Thread: 30 model a rat rod.... lemme know what you think

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30 model a 5 window coupe... plan on chopping the top 5 inches z-cutting the front and installing an air ride bridge kit in the rear body dropping 3-4 inches. back tires are 15 inches wide!! haha cant decide between small or big block. leaning towards big block for the intimidation factor! have a 4 speed saginaw and a narrowed 9 inch, 373 posi with moser axles

any comments, suggestions or advice welcome!!!

Looks like a nice start, keep us posted.

5" chop??? What are you going to do? Look over the top of the windshield??? A 3" to 3 1/2" chop is a lot more reasonable and will serve to keep the body in the correct proportions.

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

5" chop??? What are you going to do? Look over the top of the windshield??? A 3" to 3 1/2" chop is a lot more reasonable and will serve to keep the body in the correct proportions.

haha its not a hotrod with a little compromise....i figured i would lay the seat and column back as if you were sitting in a trans am or corvette....got the room with the 5 window...

also thinking of body dropping it...gonna put the rag top back in too! haha what yall think? also what do yall think of those back tires? too much or just right?

With a 5" chop and the resulting mail-slot window, you may not be able to license the car.

The rear tires are out of proportion - and out of time frame for a rat rod . . . at least in my opinion. They're more suited to a pro-street or t-bucket look.

However, the definition of "rat rod" changes every day, and it's your car, so do what trips your trigger. You did ask though . . .

Better check some state laws. Even out here in the stix we have to have 6" of vertical height on the windshield... As for the soft top, I never did like them. A filled roof looks much better. Kind of a nice coupe to not take the time to make a decent Hot Rod out of, but like Jack said it's your car, have a ball.

Six inches really puts it low, but 5 is not too much IMO. My theory has always been, if you are going to chop it, chop it.

I do think the tires don't fit what cars are currently using though. A car should have a theme, and the parts used should follow that blueprint. If you are building a rat, it sort of dictates that you use wheels and tires that simulate a bygone era. That is why most of them use stuff like 16 inchers, with either blackwalls or wide whites. The fat ones you have would look out of place IMO.

But, it is your car, so whatever makes you happy.


Don

Heres some pics......

Take in mind these are similair years...not exact year of yours.

These are just for ideas....and looks.

Now -- let's talk about ridiculous. It had Nevada plates on it and was being driven around York, PA at the NSRA show this past weekend.

Could he see anything - maybe the road centerline, but not much else with the engine staring him in the eye and a mail slot windshield.

i do love the fat whites on cheater slicks....i like the old mag wheels with gasser style fronts...but i am torn bewtween that and steel wheels! haha a lot of thinking to do. i may not use those tires in the pic...i just had them lying around the shop. that last one looks killer but is not as practical as i want. i am leaning towards the 5 inch chop.

Yeah, here is a 6 inch chop on my Kids '29, before he decided he didn't want two sedans, and turned this one into a roadster pickup. Little severe, but we don't build these things to be totally practical sometimes. For that, we buy an SUV or something else.

Don

Don I love that thing!!!!

Dave Brisco

Thanks Dave, in some ways I wish he hadn't cut it up, but there is a second tudor body sitting in the loft. That's going on a Deuce frame, and will be more traditional. (but still chopped )

Don