46 Ford rusty cab, my first build

[Ratcrazy]

Been a while since I posted anything on here. Finally found a 46 Ford cab with doors and started working on it this weekend. Got about 90% of the rusty panels removed.
I have a 88 Ranger frame I was going to use for a stadium stock circle track truck but those toys got too costly too fast. The frame has been lowered down between the spring shackles and now sets about 6 inches off the ground w/o motor or trans.
If I do decide to use this frame I will have to 'C' notch the rear for clearance and 4 link it and also want to find a drop axles on the front and do away with the I-beam.
Still deciding on if I should 'Z' this frame or just start over and build a new one from 2X4X1/4.

Anyway here's a couple of pictures of what I got done this weekend. Any suggestions would be appreciated being this is my first build and I ain't got a clue.....

http://s398.photobucket.com/albums/pp67/crazyrat_01/th_DSCF0612.jpg
http://s398.photobucket.com/albums/pp67/crazyrat_01/th_DSCF0610-1.jpg
http://s398.photobucket.com/albums/pp67/crazyrat_01/th_DSCF0609.jpg
http://s398.photobucket.com/albums/pp67/crazyrat_01/th_DSCF0607.jpg
http://s398.photobucket.com/albums/pp67/crazyrat_01/th_DSCF0606.jpg
http://s398.photobucket.com/albums/pp67/crazyrat_01/th_DSCF0605.jpg

The top has to be replaced due to some major rust and about a zillion holes in it.

 

[Bonehead]

Looks like you are doing okay, just have to figure out about the frame. Be sure to check out DougNDog's build here for roof info.

 

[Willowbilly3]

Been a while since I posted anything on here. Finally found a 46 Ford cab with doors and started working on it this weekend. Got about 90% of the rusty panels removed.
I have a 88 Ranger frame I was going to use for a stadium stock circle track truck but those toys got too costly too fast. The frame has been lowered down between the spring shackles and now sets about 6 inches off the ground w/o motor or trans.
If I do decide to use this frame I will have to 'C' notch the rear for clearance and 4 link it and also want to find a drop axles on the front and do away with the I-beam.
Still deciding on if I should 'Z' this frame or just start over and build a new one from 2X4X1/4.

Anyway here's a couple of pictures of what I got done this weekend. Any suggestions would be appreciated being this is my first build and I ain't got a clue.....

http://s398.photobucket.com/albums/pp67/crazyrat_01/th_DSCF0612.jpg
http://s398.photobucket.com/albums/pp67/crazyrat_01/th_DSCF0610-1.jpg
http://s398.photobucket.com/albums/pp67/crazyrat_01/th_DSCF0609.jpg
http://s398.photobucket.com/albums/pp67/crazyrat_01/th_DSCF0607.jpg
http://s398.photobucket.com/albums/pp67/crazyrat_01/th_DSCF0606.jpg

The top has to be replaced due to some major rust and about a zillion holes in it.

If you use the instead of the [url] link then everyone can see the pictures in full size and not have to click to open them.
Cool project. We have a few of those around the country, let me know if you need anything.

 

[Ratcrazy]

Thanks Willowbilly3 for the sizing lessons, new at picture stuff too.

Thinking very seriously about building a new 'Z' frame in the near future, the more I look at the ranger frame the more work it is going to take whipping it into some kind of shape. Like a member from another forum said, he had been there and done that and it was a lot less work just to build a new frame.

Looking for a cheap front axle for a suicide perch in NC if you happen to know if one, maybe some other rodder has up dated their ride and removed a drop axle and spring and don't need it any longer.

Thanks again for the info on the picture sizing.

 

[Ratcrazy]

Bonehead, where might I find this DougandDog build about roofs?
Thanks

 

[Ratcrazy]

Bonehead, found the build from DougandDog, What a awesome build and it has inspired me as to what to do with mine now.
Shot a quick note to DougandDog about his build asking if he minded if I copied a few of his ideas.
Thanks for the heads up on his build. That truck ROCKS!!!!!

 

[Tripper]

Kool!!!

Crazy,
Keep up the good work & keep us posted!

BoB

 

[Ratcrazy]

After reading and seeing what Dougndog had done with his 46, his build has inspired me as to what I am going to do with mine. I talked with him about copying a few of he ideas and he has agreed it would be ok.

This pass weekend I started cutting and trimming the driver side door and cut off the bottom of door to remove what needed to be replaced. I started with the doors first due to the fact of not having a floor in this cab yet and by doing the doors first I believe it will help me keep the body lines straighter when I start cutting the top and windshield. I have the cab braced and supported so hopefully it will not move as I do the cutting.

Here's a couple of pictures of my progress.
http://i398.photobucket.com/albums/pp67/crazyrat_01/DSCF0645.jpg
I am going to shave the handles, kinda like the smooth look.
http://i398.photobucket.com/albums/pp67/crazyrat_01/DSCF0646.jpg
Made a cardboard template from the left side door to transfer to the right side.
http://i398.photobucket.com/albums/pp67/crazyrat_01/DSCF0647.jpg

That's about it for now, will try and get the right side door next weekend and hopefully maybe get the bottoms of both doors in sheet metal.

Anyone interested in purchasing the window glass frames and inter works contact me at 336-787-3808. Not sure what they are worth but make an descent offer and they're yours.

 

[DougnDog]

The project begins I hope you have as much fun with it as I have with mine. from this point its a lot of work ahead of you, but when its done it will be worth your time . not to mention ALL the good guys you'll meet on this web site....each willing to help you if you just ask they never let me down.
Good Luck Doug

 

[Ratcrazy]

Thanks Doug for your best wishes.
I have gotten started though work is slow but that's ok too. It gives me time to look and study what I am doing before I make any cuts. I have posted a couple of pictures as to what I have done so far but the pictures may not make much sense to some but to you and me I think you can see where I am and what has been done. I am finding that I have to make new adjustments to my plan as I do each piece. Body lines have been moved and so on. It's a great learning expense for me.
I will keep you informed as to how the build is going and again I thank you for allowing me to use your build as inspiration.
God bless and have a great day
Larry

 

[hillbilly4008]

hey brother, how bout some progress pics?

 

[Ratcrazy]

Progress has been a little slow this week. Did get the right side door cut and cleaned out of all the hardware.

Saturday was going be for me a good day to work on the ole 46 but seems my daughter and her husband had other ideas and brought over one of their race cars to put a new motor in it so I kinda got sidelined on my work to help them. Its ok, nothing but time. And besides, I do kinda like working with them on their projects too.

Bought 20 feet of 2x3x3/16 today for start building the back half of the frame.

As far as more pics, don't think any one wants to see another chop down door that looks just like the other one........ Will try to get some more pics in the near future when I start the frame. First shot at building a frame so I need all the help I can get from you folks. Thinking about a 18 inch rise in the rear section behind the cab and a 3 foot bobber with coils and a four link.

More later

 

[Ratcrazy]

update on 46 rust bucket

Got the right side door cut down last weekend and today cut the frame rails from the firewall back. Need these before I can put a floor in. After doing the floor, then comes the fun part, getting rid of the nasty looking top and making meself a roadster from this piece of rust. Here's a few pictures of the progress.

http://i398.photobucket.com/albums/pp67/crazyrat_01/DSCF0651.jpg
http://i398.photobucket.com/albums/pp67/crazyrat_01/DSCF0650.jpg
http://i398.photobucket.com/albums/pp67/crazyrat_01/DSCF0649.jpg
http://i398.photobucket.com/albums/pp67/crazyrat_01/DSCF0648.jpg

 

[50Ford]

looks good, cant wait to see more!

 

[Ratcrazy]

Cost update

Last night I set down and started thinking about how much this build is costing me so far. Here's the figures:

Last year I paid $200.00 for the original 1988 4x4 Chevy Luv truck. Traded even the Chevy for a 1988 Ford Ranger at a local salvage yard to originally build a stadium stock circle track truck out of.

Parts got really costly really fast so I traded the Ford Ranger cab and all the sheet metal for a 1946 chopped Dodge cab I found on Graigslist which I traded to Rusy46 for the 1946 Ford cab I have now. So far only $200.00 bucks in the build plus a ton of parts off the Ranger.

I am going to keep and use the 3.73 rear end and front brakes/rotors with brake lines from the Ranger and sale the frame rails.

Ok now here's where it gets good:

With the original Ford Ranger and the build of the stadium stock truck I had totally stripped the Ranger truck to the frame of all its parts.

Sold some of the parts from this Ranger for $300.00. Got my original $200.00 back now plus $100.00 in my pocket. Still have many more parts to sale off the Ranger. [can you say 'ching ching'?]

So after buying a portion of the frame rail material for the 46 build, I have out of my own pocket $12.00.

How's that for horse trading and staying under $3000.00?

Here's a couple of pictures I took today of my first mock up.

Hope these posted ok.

 

[DougnDog]

A thought

after you finsh ALL your cutting and welding on the cab, spend some serious time adjusting the door hinges. use real hing pins to do this I wish I had done more to adjust my doors, the bear claws and v guides can only do so much.with the body belt going around this year cab if its off a 1/8 youll see it as for money ha ha ha I was only planing on spending about 3-4grand on mine last I checked it was up to $7000.00 I count every thing I buy. some places I went over board All my fastners are Stainless steel. I think it will chime in at about 9G"s in the end. Have Fun
Good Luck Doug

 

[Ratcrazy]

Ouch, 9k's, oh my..lol
I am beginning to call this build 'welcome to rat 101', learning a lot from this.

What did your door latches and strikers come off of and how much trouble were they to marry to the old metal?

My hinges aren't in the best of shape, the door post has some cancer in it and got to figure out how to build them up to make them somewhat stronger. Any suggestions? Anybody? Post pictures if you have run into this with your builds on how to do this please.

Thanks

 

[DougnDog]

just got bear claw latches from speedway. I think I posted some pic's in my build also pict's of cutting out cancer and repairing it, the how-to is mostly common sents. each problem is different. Doug

 

[Ratcrazy]

Major score

Got me a motor and trans today for a good price, $350.00, 1964 chevy 250 with a power glide. Good compression and inside valve cover clean, major plus Now back to mock up.

 

[Ratcrazy]

Update

Will try to post some pictures this weekend of my frame or should I say what I have gotten done on my frame since the last post.

Been selling off alot of my woodworking equipment to fund my rat project. Brought a good Hobart mig last night so maybe I can now get what I have tacked together welded a little better. Somehow that Harbor Freight mig just dont cut the mustard for me. Kinda worried about it not burning in enough.

Also purchased a 64 chevy 250 straight six with a powerglide trans.

Still looking for a straight axle possibly from a Ford econoline van, yes that would work nicely. Any one from NC that might have one contact me and lets make a deal.

Things are looking up More later.