3k-One Year-30's Ford-Rat Rod Build Thread

[Wolfco]

Instead of the typical Beer keg fuel tank, i am probably going to use this old Camper water heater tank. If i split the tank and widen it by around 20-24+ it will look pretty cool. I used a jigsaw and sawzall to cut the outer shell, then a handsaw to cut the inner 3" aluminum tubing....I love using wood tools on aluminum!!

I will post the progress later, but i think these parts will make nice tank ends. I can cut/roll/weld the center section to make this about a 12 gallon tank.

[Wolfco]

I used 1x1" square tubing for the floor support and structure. 16 ga sheet metal for the floor surface. The typical Rat Rodder likes to see/feel/and smell the tranny. (i dont get it?!) ....i am going to make a tunnel also to cover the transmission. The tunnel will be removeable (bolt in!!) so it will please the rat rodder or hot rodder at time of sale (if i ever sell it)..

The sheet metal was welded onto the 1" square frame. I made cardboard template first, then transferred onto the sheetmetal. This is like doing a linoleum floor and works GREAT. cardboard is easier to cut and prototype , then transfer to steel.

The center sheetmetal that is under the seats is welded UNDERNEATH the frame work to give an additional 1" of headroom for the driver and seat. REmember-this was a 5" CHOP.

[Wolfco]

There was NO firewall when i bought this cab....probably a good thing! I made a firewall to follow the curvature of the existing body. I held the firewall up to the body and traced from the inside, the plasma cut the firewall to be flush..not a lap weld..this fit nice and looks great.
I then welded a small section of tunnel and made clearance for the tranny dipstick. The tunnel sits close to the tranny and gives me the most room possible in the cab, there isnt much room for your feet so i wanted to maximize the foot area in the cab. It will be plenty of room for gas/brake pedals.

[Wolfco]

Some more pics of the firewall fabrication, welding, grinding .....it turned out nice. I made a small notch for the tranny dipstick tube. Notice the tunnel, it will not be welded in, it will be bolted and removeable for service and if i want to run without it.

[Wolfco]

I used .125 thick steel straps bent into a "U" shape for the driveshaft protection. Then wrapped 18 ga steel over the straps. Notice the car is dropped to the ground and i have a 1" spacer to keep a proper distance /clearance rom the driveshaft to the body. The driveshaft was made from the old camper donor vehicle, i chopped the ends off and rewelded them back on. The 2nd to last pic is me and my youngest daughter....i think she wants to go for a spin!

[Wolfco]

Instead of the steering column from the donor camper/ambulance vehicle..i am using the steering column from a POlaris RZR , which is like a dune buggy. I pd scrap price of .50 cents per pound for this stuff....basically it is a mini tilt steering column and my old VIntage steering wheel fit right on the splines! I have owned that cool steering wheel since high school...(25 yrs ago) ...i thought i had lost it, then my brother brings it to my house one day last year!! He had saved it for me! thanks Keith!! ...

I bolted the tilt pivot under the dash, cut the shaft to lenght and made a spacer sleeve to weld the shaft back together...i will wait until the cab is final mounted to get the shaft welded together, i might lift the cab about 1/2" with rubber mounts, so the steering shaft will need to be a bit longer...

[Wolfco]

a couple pics. steering wheel ....i am adding the tilt wheel shock, this will be a sweet feature.

The cardboard pattern is for the transmission tunnel, i made a flat patten then cut it out of 16 ga steel and bent it into shape, a bit of hammering with the rubber mallet and some weld/grind and there it is..