Building a world-class '33-34 Ford chassis from the ground up is best left to the experts. We needed an undercarriage that was up to the 427ci stroker, Hilborn EFI-topped Ford engine that would power the CCT/Smith Men '34 Ford roadster pickup. SAC Hot Rod Products in Orange, California, has built numerous chassis for multiple America's Most Beautiful Roadster winners, in addition to providing chassis for past and present Ridler contenders and winners. Realizing this, we met with SAC owner Roy Davenport and talked about our plans for the topless truck. After much contemplation, we (Dan B. Smith and CCT's feature editor) decided to go with a fully independent, Kugel Komponents- equipped '34 Ford chassis, which would be built by SAC Hot Rod Products. When we found out from Roy that the 2005 Ridler-winning 36 Impression, designed and created by Foose Design, rides on a SAC frame, we were confident we made a great choice.
While photographing SAC's technicians fabricating the chassis for this tech story, we learned a great deal about the proper way to build a high-tech foundation for a very fast vintage Ford truck. At the risk of getting in trouble with CCT magazine's production department, we've run as many photos and gone into as much detail as we dare. Follow along in words and photos to find out how the experts produce an outstanding street rod/truck chassis.
 If the '34 Ford roadster pickup...  If the '34 Ford roadster pickup CCT/Smith Men project truck ends up looking as good as George Trosley's illustration, we'll be ecstatic. |  With the chassis exemplifying...  With the chassis exemplifying outstanding industrial art and engineering, it's almost a shame the body, fenders, hood, and bed are not made out of Plexiglas! |  American Stamping Corp. (ASC)...  American Stamping Corp. (ASC) provided the stamped framerails, the boxing strips, and the front and rear cross-members that weren't used, since Kugel supplied crossmembers for installing its IFS and IRS. |
 After positioning one of the...  After positioning one of the framerails in the frame jig on the horizontal plane and securing it with C-clamps, Herb heliarc tack-welded the framerail to the frame jig. |  Before he could weld the boxing...  Before he could weld the boxing strips, he checked that the framerail top and bottom were square and the correct width. To account for the width of the boxing strips, the gauge is 1 13/16-inches wide. |  Where the framerail needed...  Where the framerail needed truing, Herb used a frame-flange tool on the top and bottom to achieve a 90-degree angle the entire length. |