Thread: Rat Rod Rules

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At the risk of offending you, if you think using a wrench that is spot welded to a steering shaft is bad a$$, you are one of the people who endorse this crap, and you are showing your lack of knowledge about how to build a hot rod. How in the H*** could you even make such a statement?

For the moment I am going to assume you really meant to say "bad" idea, because only a person who has never built any cars from the ground up could make the other comment.


Don

I see no problem ,using the wrench ,but...... It has to be done in a quality type manner.#1 welded by a pro or done in a professional way ,#2 would be to key,spline and bolt it on.The wrench would have to be stripped of its finish to get a good weld and I would want another set up just like it to stress test it just to see if it holds up as good as the factory set up.Then you need to understand nobody ever drove the factory set up that hard,I think one would be hard pressed to get to 80 mph in the 30s on any road and the tires were not 10 inches wide either(creates much more stress).
When those steering components were used 250 hp was top fueler hp.Just a example I would think with 300 hp you could turn the wheels all the way to the right and punch the throttle and let off and I think you would be callin a tow truck to get home!!!The new trucks are loosing wheels right and left from over size tires rippin the ball joints out and snappin the spindels ,because the factory never designed them to take that kinda torture.

I think when a rat rodder makes these dumb statements it is not because they actually believe them, but rather to get a rise out of us older/ wiser rodders. No one in their right mind would actually believe a wrench, no matter how it was afixed, should ever be used for any purpose other than turning bolts.

This is where rat rodders hurt themselves. By even uttering such insanities, they put themselves in a class of rodders who not only do not know anything, but who refuse to learn anything either.

The first time your wrench breaks loose and kills some innocent family, let's see if you still think you are right.

Don

Originally Posted by whiteshark

Yes. These things arent built to compete in speed contests. Just for cruising around. Im more concerned with the honda civics riding around on all donuts. Just my opinion but I think that the wrenches are a bad @ss idea.

Hey man I todally agree with you I think that the wrenches are pretty cool. I think that is a very origional idea. I wouldnt put down a guy for that cause that adds character to the car.

Guys,

I think you are missing the point about what a basic Rat Rod is. Having just spent the last four days working Lead East (ok 3 days as I stayed home on Saturday due to the rain), I saw some really well thought out Rat Rods. They were not put together poorly with bad welds, or no brakes, they were however very basic surface rust and primer black hot rods built on a very low budget (or no budget as one of them was built with parts donated from a local ad in the racing newspaper). Again, Rat Rod does not mean junk, just another mans vision as to what he wants to drive. The car pictured above is 100% unsafe and 95% of the Rat Rodders out there would never set foot in a car like that. Sure there are always the lunatic fringe element, but I'll bet that you would most likely see them driving it around the corner and putting it on a trailer after an event and not using it for much of anything longer than that. If so, then those are the folks who need to have their heads examined.

Just my two cents worth.

Bill S.

Originally Posted by RatSalad

Rule number 1. There are no rules

I think these rules will fit every ones project nicely.

New member just saying hello

Hey RatSalad, did you get that from the Black Sabbath song Rat salad. Just wondering,Mike

Originally Posted by Sickcycles

Hey RatSalad, did you get that from the Black Sabbath song Rat salad. Just wondering,Mike

Pat Boone had that one out a few years back also, as I remember.



Don

As a licensed motor vehicle inspector,I wouldn't even consider putting my name on the paperwork for something like was pictured. Common sense goes out the window sometimes when the wallet gets involved,which I believe is why every vehicle must be inspected every year in this state. Hank

Don, I think you are in the same state of mind I was when I reamed the guy who had the fuel tank in front. Take a couple of deep breaths and relax.

Yeah, you're right. Chances are they won't actually build one anyway.


Don

Originally Posted by techinspector1

Don, I think you are in the same state of mind I was when I reamed the guy who had the fuel tank in front. Take a couple of deep breaths and relax.

yeah that was funny wasnt,you guys still cant leave a guy alone , and the gas tank is still in front looking for you

yeah, yeah, yeah.....

Gasser T, this isn't a personal attack, just one man talking to another. I can't say I am happy to see you posting again. When you were here the last time you took obvious pleasure in taking positions contrary to everybody elses, just to act the part of a Rebel. Those days are over, and I hope you have matured and are ready to be a man and contribute to this forum rather than disrupt it.

I still think that you are a talented builder, and can be an important ingredient of the discussions on here, but you have to lose that chip on your shoulder. If you aren't willing to do that, you will simply put yourself in a corner where no one will have any meaningful discussions with you. I think you have something to offer other members of this forum, if you will simply do it in the right way.

Don

it was not pleasure it was more like defending myself , no matter what i said someone always had to drill it too me . you call it a chip i call it defense. you say that i cause the problem but reading through this thread there seems to be alot of chips imo

It's funny that no other person on this entire forum has to "defend" themselves. Doesn't that tell you something? How can all these other people get along and respect each other, but yet you are singled out?

Time to grow up Gasser T, and accept that maybe you were the source of the problems. I was one of the people who defended you in the beginning, if you remember, but even I gave up when it became apparent you liked the constant tension.

Chill out and you can enjoy this forum as much as the rest of us.

Don