Would this be a Rat Rod ? This would start with a 1950 ford Parts truck. Let me know if I missed anything.

1. Remove the entire front clip sheet metal engine exposed.
2. Cut off the Front frame just in front of the radiator no grill or bumper.
3. Cut the top off from the top of the windshield to below the back window.
4. Chopped winshield leave maybe half?
5. Doors gutted except for the interior latch assembly.
6. Remove the exterior latch assembly and weld the hole shut.
7. The top of the door window frame cut off
8. Gut the bed just leave supports to hold the box in place no actual floor.
9. Put a keg in the back for a gas tank.
10. Weld the tailgate closed remove all hardware.
11. Put tractor lights on the front for Headlights.
12. Put those 4" round turn signals you find at Auto parts stores for the front turn signals. Maybe get fancy and use motorcycle signals.
13. Remove the rear wheel wells and put trailer fenders on just to cover the top.
14. Put trailer fenders on the front attached to the backing plate so they move with the wheels.
15. Remove the heater and all extra hardware.
16. Remove the glove box hardware and weld it shut.
17. Remove the ashtray hardware and weld it shut.
18. Remove the windshield wiper assembly and weld the holes shut.
19. Remove the hardware for air vent in front of the winshield and weld it shut.
20. Put a single wire altenator on and strip all useless wiring.
21. Put the battery in the bed area by bolting a 2x8 between the frame rails and strapping the battery to that.
22. Disk brakes in the front.
23. Explorer 8.8" axle in the rear with disks a 3.0 rear end gearing. Truck should be real lite.
24. Put the spare in the bed by bolting a 2x8 between the frame rails and bolting it to the board.
25. Remove all except three leaf springs up front no real weight anymore.
26. Remove all except four springs in the rear.
27. Figure out the axle flip for the front and slam it to the ground.
28. Paint what is left with the red oxide paint color from Zero Rust.

 

Yep, rat rod = can't build for crap, so lets make it look like crap. Rat rod isn't a style, its an excuse. -4speed

 

My Super Duty was a rat rod the other day. I let it sit for a few days and that darn pack rat haul a bunch of locust tree pods up onto the battery and into the valley between the cylinders. Funny thing he doesn't go onto the engine on my 54. Now it's the one that looks ratty. Anyone know a sure fire way to keep them out without keeping the hood open. I've tried poison and traps. Guess you have to be smarter than the rat.

Husker

 

Speed

Tell it like it is, boy-o.
Could not have stated it better.

Cheers
Flashy
Red '58 Mercury M-100 223 I-6 w/ Merc-O-Matic;
Blue '58 Mercury M-100 Panel 223 I-6 w/ M-O-M

 

I think it would be fun it has nothing to do with competance. How much imagination does it take to build something stock? To build a rod it takes imagination and a picture in your mind of what you want when you are finished.

 

Unless I missed it on there, Chris, don't forget red wheels with big fat whitewalls .
Norb

 

Well, there's rods and then there's GOOD rods. "Imagination" is just one aspect of this hobby, and I've seen some great expressions of it. Craftsmanship is another. My favorite rods are the ones that combine both.

Comparing hard core stock to rods is apples and oranges. The stocker is going after something different than the rodder. The purest stocker wants a truck that amounts to a time machine, so getting the details right is important. The builder's personality comes out in his craftsmanship, not in re-engineering the truck. You'd be surprised how much "imagination" is involved in getting all those stock details correct.

I like both extremes, as well as the many flavors in between.

ROB

 

if i remeber hearing right, rat rod wernt exactly for looks but for sleeping street drag, it wasnt about being flash, but what you could do with the cash you had to make the inline6 or flathead8 pump out as much as it could... and personaly, flat black and simple lines go better with a chop then an extream paint job... personal opinion of course.

 

I have a hard time conceiving of a mid 50's truck as a rat rod, One should be based on a 20's to early 30's body, chopped radically, and sectioned over the frame so the seat bottom needs to sit on the floor for your head to clear the roof. A single carbed early Cad, Olds, or Buick OHV engine or Flattie coupled to a Zepher geared 3 speed with a shifter tall enough to be seen through the windows and Torque tube banjo rear end. Front beam axle with split stock wishbones, no front brakes. Red steelie wheels with dog dish hubcaps, white wall tires (painted on prefered) and white walled recapped cheater slicks. seat upholstery should be a Mexican blanket or army blanket, depending on which coast you're on, no other upholstery. Must have accessories are a "necker ****" on the steering wheel. a garter hanging on the rear view mirror and Mooneyes and/or Crower woodpecker decals.

 

When I hear "ratrod" I think of a car built on purpose to be extremely rough with hose clamps holding doors on and no floor etc. A flatblack car with steelies is built in a traditonal sense, might not be all that traditonal but its not billet laden either and not a rat rod!!. If you want to build the truck you desecribed, more power to ya. I just don't think it's worth wasting your time and effort on when you have a perfectly good truck already. Prove me wrong and make it look good if you do. -4speed

 

Christopher,

Here's a truck similar to what you described http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6057&item=45075745 46&rd=1 Ebay Item number 4507574546. In my opinion the owner completly destroyed this truck but to each his own.

Paul

 

There is no way I am spending $20,000 to do that to a truck that would be a waste. I would not spend more than a $2000.00 total. That is why I would be removing anything that was not needed or would cost anything to fix and was not neccessary.

 

Wow, that rat rod truck on ebay hurts to look at! Beauty definitely in the eye of the beholder...

Here is one that looks really good, but it didn't start with 50's truck either:

 

Here's another good lookin' one, complete with the mexican blanket upholstery AXracer was talking about...

 

I wouldn't spend that kind of money on a truck like that either. I posted the link because when I saw it I was reminded of your Idea. The truck on ebay does look really bad but if done right I agree that the rat rod theme can look good.

Paul