1950 IH 2 ton rat rod
- Thread starter michael1
- Start date
Help Support Rat Rods Rule:
pic of the doner vechicle
This is a 84 Cruise Air 2, i cut the front in order to get at the 454 eng and 400 turbo trans, pulled it all togethor. Removed the rear axle, was a direct bolt in into the rat (plus it has rear disc). Also took the brake lines, the top shock mounts off the frame, the tires (19.5 -8), the drive shafts (all three), and the carrier bearing, the steering column (it dosent have the ignition switch on the column, this is great cause my rat will uses a ignition switch on the dash and a starter button on the dash, factory rat setup) captains seats will work nicely with the pedastal mount and swivel action, can cut the pedastal way down to get it lower in the cab. I gave 500 for the whole motor home, it was really rotten on the inside, the roof leaked. The home only had 30,000 miles on it..
This is a 84 Cruise Air 2, i cut the front in order to get at the 454 eng and 400 turbo trans, pulled it all togethor. Removed the rear axle, was a direct bolt in into the rat (plus it has rear disc). Also took the brake lines, the top shock mounts off the frame, the tires (19.5 -8), the drive shafts (all three), and the carrier bearing, the steering column (it dosent have the ignition switch on the column, this is great cause my rat will uses a ignition switch on the dash and a starter button on the dash, factory rat setup) captains seats will work nicely with the pedastal mount and swivel action, can cut the pedastal way down to get it lower in the cab. I gave 500 for the whole motor home, it was really rotten on the inside, the roof leaked. The home only had 30,000 miles on it..
Attachments
front axle and steering
This is a 1990 Rockwell International front axle from a 1 ton Ford flatbed truck, had to remove a little over 5 inches out of the center of the axle so it would fit on the axle springs. Was necessary to redrill the holes for the U bolts as the springs were a lot narrower than the ford leafs. I removed 4 leafs from the rats leafs springs so it might ride a little better( this truck came with no shocks, front or back and no sway bars, factory) I bet this baby rode and drove like a dream !!!!!.This axle has disc breaks, I turned the rotors and packed wheel bearings while it was apart ( this stuff is very very heavy, this is some heavy unsprung weight!!!! The steering rack is out of a 2000 ford explorer ( was freeeee) I ended up mounting it in the center of the axle( I know what ur thinking, it has to sit more to the right than the left so the turn radius would be the same) It looked a lot better plus my steering shaft lined up perfect. The tie rod ends were cut off of the 1 ton axlle as close as I could get it, and the Explorer was cut off as close to the adjusting threads as possible and welded together (left side) right side was made as long as possible using almost the entire length of the 1 ton tie rod and the threaded end of the Explorer (worked nicely). The rack had to be mounted to the axle and away to get it to line up with the steering nuckle. Made mounting brackets that bolted to the Ford axle via the sway arm holes, than ran a brace from the top of the rack down to the right side to keep it from rocking back and forth.
This is a 1990 Rockwell International front axle from a 1 ton Ford flatbed truck, had to remove a little over 5 inches out of the center of the axle so it would fit on the axle springs. Was necessary to redrill the holes for the U bolts as the springs were a lot narrower than the ford leafs. I removed 4 leafs from the rats leafs springs so it might ride a little better( this truck came with no shocks, front or back and no sway bars, factory) I bet this baby rode and drove like a dream !!!!!.This axle has disc breaks, I turned the rotors and packed wheel bearings while it was apart ( this stuff is very very heavy, this is some heavy unsprung weight!!!! The steering rack is out of a 2000 ford explorer ( was freeeee) I ended up mounting it in the center of the axle( I know what ur thinking, it has to sit more to the right than the left so the turn radius would be the same) It looked a lot better plus my steering shaft lined up perfect. The tie rod ends were cut off of the 1 ton axlle as close as I could get it, and the Explorer was cut off as close to the adjusting threads as possible and welded together (left side) right side was made as long as possible using almost the entire length of the 1 ton tie rod and the threaded end of the Explorer (worked nicely). The rack had to be mounted to the axle and away to get it to line up with the steering nuckle. Made mounting brackets that bolted to the Ford axle via the sway arm holes, than ran a brace from the top of the rack down to the right side to keep it from rocking back and forth.
Attachments
earthman
Fascinated by rolling objects!
Great project. Heavy duty. Thanks for the update 
zzrodder
It ain't grey hair, it's chrome!
That front axle is nice choice instead of using old timey stuff, interesting use of a rack&pinion setup. Are you using a slip joint of some sort in the steering shaft to accomodate the length change as the suspension moves ? Those old motorhomes are a great source of parts and like yours, can be found cheap with low milage when they are rotten.
Charley Davidson
Well-known member
That project is coming along nicely. I wonder what a duelly would look like with super singles on them? Some 24's
