Rule number 1. There are no rules:D
I think these rules will fit every ones project nicely.
New member just saying hello
Printable View
Rule number 1. There are no rules:D
I think these rules will fit every ones project nicely.
New member just saying hello
As with any build, the rules of common sense and safety in the design and build SHOULD be the #1 priority.
Oh come on dave ,who needs brakes anyway, and gas tanks make great bumpers
Welcome. Yes, there are rules, and Dave is right. When a car is used on public streets where our families are also driving, the rule is that your car must be well constructed and as safe as possible.
If your "no rules" comment refers to the freedom of expression in the design and creativity of the car, you are pretty much right. However, all of us draw the line at substandard workmanship and parts being used. Wrenches for steering arms are not cool, they are deadly.
So build your car and call it whatever you choose, but just do it well and follow the "rules" regarding what makes a safe, drivable car, and we will all agree with you.
I know some rat rodders enjoy the in your face, rebel persona, and not many true rodders accept this as being "cool."
Don
"Wrenches for steering arms are not cool, they are deadly."
Hahaha I've yet to see that, and when I do I will run very fast in the opposite direction!
Theres a pic in another thread,im sure someone will find it and post it here
Yep, we have seen a craftsman combo wrench spot welded to the end of the steerimg shaft and used as an arm. Even worse was the other craftsman wrench used as a hand brake.............the car had NO FOOT BRAKE, just a wrench hooked up to the master cylinder.
And the ad said "this car was built by Craftsmen."
That is the stuff we all hate on here.
Don
Some of the building approach of younger enthusiasts is a result of their age, rather than the style of car.
There is something about young men that takes them a while to learn respect for others. Maybe it's a lack of experience in being on the "receiving end" of someone else's bad choices.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RatSalad
"You say hello, I say goodbye I don't know why you say hello I say goodbye"
Build whatever you want ,the enviro nazis will be passing a law that says all cars get inspected and emissions here soon,better lay rubber while you can.!!:LOL: I live in cali and can tell you the enviros are foamin at the mouth and in a frenzy like pirahnna on this one!!:CRY:Some outrageous laws have already been passed ,they just do not go into effect untill 2009!!!Unfortunatly most af these rodents are buildin these cars in worst place of all to get us busted,thats cali.If they were in montana or missouri they may not have effected the laws soo soon!!!
i dont think that this is all true, some people just have to learn the hard way. i take pride in my respect for others...Quote:
Originally Posted by HOTRODPAINT
Harmon
Another newbie here...I just wanna say, I agree that there is something about younger people these days, not sure what the real issue is. I think in some cases, not all, its the lack of parental guidence. I'm 23 and love dirt track racing and hot rods of all kinds. But the biggest reason I'm into these things is because my father (63 years of age) is into these things and taught me to respect them and enjoy them! Sorry for rambling, but I just recently put my dirt late model up for sale and purchased a 1953 F-100 as a project vehicle for my father and I to turn into a "rat". Something for us to do together. Anyway, I look forward to learning things and discussing automobiles on this board. Thanks guys!
Everytime the rat word comes up, the lines start to form among rodders. Some have no use for them whatsoever, and some feel that a portion of them are ok. I fall into the later category, I actually think well built ones are really cool, even with patina all over them. But I absolutely hate seeing some of the suspension and welding techniques ( or lack thereof) that others employ.
I also think age has nothing to do with the fact you have respect or not. I know a lot of older people that have some bad attitudes also. But the rockabilly, anti-establishment type that loves to give us the finger are just out for trouble and would do it whether they were doing it with a car or not.
(by the way, didn't want to lump all rockabilly's into the same group. either)
Don
He is just keepin the torches from gettin lit,:LOL: .Once the angry towns folk are gathered outside frankeinstiens lab ,things get more....:eek: : confrontational.:LOL:
RatSalad,
im building a rat, but there are those that dont see safty is that obvious. ive seen some pretty crazy cars out there that i wouldnt want to drive..
Harmon
My thoughts on the Rat Rod:
They have always been around, I even built a few I just didn’t know it at the time. My first was a 1957 Plymouth Belvedere. I put a 383 magnum from a ’70 super bee and painted it flat black with the full moon disk hub caps. This was in 1983 (I think) I was about 17 and it’s all I knew how to do. I never understood why nobody liked it, I still don’t. That car was more fun than anything I have ever owned. Maybe that’s the thing….. The people that own the Ratters always seem to be having fun. They don’t stress over scratched paint, or a cigarette burn in a seat, or the unexpected rain storm when the windows haven’t been put in just yet. There are no hours of chrome polishing to get ready for that show, just pop a cooler of ice cold beer in the trunk, fill‘er up, grab your best girl, and hit the road.
It seems to me that all the anti establishment-ism (if that’s even a word) gained steam a few years back when the TV shows came out where motorcycles and hot rods are built in an hour and are magazine ready. (Or maybe that’s just when I noticed it, I’m really not that in tune with the world) These are cars that a majority of the car building guys will ever be able to afford. I find myself in that position. For me, having a car that gets from show to show in a trailer is just not something I can afford to own. Not that there is anything right or wrong with it, it’s just not for me.
I remember when I was a kid tagging along with my dad at car shows I spent my time looking up & down the rows for my most favorite of all cars, the 41 Willis coupe. It was in my opinion the coolest car ever to grace a car show or drag strip. They were just cool. That’s the only way I can describe them. Most of them (when you did find one) were dangerous looking and really loud & fast. It was, for me, the definition of what a hot rod should be. The last street rod event I attended, there were rows upon rows of the Willis coupes, all fiberglass, all tubbed, all having the same stance, all having the basic same drive train; BBC / TH 400 / 9” Ford. It’s like a formula for the Willis. Anyway….I never even look at them any more. It’s kinda sad really.
The stuff I found most interesting were the ones that were unpainted, loud, and different in one way or another, standing apart from the crowd, the way the Willis was 25 years ago.
I’m building a 1935 ford 3 window coupe now, and I’m not sure of what I’ll do or exactly how it will turn out, but it will be something I’ll do myself, on weekends, and with what ever disposable income I can muster up for the month. Not sure how long it will take, or what it will be exactly, but the best I can hope for is when it finally does find its way to the road, that some kid somewhere with his dad will think it’s cool and think, “That’s what I want when I grow up”.
That’s the kind of thinking that will keep the hobby alive.
krash
dallas tx
Ok. Rule #1 Keep them safe for you and everyone one the street!
#2 Other than #1, there are no rules
I've seen it done and I wouldn't want to drive it across the parking lot yet of the trailer, it was have been trailered.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kustom56Merc
Quote:
Originally Posted by dick lobach
I think it's ok to do that, but you have to use a Craftsman wrench. :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :eek: :eek: :eek: .....or two.
Don
junk!!!!!!
but, cool junk just the way i like it:D :D :D :D :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Dave Severson
Harmon
i mean just because its a rat rod does that always automatically make it some form of danger to someone else?
Cool? What could possibly be cool about stupid???Quote:
Originally Posted by CHEVYBOY
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.
Pretty well sums it up for me! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by RatSalad
I try to think ahead and make everything solid. I have had a couple things on my car I wasn't 100% positive about, so I redesigned them to be stronger.
My thinking is this, I cant predict what may be wrong with/on the road in front of me, I need my car to be able to roll over whatever it is without it shattering in the process, OR, be able to stop before I hit it w/o twisting my front axle off the mounts.
As for the BS line of thought about "hey, my car, my ass" comes from incosiderate fools that haven't seen an out of control car careen into oncoming traffic. Unless you eat it on a deserted road, odds are there could be someone else in the accident with you. I somewhat doubt they are gonna think your car is real cool then.
At least he used a washer on the heim end!Quote:
Originally Posted by Itoldyouso
i didnt mean it as to be used as any type of part that would put someone in harms way. just so you know that i know what stupid is as stupid does:) :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Severson
Run Forest Run :LOL:
The only car parts with a LIFETIME warranty.. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Itoldyouso
Hey RatSalad, did you get that from the Black Sabbath song Rat salad. Just wondering,MikeQuote:
Originally Posted by RatSalad
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sickcycles
Pat Boone had that one out a few years back also, as I remember.:eek: :eek:
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
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by gassersrule_196
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
Spot welds won't cut it, but welded up right I don't see any problem using a wrench for whatever reason(maybe not for steering). And I take offense to the learning comment. I'm only 25, but have restored many cars. What I am working on right now is my first rat rod mostly for a tow rig for my rat boat. Its going to look rough, but motor,trans,rear, and brakes all new(or new to me).
I'm sorry, but I get really ticked when I hear someone make a statement that they think something will be ok to use "just because it looks bad a$$." We all like attitude in our rods, but using parts that were never meant to be incorportated into a rod, especially on critical parts like steering, is just dumb, and the guys who do this sort of garbage give all of us a black eye.
I used to support rat rods because I liked the creativity. Now I think most of them are crap, because the builders are substituting "bad a$$" for good sense.
Don
Quote:
Originally Posted by Itoldyouso
Im sure 500 hp big blocks werent meant for t-buckets but they look bad @ss. Drag cars, you name it. most arent meant to do what we do with them. Im just making the point that if done right who cares. Oh well. I will agree to disagree. Im not real sure that we are disagreeing. Unsafe is not cool in my book.
Wrench or no wrench, Its just butted up and welded to a shaft. This is a no no anyways. Maybe a shorter wrench....:LOL:
Guys, This car is obviously someones show piece and trailer queen,