Hercules

[zzrodder]

Two days of intensive cutting, welding, grinding, (and some re-designing of ideas that didn't work) the front suspension is complete. My trailing arms are kinda chunky and industrial looking, but I want them beefy because there will be struts attached to them for the fenders, and then they will be pretty much out of sight anyways... Panhard bar keeps it centered and I mounted the front shocks from the F100, beefy ones which is good to help control the springyness of the air bags. May need to put a c-notch in the right frame rail so the drag link (don't have it yet) doesn't hit.

 

[dutch]

you should put a glass body on it. Too nice work to be hidden. And we need a worship smiley...

 

[BillM]

You make me feel so inadequate! Looks really good ZZ.

 

[I-R-POPS]

Now that's a hell of a frame/suspension. You won't have to worry about that being the weakest link in this project! Great work [cl[P

Are you going to scratch build the body? It always amazes me what you produce out of your shop.

Watching with great interest

 

[zzrodder]

Now that's a hell of a frame/suspension. You won't have to worry about that being the weakest link in this project! Great work [cl[P

Are you going to scratch build the body? It always amazes me what you produce out of your shop.

Watching with great interest

Yes, a scratch built body, similar to the Hennway - same only different This is how the Hennway looked in the raw. Hercules will have less bling and no hood - and lower.

 

[05snopro440]

Come to think of it, isn't your Hennway on a Ford pickup chassis?

I can't get enough of that truck, it's so sweet.

 

[zzrodder]

Yes it is Colin, thanks, good memory you have...

 

[soltz]

Nice work, not surprised [cl
Keeping tuned in [P

 

[Sunnybeach]

Wanted to add one additional "great work" comment. Thanks for posting the updates as you go along.

[cl
[cl
[cl

 

[zzrodder]

Put on the rotors and some wheels and
took it off the blocks - optimum altitude achieved !
Thinking of the theme song from Rawhide - "Rollin', rollin', rollin'....
Trimmed the Hercules shell a bit to get it far back as possible, had to do some minor surgery on it to fit the rad, spread the top corners apart . Fits the rad pretty well, I'll probably use an electric fan, and with a shroud, the whole assembly should hide the fugly air bags and wide crossmember fairly well.

 

[05snopro440]

Looking awesome!

I'm curious about the full fenders attached to the suspension idea. Primarily I'm looking forward to see what you have in mind to have everything connected but still allow the front and rear suspension to articulate independently or not buckle the fenders/running boards. The added unsprung weight will be interesting as well.

 

[zzrodder]

Looking awesome!

I'm curious about the full fenders attached to the suspension idea. Primarily I'm looking forward to see what you have in mind to have everything connected but still allow the front and rear suspension to articulate independently or not buckle the fenders/running boards. The added unsprung weight will be interesting as well.

It's on my mind too, I've done the cycle type fenders before but this will be more of a challenge. I may be onto something or totally bat sh*t crazy, but if you don't try, you'll never know.....

 

[05snopro440]

It's on my mind too, I've done the cycle type fenders before but this will be more of a challenge. I may be onto something or totally bat sh*t crazy, but if you don't try, you'll never know.....

It's certainly a challenge to work through. I'm curious what you can come up with, it will be awesome if you can make it work.

 

[Torchie]

[P[P[P
Torchie

 

[zzrodder]

Mounted the grille shell and rad today. I have some nice stainless mesh that I'll put in the shell, and paint that uncool aluminum radiator flat black. Also temporarily mounted a pair of KingBee headlights to get a feel for where they look best... [S I want to get some 34 Commercial lights, but they out of stock everywhere except for one pirate trying to sell them for on fleabay for $1300.00
Time to bring the engine over and start making mounts [[

 

[soltz]

WOW!![cl
??[P??

 

[zzrodder]

Back at it ,mounted the steering box, the drag link will be parallel to the tie rod at ride height.

Coming in for a landing !

Touchdown, the greasy lump has found its new home.

Made the tranny crossmember - first I shortened the F100 crossmember but found it was too bulky, didn't leave room for the exhaust to go through.

Remarkably, the fuel pump and oil filter clear the Vega box, usually one of big problems with Fords. Yet to find out how the steering shaft will interact with the headers when they come, likely to require some surgery [
Engine mounts tomorrow.

 

[Old Iron]

I see some headlights mounted too [cl
[P[P[P

 

[zzrodder]

Engine mounts done, steering shaft will fit thru no problem. Took off the exhaust manifolds, typical FE Ford, 3 of the top bolts broke, 2 had enough sticking out to get them out with the torch and a prayer. The other one needed to be drilled out, got it done, no damage. Carved off about 5 lbs. of crud off the engine/trans (maybe I should have powerwashed it before I brought it in [S) It's still a filthy beast, but it will get cleaned up later after fab work is done.
Looks like a 16" flex fan will fit, so I won't need to use an electric one - less wires and too modern looking.

 

[zzrodder]

Todays developments, shortened the driveshaft(s) from the F100, steadybearing sits nicely on a crossmember. Got most of the center structure sorted out and tacked in place.