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Hey every one. Im starting a Ratrod/Hotrod project, I have a 65 ford F-250 with a 352 im rebuilding. I have no clue where to start on the body.... you know how to design it haha. So any one who has a truck there working on post some pics please or just comment some ideas, because I dont know where to start. I need some ideas.
Start by getting your engine the way you want it; that'll give you some good experience and time to think about the rest of the project.
Thanks my dad and I are talking about the engine right now and what we want to do to it. By the way what do you think is the best inexpensive wire feed welder to buy for this project?Quote:
Originally Posted by falconvan
ELVIRArat
I bought a Clarke about six years ago and it's still going strong. I've use it quite a bit; probably every weekend.
Thanks a bunch. By the way what are you working on?
48 Plymouth coupe and a 72 AM General ice cream truck.
If that's your Slick in your avatar it's already way too nice to be a rat rod, maybe set it on fire and put it out with a logging chain? Haha.
Well me and my dad decided a work truck that gets 9 mpg was not worth it. so were going to try for 4 mpg and make it look like a heap. :LOL:Quote:
Originally Posted by R Pope
and that would be an improvement????? I guess if a rat is what you really want, that's fine..... but are you building a rat because it's what you want, or because that seems to be what's in fashion at the moment?????Quote:
Originally Posted by ELVIRArat
Takes a lot of time and money to do a build, even a rat..... Always best to have a complete plan in mind before you start rather then just throwing various leftovers at it that may or may not work well together.....
Hmmmmm your very right dave. I see what you mean. Before throwing a hole bunch of money into it, make sure ill love it when its done. Ill just start with rebuilding the engine. Get it back in the truck and go from there. Ill have a sit down with my dad and try and figure out a plan. Thanks alot Dave. Good advice is all ways welcome hahaQuote:
Originally Posted by Dave Severson
You're most certainly welcome, and the better the planning, the better the finished product... Any project will benefit from this same thing, determine a central theme for the project, then carefully pick and choose components and mods that compliment this central theme....
Or, as the old saying goes, Plan your work, Work you plan!!!!
by rat, do you mean hack it up or maybe just lower it, wheels and a satin black paint job? truck looks like a nice start from here. be careful not to confuse budget build and "rat". like has been said previously build what you like, how you like. least you arn't building a civic!! good luck and welcome aboard
My plan so far is to get the engine back in the truck, chop up the fenders a little and run the exhaust out the side. Build a cool little flatbed that exposes the tires with some back off mud flaps. My theme that I like the most so far is Ratrodded flatbed farm truck. Im kinda leaning towards the tractor grilli to hahaQuote:
Originally Posted by tudorkeith
I agree with Dave's comments above: formulate a plan for what you want to do, where you want the project to go, how much time/money you expect to invest, what your "phase II" plans on for future development, etc. This will help you stay focused and on track as the project goes along.
As for your design ideas and getting the engine going, that sounds like a good place to start to me. Keep us updated and show us pictures as you make progress. If you're gonna build it, don't be shy about showing it off!!
Ya im going to have to do what you all are saying. How I want it to look is still undecided. Its going to take a lot of thinking and planing to get this project how I want her.
Thanks again all
Sounds and looks like you have a great start. What helped me with my hot rod build was to write every modification/to do list in chronological order on paper and crossed them out when I finished each task.
The pic of the chevelle in my post was the result of me being young (14/15) and picking out too bright of a color that I am not happy with any longer (only 21 now). Wish I would have built the car several times over in my head and on paper.
Good luck with your build and keep progress pics posted. This is a great place for knowledge and help when needed.
wow thats cool! I love Chevelles. You started that when you were 14/15 thats really impressive. Thanks for the advice, its going kinda slow because im trying to get it all figured out but ill take some pictures of my engine when its finished. Getting the money is taking a little longer because rolled through a stop sign and got a ticket : / but its just a minor set back.Quote:
Originally Posted by 68Chevelle
Love to hear about any one in there teens building,good luck,and real nice your dads helping out,very cool,Planning is good!
The word rat seems to have def meanings to def guys,me being 67 now,rats are little roadants with tails that we try and get rid off.
It's not that we didn't have rods that were unfinished back in the 50's and 60's,it's just they weren't called rats,and every one I knew that had any primer on the body was working to be able to paint it some type of cool shiny ASAP.
You know i have no clue what i want to do haha. I think im going to fix the truck up and sell it and find my self an old maverick, mustang or galaxy cuz I love muscle cars : ) and im a ford kinda guy. But man im glad i bought that truck because it got me into cars more. Ive allways loved cars but I didn't know how much. That truck got me started going to tech school for automotive tech and the flood gates opened. now im trying to get into UTI to get ford hybrid training. i all ready got a mess of scholorships so i think im getting off to a good start! and it all started with that little ol red truck :LOL: best money i ever spent!Quote:
Originally Posted by The Bat