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I have noticed what appears to be a move toward more recent models as the starting point for ratrods. Am I misreading something? What I mean is there are more 60's and even later vehicles being rebuilt (it seems to me), in place of the 30's models, often with a tractor grill, or something made...

Because I'm in a situation where (for our family car - winter wheels and tires) I'm considering something I never thought I would look at twice, I've been trying to get to the bottom of the question of wheel spacers. I did a search here for information, as well as a couple of other forums about...

Looking at some snow tires for our family car (AKA “my wife’s car”). Before now, I was unacquainted with the “Speed Rating” part of the tire code. But I am still not sure I understand it, at least in the case of the tires I’m looking at. Here’s the specific tire: Bridgstone Blizzak DM-V2...

My Craftsman power washer has a Tecumseh Enduro overhead valve 6.0 HP engine. I bought it used, but I have always used the “recreational” gas, and it usually starts with no big issues. This Spring I got it out and it started up pretty easily, with just a bit of gas spritzed in the carb. My...

I've been working on repairing my hinges (1946 Plymouth), and I've discovered that it already had over-sized hinge pins. I'm drilling out the hinge tongue, and pressing in sintered bronze ('oilite') bushings to go back to the original diameter pins. (Originally it was just steel on steel - no...

Not sure I really have the nerve to post something here in the Tech Tips, but don't know where else this might go. I was loading up a bunch of scrap yesterday, and this morning I thought I'd better cut the old gasoline tank open, because I'd heard that they won't take a complete one. (This one...

I generally prefer to post to existing threads, but the closest to what I wanted to discuss is in a thread that is over 10 years dead. That's a pretty old horse to dig up. http://ratrodsrule.com/forum/showthread.php?t=742&highlight=ackerman So here goes with a clean shot. I do know that the...

I searched to a bit over 2 years back & didn't find the answer to my question, so will make a new thread. What is the recommended length for a trailing arm suspension? (From pictures I've seen, it looks like about the same as the diameter of the tire - does that sound right, as a general...

The place I rent for my business (not auto related, unfortunately) has a garage in the basement, and it flooded this last weekend. I had been working on some stuff in there, and had left my ratchet on the floor. This had happened once before, but after the township fixed the drain out at the...

Has anyone here built a reverse ("sling shot"?) trike w/ a shaft drive running to the rear wheel? If you don't use a motorcycle drive line (like if you want to use an auto engine), and want to have a drive shaft running from a front engine arrangement, could a person use a ring & pinion gear to...

What degreaser do you all use where it will also get on aluminum parts? I was using some stuff from the hardware store called Grease Grizzly, but it is no longer available. Tried another brand, but it doesn't do the job as well. Lots of the stronger degreasers are not safe for aluminum...

I'm putting this here in the off topics section because it is not about rat rods, more of a rant. (Note: I don't want to percipatate a big discussion of one brand over another, either.) Just this: Why do they designate the same oil filter for my Dodge Grand Caravan V6 4.0L as they do for our...

This is one of those stupid questions, but I won't know w/o asking, so I can either stay stupid, or risk looking stupid. I'd rather look stupid than stay stupid. (I didn't find anything about this through a search, so I can't get off easy - w/o anyone knowing.) Is the mounting angle important...

I've thought about posting some of this for some years, and decided I'd go ahead & take a chance on it. Our old family car was this 1993 Chrysler Town & Country. As it got older I didn't want to sell it to just anyone, because it held all of those memories of traveling when our kids were...

I recently bought a used power washer at an auction. The original pump was gone, but a new replacement pump went with it. I have never owned a power washer before, and I'm a little confused about a couple of things. There are small diameter hose connections on both the water inlet (garden...

I bought a 49 Plymouth P15 model "parts car" in a salvage in 1981. Well, I still have it, and it's actually a pretty solid car. Coming out of a salvage, it was not at all complete, and since I was into restoration at the time, and because I already had started restoring a 46, at the time it...

Here's some sorta good news about a possible break in the trend toward more & more alcohol in gasoline. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/analysis-high-ethanol-gas-not-coming-pump-near-221640679--sector.html

Just intro-ed today - joined after 2 years lurking. This question is burning a hole in my feable mind, and I have to hear some responses, even if I just get blasted out of the water. I've been cutting up a Chrysler T & C, and my brother & I were talking about what sort of suspension a person...

Neto here. Although I was born in California, live in Ohio, and spent the majority of my adult life outside of the USA, I grew up in Oklahoma and still consider myself an Okie. (I haven't lived there since 1983.) I have been reading stuff on here most every day for the past two years, and...