1955 Chevy Bel Air Project - Shoebox Structure

Back at the front, these support tabs are tacked on. They bolster the engine mounting bolt tube so it can handle anything mounted to it. The special radius design of the mount was done so that the weight of the engine will cancel out the inward pressure exerted on the frame by other parts of the vehicle and chassis, improving handling, balance, and adding to the chassis’ already robust strength.

With all of the crossmembers, body, and suspension mounts set, the next step is to finish weld all those pieces, then hose the entire assembly down with paint before finally assembly of the suspension, brake, and steering components.

Here's what the typical front suspension will look like on a Fatman Tri-Five chassis. Customers can either specify QA1 adjustable coilovers, or RideTech components. The control arms are Fatman's own in-house design that feature strength and construction equivalent to the chassis they're mounted on. The standard spindles used are a Mustang II design that determines the brake application. If customers want additional drop over standard, other spindle options are available. For brakes, Fatman recommends Wilwood Engineering, but anything that fits the Mustang II spindle can be used.

The rack-and-pinion for the Fatman chassis is an improved Mustang II design that offers a quick ratio and superior steering. This is a "stock" unit, so if you ever have a rack failure, you can easily obtain a replacement at your local parts store without issue.

We mentioned before the fully adjustable four-link suspension with Z-bar and coilover shocks. The only modifications required to the body will be a small revision of the left rear trunk floor for proper clearance of the upper coilover/ShockWave mount, and an aftermarket fuel tank in order to provide proper clearance for full suspension travel. Those two small mods allow a 5-inch stroke coilover to fit for extra suspension travel over the more commonly used 4-inch units.

Here's what the finished chassis looks like, ready to have a classic Tri-Five body bolted to it.