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.
