Looking for a Rat Rod??? (scares me) Anti-tech

[Petejoe]

I was looking for a project vehicle this past weekend at Louisville. I have in mind to build an opened wheeled
30-31 sedan. With a slight Chop and channel.
I purused the swap meet there and found many street driven rods there with some of the work done.
I wish I would have had a camera with me cause I could have opened alot of eyes regarding saftey. It would have been interesting to show some of the downright scary and unsafe work done. I must have looked at 10-15 runners.
I seen shocks at a 10 degree angle... shock brackets welded to hairpins....hairpin brackets with literally two inches of weld used to take up a space problem.
Many times.... in frames and bracketry I seen weld used to take up a space problem to meet the frame or join a bracket. The welding was not bad...but the thought behing the fit just scared the hell out of me. I think we need some Anti -Tech articles for the future so called.. Rat Rodders to view, so that they may learn from this before taking care of their frame and bracket fit problems. Damn...I wish I would have remembered my camera.
I drove a few down the road too searching for the project. Another thing....If you want your cars to not rattle like a bunch of garbage cans in the back of a pickup truck. You have to use rubber mounts and stripping at the joints. Cheap shit for some golden silence.
How about we use this post to begin a list of scary work we've seen in the past and add some pics that will allow the newbees to learn.
The worst thing about al this for me.
The requested prices for this stuff was like they thought the vehicles was actually roadworthy. I guess it's time to start from scratch.........
By the way..
That was one hell of a job NealinCA !
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v394/NealinCA/32frame5.jpg

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BTW, Thanks for the compliment on the chassis build, but why did you include that pic in this post? Just curious...


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I am envious of your workmanship !
It takes alot of intestinal fortitude and determination to build a frame from what you started. I wanted to show the right way to do it. I will include this in the original post to clarify.

[Flexicoker]

Just cause you won that pro-built goldchainer ride doesn't give you the right to call other peoples cars dangerous or shotty.





just kidding http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[KCsledz]

Its always good to hear what not to do! Lets see pics if available too. I always like to knowwhat to look out for or what not to do.

[36-3window]

i don't know if this one is safe or not....it just looks scary! 30 ford coupe on a S-10 frame

[porknbeaner]

I don't have any pics but here's a what not to do story.
When I was in High School me and a friend built our first suicide front end.
Since we were on a budget and had an old bed available we used the angls iron bed rails. It looked pretty cool and we made it almost a block. I think the shift into second gear was what got us.
Lots and lots a sparks.
We drug what was left of the T back home. Lots and lots a repair.
Bed rails are really brittle (very high carbon content?). Never ever cut corners to save a buck.

[Petejoe]

[ QUOTE ]
Just cause you won that pro-built goldchainer ride doesn't give you the right to call other peoples cars dangerous or shotty.

[/ QUOTE ]
I knew I was going to have to put up with this. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Guys.... I am no different than before. My concern is for saftey not to put others down. Just because I got lucky...rest assured... I am too old to let something like that change my outlook of caring for people. I too have made mistakes in fabrication and will probably continue.
I just thought this could be a constructive post.

[Slag Kustom]

when i got my pick up off of e-bay i wanted to cry when i saw it. the guy emailed me many times answering all my questions said the frame was a "pro build for over $5000"
here are some pics of the crossmember i cut out.

[Slag Kustom]

do you think it was heavy enough ???????

[Slag Kustom]

great welds on the under side http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[CptStickfigure]

Great idea, Petejoe.

I'd also like to request that people explain WHY something's a bad idea, or at least what we're looking at. It may be obvious to you, but for us new guys what could it hurt to spell it out?

[HOTRODPRIMER]

I too have seen the rat rod mentality used to throw together unsafe cars.

I didn't make it to graybeard status by trying to see if all my current and past projects could be built with total disreguard for some sort of common sense.

Recently ,a young guy ask me to drop by his house to look at his rat rod ,,,,he tells me that the old dried out mud on the axle gives it the look he wants and is never intends to clean it up ,,,,no brakes on the front,,no shocks,,,the rear axle is welded to the frame.

He ask my opinion,,,,,,I try to explain my thoughs on building a car that will at least stop in a reasonable distance and have some sort of driving ability and I pissed him off! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

This guy ain't gonna live long enough to see his son grow up! ,,,,,,

I have owned a lot of early cars that wore a coat of primer and possibly a rusty hole or two,,,,,,,no interior, you bet!
But,dammit, it had brakes and I tried to make it run faster and look good.

I personally think that NSRA has had a lot to do with the idea of building cars that can be driven across the country with a safe bet you will get there!

I have been in the car hobby for a long,long time and have witnessed a lotta trends come and go.

The H.A.M.B. is a great place to learn from some of the best teachers in the world,,,, if you will listen!,,,,,,how to build traditional cars and trucks. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gifHRP

[HOTRODPRIMER]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Just cause you won that pro-built goldchainer ride doesn't give you the right to call other peoples cars dangerous or shotty.

[/ QUOTE ]
I knew I was going to have to put up with this. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Guys.... I am no different than before. My concern is for saftey not to put others down. Just because I got lucky...rest assured... I am too old to let something like that change my outlook of caring for people.

Amen,,,,You lucky goldchainer! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gifHRP

[NealinCA]

I have to agree about some of the scary things you see when looking under cars. I have seen some questionable workmanship on high end looking cars. I recently looked under a 32 5w, black, Halibrands, etc. Nice car. The front hair pin brackets looked like they were attached to the frame with globs of bubble gum. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif Bad workmanship, it's not just for Rat Rodders anymore...

BTW, Thanks for the compliment on the chassis build, but why did you include that pic in this post? Just curious...

Neal

[mexibilly]

dont look for a rat rod look for a hot rod I hate that fuckin term rat rod.

[Petejoe]

[ QUOTE ]
BTW, Thanks for the compliment on the chassis build, but why did you include that pic in this post? Just curious...


[/ QUOTE ]

I am envious of your workmanship !
It takes alot of intestinal fortitude and determination to build a frame from what you started. I wanted to show the right way to do it. I will include this in the original post to clarify.

[Kevin Lee]

I've still got the pieces I took off of my frame. They installed a steering box by cutting the frame rail in half and using the flange on the box to bolt it back together. No welds.

[DrJ]

All "Pro-built" means in anything is someone paid someone else to do it... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[ESnacky6]

DrJ... EXACTLY..!!!!

and it's not just 'rat rods', but sport-trucks and everybody
else as well..!!

Just take a look at some of the 'airbag install' websites,
A LOT of them (like where Killer works I think has a section)
have 'before' pics of home jobs, and even supposed 'pro-shop' jobs too....
It is pathetic and saddening to see good people getting
ASS-RAPED $$$-wise & safety-wise by blind/retarded monkeys....
not to mention the horrible home-jobs done by amatuers....
One of these days, there will be a tragedy caused by one
of these 'death-rods' and the shit will hit the fan....

I just hope it's the person who did the 'build' that gets hurt,
and not innocent bystanders/drivers/women/children/etc....


I could seriously go off on this subject,
(poor craftsmanship, building techniques, welding, etc.)
but it's entirely possible I would end up
being even more 'hated' than I already am.....

Sorry... -Snacks....

p.s.- I'm not an expert at ANYthing car related,
but when it comes to safety, (major fabrication, brakes, etc.)
I'll gladly seek, and/or pay for, proper help to make it 'right'.....

[ESnacky6]

http://www.deviouscustoms.com/WallofShame.htm


here's a link of 'perfect' examples..... Yikes..!!!

[Petejoe]

Looks as though someone was looking for a quick and stupid way to be cool....... This is nuts!

http://www.deviouscustoms.com/Wall%20of%20Shame/5.jpg

[rev616]

whats that saying about duct tape again?

[zman]

Some of that shit just plain scares me. When I bought my Henry J I ran into a bunch of half assed shit like that. The old guy who started the build did real nice work. The young kid that got it from him didn't. I fixed everything the young kid had scabbed and ended up selling the damn thing. It was fun but I just didn't feel the love anymore. I wanted to blow the damn thing apart and start it over...

[Dirk35]

I too would love to hear and see pictures of what not to do. Especially on front suspansions. I have three or four books on them, but I still dont know crap well enough about straight axle front ends to know the difference between safe and not.

I really wish I had taken better before pictures of the frame hackery of my 49 F1 that I had to fix.

[Slag Kustom]

i love to buy unfinshed projects becaus of the money has been spent and the savings i get but alot of times it is 10 times more work to un fuck what some one has done.


the pics from the air bag job scares me but also makes me feel much better about my work.

[Smokin Joe]

There's a problem with the "Pro built" idea most people don't think about. Often the "Pro" is the guy with the big name you see in the magazine picture shoot or the guy you talk to on the phone in the office. He's built some nice stuff and got his name up there, but he's a salesman now. The "built" part comes from highschool kids he hired to do the dirty work so he'd have the time to yak to customers on the phone and attend shows. There are a lot more Pro shops like Boyd's out there than you think. How often on that TV show do you see Boyd turning a wrench or laying a bead? I know a painter that'll charge up to 20k for a custom paint job. Most of his customers actually think he does the work. They don't know about the kids he hires cheap that are learning how to do body work and sanding on your 20k paint project. And if they're good, he'll let them shoot it too. Of course, when you come to pay for it he won't bother to mention he never touched it. And he won't introduce the 19 year old part timer out on work release that did it for 6 bucks an hour just to get out of his jail cell for a while. If you knew the truth, you'd probably pay the kid and leave him out of the loop. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Stevie G]

[ QUOTE ]
http://www.deviouscustoms.com/WallofShame.htm


here's a link of 'perfect' examples..... Yikes..!!!




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That's some scary shit. And people probably laid down the green to get it done.