Broke - but an IDEA!!

[treehick]

In the introduction page, I commented on how I'd like to make a hybrid between a late 40's sedan rat rod and a rock crawler...if I could do it, and when I have the time/money for it. Main reason I like the sedan - is I like the longer body style, and I'm quite used to driving a logner wheel base (driving a 21' truck for ~4-5 years now (that'd be a ext cab, LB truck). And futuristicly - if/when I have kids - I'd like to think I could carry at least 2 in the back.

So - either a late 40's sedan or an early 70's suburban. The sedan is more narrow - which is ideal for the trail, but less ideal for the build and comfort...maybe. The suburban - cause it might offer for space for everything I want to do - but either way - chopping the tops and extending the leg room (I'm 6'3" - need some room).

Ideally - it'd be pretty sweet to find a diesel that is low profile and as mechanical as I can find (get rid of all the wires everywhere - cause I don't want a hood all the time) But since that's not too typical - I might have to go with a straight six or a 350 v8 or a 454....I'm really going to have to shop around - cause I need clearance at the bottom for offroading, but with a chopped top - I'll need to be able to see above/around the engine

I'm thinking as far as bottom end clearance - do what GM did with the humvees - put the transfer case as high as possible (sitting in between the driver/passenger seats) and route the drive shafts down the center of the vehicle. I'll probably have to start off with leaf springs - but honestly they make the vehicle sit too high, so I think 4-link w/ coil springs would be best.

For offroading - 40's front and rear, but for on the road/cruisin - I'm thinking something like 20" tires on the front and 265's or 245's on the rear - try to drop the height with the tires. May have to figure out a modified frame to tuck the axles up - but not sure how/if that's possible - to keep the clean(er) look that you typically see with Rods.

The axles would be a favorable Dana 60's front and rear - both steering. Actuality - if this project ever happened - I'd probably start out with 14 bolt rear drum and D-44 front - with 11" brakes = 16" wheels?? maybe? I don't want to go IFS, but if there are issues with clearance, weight, etc - that might be an option.

Removable exo-cage for the cab and engine bay. If I decided to have a removable hard top - then I'd have to put the cage on the inside.

Again - I've got NO money for projects (yet I still look around for deals). I've been searching for a more fuel efficient vehicle for a daily driver since my commute is 32 miles 1 way, but if I came across something that I could "use as a secondary cheap, just-in-case vehicle" than I might be interested in starting early.

I'd probably start out with an early 70's suburban/truck 4x4 - just so I'd already have the axles/springs/frame/motor/etc.

Soooo am I crazy? Most of my family/friends think so, and I haven't even told them of this new idea, haha

[Sam_Fear]

Is this the kind of body style your thinking of? It's my 48 Olds. 60" track width and 125" wheelbase. It's longer than most GM's of the time - more foot room for the rear seat. I could easily see it as a 4x4, not so much as a rock crawler - I always think of crawlers as open wheel though. Unless you sectioned it, there is a good amount of up-down space under the hood. My frame was pretty beefy compared to the Chevy frames I've seen. In the pic, the tires are 235/75/r15's with about 7" (?) room above before they'd rub the fenders.

[Flipper_1938]

My model A was on 57" rice and canes with Rockwell axles for a while ....never made it past mock-up stages. I didn't want to trash the A when things went wrong (they always go wrong eventually).

[treehick]

i can't help buy laugh at myself, haha, but I never considered the fenders, haha. I've been thinking so much of just having no hood, no fenders - bare boneness. I think fenders would be rather nice - but they'd have to be removable, and I can't really comment on exactly what body style I'm looking for, unfortunately, because I don't know alot about the older cars. (Which is why I'm here, ) - but it's good to know that your '48 has a stout frame, and room to spare.

[cantwell.colton]

use a 50s suburban that would be cool.

[Sam_Fear]

Check out this thread!
Mail Cars

[treehick]

Originally Posted by Sam_Fear

Check out this thread!
Mail Cars

thanks!!

[Bonehead]

I have a rock rat in the works. Still gathering parts but look for the thread when I start.