here is my first rat rod build(first of any build for that matter)For me a rat rod should have a straight axle, show off the engine, and glide just above the asphalt. My favorite era is probable the '30's and I like the idea of building something different. Being different will be easy because any rat rod on the road is a little off the beaten path. I don't have a '30's but I do have a '64 so here we go.
my '64 ford
- Thread starter brchopper
- Start date
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rainman
Rough Rodder
Should be interesting to see how you handle this, keep us posted!!
a little more progress
not sure if these pictures are worth showing but I didn't want you guys to think I stopped working on my project. I slowed down a little because of the cold so I built a wood burner out of some old rims . It sure is nice to have a little heat in the shop other than when I huddle around the welder. I should of started building something ten years ago . I am having so much fun ! For the most part I know how I want my frame to look but I' m still not sure I can pull off the body look I want . Im running my 292 y block , anyone running one with an overdrive? Take care all and enjoy the new year .
not sure if these pictures are worth showing but I didn't want you guys to think I stopped working on my project. I slowed down a little because of the cold so I built a wood burner out of some old rims . It sure is nice to have a little heat in the shop other than when I huddle around the welder. I should of started building something ten years ago . I am having so much fun ! For the most part I know how I want my frame to look but I' m still not sure I can pull off the body look I want . Im running my 292 y block , anyone running one with an overdrive? Take care all and enjoy the new year .
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Tripper
Older and more rusted every day!
You got a really nice start go'n on there & be sure to keep us in the loop! [cl
BoB
BoB
'64 ford
for the most part I got the frame done and really like how it turned out. I have the engine setting on the frame so I can start cutting up the body and building it to fit my vision. Im waiting on the rear end until I get the body started so I know how far back the tires will be. I plan on running trailing arm suspension with air bags in the rear so I can drop the frame to the ground when I park it.
for the most part I got the frame done and really like how it turned out. I have the engine setting on the frame so I can start cutting up the body and building it to fit my vision. Im waiting on the rear end until I get the body started so I know how far back the tires will be. I plan on running trailing arm suspension with air bags in the rear so I can drop the frame to the ground when I park it.
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got started on the cab
if it goes together as easy as it came apart this should be a piece of cake. when I took the floor patches out and pulled the roof off the front end just fell off it was so rusted out. Im auctually glad it is so rusted out. it makes what I want to do a little easier to handle. I took 16 inches out of the center. the top will be chopped with a flat windshield. I cut out the dash because when Im done , where the dash was will be mostly on the outdside of the vehicle. I still want to incorperate the dash because it is so cool , it will probable just have to be scaled down some. it is so nice out I should be out there working on it instead of typing to you guys but I thought you might like to see a chopped up cab. Enjoy the day.
if it goes together as easy as it came apart this should be a piece of cake. when I took the floor patches out and pulled the roof off the front end just fell off it was so rusted out. Im auctually glad it is so rusted out. it makes what I want to do a little easier to handle. I took 16 inches out of the center. the top will be chopped with a flat windshield. I cut out the dash because when Im done , where the dash was will be mostly on the outdside of the vehicle. I still want to incorperate the dash because it is so cool , it will probable just have to be scaled down some. it is so nice out I should be out there working on it instead of typing to you guys but I thought you might like to see a chopped up cab. Enjoy the day.
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got some more done this weekend
I got the floor on and the front of the body cut 16" less. I wish I didnt sleep in so much saturday. I might of got more done. The brace I put in was going to be 14 guage but my break wouldn't bend it so I used 16. Im afraid my impatiance will hurt me some in the end. When Im done you will be able to tell this truck was home built. The center will have a tunnel so that should give the floor enough support. I was going to install the floor by drilling holes half way and welding so it would look more like a factory spot weld but I didn't like how that turned out so I just welded everything. I cant wait to get that front end put back together and line it up so the doors fit. What guage steel are you guys using for floor, braces, and body? I think its time to get excited about going outside again. The snow melted off my daughters ranchero and thats got me thinking... enjoy the day !
I got the floor on and the front of the body cut 16" less. I wish I didnt sleep in so much saturday. I might of got more done. The brace I put in was going to be 14 guage but my break wouldn't bend it so I used 16. Im afraid my impatiance will hurt me some in the end. When Im done you will be able to tell this truck was home built. The center will have a tunnel so that should give the floor enough support. I was going to install the floor by drilling holes half way and welding so it would look more like a factory spot weld but I didn't like how that turned out so I just welded everything. I cant wait to get that front end put back together and line it up so the doors fit. What guage steel are you guys using for floor, braces, and body? I think its time to get excited about going outside again. The snow melted off my daughters ranchero and thats got me thinking... enjoy the day !
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earthman
Fascinated by rolling objects!
Going to be interesting to see how this turns out.Got a soft spot for the y-blocks anyway.
cycledog
A really rusty biker
lookin good. keep the updates coming
Had a vacation day today!
Got a little farther on the body. Its nice to see it look a little like a truck again. Got a better mig welder last week but by the end of the day the motor that pushes the wire quit turning. Maybe I'll have to bolt everything together?
Got a little farther on the body. Its nice to see it look a little like a truck again. Got a better mig welder last week but by the end of the day the motor that pushes the wire quit turning. Maybe I'll have to bolt everything together?
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I got a Hobart handler 210. the wheel that turns the wire out quit turning. first it was sporadic , got me through the sample wire , and then it quit all together. still clicks when I pull the trigger but no movement. Called a tech. guy today and going to call him again tomorrow . When it did work it was awesome . Made my 135 seem like a toy and once I get it fixed I'll probable forget how to stick weld. Thanks for your interest in this build. It lets me know I'm doing something right.
Like I said about my build, it's like watching Evil Kenivil jump - a spectacular jump if he made it or a spectacular crash if he didn't!
I also have a fondness for the 60's F100s and narrowing a widebody peaks my interest. If somebody can do it and make it look right, that opens up a whole lot more rusty sheet metal for rat use.
set the body on the frame for measurements
didnt get any welding done but I set the body on the frame for the first time and I love it! I was hoping my vision would look cool and not stupid but I did not really know until today. As I saw her sitting in my shop I thought to myself , now this is a rat rot. And I know why we call them rat rods. I had a nest up in the roof when I pulled out the headliner and a nest in the main floor support towards the back. Also accorns fell out when I pulled off the exhaust manifold. That I still dont understand . Were there squirls living in my engine? This will be hard to come by but I would like to come across a 61-63 unibody that has lost all hope of being saved so I could cut up the bed section to give me the right lines for a little bed on my rod. Anyone know of any? check out how the distributer is going to be tucked under the body.
didnt get any welding done but I set the body on the frame for the first time and I love it! I was hoping my vision would look cool and not stupid but I did not really know until today. As I saw her sitting in my shop I thought to myself , now this is a rat rot. And I know why we call them rat rods. I had a nest up in the roof when I pulled out the headliner and a nest in the main floor support towards the back. Also accorns fell out when I pulled off the exhaust manifold. That I still dont understand . Were there squirls living in my engine? This will be hard to come by but I would like to come across a 61-63 unibody that has lost all hope of being saved so I could cut up the bed section to give me the right lines for a little bed on my rod. Anyone know of any? check out how the distributer is going to be tucked under the body.
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The '64 to '66 styleside beds will match too and will probably be easier to find. I'm not sure, but I think the original Bronco rear section might even match up.
You'll definitely need a removable dog house!
I like the FORD on the front crossmember!
Keep going on it so you can roll it outside and give us a good look at it.
[P
You'll definitely need a removable dog house!
I like the FORD on the front crossmember!
Keep going on it so you can roll it outside and give us a good look at it.
[P
Im not runjning hood or front fenders but I should make an access panel from the inside kinda like a van to access the distributer. I would like to run this in rat rod shows when Im done . So far everything is '64 except the rear axle will be a '94. Should I take the time to find a better match for a '64 for shows? As I type that I think I should look for an older rear axle. Im still not sure what dirrection I will go on the bed or the grill. After I get the body where I can bolt it to the frame I will concentrate on the chopped top and flat windshield.
Charley Davidson
Well-known member
I'll be anxiously watching for that chopped top and flat windshield as I been thinking of doing that to my 64 Dodge D100 so hurry up [P
