E-Rattus E-Roddus

[rustylocke]

Thanks Snake Farm. I wanted to use metal strips but the wood just looked better in the end.

 

[rustylocke]

Finally finished my grill insert. It turned out pretty good. The 1/4" rod around the outside really cleaned it up. Threw on a little patina, sort of.

 

[rustylocke]

St patty's day parade with my wife and little one.

 

[mikec4193]

Hi Rustylocke

I love the look of your ride...so hows the wife like it??...and the little one too???

Thanks for posting...

MikeC

 

[Flipper_1938]

St patty's day parade with my wife and little one.

The grill insert looks great. The detailing really changed it for the better.

 

[bob w]

If I owned your truck, here's what I'd change.....nothing!

Where did you fine the hexagonal perforated metal?

 

[sgtpontiac]

I've found a ton of expanded metals....

If I owned your truck, here's what I'd change.....nothing!

Where did you fine the hexagonal perforated metal?

but I'd ask the same question...where did you get that hex metal?? [S

 

[rustylocke]

The wife will drive sometimes and the little one says it's to loud. I got the metal from an AC condensor on a 15 passenger bus. The hardware store in the next town sells it in sheets I think.

 

[rustylocke]

I got tired of running out of gas so I finally bought a 0-90ohm Gas Gauge. So I started on a Gauge Pod thing to hold 4 gauges. I would rather make than buy. I had a piece of Square plated aluminum that I had used for various things for the truck so I thought it would make a good insert backing for the gauge pod thing.

Made some holes

Give it a bend and some 1/4" round stock

I like mine way better

And then tuck it away where no one can see it. Well not very well.

 

[Sam_Fear]

Gauge panel looks great! I like where you put it too.

 

[sgtpontiac]

Yep, it's a neat place to mount them...

looks very cool....[cl

 

[rustylocke]

Started working on the rear suspension

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[JBailey]

This may seem like a stupid question but, what's the bar coming off of the lower trailing arm and running to the driver's side in the last pic?

 

[rustylocke]

Pan hard bar. I realize it may not need it, but it doesn't hurt anything.

 

[JBailey]

I've never seen a panhard like that. I always thought to work properly it should be parallel to the axle and sit almost level at ride height. Have you test this suspension to check for binding and such?

 

[BlueNorther]

many drag cars run their panhards in such a fashion.

mine ran from front left ladder bar to right rear ladder bar.

tri-angulates ladder bars, will also work with four link.

just have to be sure it doesn't hit drive shaft.

 

[rustylocke]

Trying to finish the rear suspension up. I've a few updates:
I swapped the front bushings for a heim joint.

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Still need to tighten everything up

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Good ol' manual valves, because I am cheap like that.

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My favorite:

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[gold03]

That looks great! I like your suspension redesign. Have you been able to test drive it yet? How is the ride quality?

 

[rustylocke]

Thanks, no I have not gotten it the road yet but I can't wait. I still have a few more things to do. I can tell that I might need to invest in some better shocks. These have seen better days. Any suggestions?

 

[rustylocke]

Got to test the suspension out and it works great. I couldn't be more happy with it. When I aired out the bags the tires were really close so my buddy gave me some wheels. Which matched the fronts and went with a taller and skinnier tire. Now it is perfect. Been working on whether or not to go with white walls or black. What do you think?