Thread: low-buck steel ratrod

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I just have to figure out how to explain to my wife that the reason we're not trading it in is because i want to chop it up and build another project. Maybe this isn't such a good idea after all.

Originally Posted by falconvan

I just have to figure out how to explain to my wife that the reason we're not trading it in is because i want to chop it up and build another project. Maybe this isn't such a good idea after all.

Yeah sometimes they just don't understand.......... The other side of that coin is........ As long as I'm cutting and grinding in the garage she knows I ain't out chasing tail........... Of course I'm getting too old to care, and probably would give up before I caught it anyhow.....

my hubby is happiest when i take my menopausal self out to the garage.

Originally Posted by techinspector1

You know, speaking of rat rods, I saw something the other day on the web somewhere of a rod that used a Toyota pickup cab. Now, you can laugh if you want to, but to me this makes a lot of sense. You can cut the roof off and have a steel-bodied roadster with operating doors and integral windshield. You could mount a pony keg fuel tank in the rear or a shorty bed or whatever. Use an "A" or "B" radiator shell and you're in business. I think I'd use the Toyota frame from the firewall rearward (maybe shorten it up from cab to axle) and weld on a home-built 2" x 4" frame from the firewall forward to mount a beam axle and transverse spring.

With all the talk of a $3,000 rod, I'll bet you could do it with ease this way.

I like this idea.I have a 1993 ford ranger that I would love to do something like this with.I have to work with newer iron because I can not find anything old around here that they dont want a mint for.

I gotta agree with a lot of you that using the s-10 frame is one of the easiest ways to go, especially if you can swipe up a full roller and go from there with modifications to the chassis for the body to align correctly, another popular frame set up is a 90's dakota frame since it is in the same class as the s-10. Their popular since their frame dimensions are similar to the older cars 20's-30's so picking on up is cheap and the modifications needed are not as tough and the aftermarket parts are more readily available, giving you modern steering and brake dynamics while keeping your old body (chose a make and model) and go from there. plus when titling it if you don't have the original cars vin/cowl/body tag available the tax paid on a lil s-10 is alot less than trying to retitle as something else.

Best bet is just find a junk yard special and just get a cab off some farmer john with some extra lawn art and when it comes to bolt ons like lights and what not, the skies the limits, i always am looking for an odd part with nice lines that i can use on a project. there are just too many cool styling cues each manufacturer has used over the years to limit anything to it has to be this or that.

the old hot rodders built their cars custom to stand out, to be different, and nothing was off limits. to say you can't do this or do that cause the old farts never would approve? approve? i over heard someone tell a guy you can't run a mustang II front end with an open front end low boy? like he really was building it to get somebody to check it off and get some self proclaimed purests approval. the whole point wasn't to get approval, it was to stand out, run fast, and be different than the rest of the pack. Building your rod was suppose to be pushing the limits and trying to use the most technology or with the most guts to try somethin different and push technology.

it wont matter if it's a 3 grand rat or a 30 grand street rod, if you built it you already did more than most that will look at it and give you their expert opinion based on what they read in the latest rebel rodz or hot rod mag and never have once pounded out a piece of steel. It's yours. Build it like it's yours, drive it like it's yours, let others oogle over yours.

keep it kustom!