MACKAZs 22 Buick model 45 Rat

[Willowbilly3]

I had some lighter weight conveyor with no cords and used a hole saw in the drill press. Made my body mounts and front engine mount isolators.

 

[MACKAZ]

Hello all!!! No I have not given up on the car!! In fact just about to get back into it after a rather stressful 6 or so months. Basically I've chucked in my assistant managers position at the tyre shop after much deliberation, wasn't good for my health, time with my family had become a distant memory, everything climbed on top and I became swamped. Soooo....
I've landed a job wheel aligning trucks for a large international logistics company, and when I'm not aligning I'm a general mechanic. Better pay, better people, better MACKAZ! I've been on board nearly 2 months and loving it!

So small update, I've sourced some material (conveyor belting, brand new too) to make the body insulators, and been donated a part sheet of 4mm plate to make mounts out of.

We have 2 long weekends over the next 2 weeks so I'm gonna spend some quality time with my Mrs and Family for them, then its on like Donkey Kong.

Watch this space.....

 

[smallfoot]

Good to see you back at it! You'll like working with the conveyor belt. It works great. I used it everywhere, motor mounts, cab isolators, bed isolators, trans mount too. Tough stuff...

 

[MACKAZ]

Well the templates have been made and I'm waiting for the Ol' Boy to come into town. Hes gonna cut em out with the plasma cutter, which is at his workshop. I've cut 6 70x70mm squares out of the conveyor belt. Next time I'm off on a work gambit in town I'll see if I can get some 2" panel washers and some exhaust tube that will go over top. I reckon 10mm depth should be ample. Cutting the circles into the floor will be interesting.....

 

[MACKAZ]

An update,,,,with pictures....
Clambered underneath her to mark out the floor mounts, and found the floor didn't follow the chassis properly, dammit.
so chop chop

Remember its done with gasless Mig so it looks horrid.
Heres the plates that the body will sit on

pushed her outside, pics with the new 17" wheels on it

 

[ratadixshun44]

Your ride is looking good, [cl I'll be watching for more updates..[P

 

[soltz]

Very Nice

Looking good, still odd with right hand drive in an old rod. Keep the pix coming we love em. [cl

 

[MACKAZ]

Believe it or not this cowl was right hand drive original, suspect its one of the few built in New Zealand back in the dark ages. We drive on the other side to USA.

 

[MACKAZ]

Been into the car over the past week or so. The body mounts are heavily tacked in place, the floor mounts are finished and ground off. Im really pleased with how it all turned out. Anyway a few quick cellphone snaps, sorry not the best but hopefully the idea gets through.

These sandwich this, the chassis

and this, the floor

The rear floor

I bent up a gearbox tunnel at work (in my own time of course) and I need to take the grinder to that. Next up after that is a driveshaft tunnel and weld the front floor to the back floor. Then the real exciting part, I'm building the seat as part of the body, ie a tub back for the backrest. Will be interesting to say the least. HOOTING!!!!!

 

[sgtpontiac]

looks good to me....

Will continue to watch this build....[P

 

[Skip]

I like where you are going with the body. It's going to look great!

 

[earthman]

Can tell right now this is going to be good!

 

[MACKAZ]

Cheers for the encouragement! I'm in process of getting my bigger Gas MIG going. That will make a big difference to the weld quality.... Gasless is yuck but functional....

 

[Snake Farm]

Nice to see this build back on top!
[P[P[P

 

[MACKAZ]

Made bits of the gearbox tunnel tonight. Not bad for a vice and a couple of 2x4s

 

[bob w]

What you are doing and the way you are doing it is the essence of rat rodding. I really enjoy following your build.

 

[MACKAZ]

Case of having to, not wanting to. Besides I'm intending to get this on the road for as absolute little as possible, so it's DIY where I can. Driveshaft need to be done professionally. One the to do list nearing the top...

 

[MACKAZ]

Shifter acquired, junkyard special a mate found in a wreck. Can you say Hurst???

 

[Snake Farm]

The tunnel is looking good and will be even better with a Hurst shifter sticking out of it!

[P[P[P

.

 

[Skip]

Made bits of the gearbox tunnel tonight. Not bad for a vice and a couple of 2x4s

Funny thing. I have a break and roller, and still like to make stuff with a vice and 2x4s sometimes. It feels good.