Thread: Describe your Rat Rod project here.

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Why let this die. Neat car ya got there Rick. It puts a smile on my face. And I have no problem with it at all. Well..............okay, one. Those plastic fuel lines. Sure they're authentic to the '50's and early '60's, but we didn't know any better then. You could be just as authentic, and safer (I know, it's a pain in the butt word isn't it?) with black, reinforced "rubber" hoses. If you're going to flame me for that comment, please take off the caps key so it doesn't seem like you're yelling.

Now some observations from real life, So Cal, experience in the early '60's. I never saw, at least driving on the street, any cars that looked like what we now call Rat Rods. That expression didn't exist then either to my knowledge. The closest thing I ever saw to what is called a rat rod then was a model A roadster, channeled, in black primer, no engine, sitting in a guys yard on Saticoy in Canoga Park. It looked like hell, even to a 13 year old novice. What I did see were lots of '30's and a few'40's vintage hot rods, mostly coupes, some sedans, an occasional roadster or phaeton. Some were painted and upholstered to a pretty nice standard for the day. Many were in primer, about an even mix of grey, black, and red oxide. Didn't seem to be any rationale for which color the owner chose, just personal preference I'd guess. My next door neighbor had a black primer '50 Olds Holiday hardtop, with white wheels and black walls. Loved that car. A guy down the street had a light grey primered '41 Convertible. A few blocks away, a kid had a '50 Ford coupe, and each boltable panel was a different color. Instead of doing body work, he replaced the fenders, and doors with junk yard parts. Sort of a patch work quilt. Near my high school was a Metallic blue '32 3 window coupe, pretty high level car even for that time. The son of a gal my mom worked with had a '29 A coupe, full fendered, rears bobbed, white roll and pleat guts, black primer, red wheels and black walls. There were many more along these lines, but my favorite was the guy on my paper route with the full fendered, stock top, '33 or 4 Ford 3 window (at that time I didn't know how to tell the difference between the years, but given history, it probably had a '34 hood and grille either way). It had black roll and pleat interior, and light grey primer outside with chrome, reversed wheels, no caps. It sat just a bit lower than most cars of that period, he was ahead of the curve. Hot rods weren't as low then as they are today (with the exception of a few true lakes cars).

So what's my point? Hot rods have long been about personal expression. And a lot of what is purported today to be a reflection of "the good ol' days", is really just one person's interpretation of what they THINK it was like. And there's nothing out of whack about that. Maybe the car doesn't accurately represent the reality of the time, but had today's builder been around then, he may well have made the car then as he has now. But the "artist" needs to understand too, that if he's going to put his "canvas" out for viewing it's going to get critiqued. And it ain't all gonna be favorable. So, back to what I said before. It's not worth losing sleep over. Opinions are like belly buttons (or the orifice of your choice), everyone's got one.

Now, is this car a rat rod, or should we create the class called "patina" rod. And is it a real old timey car, or a "clone" like Poteet's above. Only our buddy Foorden can tell us for sure. All I know is, I realllllllyyyyy like it.

Dan J/Streets

How'd my name get into Dans quote of Streets???

I gotta T not an A.

bob, ill cap down so ya wont think im yellin, ive heard that before and actually just found out that its 'cause i was using the caps....who knew?? not me!! anyway, i was torn on the clear lines myself but i figured since they were mounted on the cowl i could watch'em, just in case!! ill change 'em here soon as im doin a bit of cleanup on some stuff before a couple of shows, 1 in bakersfeild and 1 in antioch & paso robles (maybe) so maybe the next time its seen itll be 100%.....???!!!!???

Rick

I know and correspond with several guys and their gals who refer to their cars as Rat rods. They use the term to differentiate them from the very polished and finished type of hot rod. They typically don't care if there is rust or even paint. Look up the Hot Rod A Rama that the Swiss Pub puts on every year. It is mostly for the Rockabilly crowd but there are many cars up to about 1964. It is all about drivers and survivors with some of the more refined cars there as well. Check out their site and see some of the cars.

Rick.
I love the sport coupe. It's only a rat rod if you want to call it one. I tried to post yesterday about the gas lines but my computer malfunctioned and I lost it. A broken motor mount or a stray football or even a minor accident could create the ultimate flame job. My suggestion was to mount a fuel block on the back of the intake and run steel lines. A steel line from the fuel pump is a good idea too. The rubber line should be on the inlet side of the pump. if it breaks there it will leak some but it wont be spraying fuel everywhere. The fuel pump would also have to be mounted on the engine if you run a hardline to the fuel block.

I have a tri-power setup on my A roadster and would like the looks of three red plastic lines from a firewall mounted fuel block but for safety sake I'm using steel lines. The roadster is stuck in a back corner of the garage and is blocked in by a 66 Chevy I'm restoring. The Chevy has no engine or bumpers so it only moves when I can get help pushing it around. If I can ever get it out in the sunlight I'll post some pictures on this thread. It's come a long way since I posted the pictures of the mock up in my gallery but it doesn't look much different.
AL

al, that may be the safest way to go, and dont get me wrong but i tried many ways to mount this stuff, it has steel lines from the tank to the pump with a small rubber line at tha pump, and steel line to the fire wall...no room behind the manifold due to the mag!! the fuel block is hand made in '60 by the guy who built and raced the motor, so i had to use it. rubber line would be better, but thats what i put on the 1st time, change'n it soon...although theres been a million hot rods built with'em so???

anyway thanks for the nice words....like to see the pics of your car

Originally posted by easily sled
Dangeroustoy, the truck you posted is totally awsome, its rides like that that are the highlight of shows for me, anyone got any more pics along the same lines?

Easily here is another photo for you... I would consider this more of a Nostalgia Rod than a Rat Rod like George's Stake Bed... I took this photo at the NSRA Mini-Nats in Oklahoma City earlier this year... It definately cought my eye and is another example a a very nice period looking car with a "safety first" mentality...

Dave Brisco

Here is another photo I took at the OKC NSRA event... This is more what I would call a Rat-Rod... Notice that it is not really a period car with modern touches like K&N filters, modern styled valve covers and some pieces built from aluminum... The artwork on the door looks like something from an Iron Maden album cover and Wheels and tires are more nostalgic in origin... I think the owner of this car is making a statement and delivering a different approach to rodding... Here are a couple of other tid-bits you should know about this car... The owner is about 21-22 and represents the future of our hobby!!! He also drove this car from Ohio to Oklahoma to make this event... Note that there is no windshield in this car!!! Personally I like this car, but think there are a couple of things the owner should consider "up-grading" to make it a little safer...

Still a cool ride...

Dave Brisco

Here is an example of a real Rat Rod, or would this be more of a Rat Machine?... This is a car that some friends and myself took to the Street Machine Nationals in Springfield MO. last year... It is a 67 Firebird Convertable that my friend got in a trade deal... This car was last titled in 1987 and has been sitting in a field every since... We drug it out of the field and into my friends shop and found that it was so rusted out that there was no saving the car... We decided it needed one last outing and got the old 350 2 barrel running again with the help of some Marvel Mystery Oil and a new battery!!! It blew a freeze plug from the back side of the block so we got a nibbler and cut out the passenger side fire wall so we could replace the plug without removing the engine... After getting the brakes working good enough to stop the car we took it for a ride... It smoked but was running... Everything was good until we decided to fill up the tank which fell to the ground with the rusted out trunk once the weight of a few gallons was added... Next we atted a 16 gallen fuel cell in the trunk, but it also fell through when some gasoline was added... We ended up having to cut a piece of plywood to build a makeshift floorboard so we could mount a Ford Truck fuel tank... We then cut a hole in the passenger side rear quarter to make room for the filler cap to stick through... Next we decided it needed some new rear floorboards so after a few cases of beer we decided to use the beer cans to make the floorboards from... We smashed the cans flat, then stacked them on top of the cardboard packaging and set them in the rear floors... Mixed up some fiberglass resin and poured it over the cans... Wala, new floorboards... We then decided that the car needed a set of 18s and 20s to set it off... Found a mis-matched set of wheels and tires around the shop and mounted them to the car... Sure, they rubbed until we broke out a mallet and beat the fenders out!!! Next we bolted an old swap meet blower body and Hilborn style to the hood for effect... Last we added a surf bord to get the right look... You would not believe the looks we got droving this thing around the fairgrounds all weekend!!!

For the record, other than our test drive this car was never driven on the street, but we drove the heck out of it at the show!!! It was a blast... After the show, we removed the wheels, tires and blower and returned it to its resting place in the field behind the shop...

There is a true Rat Rod!!!

Dave Brisco

And the beat goes on!!

Up to four pages, and I don't think I've seen anymore from the "Kid" who started this.

So you're enthralled with the Iron Cross motife? Here's a link to some guys who make that crowning glory aircleaner for your rod. Look under their "Kustoms" section: http://www.geocities.com/bedslead_kustoms/

Don't get me started on that Streets, besides, I think we all have a little trouble now and then with spelling and punktuation.

The one that gives me the equivalent of brain freeze is the misuse of the posessive, your, when the contraction you're (for you are) should be used. But it's so prevalent I just grimace and move on.

Gee Bob your starteng to sound like my old englush teecher

You guys are a product of the Eastern Elite Public School system aren't you??

Labels. There is an inherent problem with them, and I unfortunately started it by inviting the discussion about what is commonly termed rat rod. Rick, you have the right to have a code and I can see how the classification may sound degrading, but don't bail. When you surf the tube and someone's gonna drop in, let out a bark, but be friendly again in the lineup. Let's hear more about your project. One very significant benefit of building a primered ride without umpteen coats of black pearl laquer is that one can drive it without a need for a laxative. Hotrodding had a need for a new form of expression and that's what's happening. I'd like to hear more about how much bang for the buck can be obtained in old-style hot rod projects. A big feature of swap meets is the project cars; and why the rat rod rage is cool is the focus (in my mind) on the vintage look and the back-turn on hyper-gloss. But that's only my opinion that does not dis-acknowledge the artist who seeks perfection.

Originally posted by Bob Parmenter
You guys are a product of the Eastern Elite Public School system aren't you??

Kid, pardun me whilst I jump up here into Mr. Bob and Streets discussin of skoolin. Well now fellers, us southern folks got us an edumucation in the three R’s too… roddin, racin, and red-neckun. So don’cha go thunkin that’s you folks on the left and rite of us are any bit better thun we folks in da middle

Dan J

P.S. Kid, you can return to your regularly scheduled programming now.