Thread: Describe your Rat Rod project here.

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i have recently bought my 47 ford four door sedan for $600. The had a seied up flathead in it and the transmmison had the gears stripped out and the cas cracked. I have been trying to get the enclosed driveline disconnected from the tranny but it has been giving me some trouble any advise? the crossmember is cousing me probles for the lover cup bolts are un reachable by a wratchet or rench.

i am trying to make the nicest car i can.
but since i am poor.
by default it will be called a rat rod.
but there will not be one speck of rust on this entire vehicle.

In my opinion, a "Rat Rod" would have the following features:

1. A gasoline, diesel, alcohol, or nitro-methane fueled internal combustion engine for power. [No electrical, vegetable or hydrogen fuels!]

2. can be any year, make, or model.

3. 75% [0r more] of all work performed on the vehicle is physically performed by the owner. [If you are going to pay someone to do the work, see Ford, GM or Chrysler and buy from them!]

4. No billet items,[includes WHEELS!], unless specifically made by the owner.

5. No chrome, unless you own a metal plating business and you do it yourself.

6. No Easter egg paint. Worn original or primer paint is preferred.

7. Rust and worn exteriors are acceptable as long as they are painted or primed over.

8. Interior optional, this includes bucket seats, milk crates, and original seats covered with a horse blanket.

9. Any attempt to copy designs by the late Boyd Coddington, Foose or other classical destroyers of iron, will disqualify owner of any consideration.

10. Engine modification, preferably engine replacement, is a plus. Carburetors [multiples, of course!] are preferred over fuel injection. Sticking a GM short block in your rod is a 20 point demerit! Putting a Nailhead, Caddy, Olds. Pontiac, GMC, Hemi, straight eight or six, with a manual tranny, is worth + 20 point bonus.

11. All Rat Rods are mechanically SAFE. They will have brakes that work, they will not ooze or leak fluids, nor will they smoke or act like a mosquito sprayer!

12. Chopping a top, Sectioning a body, "Z-ing a frame" are a plus, as long as the owner does it himself.

13. A Rat Rod that is different is worth special notation. Computer controls are not allowed. Same with any flashing neon bulbs, strips, or LED's

14. Self installed hydraulics to jack and twist the car around are a plus.

15. Any owner who laughs at another's handiwork should be thrown off the lot. We are Car - People, a special group who share a bond regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity. We do not discourage interest and questions from our youngsters. With out enthusiasm of youth our hobby will die. Reclaim classic iron rather than recycling. Carbon Credits Suck!!

.......Just my opinion!

Originally Posted by Kolie

In my opinion, a "Rat Rod" would have the following features:

1. A gasoline, diesel, alcohol, or nitro-methane fueled internal combustion engine for power. [No electrical, vegetable or hydrogen fuels!]

2. can be any year, make, or model.

3. 75% [0r more] of all work performed on the vehicle is physically performed by the owner. [If you are going to pay someone to do the work, see Ford, GM or Chrysler and buy from them!]

4. No billet items,[includes WHEELS!], unless specifically made by the owner.

5. No chrome, unless you own a metal plating business and you do it yourself.

6. No Easter egg paint. Worn original or primer paint is preferred.

7. Rust and worn exteriors are acceptable as long as they are painted or primed over.

8. Interior optional, this includes bucket seats, milk crates, and original seats covered with a horse blanket.

9. Any attempt to copy designs by the late Boyd Coddington, Foose or other classical destroyers of iron, will disqualify owner of any consideration.

10. Engine modification, preferably engine replacement, is a plus. Carburetors [multiples, of course!] are preferred over fuel injection. Sticking a GM short block in your rod is a 20 point demerit! Putting a Nailhead, Caddy, Olds. Pontiac, GMC, Hemi, straight eight or six, with a manual tranny, is worth + 20 point bonus.

11. All Rat Rods are mechanically SAFE. They will have brakes that work, they will not ooze or leak fluids, nor will they smoke or act like a mosquito sprayer!

12. Chopping a top, Sectioning a body, "Z-ing a frame" are a plus, as long as the owner does it himself.

13. A Rat Rod that is different is worth special notation. Computer controls are not allowed. Same with any flashing neon bulbs, strips, or LED's

14. Self installed hydraulics to jack and twist the car around are a plus.

15. Any owner who laughs at another's handiwork should be thrown off the lot. We are Car - People, a special group who share a bond regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity. We do not discourage interest and questions from our youngsters. With out enthusiasm of youth our hobby will die. Reclaim classic iron rather than recycling. Carbon Credits Suck!!

.......Just my opinion!

What he said.LOL.

I gues I never posted pictures of my finished truck. 1951 Ford F1 I sold it last March. 250 Chevy 6 with Offy 3X1 manifold with Rochesters, TH 350, Pertronix ignition, custom made headers, Chevy 10 bolt 3.73 Posi. Minneapolis Moline Grille, Allis Chalmers fuel tank. Super Bell 4" dropped I beam, Speedway Hairpins, Ford spindles, Chevy 11" dics brakes, Corvette master cylinder, Corvair reversed steering box, Aluminum radiator

Originally Posted by Kolie

In my opinion, a "Rat Rod" would have the following features:

1. A gasoline, diesel, alcohol, or nitro-methane fueled internal combustion engine for power. [No electrical, vegetable or hydrogen fuels!]

2. can be any year, make, or model.

3. 75% [0r more] of all work performed on the vehicle is physically performed by the owner. [If you are going to pay someone to do the work, see Ford, GM or Chrysler and buy from them!]

4. No billet items,[includes WHEELS!], unless specifically made by the owner.

5. No chrome, unless you own a metal plating business and you do it yourself.

6. No Easter egg paint. Worn original or primer paint is preferred.

7. Rust and worn exteriors are acceptable as long as they are painted or primed over.

8. Interior optional, this includes bucket seats, milk crates, and original seats covered with a horse blanket.

9. Any attempt to copy designs by the late Boyd Coddington, Foose or other classical destroyers of iron, will disqualify owner of any consideration.

10. Engine modification, preferably engine replacement, is a plus. Carburetors [multiples, of course!] are preferred over fuel injection. Sticking a GM short block in your rod is a 20 point demerit! Putting a Nailhead, Caddy, Olds. Pontiac, GMC, Hemi, straight eight or six, with a manual tranny, is worth + 20 point bonus.

11. All Rat Rods are mechanically SAFE. They will have brakes that work, they will not ooze or leak fluids, nor will they smoke or act like a mosquito sprayer!

12. Chopping a top, Sectioning a body, "Z-ing a frame" are a plus, as long as the owner does it himself.

13. A Rat Rod that is different is worth special notation. Computer controls are not allowed. Same with any flashing neon bulbs, strips, or LED's

14. Self installed hydraulics to jack and twist the car around are a plus.

15. Any owner who laughs at another's handiwork should be thrown off the lot. We are Car - People, a special group who share a bond regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity. We do not discourage interest and questions from our youngsters. With out enthusiasm of youth our hobby will die. Reclaim classic iron rather than recycling. Carbon Credits Suck!!

.......Just my opinion!

I'd say no to #10, the old hot rodders when GM released the SBC immediatley started putting it in their roadsters. its perfectly acceptable to put in a vintage SBC into a rat. I know that a good majority of people go the SBC route since it's a cheap n easy way to go, which is kinda the point of a rat, low budget builds. A rat rod is just an unfinished looking hot rod with no expenses wasted on fancy paint, the owner should be piecing the rod together with any parts they can find that can be made to work together.

I would add that bonus points should be given for running an early flathead, and one thats been built with some extra giddy up gets even more praise!

i am not sure mine is a rat rod..i think it is.. it a older rig with a big engine,it was built in my shop with what i had laying around no pretty paint or fancy chrome or billit parts.. it is a bit rough around the edges but i have put 10,000 miles on it since july.. i did the entire rt66 and a few shows like " crusin the coast" in mississippi last month..not a trailer queen for sure..

Rat or Hot! Everyone Vote! Far from complete, but drives well. Some old, Some new. Something I dreamed about since I was about 6!

Rat or Hot! Everyone Vote! Far from complete, but drives well. Some old, Some new. Something I dreamed about since I was about 6!

Originally Posted by Scot

Rat or Hot! Everyone Vote! Far from complete, but drives well. Some old, Some new. Something I dreamed about since I was about 6!

Hot Rod, way to clean to be a Rat. To me your car represents the vintage hot rod with a modern twist.

[B]My project; 1938 Nash Ambassedore 6 going with a 283 chevy either a '58 or a '64 have both not sure about the tranny yet. a long way to go but in my oppinion as long as you are having fun and do what you can and do it safely then it is all good. And when you can do that and spend time with your "helper" (my 2 year old son is all about working on the car and I love it teaching him about the old iron that founded what we are today is priceless. This will be what they call a rat rod but it will be alot more user freindly I hope. It has juice brakes and an open drive line already just real hard to find parts for not your average rod project which is why I like it like to be a little different.

IMG_0377.JPGIMG_0375.JPGHatfield29, I love it!

Personally I would refer to your style (our style) as more a "Resto-Rod" Where you modernize the driveline and try to keep everything else basically stock!

I drive a 36 D2 Dodge she's running a Aussie Hemi 6 265 C.I. a crappy auto and a BW diff, pretty simple stuff and bloody fun to drive

But is she a "Rat Rod" no, I detest that way over used term

it is a 27 chevy.
but every moving part is ford (302)

actually it is a 27/30/60 chevy
and a 61/64/81 ford
with the roof from a 63 willys jeep

does this apply, I have rats livin in my garage along with the S-10 waiting for the 454 from my motor home

yea, stuffing a 454 in an S-10 qualifies as Rat Rod potential as long as you do the work your self!

Make it a 4 - 5 speed stick and you are real close....TH350 - 400 make any installation an easier conversion.

Putting in a stick can be a challenge, I know. My '50 Chevvy coupe has a 514 Caddy stuck to a Muncey 4-speed. Not your fathers Cadillac for sure..

Kolie...