ANTI-TECH! How NOT to build a Rat Rod... err... Death Truck

OK. Got the 55 Chevy truck home last night. Before I begin the festivities, BIG HUGE MOTHERHUMPING THANKS TO SCOTT "MUG" MUGFORD of Blue Collar Customs for helping me get this thing to my backyard. It took 3 hours and it was a bigger job than either of us anticipated.

Naturally when you get your new pride and joy home, you see the good stuff. Then, you start digging into it and then you find the BIG NASTY. So... Without further ado... here we go.

The fucking Imbecile who decided to work on this truck and create his own vision (hereafter referred to as Einstein) had the right ideas, but talentwise he's the opposite end of the spectrum from Mister Cole Foster. He lowered it and set it up to run a 383 SBC stroker with an automatic, and looks like he was going in the direction of "RATRODDEATHTRUCK" (TM).

I have about 5 or 6 posts to do, so bear with me until I say "ALLDONE!"

Travis

 

First off... steering. Has to go. And don't forget to notice the wonderful steering column cover made out of air ducts or whatever it is you want to call them. Also notice all switches, wiring, and anything else you can think of has been pulled or yanked into a rat's nest...

 

No radio? No heater? No Problem! Screw a fucking license plate into it!!

 

Continuing with the heater assembly... or lack of it... If you delete a heater... be sure to install a really cool heater delete plate...

 

Now that we are in the engine bay, let's take a look at Einstein's V8 mounts. I actually like the concept... he mounted it behind the original 6-banger crossmember...

 

But... wait... what's that? You said that Einstein ran a 383 SBC stroker? And he mounted it up with THIS!?! Einstein gets a Darwin Award Nomination...

 

Did you notice that the 55 sits nice and low? Ooooh... I love it. Let's see how Einstein dropped it. It looks like he torched the springs? (white circle) and then left the rubber bumper there? (red circle) and its about 1/4" away from the spring. Heads up Folks!! This is with NO engine in it!!! Einstein must have had a really bumpy ride. If I take out the bumper, this gives me 2" of clearance? Will I be OK?

 

SCARY!

 

Well... Suppose Einstein did all of this right? But ends up in a fiery wreck that brings visions of Robert (whatshislastname?! artist who drives that #397 car) paintings... Einstein lands right side up with the 55 going up in flames but can't get out because...

 

oooh. Damn. Stuck! Let's try the passenger side...
Lucky I left the garage door unlocked...

 

Overall... what do you expect for a $500 truck. Naturally all this shit is going to be fixed and I plan to stick in a 283/PG and use it as a beater truck. GREASEBALL JUSTIN... I could really use that 57!!


ALL DONE!!

Travis

 

Well that heater delete plate on the firewall ain't so bad. My 30 A pickup came with a sheet of galvanized nailed over the hole in the roof with roofing nails. (The LONG ones!" Some were even bent over on the inside where they stuck thru the wood so they didn't stick in your skull when you hit a bump. That universal mount is pretty common on those trucks but I don't know where he salvaged the motor mounts from. Quality welds there. You get extra points if you remember to weld the cross piece to the ends once the engine is where you want it too. I'm really suprised he didn't take the time to drill the mount full of holes. If the motor was built by the same guy who built the truck tho, I'm sure that mount would have been more than capable of handling it's output.

 

That is funny

I about fell over when I saw the garage door latch.......

 

Uhhhhhhhh...Uhhhhh....thats cool......

 

oh man! you're crackin me up down here "einstein" should never be allowed near any more vintage tin EVER.on the plus side you can't beat 500 bones for a big window some guys would pay that just for the cab i bet-george

 

atleaset he was resourcefull..

 

I agree...very creative with the latches...both of them!

(you'll start seeing these on "rat rods" in the near future...just watch)

The custom motor mounts are a piece of art. No sense in cutting them off...just give them a few whacks with a 12lb. sledge. Oh and save them, mount them on your wall next to a poster of Albert E. himself.

I'm digging the column cover, that's just cool. That guy has got class...special-ed class.

The truck has "character" in it's current state...But it's got "potential" now that it's in the hands of a HAMBer. Keep us updated on the progess & new discoveries of creative ingenious.

 

yea, say what you will about einstein, but he did HUMP marilyn monroe!
nic

 

Post deleted by JimC

 

Jeeez....some people would bitch if ya hung 'em with brand new rope!!!

Pretty clean score for five bills...worth, like...TRIPPLE that in Michigan!!

 

Hahahaha, I love the door latches, I'll have to remember that trick, oh, and the license plate radio delete too.

Thanks for a good laugh in an other wise crappy day. Good luck with that truck, I'm sure it'll be nice when your done with it.

 

You sure that truck didn't come from Alabama?

Brian

 

Yeah you got your hands full there Travis...but always remember this could have been your project instead of that truck.... I could fill up a bunch of hands here!

 

Whew Charlie...

When I see that I feel a lot better! But seriously, that 35 should be way cool when you get it together... and a rare piece too.

I'm not going to do anything to the 55 until I finish the 60 El Camino and get it sold. Once that's out of the way I'll start tackling Einstein. In between all of this I'm going to try to get the 59 presentable.

But seriously now... what is that guy's last name? Robert Jordan? The guy who's an artist and he drives that roadster that was just painted # 397 or some other visually pleasing number.

And yeah I admit I got a laugh out of all this stuff I found on the 55. My first that was "Jeez what did I get myself into?!" But... it means I have to learn how to weld, do body work and fabrication, generally grow up and do more than just wrenching a 348 together.

Travis

 

cool truck travis.... Needs tender love and HELP

 

Robert Williams.

 

<font color="red"> I am Sooo stealing that garage door latch !!

R E D M E A T </font>

 

since you are going to repair all of that stuff, can i get my latches back?

 

I have always admired the quality of the work on the cars that are built in CA. This is another example for us hicks in the midwest to look up to. This must be what they refer to when they tell me that we do not know shit here and if we want the good stuff we must go to CA. I guess someone just set the bar a little higher.

 

John, you sound a little bitter this morning...great score for $500 Travis. Hell, the stock Chevy PU door latches weren't all that great anyway. I see a pair of bearclaws in your future.
The truck cries out for a new front suspension. what are you gonna do there? Mustang? Nova?
If you bought that truck from around here, you wouldn't need to worry about door latches: they'd be rusted away, along with the cab mounts, the floors, Rockers door bottoms and the steps wouldn't even be there.
Great score!