It seems like Jerry Dixey barely had time to let the '09 Road Tour car cool off and it was time to start building his ride for next year-and what a ride it will be. For 2010, the leader of the pack known as the Road Tourians will be driving a Shadow Rods XL27 roadster pickup on the AMSOIL/STREET RODDER Road Tour.
Jon Hall is a successful businessman, a perfectionist, and a hot rodder who has always loved T roadsters. All these elements combined and the result was the formation of Shadow Rods and the production of the XL27; a redesigned '27 T roadster that is 3 inches taller, has 4-inch longer doors and passenger compartment, and fits a '32 frame.
The new body is made from 19-gauge galvanized steel and has a stamped inner structure, stainless steel door hinges, bear claw door latches, and 11-gauge upper and lower seat supports. Available in a variety of configurations, the XL27 can be built as a lakes modified, pickup, or a stock-style trunk may be added. We'll take a close look at these bodies soon, but for now we're going to concentrate on the frames for these cars.
All the Shadow Rods frames are based on four-piece, 11-gauge, stamped 'rails that are boxed with 10-gauge steel after assembly. The traditional frames feature a C-channel X-member, Model A front crossmember, and notches in the rear are available for low cars. Another option is the LRHC (low ride-high caliber) chassis that has a kickup in the rear and a tubular crossmember.
To make building a quality street rod easy and affordable Shadow Rods offers several different roller packages from cool-looking highboys to classy full-fendered versions with lakes modified and roadster pickups in the mix as well. Follow along as we build one of these unique cars for the AMSOIL/STREET RODDER Road Tour 2010.
Jon Hall's Shadow Rods offers...
Jon Hall's Shadow Rods offers the XL27 in a variety of forms-full fendered or highboy-lakes modified, roadster pickup, or with a turtle deck. No other body offers the versatility of the XL27.
The '10 Road Tour car will...
The '10 Road Tour car will be a pickup on an LRHC Shadow Rods chassis. The front sections of the two-piece side 'rails are available in three different configurations and there are four for the rear.
Here are three of the options...
Here are three of the options for the rear portion of the frame; which is used depends on the body style and the ride height.
Our roadster pickup will use...
Our roadster pickup will use curved rear framerails that follow the contour of the body. An inner reinforcement adds strength to the kickup.
The two-piece 'rails are designed...
The two-piece 'rails are designed to fit together with a 1/8-inch gap to facilitate a "root pass" when welding them together.
Inside the 'rails a fishplate...
Inside the 'rails a fishplate is welded in place to reinforce the splice.
The finished weld will be...
The finished weld will be smoothed and be undetectable-additional reinforcement is gained by boxing the 'rails.
Due to the car's low stance,...
Due to the car's low stance, the radius rods have be attached to the middle of the 'rails for proper geometry. The first step to doing so is to cut an opening with a hole saw.
Special pockets in the 'rails...
Special pockets in the 'rails mount the radius rods tighter to the frame for increased tire clearance when turning and also allow the steering gear to be closer to the cowl.
An abrasive wheel was used...
An abrasive wheel was used to cut the straight portions of the openings for the radius rod mounts.
The pockets are mounted from...
The pockets are mounted from inside the 'rails and then welded in place.
With the radius rod mounts...
With the radius rod mounts in place, the boxing plates are installed. Note the rolled edge on the access hole for the radius rod nut-typical of the attention to detain found on all Shadow Rods components.
Shadow Rods unique one-piece...
Shadow Rods unique one-piece die-stamped seven-gauge steel front crossmember has 6 degrees of caster built in.
Without conventional U-bolts...
Without conventional U-bolts the front crossmember can be flat, which helps get our Road Tour roadster pickup close to the ground where it belongs.
The bottom plate of Shadow...
The bottom plate of Shadow Rods unique spring retainer is held in place by two bolts and tabs that index in slots.