Care to share your worst rat rod mistakes?

[NoShopSkills]

Several people have mentioned committing to less than compatible drive train components. Evidently it's easy enough to do if more than one person has done it. So how do you avoid the pitfalls and insure the junk you acquire is going to work well together? If a build starts with a dual motorhome axel as an example, tire sizes are all over the map. There's got to be a calculator somewhere?

Looking through builds, I see very few that pull an entire drive train from a donor vehicle. Is there anything wrong with buying an entire mid 70's Thunderbird (for monster engine size) or any car with reasonable acceleration and just adapt everything to a new frame? Kinda boring I know, but that way all the engineering is already done.

 

[NoShopSkills]

and is this "solution" out of the question?

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/pts/4485885696.html

 

[blacksheep]

Several people have mentioned committing to less than compatible drive train components. Evidently it's easy enough to do if more than one person has done it. So how do you avoid the pitfalls and insure the junk you acquire is going to work well together? If a build starts with a dual motorhome axel as an example, tire sizes are all over the map. There's got to be a calculator somewhere?

Looking through builds, I see very few that pull an entire drive train from a donor vehicle. Is there anything wrong with buying an entire mid 70's Thunderbird (for monster engine size) or any car with reasonable acceleration and just adapt everything to a new frame? Kinda boring I know, but that way all the engineering is already done.

The only advise I would give on the 70's Thunderbird purchase, is to make sure and buy either a '71 earlier, or '73 or later. In other words, the '72's started the whole smog head BS, but in '73 it got a little better.

 

[Old Iron]

Personally, I prefer to have a donor vehicle to pull parts and entire drive trains from and use.
As far as applications go, there's examples and calculators for everything in the book, just Google what you want to find out.
In the past, the only way to see if something worked was trial and error but, with all the info out there, in most cases, there's no reason for that process to mess you up.
What I'm going to say is not meant to be sarcastic.
There's no reason to miss calculate anything unless you are completely computer illiterate (ie. can't even turn the computer on).
Anyone who can find their way to this site, can find every bit of information they could ever want to know, by way of Google.

Tire size:
http://www.differentials.com/technical-help/differential-gear-ratio-calculatoro

Differential gear ratio:
http://www.differentials.com/technical-help/differential-gear-ratio-calculator

Exhaust diameter:
http://www.exhaustvideos.com/faq/how-to-calculate-muffler-size-pipe-diameter/

Transmission gear ratios:
http://www.tciauto.com/tc/gear-ratios/

RPM calculator:
http://www.differentials.com/technical-help/differential-gear-ratio-calculator

Brake pedal ratio:
http://www.piratejack.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=21

Conversion charts:
http://www.onlineconversion.com/

Titling procedures for every state:
http://dor.mo.gov/motorv/titling.php (state by state this is Missouri)

Adapters:
http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com...engine_to_a_modern_transmission/photo_02.html

This was done in a matter of 3 min. with the use of tab searching. The list is virtually endless.

 

[billy]

Old iron
Thanks for posting all that great info in one place.
That post should be a sticky.

 

[NoShopSkills]

Thanks Old Iron…

but, how I got to this page…
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/22/craigslist-find-of-the-epoch-whatever-this-thing-is/
just shows that you can get on the wrong track even if everything does work together…

In all seriousness, if nothing else this thread has made me consider a single source donor.

 

[junker39]

Porting heads without knowing where to take out and where to leave alone. I found out that the water jacket is is real easy to get into. Ruined a good DOVE head. After a little web research, I found a website that had detailed instructions and pictures. I took the ruined head and sliced it up like bolognie. Now, I've got something to go by for the never again do it myself porting and polishing. (I'll either let a pro do it or maybe just leave the heads alone) Good luck with whatever you do.

 

[billy]

Thanks Old Iron…

but, how I got to this page…
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/22/craigslist-find-of-the-epoch-whatever-this-thing-is/
just shows that you can get on the wrong track even if everything does work together…

In all seriousness, if nothing else this thread has made me consider a single source donor.

looks like a rock cod.

 

[earthman]

I chose my avatar so no one would take anything i post too seriously. So far i don't think anyone has been offended by my joking.
First thing that comes to mind is changing oil in a '56 Ford on soft dirt.
Poured 5 qts of oil in the top while 5 qts was running out the bottom.

 

[Sam_Fear]

Spend some time mocking up and/or Photoshopping to get the proportions right before you start welding.

Mock up and make sure you'll fit in the cab. Make sure your feet have room for 3 pedals.

Cut curved glass first and make the metal fit the glass.

Get it outside as soon as you can to make sure it looks right from a distance - you can't tell from 2 feet away in a cramped garage.

Most of it is all about measuring and planning ahead.

Depending on the state, a title can be necessity or n big deal. The same with Serial/VIN #'s.