Thread: My hand built Rat.. or whatever it is

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I'm way too far ahead to just to turn back on this 1.. sure it's not all perfect, and the frame ended up a little short for a paralell 4 bar.. but I'v got another plan for that, I just havn't had the time to draw it out.. I might even scrap the frame itself, and redo it. it has crossed my mind.. the cab itself is more or less where I'm focusing on.

Anyway, I got a little done today, and brought the camera..
Drivers door is built and Hung now. no latch yet

hinges are Steel Door hinges, rated for 100 LBS each. face mounted just for simplicity, there bolted solid to the interior framework

Matt.. You will NEVER get them right on your first try, And sometimes never on anyother ones..
But the KEY is to never ''NOT TRY''.. Because one day when you get old, You will say:I wish I would have tryed..
Now you can say you did.. MOST people won't try..(maybe think they can't do it) And remember some will like it, Some won't..
That's with any car you do today..
Believe me.. I have been doing this for sometime now.. And if I would have stopped because of what was said,
I wouldn't be doing this ''everyday'' Now.. Don't look back.. And keep pushing forward.. You will get there..Good luck..

This was my first try at a home made car,, (ALL GLASS).. And you know the funny part is...
I didn't even know how to mix glass.. A friend showed me how to do glass about a month are so before..
Then I went home and made this car.. WITH NO MOLD !!!




This was my second try at it.. all steel.. And you know where to find this whole build from start to finish..
And will be doing some more soon.. Don't let people stop you.. NEVER GIVE UP.. It takes balls to step out in TRY...

REMEMBER !!!!
The only person that holds you back in life is: YOURSELF !!!

Keep going, Matt. Your making good progress!

yea, I'm not giving up.. just been slow going.. once the other door is built, I will try and build a visor

Christmas update:

other door is done and hung.. couple measurements and a basic idea of what I needed to do, and with a molding square ( with the adjustable angle slider ) I figured that my visor would look right if it was 3" wide and slanted 45*.. made some triangle end plates and cut out the 3" strip and welded the end plates on.. it was then ready to be welded on

nice project. when you are done with the cab it would be nice to know how much it cost and time to compare getting an old rusted up rat body. it is defiantly one of a kind and that sometimes is a great thing even if it looks like crap to some people.

cab+ chassis is right at $800 give or take. coulda done it cheaper and gotten 1x1x16ga tubing from the steel yard, but most of that came from Lowes in 4' sections. everything else did come from the steel yard

thats not to bad. I have seen cabs for $500, but they dont come a long everyday. maybe I will consider a homemade cab for my next project. keep up the good work. it will be nice to see the finished product.

Little update sort of. I decided the old frame just wouldn't do. put the body up on jackstands and dropped the frame out from under it. then proceeded to cut it up and salvage the 2 main rails. I bought another 2 9' sections of the 2x3x 11ga a couple months ago.. New frame will utilize an almost completly factory engineered Twin I Beam front suspension/clip from a 1994 Ford Ranger.. Local Ford dealer is selling it to me removed for $200 out of 1 of his junk trucks.. the Ranger frame is 29" wide at the firewall and my orig frame was 27" wide. But I will cut the body to fit and it will look better anyway

Also hoping I can have a roller with an engine/ trans that can be test fired by may or so.. Also decided against using the 350 Chevy I have access to.. I'm going to drop $250 on an interesting engine/trans from the U pull it.. I have to watch the weight. But I'm thinking moderatly large. Certinly larger than 350 CID and probably a big block. Almost think a 413/440 from a motorhome but I know there a bit of a job to get out.. I'll find somthing tho.. just maby I'll find a 472-500 caddy

nice to see your project still rolling. I was all hot to get started on mine and ran into a few road blocks with motor trans. combos and my project hasnt been touched for a few months now. keep it rolling !!! I got a nice dodge big block and 727 in Portland, OR for you.

I'm enjoying watching your build, it shows a lot of work for sure!!
Brian

Not much to update. Frame rails cut out. Ridgid chop saw working great

That new frame should get it nice and low, Matt.


Don

yep.. ground clearence at the rockers should be around 7"... Also the rear frame rails at 4' will actually allow for a rear suspension. and a 4' bed will look more proportional to the cab