Thread: Describe your Rat Rod project here.

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If education is expensive, I must be the most educated (idiot) around!!* Cuz It's sure cost me a lot to learn!* Had 19 thousand in a rod that noone else would look at (I guess) and couldn't sell it, had to swap it for a Chevelle that was cloned and palmed off on me (the sucker) as a true SS car.* Then took a bad loss on the deal by selling it waayyyyyy lower than I had in it.* One would think that a single lesson like that would be sufficient, but I'm the guy P.T. Barnum wrote about, "there's a sucker born every day".* AMENPerley

Originally Posted by oldrodder43

If education is expensive, I must be the most educated (idiot) around!!* Cuz It's sure cost me a lot to learn!* Had 19 thousand in a rod that noone else would look at (I guess) and couldn't sell it, had to swap it for a Chevelle that was cloned and palmed off on me (the sucker) as a true SS car.* Then took a bad loss on the deal by selling it waayyyyyy lower than I had in it.* One would think that a single lesson like that would be sufficient, but I'm the guy P.T. Barnum wrote about, "there's a sucker born every day".* AMENPerley

Wrong again, gasoline breath. The quote is "There's a sucker born every minute".

Heh heh, He said "gasoline breath".

I guess thats why they call you TECHinspector.

Well, when I was in high school my dad brought home a '27 T shell. We also picked up a short box, a long box and a turtle deck. We've aquired a '32 grill shell and frame. Dad also has a '39 Lincoln Zephyr with a Nailhead in it, so I decided to put one of his spares (nailheads) in the '27. I am still looking for some orig fenders. One day I'll get her done. - Oh, I graduated 28 years ago. . . .!

Asked a question on a RR site and good friend sent me here to view some of his build pics.Joined up and started to look around and I saw this thread about rats . Will read it all later today .Her are a few pics of my rat-I call it Ratzilla . LFE
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hey im not sure what i am starting on is a rat rod or not..but im dragging out a 35 ford pickup (or whats left of it) from the back of the yard..and want to build something cheap to cruise these old ozark gravel roads i live on with out worrying about the paint job..i havent really pinned down the engine & trans combo but it has to be a flathead..i have the old 8ba ford outta my 51 or the caddy flattie out of my 46 caddy im building...but either way its getting built with what i have already or can afford with my spare pennys..hope to have it started here in the next few weeks..and if a rat rod is a project ya chased the rats out of ..well this is one i guess..ha ha ha ha ha

yea i said it had to be a flattie..well i lied..because i also have several nailheads laying around that if i can figure a way to get a standard behind one i could be persuaded to use one of them

Over the last year I have been collecting parts to build my grandsons and one granddaughter something a little different from the everyday ride when they reach driving age.
I started searching for an old cab of some sort, that part didnt matter what it looked like or what it was, just something to start with. I located a 1946 Dodge cab that had already been chop (butchard) and brought it home. After a closer inspection I seen it might be more than I wanted to tackle on my first build so I placed an add with a picture on another ratrod site trying to get rid of it.
About a week later a young man contacted me and ask if I would be willing to swap my Dodge cab for a 46 Ford cab and he would deliver it to my house.
After seeing a photo of his offer I agreed. The trade was made and we were both happy at this point.
It seemed the more I messed with this new cab the more rust I find until now I have decided to cut off the top in the near future and chop the winshield 4" and make a roadster cab out of it.
Purchased some 2x3x3/16 wall tubing and got the basic drop-frame laid out and tack together.
Got the body squared up and braced, the doors chop down and capped. Four inches have been takening out of the bottom of the cab and channeled 5".
Working on the floor before I take the top off so this piece of rust dont fall apart... So far its been replace metal and cut out more rust.
So the second search started for parts and pieces to build this crazy idea, Lord what was I thinking
Located a 230CID straight six with a powerglide tranny and a Ford 9" rearend.
A 39 Ford straight axle with crossover steering and a couple of 15"x10"wide wheels for the rear and to 8" wheel for the front. Found a Offy 4bbl intake at a local boneyard and traded an Woodworth 2bbl carb to a guy for a new in the box 390cfm Holley to fit it.
Couple of 34 Dodge headlight puckets in which I have fitted with some Vega inner buckets and sealbeam headlight.
Bought a 15/gal keg and had a fellow tig in some bungs for the fittings along with a filler spout and now have a gas tank.
So the parts are coming together and now its time to start making something out of this pile of parts......I hope!!!!
This is about where I stand at the moment on this build. Will post some photos soon.
I need all the support I can get from you folks and thanks for allowing me to be a part of this forum.
God bless you all

A few photos of the cab and all its rusty glory....lol
and a couple after a few days of work on it.

A few more:

Looking good, great start. Like the pineapple, haven't seen one of those in many a moon.

Who cares what you call it just build it and drive it.

Originally Posted by lash

Who cares what you call it just build it and drive it.

there is no wrong way to do it (as long as it's safe)
i am building mine for me.

That's alot of the problem, where it exists. I don't know what the guy thinks a rat rod is when he calls both of mine rat's. The 66 chevy pickup is flat black until I get the metallic black on it this spring. Or the 48 that is engineered well, handles like a dream. Drives straight at 90 with hands off the wheel, is in gloss paint with clear coat, upholstery and not a drop of rust anywhere. It's a personal opinion, and most can't even tell you what a rat rod is. They just think they are looking at one. Junk is junk, whether its a 30 model A or a 94 Geo Metro. I get kinda testy when mine are referred to as rats, but all have meant it in a good way. There was a time, as they say back in the day, when being a hot rodder was like being a gang banger. Greaser was a derogatory term. When I first herd the term rat rod, I thought of the RAT Fink, I thought of those crazy rod driven by monster like characters drawn by the likes of Roth. That's not it, apparently. People like labels so if they don't know or don't understand maybe it's a rat. I try to react to the way it's said rather than what is said. Cause they don't know, and I sure don't know. What I might call a rat, you call art. What I think is traditional, someone else will call antiquated. Live and let live.

Although it looks a bit ratty ..... it is NOT your average rat build. I've purchased & am in the process of installing:

Chassis Works complete front (tube A-arms, R&P steering, coil overs, large Wilwoods) and rear (4 link, coil overs, FAB9 with detriot locker), extreme lowering, '72 Pantera magnesium wheels (7" & 8"), BBC, 5 speed ...... aluminum interior. Headers that'll exit in the lower rear side of each front fender.

Outside - paint & chrome DONE. Maybe some pins ......









Hopefully it'll be finished this year ......

REGS