Project American Heroes Chassis Build - 1957 Chevy Convertible Project

Major components of the SSBC four wheel disc brake kit for Project American Heroes include 13-inch front and 12-inch rear rotors. SSBC also includes their pre-assembled internal parking brake, three piston "Tri-Power" calipers, adjustable proportioning valve, and all the necessary flexible lines and attaching hardware.

The SSBC 13-inch rotors are vented for cooling and consistent braking. Heidt's tubular control arms look great and incorporate factory ball joints.

The SSBC rotors incorporate attractive, curved "Turbo Slots" which are CNC-machined and provide much needed airflow to both cool and clean the rotor. The slots do not harm or compromise the integrity of the rotor.

Flaming River is the source for the power rack-and-pinion steering for Project American Heroes. Steering is precise, quick, and responsive, with a night-and-day difference in road feel.

Flaming River front mount rack-and-pinion steering can incorporate either a stock column or an aftermarket column. Heidt's front sway bar is also laid out with the rack.

In Phil Gerber's words, the Flaming River rack-and-pinion steering and Heidt's Superide II IFS, "... make the Tri-Five Chevys handle like sports cars."

Project American Heroes transfers power to the ground via a Moser Engineering's Fab 9 rear, a high-strength, high-quality fabricated housing and spinning Moser 33 spline axles. Moser Engineering is the premier supplier of rear differentials for almost any application. Known for their speedy, high-quality service, they build not only outstanding rear differentials for racing, but they also assemble stout rears for hot rods and high-performance street cars.

The Roadster Shop crew welds the brackets to the Moser Fab 9 rear to accommodate the Heidt's four-bar rear suspension. The rear is then mounted to the Air Ride Shockwaves and upper and lower control arms.

SSBC 12-inch rear rotors are fitted to the Moser rear. The SSBC Internal Parking Brake uses stainless steel components, demonstrating the high commitment to safety and engineering. Later in the assembly process, Lokar handle and cables will actuate the parking brake.

Classic Tube provided the brake lines for Projection American Heroes. As they say in their ads, they are "Bent on Perfection." "Thru Frame" fittings are used to allow the lines to attach at the inside of the framerails at the four corners, and exit on the outside of the rails. Lines are protected from bending around the rails, resulting in a slick installation.

The Moser Fab 9 rear is now looking good, with the Air Ride Shockwaves holding it in place. Heidt's Triangulated Four Link incorporates stainless control arms, urethane bushings, and the rear sway bar mounted on the rear crossmember.

Rock Valley Antique Auto Parts Stainless Steel tank is set in place, and propped up to approximate location.

There will be no fuel starvation to the big-block powerplant with the 1/2-inch fuel line from Classic Tubes in place. The larger fuel line is plenty strong, requiring slightly more effort to bend than a smaller brake line. For that reason, the big boy bending tool is called into service.

The tank is carefully positioned with clearance for the filler neck and fuel line, and then fabricated brackets are TIG-welded to the Rock Valley tank.

The Roadster Shop Tri-Five Chassis looks stout, with the finest parts adorning the nearly completed chassis. Begging for the Intro wheels and Nitto tires, the soon-to-be-rolling chassis will shortly be introduced to the CARS Inc. body for some serious mockup time.