first post. I joined here a bit ago, but recently saw the board on My Cl***ic car on Speed. I thought this board was more about so called "traditional" high dollar Street rod scene but the spot on Speed channel made me realize this place is about hot rodding not $25,000 paint jobs and check book rodding. Me I don't have deep pockets to build with. Recently I came by a totally rebuilt 401 Nailhead (now 407 from.030 over) in a 64 big Buick convertible ch***is. And I'm trying to think of what to do with it. The trans is a rare Buick "Switch Pitch" variable stall turbo 400... I know it's not your average hot rod foundation, but it's a fully boxed convertible frame (so pretty stiff), with a chasis design that would be fairly modern in a current production car. Looked like a 4 link coil over solid axle rear, IFS front. The frame with a little hole filling would be cool looking all by itself. I was thinking of putting a sinister sort of truck [edit] rod on it. Maybe based on a Kaiser or Willys truck body.
You have said the magic rat rod word. Just as a warning...that will get you ridiculed here a BUNCH. If you apologize they may let you stay Anyway...WELCOME!
forgive my F-ing New Guy mistakes. I don't get caught up in semantics. And am not here to stir the pot. What else should we call it? Rodders who don't care about paint? I ran the Nail today let it warm up and rev for a few minutes to get some oil up into places it hasn't been for 9 years. talked to the old owner who said he put less than 100 miles on the rebuild. So the rings probably aren't seated, it blew blue smoke from the p***enger side bank for a minute until the piston expanded (I ***ume). Should I wait until I can get running gear on this and safely drive it before running it again, so I can continue the break in with some load on the engine and not just free revving it?
Hey I may secretly use the rat rod term on occasion myself...but I have seen it get bad attention on here. For the most part it desribes a style of hot rod to the m***es....but some people on here have cars that would regularly be called rat rods but the owners consider them traditional??? really i dont know I was just trying to keep you from getting a tongue lashing from a group of folks. Anyway...I love nailheads and those big valve covers pointed straight up. Good looking motors. Good luck getting it going right!
I'm definitely a recycler, I come from Jeeping, the whole [blank] rod thing got me to thinking I could actually afford to build something one day. Falling into a nailhead and drivetrain just might make it doable. Now to have a Willys pickup fall into my lap...
Nah you are looking at building a traditional hot rod. It's not about paint it's about building a safe fast car. Rat rods are known more for being unsafe just slapping it together. If you are building yourself a hot rod would your want it to be known as a peice of **** or what it is a peice of rolling art that you bust your *** on.
Cooter man I agree 100% one of the coolest looking, and torquest (is that a word?) engines to put in a rod. 445 pounds at the flywheel. Great truck engine. Man the sound this thing makes... it's a stock rebuild except the carb but its got a lumpy idle and would send dogs running away with their tails tucked at wide open throttle. My ears were ringing from the induction noise. Good times...
Gerg yeah I can see that, if Rat rods have a rep for being dangerous I wouldn't want anything I build ***ociated with that. Frankly I think the whole rat thing is overblown but you could say it has introduced lots of people to the idea that hot rodding doesn't have to be about thousand dollar one-off aluminum rims and Riddler paint jobs... On the other hand how many more plastic rats can be hung from rods before it becomes as uncreative and uninspired as checkbook rods.
The Jalopy Journal
