Project Description
The Gibbon by JPM Hot Rods UNI-Body benifits and features
Rigid structure
With the solid foundation of the UNI-Body structure body flex is eliminated. This equates to maintained fit and finish on body panels, no more cracked or chipped paint at seams or stress areas. It also means proper door and deck lid operation.
With a race car type structure the UNI-Body will increase the handling capabilities well above a framed car’s abilities.
Safety
With a full roll cage the UNI-Body provides substantial protection in the unfortunate event of an accident compared to a body on a frame, whether its fiberglass or steel.
Due to the steel floor and the roll cage proper anchor points are provided for seats and safety belts, including shoulder harness belts.
Cost
A UNI-Body is very similar in costs to purchasing a body on a frame, so you can get the added benefit with the same budget.
Build time will be reduced by having a steel structure to weld anchor points and for grounding the wiring.
When fully finishing the underside, paint costs will be reduced without a full frame structure to prep and finish.
Other Benefits
The UNI-Body design provides more headroom than a framed car without a chop.
The removable front subframe can be powder coated by more shops than a full frame.
Without crossmembers and having the fuel and brake lines mostly hidden the belly of the UNI-Body provides the smoothest finish possible.
The Gibbon UNI-Body by JPM Hot Rods further explained
DESIGN: Based on the uni-body design of construction and developed by Gibbon Fiberglass and is now available exclusively through JPM Hot Rods. The design has many improvements and features never before seen in the Street Rod industry. The uni-body structure is built starting with 1/4″ thick frame profile plates. They span the length of the body from front to rear just like a stock pair of frame rails. They are perpendicular to the 3/16″ thick floor plates, allowing us to place the actual floor, at any desired elevation. In this standard package example, the floor plate is dropped from the top surface of the frame profile 4″ toward the ground, where the frame and cross-members would have been. This gives our package 4″ more head room than it would have with a frame under this body. Now remember, this coupe is only chopped 3″, this means it has 1″ more headroom than a stock original 1933 Ford car. This standard dropped floor position still allows us to hide the exhaust system behind the remaining lower portion of the frame rail profile plate. Our building jig does allow us to reposition the elevation of the floor to any desired elevation, including the lowest part of the profile. This position creates a belly-pan type floor if desired. Toward the rear of the floor, it begins its upward slope to clear the rear axle and the suspension components. In this sloped area, there is sufficient clearance for a street-able pair of mufflers to be mounted. From this floor plate and rail profile structure, we anchor the complete firewall reinforcing system. The 1/4″ thick frame rail profile stops at the firewall and extends upward to the top edge. There it is welded to another 1/4″ thick plate on the surface of the fiberglass firewall that is used to bolt the front sub-frame into place. This plate is welded securely in four directions to ensure its ability to support the front and main structures of this assembly. This assembly is anchored by 6 attachment bolts on each side. The lower two critical bolts are used in a double shear configuration and all are easily removed for disassembly.
SAFETY: We anchor a complete “Race Ready” roll cage system to the fully assembled steel floor plate. This roll cage is mandrel bent from 1 3/4″ seamless roll bar tubing with .120″ thick wall. This tubing size meets standard safety certification requirements for I.H.R.A. and N.H.R.A drag-racing sanctions. This roll cage system also allows for proper anchoring of safety belts even allowing the added safety shoulder harness belts. Safety is not the only benefit to a cage structure like this one. Chassis rigidity is a major factor in the performance of any race car’s efficiency.
RIGIDITY: This complete cage and floor plate structure, is designed for rigidity, Zero body flex will be maintained by this structure, even with dramatic racing abuse. Even a brand new street rod chassis, with a tubular center-section, and fully boxed frame rails, will experience certain amount of flex. This constant flex in a street rod chassis, is very abusive to the fit and finish of a normal rod body after thousands of miles of use. Our “Zero Flex” technique, will provide you with the most durable package for the long term show car fit and finish.
EVOLUTION: This Package is the result of many years of improving the Ford Coupe that was produced at Gibbon Fiberglass Reproductions Inc. For the last 33 years. In the late 80’s they developed, with Pete and Jake’s, the Viper channeled coupe. From there they improved the design several times, from pinching the frame, to dropping the floor pan into the chassis. The ultimate build for durability was the Gibbon Fiberglass purple, flamed, Drag-racing coupe. Gibbon Fiberglass professionally raced and tested the “Zero Flex” design for 6 years, running 8.6 seconds in the quarter mile @ 160mph. This proved very successful and the door fit and finish remained perfect and withstood years of racing and aggressive door slamming.
FEATURES: Each Uni-Body package will come standard with Gibbon custom designed hidden style door hinges with hardened removable pins. This design allows for easy removal and a variety of adjustments. Also removable inner door panels to simplify window removal and door twist. Each coupe will have a functional trunk lid. All Uni-Bodies will have a fiberglass removable transmission tunnel cover, Choice of stock or smooth dash panel, and a complete set of interior garnish moldings. All of our fiberglass bodies are produced here in our facility and each body shell will be bolted and flex bonded to the roll cage and uni-body structure. Each door for every car will be hand built and fit into each unit, one at a time.
OPTIONS/UPGRADES: Options and upgrades to the body are available as listed for each body style. Other upgrades such as quick-change rears, big disc brakes, or final paint are available, but will have to be priced for you in quote form. Remember, these packages are still authentic to the original Ford cars, and most all reproduction after market parts will interchange.