Thread: Describe your Rat Rod project here.

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"Hot rodding is not about BUYING a plastic body..."

my my my, now don't I feel silly. I didn't reallize I was just another traitor to the cause. Oh Well...

Originally Posted by 41willys

"Hot rodding is not about BUYING a plastic body..."

my my my, now don't I feel silly. I didn't reallize I was just another traitor to the cause. Oh Well...

I love your willy's rod. I didn't know you could get glass bodies for them! IMO one of the coolest rides around, and in glass, the light weight body with a hot engine must make your car scream!

Kolie wrote:

I am sure the "list" can be added to as well. It only takes money to pay some one to build a car for you, or to buy one already built. Real hot rodders build their own. If this offends anyone who owns a plastic easter egg, 350/350 too bad!

Not sure if I really want to dignify that comment with a response.

I think for now I will refrain like several other dignified members of this glorious site.

Dave wrote:

Seems the "if it ain't steel it ain't real" crowd is usually headed up by someone fortunate enough to have found a steel car....

Dave you can be fortunate too!!! But you got to get away from the Blue Oval attitude and start looking at Mopars, Olds, Buicks, Pontiacs, Hudsons, Nash's, Studebakers, etc, etc, etc, and all of the other previously undesired tin. Still alot of pre and post 48's available to fix up, customized and hotrod.
Even a few Blue Oval tin is still out there, just a little harder to find these days. Not many in fields anymore, at least not sitting by the highway.

This is what I have been at for over a year and getting close. It is a 34 International on a speedway frame, 454 and a turbo 400.

Looks great, I'd like to have an early or mid 30's p/u. Big motor for such a little truck too, I bet it scoots.

Here's my Rat Rod project. 1951 Ford F1 I started off with just the cab I got for $100.



It has a 2 X 3 X 3/16" T-bucket type frame. Suicide front end using a Super Bell Axle and spindles, Super slide spring, Chevy mid size front disc brakes, Speedway hairpin radius rods, Corvair reversed steering box. The rear is a coil over with Speedway hairpins, Chevy 10 bolt 3.73 posi.

The cab is chopped 4" and channeled 4". The grille is off a MInneapolis Moline Z tractor with an Aluminum radiator from Speedway. Engine 250 Chevy, Offenhauser 3 X 1 manifold with 3 Rochester Bs, home built headers and TH350.




The bed is off a 65 Chevy stepside fenders removed and shortened to 42"


The seat, steering column and wheel is out of my 50 Stude Champ and flea market upholstery kit.

I like that. I also like you put disk brakes on it. Everything doesn't need to be from the 40s to make it a cool budget rat rod.

Excellent job! Nice mix of old and new street rod parts. Thumbs up on the straight six.

That thing is looking good, I like it! What are your plans for paint? Going to leave the logo on the doors?

Originally Posted by FMXhellraiser

That thing is looking good, I like it! What are your plans for paint? Going to leave the logo on the doors?

Paints done! It's a Rat Rod! Logos stay.
I will touch up the welded areas with a faux patina.

Fibreglass, hmm, probably more fibreglass 41 Willys coupes than tin ones these days, still pretty cool to me. But how much difference is there in a store bought body and a store bought frame, or M2 suspension, or steering column. Where do you draw the line.
Personally I like old tin and building it myself but if I had the money, I would pay someone else. My welds look like crap 'cuz I can't see fer poop anymore.

DMW56,

That truck looks great. I have been thinking aout using an F1 cab for some time and you proved that it will work and look right. Excellent choice of bed too. It's the right width for the cab and lots of them out there. Love the inliner too. Nice loking grille shell. Most tractor grilles look like....well.....tractors. Yours looks good.

Tom

Allthough I dont like the term "ratrod" I know what you mean.

No paint on this bad boy.
454, auto, 9", and a bunch of other cool stuff.
A couple days away from welding up the frame.

Only used on Friday nights and full moons.

Warming the globe, one mile at a time.

A description of my rod project: standstill. I got a 36 chevy master sedan, and have gotten as far as stripping the fenders and beating out the worst of the dents. I gave up on it a while back, and tried to sell it. Turns out most people have more sense than I, and they passed on it. Well, as long as I still have it, there is hope for eventual progress.