Projects OT: Ratrod reckoning

I heard about this buzz and logged in to see the progress. Awesome job, love the new frame section.

I too saw this when it was first dropped off, it was like an Easter egg hunt. I kept walking around it looking for the next disaster.

 

wow, i read this whole thread, then re looked at the first pages to make sure my eyes had seen what i thought they had seen,
hard to believe someone even pay for something like this.
very nice rebuild, love your work, thanks for taking the time to post this.
im looking forward to the video of the suspension working.

 

This sort of thing goes on in all types of industry and most of them create paper tigers. We have all met someone who was certified at something that they should never have been doing. In my opinion, unless the person actually cares about their trade, takes pride in it, and more importantly sees what it can and should be (insert reference of Steve's work here), will this mess ever change. Sort of goes back to the day where apprenticeships were the norm.

Keep up the good work Steve.

 

REALLY reminds me of what happened at work not long ago.... My POS OT car needed new front tires, so I ordered 2 Goodyears from the tire rack (made in Chile no less....)

So the tech in our shop is installing them... Comes into the showroom where my desk is and says I need new tire sensors, that they have some corrosion and will break off if he tries to remove the valve cores to dismount them. $150 each from Lexus, blah blah.

Fuck that.

So I ask him, what do you mean to remove the valve cores? He explains that it's the only way to deflate the tires. Says WHO? Oh, he learned it at tech school.

Oh, is that so? So I walk out to the shop, grab a cordless drill from one of the other techs, drill holes in the sidewall of the tire.

Presto. Tire deflated, now we can dismount it. Shockingly we were able to put new tires on and everything. And they work fine. Car still is a hateful POS tho.

 

Wow!
It's all been said here about your engineering and fabrication skills.
I will just say it would be an honor to meet you and shake your hand one day.
Top notch quality!

 

Easy Nads....we Phoenicians have to live with him! hahaha

 

Steve is a traditional hot rodder with new age skills. Where most of us see impossible problems he sees solutions. His work is creative, safe and exquisitely executed. He is also a teacher by nature and freely shares what he does and how he does it. We are lucky to have him in our hobby and on the HAMB.

This latest project may have been a rodent rod when it rolled into Steve's shop but when it goes home it will be a contemporary, drivable hot rod with traditional roots. HAMB friendly? Not in it's original form but as it evolved under Steve's talented hand I would say our side of the border line.

I've been a member here for a long time and I have seen similar projects slide under the door without adverse comment. I guess a lot will depend on the owner's perspective. If he say's "This is my hot rod" then that is what it is. If he says "This is my rodent rod" he is with them.

In the mean time we should drink from Steve's fountain of knowledge and be thankful.

 

Awesome skills you have. When I first opened this thread I had some doubts as to what the end results would be. I see now that you have everything under control.

 

ElP, at first I was looking at the car like one does as a kid viewing a horror movie for the first time,kinda peeking/looking but shutting your eyes real tight for the most part but after you got a hold of it I was blown awaaay how much chicken soup you made from chicken shit. Bravo sir!

 

Well said ! If I ever win the lotto Steve is gonna build me a chassis this cool!!

 

Hate the car, LOVE the truck!

 

Steve, thanks for sharing the pics and the rebuild process. We can all learn from the bad (before) and the good (after). When we stop learning, that is when we are in trouble. I hope that everyone can see the education being offered here. Keep up the good work.

 

Perfectly stated, Bib Overalls. I am another one of those in awe of ELpolackos mad skills.

 

society now frequently penalizes those with mechanical skills who care and who want to do the job right. we have replaced long term apprenticeship programs with very expensive, short term schools which has proven to be an unmitigated disaster. this ratrod is just more proof of what's so wrong with the system.

 

probably any kind of community collage automotive program, as poor as it might be, is a better value for the money than these expensive schools.

 

man that car s chassis was one horendous abortion of metal , the new chassis is a work of art , outstanding , good save on this one , i feel sorry for the owner actually paying the guy for the work on the first build

 

Looked really junky, did it?

 

patiently awaiting updates...you DO work on holidays, don't you?

 

From an amazing display of shit and more shit, to an amazing display of engineering and fabrication. Well done.

 

Both ends of the spectrum, in one thread:

Fabricating, engineering,

intellect, and wit.



Thanks ElPolacko.

 

Wow! Your skills make this rebuild look so easy and at the same time I just realized how incredibly poor my skills are. I have say I am a little depressed about that!

 

Job well done,You managed to make many valid points as well as statements that show your talents and experiance.With a little luck the owner may regroup some funds with the original shop.
Hopefully he (the original shop) will not be able to recover from the law suits and no longer inflict his pain onto his students or there vehicles.
With the exception of health issues i feel we all get what we deserve one way or another.
ELP you deserve praise and payment forwhat you have showed us.
The other shop,not so much.
I think we all learned something ,thanks.

 

This is a good news - bad news story:

The good news is that those of us who followed this thread witnessed top-shelf design, engineering and execution and the owner will have a first-rate hot rod when all is said and done.

The bad news is that the owner suffered a super-sized serving of heartburn and humiliation because of the first "build" ... he paid twice to get one safe, driveable car.

Job well done, ELP. A tip of the cap from all of us.

 

Old useless conrods are best used to make a plaque holder or something that's NOT going to be part of the f'n structural integrity of the car. This "Rat Rod" fad needs to STOP! Glad ya remedied that part on the frame El P!

 

Yeah and now that i think about it....it took the first "shop" 2 years to build that piece of shit! and ElP sorted it w/ top notch work in what? a month?

 

Yea, but if you have no skills, it takes a long time to turn random pieces of (s)crap into something that barely resembles an automobile. If you have skills like ELP, stuff gets done.

 

Need more pictures!

 

You sir, are a genius! Mad skills in engineering and fabrication.

 

You, sir, are one fine turd polisher

 

Steve, Rebel Rods Magazine might feature that before you add your keen eye & golden engineering touch to it.