Mounting engine with out final tire set?

guys I have a 29 sedan on a 32 frame with a 5.5" chop and .5" channel, I have plans to run 16" tires for a rat rod type look but the car will be painted...I post a pic but I have no web based storage area.

ok here is the question I have 205/75r14 tires from my donor engine car on the chassis right know for in the garage and the frame is within a degree of level side to side and front to back. I have the engine/trans blocked in ready for mounts and will ensure I have the 3 degree trans down and 3 degrees pinion up. I read everywhere you must have your running tires on but wether its 205's or 16"'s the car will sit pretty close to level the only thing that wil change is the ground clearance right???

the tires are 3-4 weeks out and I dont want to slow down as its projected to be a driver this summer.

Jason




Jason

 

oh boy.

 

If you're building a rat rod, who cares what it looks like regardless of tires and wheels?

 

this is what HAMBERs picture when you use the ratrod term

 

Just what in hell is a "rat rod" look?

 

Basically like shit!

 

Sounds like youve done the math right so far. The main thing is to get the engine and tranny lined up like you have. Its a good thing to block up the frame as close to final ride heighth as possible before you start and get the right angle on the motor to get the carbs level then position the rear axle accordingly. Pinion angle is critical, carbs being a degree or two off is not.
now, is it a ratrod or not?

 

I guess I see why so many guys dislike the users of the forum and this forum...next move for me is to delete my user name and go some where else

 

Green, you failed to read the necessary reading before posting, but aside from that, all you did was commit HAMB suicide by using a term that is taboo here. If you are truly building a r** r**, you are in the wrong place. If you are building a traditional rod, then you are in the right place...but the wrong frame of mind. It sounds like you are building a trd rod because you plan to paint, so you might stay and choose your terms more carefully. Just putting this out there, in case you accidentally pigeon holed yourself....

 

Don't take it personally. If you're into traditional hot rods and customs there's no better place to go.

If you're into Rat Rods, or Tuners, or Low-Riders, or Muscle cars, then there are probably better places to go and talk about them. If you have general automotive questions, it's probably better to camoflage the question in an on topic manner.

You can be into all of the above, but try to keep your discussions here on topic, otherwise there are some that get their panties in a bunch.

Threatening to leave won't bother anyone. Leaving just spites yourself.

 

I would like to see some pics of your project. Doesnt sound like a ratrod to me

 

Jason
Unless you are painting it with a broom you have already lost your edge on the whole rat deal so you may as well make a jalopy or a hot rod out of it. The 16" wheels won't effect that.

block your chassis up level in all directions, now put a level on your carb pad. make the engine level on both directions according to your carb pad.
Unless you ned up with a mega rake when you put tires on it that should get you plenty close enough.

If you feel the need to be coddled then you are absolutely in the wrong place. Everyone should be able to handle a little ribbing. No one actually tore you a new one. But like I said if you feel the need to be coddled then you are in the wrong place.

Let me relate a story to you. There is a man that has been a friend of the family as long as I can remember. He has always treated me like his own, even after I grew up it was like having two dads. He is a member of a motor cycle club and when I got old enough I was hanging around with some of the fellas from his club. I rode over to his place to see him one day and he asked how the world was treating me. I told him that some of the fellas from the club were a little hard to get along with and he gave me this advice. At least I think it was advice, he said, "well Benno, you don't have to stand tall in this world, but you have to stand.

I don't know you and I am certainly not your Ol' Man nor do I want to be. Never the less let me give you some advice, you don't have to stand tall in this world, but you have to stand.

 

If you want to come on here, NOT read the rules or pay attention, and then cop an attitude; then you are absolutely right.

 

Yep, there was a time when 'rat rod' was quite common terminology on here, but nowadays it is cool and trendy to pound on anybody who even mentions those two heinous words.

 

Thanks for stopping by. Now if you intend to leave, fine, if not, read the rules, do an intro, and...... well...... never mind.

 

ok so apparrently my term is the issue...my bad

lets clear it up this car isnt a shit welded, barbed wire patched up car no one would let there kid ride in, its built with no expenses in reason spared it has a $11k 32 TCI pinched frame full disk brakes, stainless steel brake line etc with all the bells and whistles. The chop was done with care and looks great and body work will be done this winter but left in expoxy incase we need to modify something next summer then painted next winter.

So to clarify the guys around here call my level looking car with projected 16" smoothy rims and skinny coker radial white walls a rat rod look....my bad. They may be wrong in that traditional sounds more my liking...

In canada in my area anyway we tend to term "rat rods" like u use trad rods sounds like rat rods are literally pieces of shit in your world this is not one, I will educate the guys that this is a traditional rod..sorry. I was looking for a word that would give you guys a idea of a car that sits level with bigger skinny tires...the only reason mine is channeled a bit is to have no gap under the body.

Im not afraid to stand tall either I just get tired of all the tough guys on forums posting big words on the net if this was a meet or face to face I would have for sure stood tall and probably more... but then again I wouldnt have got the smack either most likely because the computer cant hide there identities

If I could figure out how to post a pic I would...

jason

 

Now being Im running a level car and same size tires front and rear does it matter if the diameter of the tire is 30" or 24.5", level is level right...I had a guy telling me I was wrong in my thinking. the way I see it i can mount the engine and trans set the 4 link rear end zero out the angles and then when the new tires come its just a couple inches higher...right?

 

Your fine don't sweat it. The car doesn't care how much ground clearance it has. Set your mill the way I told ya or at 3 degrees whatever makes you happy. It won't change when you change the tires. You may not get it exactly right when all is said and done. The front or rear suspension will probably settle a little but close is cool as a rule. Hell your not building a church.

 

Pay attention to Porknbeaner. If you have the chasis level, sitting on the same size tires and rims all around and you latter change to a different tire or rim, as long as the new rims and tires are the same all the way around you will be Ok. If you are going to use different size/types rims or tires on the front and back you need to have themon the car when you set the angles.

 

thanks guys thats what i thought this fellas that told me I was wrong has built quite a few rods so I second guessed my thoughts

 

You want to set your chassis as it will be with the tires mounted, and you have the tires ordered, so you have the specs on the tires. So, look up the diameter for the tires and level the chassis up to that spec, and carry on.

 

If I could figure out how to post a pic I would...

jason[/QUOTE]


This worked for me and I am about as computer illiterate as they come.


http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=571122

 

everyone has been right on here. when I built a model A, I made the engine fan, parallal to the radiator..just another thought..

 

I put a pic from a week or so ago in a gallery its the only one I have at work with me if anyone wants to look, we bought the car in october of 2011...its moving pretty fast for me anyway all my own owrk except the frame...The TCI deals where tough to pass up.

 

I been ripped a few new ones and have posts deleted over the years, i even fight with Porknbeaner on occassion. No sweat. I just roll with it. This is a good place. Good to have you on. PS... Diggin the ride

 

Good lookin start!You"re on the right track.

 

Nothing wrong with that one. There are lots of cars on here some would call a rat rod. The term is used pretty loosely in some circles. Keep us posted

 

It is a nice car for a fact and if you can't beef with me who can you beef with.

 

Thats a nice lookin project Green!