Thread: My Rat Build

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Wow, OK Larry. Great job. I love the grille shell too. Do you have any pictures of building it, what you started with and all that? That's too nice to keep secret!

Got a couple Perley. Dont know how much one can learn from them but I will post them anyway.

I will try to explane how I build it. First I use the two door window frames from my 46 Ford cab being I am going to build a roadster from it. I seen this done on another site where someone had done this and thought this would be a big time money saver.

So after cutting the frames off I trimmed the frames by removing the inside section off the frame using only the outside parts. I laid them out on the floor and start moving them around till I came up with some kind of design I like and to my surprise it almost copied the shape of my old unit patch from Nam. ....Light went off...... Perfect being this truck when finish will be a tribute to my old unit. OD Green and Flat Black.

Tacked the two together and then cut and bent where they met in the middle till I had the angle I wanted and made sure the frame would cover the radiator.

Welded those parts together when I was satisfied with the shape.

Cut out a cardboard templete to fit the shape, made sure it fitted around the R&P, cleared the frame rails and then transferred it to the metal. I used 24 gauge steel and rolled some beads in it to stiften it a bit.

Ground it all smooth with a flap wheel and da-dah.....Grille shell!!! The arrow and sword are the insignia from my old patch. I will fill in behind them with some type of wire mesh.

Hope I made this where others could follow it.

I know some of the pic's are the second posting of the same ones but these are in order. Anyway here all the photos I have of the build. Enjoy.

Larry

Looks good Rat!!! Way better then using some store bought thing that looks like everybody else's!!! Well done!

Ohmigawd Larry. Genius! Great imagination. How come I could never come up with something like that? Now if I do, you'll say I copied your work------------ But that's OK, cuz that will give my Friend J.R. a break. haahaaa. I've stole most of his secrets now! Thanks again Jim. Great going Larry.

Hey Perley, copy all you want. This wasn't my idea in the first place, guess ya could say I took it from another also. Just did my own twist on it

That's what so good about these forums, people sharing ideas with others and building things from scratch so to speak.

We all have a God given gift called imagination so lets use it to it full advantage.

It doesnt really matter who comes up with an idea, do your own thing with it and see what you can come up with. You may be surprised at some of your own results. I was.

At first I didnt really care for the grille but the more I played with it in the end I liked how it came out.

Have fun, aint that what it's all about anyway?

Larry

PS: shot some primer on it and WOW!!!!

Good view Larry. Yes, it's all about having fun, to be sure! Sometimes it is difficult for me to 'think outside the box', that's one of the best things about J.R. helping me, he's GREAT at imageering! If I see it, I may be able to do it, but I can't see it in my mind, usually! Yes, the Good Lord gave us all something usable. All have different skills. Fighting, or Marching--heeeheee I tried starting my 6, but no luck so far. First I think the timing was not quite right, then I got it closer (I think) but not right still. Then the battery went south. It weren't any good anyways. Sitting too long without charging, out in the garage where it was cold all last winter. Tried another today and same story! So looks like a new battery in our future. If I ever get some work again. Darn, retirement/disability don't pay so good at all. BUT, it pays my house payment, thank the Lord. Perley

True, retirement/disability isnt much of an income but look at the bright side my friend, its sure more than alot are getting. My income pays my house payment and the light bill.

I sold all my woodworking equipment to build this car. So far I have only spent around 300 out of pocket on it.

Ssssshhhhhhh, dont tell the wife ......hehehheeh

Update:

Grille shell is in primer for the time being but still need to make some kind of background, screen or something, havent decided yet.

Got my radius rods on Thursday and started mounting them Friday night. Finished up the mounts today and got them tacks in place. A member from another site walked me though the set up of the rods, thanks Fuzz.

Anyway here's a couple of pic's.

Hope ya enjoy.
Larry

I gotta hand it to ya, That's some real ingenuity! I'm impressed.... That's gonna be a great looking Truck when you get it done. Just goes to prove, If you want something bad enough, there's always a way to get it, money or no money!..CR

Gall Darned CRat. I better hit the throttle, you're gaining on me for sure! haahaaa. Going great. I like it. Perley

Thanks guys for the kind words. Means alot to me.

This whole build has been a great learning experience for me. Mostly I have learned what doesnt work.....

Larry

This whole build has been a great learning experience for me. Mostly I have learned what doesnt work.....

Larry[/QUOTE]

Those are the lessons that stick with us the longest !.........CR

Originally Posted by CR55

This whole build has been a great learning experience for me. Mostly I have learned what doesnt work.....

Larry

Those are the lessons that stick with us the longest !.........CR[/QUOTE]


Heck, if you don't try all the bad ideas first, how would you ever know which ideas work?????? If you ever meet a guy who tells you all his ideas work out great the first time.......you just met one of the world's biggest liars!!!!!!!

sound like a good build, however l would leave to top on and just chop it as it gets real cold at night and if ya are gonna drive it a lot the top comes in ral handy, l know from experance,,,and YES safety first,,, later

Thanks Skull.

Keeping the top on is almost an impossibility on this cab. It has as much or more rust in it as the floor had.

Roadster PU is in store for this one to save alot of headache and metal work.

Some where down the road I may build a removable top for it but for now the wife has always wanted a convertable...

Dave: so true, so true...