Describe your Rat Rod project here.

Streets... When you said that it has paint on it and it shines I thought you were talking about the 36 Roadster, since it was the only car I have seen with a shiny paint job on this thread...

floorhoar... I just aquired a 51 Stude and in a thread a while back I was talking about doing the black primer thing, but with a set of 18 and 20 inch steelies in apple green with chrome caps and an a super low stance with airbags... I guess that we all have our own definations of what a Rat Rod is but To me, a rat rod should be a little more rusty, tarnished and pitted...

Dave Brisco

I have friends who build,drive these cars you call rat rods when the real term is traditional rods and they are supposed to be safe and you can't control all of them.Here are some pics from last years Bakersfield hot rod reunion

One more pic

cdueced...

Both of those cars have already been posted in this thread, you already posted the truck and I posted a couple of pics of the PPE - look down a few posts... I guess we have just about run out of rat rods to show!!! ;) Got any photo of cars that we have not seen yet?..

Streets...

You know that I like MY toys all nice and shiney!!! Besides, it is hard to grow a nice patina on fiberglass!!! :D

Here is a link to a site where someone has given definiations of many of the terms we use to describe different segments of the Hot Rod hobby... Check it out and post what you think!!!

http://formen.ign.com/news/25983.html

Dave Brisco

The above salutation has been converted into a bumper sticker. I don't know where to get them, but I've seen 'em. Maybe someone else knows.

Since this is the thread that will never die, I'll add another log.
There's an event in Livermore, Ca. called Billetproof. Probably coming up again this year in a couple weeks. Here's a host of pictures (3 pages) from last year's event. Start with a picture of the promo poster from last year in the upper left.http://www.zoomie.com/bp02a/feature.html

This should satiate your primer jones for a little while!

:D

More pics streets

Another one

Another

Paso robles

another

another

Running out of pics

Rode up in this car to paso robles it isn't a merc , can you guess what the car is

different view

I'd say it's a Dodge, Bill.

Probably looked something like this before all that very nice work was done to it.

For the second time now I have seen a response to this and the thread go back to the top only for that response to disappear... I actually got to read the reply from Kid Dearborn... Don't know why it would have been removed...

Is there a glitch in this thread or is one of the mods removing the post...

What's the deal?...

Dave Brisco

Dave,

I caught Kid Dearborn's post earlier today too... why is it gone? I can't remember everything he said, but I wanted to come back and "digest" it later :confused:

BTW, to you guys that are posting pic's that are too large - size the images that you post into a thread to something like a width of about 320 pixels! These huge pictures are a killer to load and I'm on a 360k DSL. It's got to be horrible for dial-up users.

Please limit image sizes posted to threads to roughly 320 pixel widths!!!

Dan J

Sorry... What I ment by Mods is Forum Moderators the guys who have the power to remove or edit other peoples posts... I think Brent, M&M and Don are the only ones here with that power...

I agree the big pics not only take a long time to open, but those of us with small monitors have to scroll from side to side to read all the messages... Not a big deal but it can be a pain on a long thread... I usually try to post pics that are no bigger than 6-7 inches wide at 72 dpi...

Dave Brisco

I think you may want to sit down and relax for a minute... I for one have enjoyed this thread and am amazed and the diversity of oppinions that folks have about this category of Hot Rods... I am the kind of guy that can appreciate almost any style or category of car...

There are a couple of things that I should point out to you about CHR... As in life there are all kinds of people that post here and lurk here... Many folks choose to read the posts and keep their input level to a minimum... Others (like myself and Streets) like to post often and partake in the fun... I learned a long time ago that it is an uphill battle to try to "sell" someone else on your personal tastes whether it be music, food or car styles... Many times I post, playing the Devil's advocate, especially when someone chooses to post in a close minded manner (refer to the favorite music thread)... The truth is that we all have unique personalitys and that some are going to agree with what you think and others will not... I don't agree with everything that Streets posts, but I still admire him for saying what he thinks and that is what makes his comments fun and entertaining... Just like him threatening to not post on or read this thread... The fact is he is reading it right now (caught you looking Streets)... The point is that people on this forum should not get too wrapped up in someone elses oppinions nor should you in the real world... Build cars the way you like and enjoy the fact that you are free to make your own choices in life... It takes all kinds of people to make the world go round and if we can all be a little more tollerant of each other, it makes life more fun!!!

I can't think on one segment of this hobby that does not get slammed from another segment of hobbist for one reason or another... Think about it some of the comments you hear at gatherings...

Power Parkers... Trailer Queens... Steel is Real... Trophy Hunters... Rat Rods... Seems to me like all of these are said to slam one group of rodders or another... I think our hobby might benefit if folks would stop worring about what everyone else is doing and just enjoy the cars for what they are, forms of self expression... The fact is that we all build our cars to make a statement about who we are, I guess that is why we seem to care so much about what everyone else thinks...

For me this has been an interesting and fun thread, and to be honest there have only been a couple of posts here that have been heated, mostly by newer members that have not figured out that sometimes you have to take some of the Geezer's comments with a grain of salt... This thread is no differnt than many of the contriversial threads that have been started in the past about Glass cars, Modern style cars (Coast to Coast style) or trailering you hot rod... We are all never going to agree on these points and that is a fact, but maybe we can all relax for long enough to see someone elses point of view and accept that we all have a right to think what we think...

Sorry for the ramblings...

Dave Brisco

Thank you Dave Brisco. Well put. We need to keep laughing. I forgive and am glad also that this is a free country and forum.

Kid, I forgot to mention one thing... Streets' bark is worse than his bite!!! :)

He also seems to forgive and forget whatever altercations occur here when the subject in question becomes a good CHR citizen... Keep checking in and let us know what you decide to build...

Dave Brisco

I'm new to all this, but I'll tell ya 'bout my 'rod', it's a early Model A hi boy roadster pickup, I bought a car for 50 bucks, that's Aussie Dollars, and got it on the road for our Street Rod Nationals over here, it's got the rigy 4 banger, extractors, twin stromberg carbies, I built the back of the cab my self, as I couldn't afford to buy, it was a tourer. I've still got the rigy brakes, rods an all, I do have a set of 39 juice brakes lined up. It's still got all the stock suspension, except telescopic shocks, I cut the rust out, teaching myself to weld in patches on the way, (with help) It doesn't have a w/screen, cause I didn't have the time nor the money for one. I drove the sucker to the nats about 100kays, (60 miles) had a ball, Drove the wheels off it for the nats, and had more fun than some of the guys who spent more money on their wheels than I did on my car. All up the car cost me $3000 bucks Aust, and yes it has yellow primer....

Not every "Rat Rod" is shoddily built. My '66 AMC Rambler is just painted to look like a "Rat Rod". It still uses the factory wiring, power brakes, and power steering. No cutting corners here! I would like to eventually drop in an AMC 401

my rod is in the process still, its a 52 chevy 3100 and when its done it eill be sitting on a 85 s-10 frame which gives it power brakes and steering and a much lower stance about 6 niches in low spots, it will have a 454 with a power-glid trans in it, it will have 5 slotted corvette stingray wheels on with side pipes , with power buckets from a tarus and a tilt wheel from a elcamno, and the color will be charcol gray metallic

my ride isn't classic it's a ratty looking 1978 F150.But she has a healthy 514 stroker under the hood . and the guys with the new mustangs ,cameros,t/a's,and those damn rice burners ,well they start out laghing and end up crying because my ratty old ford just spanked there butts. so rick stop complaining , it could be worse you could be walking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

that is a real rat rod but the part about the no brakes I disagree with, either way I think its cool look

Quote:

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Originally posted by Dan J
Yep, I've got too much time on my hands tonight...

Here's your basic rat rod, oops! I meant crap rod... big block and no brakes! :HMMM:

Dan J

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RattymodelA, it looks like this is your first post on CHR... Welcome, and you might as well post a pic of your ride in the gallery section of CHR.

If you're going to stir this ole thread up again, I need to post the pic you were commenting on - so folks can see what you were looking at without having to go back about 10 pages in this thread.

Dan J

I saw this car at the NSRA Mid America Nationals last year, which may have been where Dan took this photo... I just wanted to say that not only did this car not have any brakes, it also did not have any wiring, seats, windows, interior.... In a nut shell this car was not drivable and was simply a conversation piece...

Dave Brisco

You're right Dave, that's where I got the picture. I honestly think that the owner of this car (who was trying to sell it) was wanting to make his "project" look better with the Rat sitting in there.... but you've got to admit, that it's got the making of a real rat rod!

Dan J

here is mine ............
http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...&threadid=2539

http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/images/chrbanner.jpg

Thanks I am glad I found this site, I realized after I quoted it didn't take the pic with it....as soon as I have pics of my crap rod I will post them up I take no offence to mine being that or ratty righting all the wrongs that have been done to it in the past 74 years would be impossible so I just make do with it, not that the some what unlimited budget some people have make beautiful hot rods but I like the low buck primer roots type hot rods that used what you had or made to keep it going look. As for the pic at least I have power disk juice brakes a power sunroof and late model wiring and all so I am one step ahead I just wish the some of the body was better.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Dan J
RattymodelA, it looks like this is your first post on CHR... Welcome, and you might as well post a pic of your ride in the gallery section of CHR.

If you're going to stir this ole thread up again, I need to post the pic you were commenting on - so folks can see what you were looking at without having to go back about 10 pages in this thread.

Dan J

---

I should have described what I have in my last post:

1929 model A sedan: chopped 4 " sectioned 2 feet into a p/u cab with a power moon roof installed and sucide doors fabbed out of the rear opera windows, along with a very form fittin roll cage formed to the roof line out of 2".187 tubing. fabbed bed of rolled steel and box tubing and creative use of a bending brake. also has an aray of aftermarket gauges a dodge colt steering column mounted on a cadillac 472 connecting rod via a pedal support from a jeep as well as the booster and master cylinder. unknown bucket seats for now that will be replaced with a more original bench.

frame: is a 23 t, I haven't finished boxing it yet but the rear has been and z'd to drop hi arch leaf and the 8.8 ford mustang diff with 3.55 gears ford ranger axles/brakes and the front has a 2" tube with a drop reverse stock t leaf. a '40' ford I beam axle upgraded to suspension engineering tube shock kit gm mid sized disk brakes and calipers kit and the stock '40' ford split wish bones on drop mounts.

motor:1974 ford 351 2bbl with custom made headers fabbed from some damaged mustang ones I had laying around and a rebuilt c4 trans pretty stock so I can drive it daily. I how ever saw a kit to install a chevy 4spd to a ford and I am considering that just because I am sitting on an old warner t10.

nearly rolling on black steels and radials I have about $800 bux it in I plan to leave it the black primer as it is now and have a buddy at a sign company pin stripe it all up. As soon as I have pics I will post them, I love hot rods of all types and it all a speed money thing how fast do you want to go whether your hotrod is a rat or ratty or crap or a show car or if you like drivin what you have thats all that matters and safety and some type decent fab was done to get there even better

Quote:

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Originally posted by rattymodelA
I take no offence to mine being that or ratty righting all the wrongs that have been done to it in the past 74 years would be impossible so I just make do with it....

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Well RattymodelA, the only thing that's important is that you are "into" your car and you are making do with what you've got! I know some folks are more opinionated than others on this subject, but I like that fact that we all have different levels of talent, knowledge, tools, finances, etc. and yet we all are drawn to the same interest in cars. Don't get hung up on labeling your ride as "crap rod", "rat rod", or other....

Glad you’ve joined us, and post pic’s of your ride when you can.

Dan J

thanks, I don't want to label at all I would really like to call what I have when its all said and a done just a daily driver.

Here is my hot Rod.... Some people call it a rat rod, and I don't mind... Its a 35 chevy truck with a 348 . Its been chopped 6", channeled 5", frame has been Z'd in the front and rear, and its in BARE METAL. This pic was taken at its first car show, in Appleton in the rain, We worked hard to get it running and driving to make that show, so we weren't going to let a little water stop us........ I doubt this one will ever get painted...... LUKE

Lukes '35 Chevy truck pics...

OK. I've been here for a while now. I wasn't going to resurrect the thread just to post my rag in it, but since it is back
to the top, I thought about it. I had hesitated to post in this thread cuz I didn't like to consider my rod a rat rod.
But I looked at the pics of it again, and it is a pretty crappy rod. I bought it off ebay from a guy in Michigan. I gave
$1,776 for it. The pics are in my gallery for those who haven't seen it yet. The thing started out with some pretty
good work on it but the guy got bad sick. He sold it to another guy for the price of the engine. The second guy
decided he wanted a stock engine, so he passed it off to the next fool in line, me. I bought the rag cuz I liked the
body and it looked like my other car. My first one was a 1939 Nash LaFayette. This one is a 1939 Nash
Ambassador 6. Well, the thing has a 351 Cleveland with a C6. 9" rear, Mustang 2 front. Lowered in the front more
than in the back to give it a rake. I got it home after an ordeal and left it setting behind my grandfather's house
until we get the garage finished. We are wiring the garage now, and the Nash won't be out of the weather any
time soon. It looks as though he started out on building the car with money and energy, and as both faded, he
still continued. So, the engine doesn't want to run, the tranny won't shift out of 1st, most of the glass is setting
in the front floor board, all the exterior trim is gone, a bunch of pieces are missing, it has some awful bucket seats
of some sort that won't recline and are filthy, the body is done off in some sort of primer that was good 30 years ago,
the front fenders are just laying on the wheels, the hood is set on top of them, the back seat is torn up and just set
in, the battery was located in the trunk, but because the wires are that long, they eat up all the amps so the starter
won't crank, the floorboards are some sort of thin galvanized plate, the firewall was done pretty good, plus various
other problems. I am trying to work through college, and have been unable to find employment for 2 years. So I
don't have a lot of money to spend on the thing. I have been trying to buy parts for it and my other Nash as cheap
as possible. I just got a headlight lens that normally goes for 65 for 29 shipped. Just have to scrape the money up to
pay for it. Ebay can be a wonderful thing. So, my rod is definitely a rat rod. When I do get it running good, I think I'll
start on the interior and the body work. The body is in remarkably good shape. Those Nashes were built like tanks.
I think I'll be able to buy some good seats for not too much. The glass is all flat, so I think I can have some good
tinted auto glass cut for around $200. (that is the going rate for the cabs of two 60-66 chevrolet trucks, so I estimate
that is the approximate amount of glass.) If this lens gets here I'll have a full set for both cars.I'd like to change the
tranny over to a manual, preferrably a 6 speed, but if the engine gets running like it ought to, it is built to the point
it will probably take a 4 speed. I'm trying to sell off some of our other projects to finance this one. I think I can sell
off the 72 Burb for $2600 and an 89 &87 S10 for $1200, so that should go a distance in paying for parts. If any of
you all see parts for this car on sale at meets I'd appreciate a lead. I need taillight lenses and bezels now and
trim pieces. I think I can make a good rod out of what I have. It is just a matter of time and money :LOL:

Quote:

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Originally posted by Bob Parmenter
Welcome Kid.

Take it from me...............................you DON'T want to know what Streets dreams. Be afraid, be very afraid!:LOL:

Haven't seen too many of the rat rod folk here. Probably because they tend to be wrapped in a different culture that's pretty tight with itself. They'd probably think the same of "mainline" rodders (whatever that is). My only problem with many rat rods I've seen is that they forsake safety for what they think is period correctness.

But who knows, you might strike a cord.

---

hey Bob, Go easy on that "strike a Cord stuff O.K." ? CORDially Jerry

I'm new to this site, so I hope I'm not overstepping my bounds by commenting already. However, I can't seem to keep quiet about the controversy surrounding Rat Rods. Some seem to be offended by the label, and I think this is because they are not really Rat Rodders.

Those who have Rat Rods label their own cars as such. It is a term of affection, as well as a way to proclaim an identity. Many Rat Rod owners are "Old School" i.e. greasers, punks, etc.

For me, I term my car and truck Rat Rods as a way to distinguish myself and my rides as belonging to a separate and distinct scene, a subculture within the larger hot rod culture. I think the entire concept of Rat Rods has more to do with the builder's/restorer's personality and lifestyle, than the car itself.