1956 Ford F-100 - Truckin' Magazine

What do you do when a successful road racer like Boris Said and a chassis engineer, Rob Macgregor, get together to build a truck? That's the story behind No Limit Engineering's new BIG 10 Chassis.

You say that you don't know who Boris Said is? Well, he's better known as the "road course ringer" to his NASCAR Sprint Cup competitors, with SCCA wins at the 24 hours of Daytona, the 12 hours of Sebring, and many NASCAR Truck series wins. He really knows what it takes to drive anything hard and fast. The same goes for Rob Macgregor. A newbie by no means, Rob has been "El Jefe" at No Limit Engineering for more than 25 years designing, building, and torturing classic pickups every day.

When Boris decided to build a '56 Ford F-100 for himself, they sat down to hammer out the details of what would be required to make a truck really work, something that is fast enough to take on a sports car, strong enough to dish out a butt whooping, and comfortable on the highway during long haul cruises to the track, or a coffee shop run down by the coast.

With a clean sheet of paper, the guys set out to cure some of the common problems owners face when attempting to "modernize" a classic pickup. Trucks are known for ill handling, poor brake performance, and horrible steering woes. To their credit, classic trucks were designed as "tractors with doors" and never meant to out-corner a sports car.

The answer is what you see in front of you. The first thing you see when looking at the BIG 10 is the size of everything. Engineered in sections, the weight is now properly placed towards the center of the truck, where it's needed most. In doing so, this balances the weight of the vehicle disbursing load over both axles rather than having a "light" rear end. The name itself comes from the size of the center section of the chassis, a full 10-inch-tall framerail is designed from channel and not box tubing. To cure the "flex," a massive X-member was engineered into the center section.

Out back, the theme of re-routing weight to the center of the chassis is easy to spot. The axle travels through the frame rather than under the frame, again, transferring weight back to where it's most needed. The same goes for the front section. Utilizing the Wide Ride IFS from No Limit's "Pro Tech" chassis, improvements were made in weight transfer during heavy G loads while pushing the truck through the paces. All of this has been achieved maintaining the stock wheelbase requirements and engine/transmission mount locations, ensuring that the truck's sheetmetal and factory items do not need modifications.

Now I know what you're thinking, "Does it fit under my truck, and how heavy is it?" Surprise, it's available for Ford F-1, F-100 through 1956, Chevy 1/2-ton pickups '47 through '59 and is engineered to fit under both Ford and Chevy applications without modifications, and will sit lower than any stock chassis. Further, the channel design of the frame doesn't add any more weight than a stock chassis. Even better, the components that are required to build a chassis are computer documented, and manufactured for the home hobbyist to install using handtools and a drill motor. This is a zero-fab chassis!

Here's a look at the meat and potatoes of the front independent wishbone suspension. The Wide-Ride front crossmember is fabricated first before dropping it into the frame jig.
Here's a look at the meat and potatoes of the front independent wishbone suspension. The W
If the meat and potatoes are the front crossmember, then the center-section is the heart. The X-member transfers load while cornering, and makes the frame rigid.
If the meat and potatoes are the front crossmember, then the center-section is the heart.
Each chassis is CNC laser cut and welded by hand one at a time in the Big 10 Chassis jig. The wide stance of the Big 10 appears massive, but the use of channel material rather than box material saves on weight, and in turn eliminates flex throughout the chassis during heavy G load situations.
Each chassis is CNC laser cut and welded by hand one at a time in the Big 10 Chassis jig.

Here, you can see where the provisions for the brake system, exhaust system, and transmission mounting points have been carefully thought out and implemented for each chassis. Everything bolts together and can be assembled in your garage.
Here, you can see where the provisions for the brake system, exhaust system, and transmiss
The pieces are set into the BIG 10's jig and are hand-welded. Here, Joe lays down some "Sexy weld beads" on another BIG 10 Chassis.
The pieces are set into the BIG 10's jig and are hand-welded. Here, Joe lays down some "Se
The rear section of the BIG 10 was designed to transfer the weight back towards the front of the truck. How did they do it? First by maintaining a connection of the framerails allowing the rear axle to travel in the frame and not under it. Because of this, G load is re-routed back towards the front by keeping the rear of the truck's frame rigid. Also, the trailing arms change the instant center of weight balance forward. The end result is a truck chassis that hooks-up and holds corners like that guy in a Camaro wishes he could!
The rear section of the BIG 10 was designed to transfer the weight back towards the front

Here's a fully welded frame in the raw ready to be sent out to its new home. Since the chassis' are zero-fab, they can be sent out to powdercoat as an upgrade and shipped to your door via truck freight.
Here's a fully welded frame in the raw ready to be sent out to its new home. Since the cha
Back from the powdercoater, the cab and the engine bolt on with ease in the first hour or so.
Back from the powdercoater, the cab and the engine bolt on with ease in the first hour or
Here's a look at the rear of the truck. The No Limit fuel tank and drop-out battery box fit nicely behind the rear axle providing weight balance to the rear of the truck.
Here's a look at the rear of the truck. The No Limit fuel tank and drop-out battery box fi

This application called for Wilwood rear disc setup and a "floating" 9-inch rear axle. Note how the axle travels through the frame. Don't worry, it won't drag on anything, the framerails hug the axlehousing just enough to give it enough clearance to drive with, but doesn't hang down to get things stuck on it.
This application called for Wilwood rear disc setup and a "floating" 9-inch rear axle. Not
Take a look at how clean that 392ci Ford Racing small-block looks in the BIG 10 Chassis. Proper header clearance has been addressed, and even a partnership with Gibson Performance Exhaust has been created to have a ready-made exhaust system shipped to your door along with your new chassis. Once again, these guys thought of everything.
Take a look at how clean that 392ci Ford Racing small-block looks in the BIG 10 Chassis. P
Years of R&D went into these spindles engineered at No Limit Engineering. Correct steer geometry has been achieved as the result, benefiting the driver. Correct Ackerman and a better turn radius make up just some of the features of using these spindles.
Years of R&D went into these spindles engineered at No Limit Engineering. Correct steer ge

An assembled look at the front suspension allows you to see the simplicity of the optional Shockwave air spring and the mounting point of the anti sway bar. Also shown, the front frame was notched for extended tie-rod end travel. The Wilwood brakes are an option with the Big 10 chassis.
An assembled look at the front suspension allows you to see the simplicity of the optional
Out on the track, this F-100 has proven itself as capable as the driver by winning several Goodguy's Autocross Challenges and coming in Second Place in Truckin's inaugural THROWDOWN performance truck shootout.
Out on the track, this F-100 has proven itself as capable as the driver by winning several
This chassis allows room for a massive rear wheel and tire combo. Seen here on Rob's track truck, he bolted on 18x11-inch Intro wheels and wrapped them in BFGoodrich tires sized 345/40R18. These will fill your wheelwells just fine.
This chassis allows room for a massive rear wheel and tire combo. Seen here on Rob's track

With the fenders and hood off, you can see how simple everything fits and how well the overall package works with this chassis.
With the fenders and hood off, you can see how simple everything fits and how well the ove
Now that you're armed with the knowledge to make your classic truck perform and handle better than it ever has, it's up to you to get out and push the limits. Rob's F-100 is tough competition, but then again, that was the point.
Now that you're armed with the knowledge to make your classic truck perform and handle bet