, it will instead be behind the cab. I was looking at getting a GM P series widetrack chassis from a motorhome as a possible donor for the following reasons.
The wide track width
The correct steering box orientation
Some, I believe have 10 lugs
And I THOUGHT that they utilized the same IFS suspension components as the 1ton trucks of the same era, which the air bag kits are readily available for. After asking questions on an RV forum, I was told that they do not share the same components and that parts are very hard to come by.
Back to the drawing board.
My next option (which just might be better as it would gain me a badass drivetrain) a 2007-2010 2wd 1ton GM dually with Duramax & 6spd Allison. I would then have to buy aftermarket extended upper and lower control arms and a front facing rack and pinion.
The 3rd option would be to buy a custom front clip from Scott's Hot Rods. However, this option would cost as much as the aforementioned donor dually with drivetrain and kinda gets away from the ratrod spirit of things.
One more option that I was thinking about. This build is going to have a rectangular tubing frame that will be Zee'd front and rear to "lay frame" when the bags are emptied. I suppose that instead of welding the donor ifs frame to the front ends of the rectangular tubing, I could instead weld the donor ifs frame pieces to the outside of the rectangular tubing. Effectively spreading them apart.
I welcome any feedback, thoughts, ideas and experiences.
