Hey guys im new to the board and kinda new to hot rodding. I have helped with restros and started one and was just over my head so traded it for the car i have know. But im looking to get a project to keep me busy and what i want to do is build a nice rat rod. My idea is a model A frame with a fibergl*** model T body. So my question is what do i need to do to make the body and frame work together?
These pieces plus maybe some bed rails to make body mounts. But you can't make an R Rod out of it because it will never rust. Without out the prerequeset pollution control small block zoomies tunnell ram and rust you cannot an R rod make. Rust is a must
An intro is a good thing. Folks on here will argue that there is no such thing as a 'nice rat rod' and the fibregl*** body will definatly be met with some frowns. Find your self some authentic henry tin, read the build threads on here and develop some ideas. There are master craftsmen on here that will take the time to help, but you don't need our help to build a piece of junk.
Lurk a bit and do some research, I'm sure you'll find that the term "rat rod" is like poison around here.......................we're NOT a rat rod forum. Quite the opposite this place is about "traditional" rods and customs" and if your of a mind that those terms are interchangeable with "rat rod" then be prepared to be bloodied like you were attacked by a pack of pit bulls...............................move on ............our NOT welcome here. I tend to be more warm and fuzzy than others on this site so continue at your own peril. Frank
Go here and read this first: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44274 Like was mentioned, after reading the above, do an introduction.
No offence my friend, but Im just not into getting a tet**** shot everytime I drive my car. Oh wait, its fibergl***.
Do some searching here and you'll find the error of your ways.... Seriously, the guys around here have been rodding since the dawn of time and most of us have figuired out that it's no fun driving a POS that has nothing going for it but pure shock value. Unfortunatly since your new to this hobby you don't have the seat time it takes to appreciate a well designed and running ride. A lot of guys can't tell the difference between a rat rod and a very nice traditional build. The number of times my A roadster has been called a Rat rod is unbelievable and that one actually borders on street rod build quality. Don't let the crew here discourage you too much. Once your on board they're the best folks anywhere and will bend over backwards to help you. They just don't want to see another junkpile on the road giving the poli***ians another reason to *****. PM me if you need direction. We're here to help. Just no "rat rods"! By the way, a T body on A rails has been around forever and works great. Look at Ivos T or Norms 77 sunset strip ride, ( l liked it better when it was black), or some stuff Von Franco has built. The best one on here is RoyalShifters black one. The best ever!
You post a legitimate question, and get told to go post an intro. lol To answer your question, a grinder, some screws/rivets should probably be the extent. One good piece of advice is not to mention the R word, most people on here get pretty tore up about it, just as some will be tore up about you running a fibergl*** body because its not "traditional". Build whatever you want and build it to suit you. Not everyone can afford mostly rust free henry steel bodies. Fifty years from now when you have driven your T daily and its not full of rust holes, I'm sure you wont be complaining!
well thanks for the help guys. I call it a "rat rod" cuz i want something i can build for a cheap price that i can drive and not worry about if its in primer or paint. Like a parts getter but a street rod. Like i said ive done a few rods before 48 f-1, 63 falcon and helped do a couple others but those were the biggest ones so far. Im sry if i offend anyone but im 25 years old and i hang out with people in there 40s and 50s and go to alot of shows and see some cars people build and im going to build what i want not what everyone else likes. Im going with fibergl*** cuz its a cheaper alternitive then finding a decent steel body. Im sry that you all think that kids know a days are killing the sport but i believe its people that frown upon us that are failing the sport. One day street rods will die cuz people would rather judge then see the new era that still keeps it cl***y. Thank you kingCdogg for your answer i appreciate it.
ha.. hey wicat3.. The best thing to do is your research and look around to see what everyone else is doing.. There is def some up tight people on here, as well as a lot of knowledge!!! go do a intro and look around for a while... Then build what u want, can handle and learn like most of the people on here have with what they had to do it with.. I hope your build turns out to be everything you want and more..
Not sure how you found the board but quite often guy find it with Google and don't read enough threads and posts to get the feel of the place before posting. And no collectively we don't care much for the R-- rod thing as most here feel it degrades the hobby. A lot of the guys run primer and a lot run with the old Patina that the vehicle came with but the ch***is will usually be top notch in worksmanship and safety. What we don't like to see is the welded on, bolted on painted on **** that is there for shock value or the bubba effect and has no place on a decent old style hot rod. There is plenty of info around about properly mounting a fibergl*** T body on a frame so that shouldn't be an issue. Bodys are still around though as one of the local guys had a 23 Oakland touring body for sale for 500 on the local craigslist today. And I didn't have 500 to spare today. What are the plans other than a Model A frame/ch***is and a T style body? Engine, trans, rear end??? Tell us how you plan to set it up and the guys might just decide that it is just a little low buck rod like they always had lurking in the back of their mind and never took time to build yet.
The Jalopy Journal
