Thread: Model A Ratrod -- what's a good drivetrain donor car?

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If you're going to do a Rat Rod, then do it right. Put whatever money you have into safety. Brakes, steering, and suspension are your first priority. As far as a drivetrain, choose whatever fits into your budget. I've learned through the years that Chevy is the cheapest, simply because it's plentiful. Also, most of the parts are interchangeable throughout the years. Ford on the other hand is cheap, but not like Chevy. They're a little harder to find. Interchanging parts on a Ford gets a little tricky. You can still use a Ford rearend with a Chevy eng/trans/driveshaft. They make a universal joint to join a Chevy driveshaft to a Ford rear. Mopar is another story. Unless you have every part needed on hand, you may end up doing a lot of searching, and buying of expensive aftermarket parts. Remember, it's going to be a Rat Rod, you want it to look like it's held together with bailing wire and bubblegum. And that's the whole point. You want it to LOOK that way. Underneath all that crap, you want it safe. Make the Rat Rodders proud.