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  Hot Rod Jim's Chassis Shop

        Hot Rod Jim has sold the design of the TriFive Frames to Nerd Rods. Please check out their site for more information about their chassis offerings. www.NerdRods.com. The Nerd Rods version even comes in a Weld it Yourself Kit.

        Hot Rod Jim’s C4 Z06 chassis uses the best of the C4 Corvette suspension and combines it with the C6 Z06 Brakes. The C4 Z06 uses the early model C4 rearend and the late model C4 front suspension. The early model C4 rearend has the same geometry as the late model C4 rearend. The rearend uses the drum style E-brake similar to the C5 and C6 Corvette brake systems. This allows you to use the stock C4 E-brake system on your car without costly add-on components. The suspension is then modified to accept the 2006+ Z06 Calipers and Rotors.  In keeping with the Z06 spirit we use the late model corvette suspension found on our “Grand Sport”. This suspension gives you the best geometry to achieve top performance on your car without the costly modifications. 

Click to Enlarge

        The brake system for the Grand Sport is a pair of 13 inch front rotors with twin piston calipers, and a pair of 12 inch rear rotors with single piston calipers. We upgrade all of the late model calipers to the 96”Grand Sport Calipers with Corvette logos cast into the calipers as part of the Grand Sport package.

        Since the package has a great set of brakes why not have a comfortable ride you can easily adjust for the track.

        The improved handling of the Grand Sport suspension wih the adjustability of the Air Ride Shockwaves results in a breath taking driving experiance. If you’re looking for a solid combination of handling, braking, comfort, and a wide selection of wheels then this is the chassis for you.

The C4 Z06 Rolling Rolling Chassis Air Ride

Frame

Front Suspension

Rear Suspension

  • Hot Rod Jims C4 Frame
  • Black Powder coating
  • 11 gauge gusseted boxed tubing  
  • Transmission cross member
  • Motor and transmission mounts
  • 1988-1996 Corvette front suspension
  • Aluminum Dual Arms – Refinished in Silver
  • New Polyurethane  Bushings
  • Power Rack and Pinion rebuilt by AC Delco
  • New tie rod ends
  • Black Powder coated suspension cradle
  • 2 Air Ride Technologies Shockwaves
  • C6 Z06 Front Brakes
    • 6 Piston Aluminum Calipers
    • Red with White Corvette logo
    • 14” Drilled, vented front Rotors
    • HRJ custom brake adapter
  • 1985-1987 Corvette rear suspension
  • All aluminum suspension components– Refinished in Silver
  • New half shaft U-Joint
  • HRJ adjustment system – Powder coated Black
  • New Polyurethane Bushings
  • Dana 36 Differential with 3.08 Gears (good for automatic transmissions)
  • 2 Air Ride Technologies Shockwaves
  •  C6 Z06 Rear Brakes
    • 4 Piston Aluminum Calipers
    • Red with White Corvette logo
    • 13.6” Drilled, vented front Rotors
    • HRJ custom brake and rotor modification
    • C4 Corvette E-Brake

Options & Upgrades

Air Rail

        The air rail is where we take your fame and seal 1 or 2 of the out side frame rails to make the air tank for your air ride system. This removes the tanks from your trunk and with the compressors mounted under the car on the frame rail. You will remove the vibration of the compressors and almost any noise that would normally vibrate into the cabin of the car by the system. One rail becomes a 3 gallon tank. We suggest more tank for bigger cars and a faster rise time.


Level Ride MAX System 4800 Series

        The Level Ride's 4800 system is Air Ride’s fastest recovering system with the most take storage available. It offers the fastest rise times and the quickest recovery times. This kit has 2 5 gallon tanks and 2 compressors requiring more room for installation. This system would be a better Idea for customers with bigger heavier car or higher load compactly that will need air compensation, wagons, 4 doors, nomads. This kit comes with compressors, tanks, air lines, sensors, electrical systems, computers, and cables you’ll need to have air ride on your car. Click here to see more information about Air Ride’s Level Ride System.



Level Ride System 4000 Series

        The Level Ride 4000 system is the smallest system offered for the Level Ride series of systems. The 4000 has less compressors and less tank storage as well as smaller lines than the other systems. This system is ideal for a car not designed to go up and down quickly. This system is better on room but will also level the car out just like the bigger system. This system also comes with compressors, tanks, air lines, sensors, electrical systems, computers, and cables you’ll need to have air ride on your car. Click here to see more information about Air Ride’s Level Ride System.



Brake Lines

        Braided stainless steel flex lines and steel hard lines installed on your chassis. Because of the extra pistons on the Z06 calipers there are special lines required for this chassis.


Dana 44 Upgrade

        This will upgrade your rear suspension to the heavy Dana 44 differential.  The Dana 44’s change in price with market demand. Please call for current pricing.


Sport Kit

        The sport adds components to improve the handling characteristics of the car. Without drastically increasing the price

  • Front 24mm sway bar
    • Powder coated
  • Urethane bushings
  • Rear 19mm sway bars
    • Powder coated
  • Urethane bushings
  • Chromalloy Teflon coated end links
  • Adjustable 4 bars

Air Ride SS Kit

        Our Air Ride Super Sport kit is designed to take out the last links of deflection and give you unparallel feedback and ultimate in handling response for your shoe box. The Sport kit is first installed on the frame. Then the Single adjustable Shockwaves and urethane bushing are removed. We replace those with Air Ride’s Dual Adjustable Shockwave with bearing ends. The front sway bar is further upgraded to aid in faster weight transfer. The SS kit shows its best potential when crossed with minor body modifications. Please see the Upgrades page here for more information.

  • Front 30mm sway bar
    • Powder coated
  • Urethane bushings
  • Rear 19mm sway bars
    • Powder coated
  • Urethane bushings
  • Chromalloy Teflon coated end links
  • Adjustable 4 bars
  • Air Ride’s Dual Adjustable Shockwave
    • Bearing mounts

C4-Z06 Rolling Chassis W/Air Ride FAQ


Wheel and Tire Information

        Hot Rod Jim recommends a 245mm wide front tire (9.6 inches) and 275mm wide rear tire (10.8 inches) will fit the lease effort and are a common size tire. To allow for more tire clearance you can roll the outer fenders and quarters for bigger tires. The Stage 5 Z06 Brakes requires a minum wheel size of 18 inches tall to clear the brake calipers.

Differential Power Rating

        The C4 corvettes came with two different differentials, the Dana 36 and the Dana 44. The Dana 36 came behind the automatic Corvettes from 1984 until 1996 and the manual Corvettes in 1984. The Dana 44 came in the manual corvettes from 1985- 1996. The Dana 44 has a bigger case with beefier gears and better yokes, and a heaver bat wing. We are running a Dana 36 with our Black Widow project with 3.73 gears, LS1 and a T56 6 speed. We are actively trying to break it with weekly road racing and the use of the car as a daily driver.

Transmission Notes

        The 4L80 automatic transmission and T56 manual transmission will require minor floorboard modification to keep them up between the frame rails.

 

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