The Z.Z.Rat Build

[cornfield customs]

been working on the truck over the past couple days, hope to have it rolling with in a few days

making the front spring perch





then machined a 7* tapered bung for the tie rod ends on the wishbones. then welded it into a piece of tube to go through the frame. so i could get a socket on the nut and keep water and dirt out of the frame





then drilled through the rails, installed and welded solid the bung assembly









then all smoothed out and tie rod ends installed

 

[cornfield customs]

 

[Neverdone]

Garbage as usual.........

 

[cornfield customs]

Garbage as usual.........

i know i need to get my head out of my ass and build some quality stuff lol. maybe one day when i grow up

 

[Ledco]

This may have been delt with before on this forum, but how do you deal with reversed ackerman when running the tie rod ahead of the axle???

 

[cornfield customs]

This may have been delt with before on this forum, but how do you deal with reversed ackerman when running the tie rod ahead of the axle???

You will always have issues with the Ackerman with the tie rod out front. You can make it better by bending the steering arms out as far as possible to get it close. The only time you have to worry about Ackerman is when you are turning pretty sharp, and one tire will scrub a little. So on a hot rod the Ackerman being off a little is not a huge deal.

 

[Ledco]

You will always have issues with the Ackerman with the tie rod out front. You can make it better by bending the steering arms out as far as possible to get it close. The only time you have to worry about Ackerman is when you are turning pretty sharp, and one tire will scrub a little. So on a hot rod the Ackerman being off a little is not a huge deal.

The situation I have on my front end seems to be really bad. I have bent the steering arms out as far as they will go and the one tire scrubs really bad. I wouldn't mind if it was at a sharp turn, but it starts to scrub almost right away when the steering wheel is turned. I guess the toe should be out rather than in and maybe it would be a little better?? Right now the toe is set at about 1/8"in.

 

[jfg455]

I expect to see this "garbage" sporting a flush cover plug on the inside with a "ZZ" embossed into it....[P

 

[cornfield customs]

a little bit more progress

got the body, hood and grill back on the chassis to get the body mounts fabbed up



and started cutting the sleeves for the front frame rails

 

[choppinczech]

Can you show those wheels and tires?

 

[Neverdone]

Holy WOW!!! How wide is that tire on the ground?? Please tell me that is going on the back of this!!!???

 

[Snake Farm]

.......... maybe one day when i grow up

Oh don't ever do that, I don't recommend it at all!

Awesome slick work as always Mike. Saw your magazine write up the other day too, congrats.

 

[gold03]

This is pretty cool. I like the tubing work. A buddy of mine just bought and resurrected a huge exhaust machine with a ton of dyes. [S I need to go try it out. The curves lend an organic look that matches the flow lines of these old trucks.

 

[cornfield customs]

yea the tire laying on the floor is for the truck

 

[cornfield customs]

nothing to exciting to report. started welding in all the sleeves and capping the front rails







and some welding on the rear of the chassis in between jumping around on the front of the chassis



and starting to get the cab mounted on the chassis in the morning

 

[cornfield customs]

working on getting the cab mounts mocked up



body removed and starting to weld the chassis up solid

body mounts



tubular k member



trans x member all welded up





welding in all the sleeves on the passenger side rail



welding and grinding to get everything smooth

 

[sims426]

Awesome work man!

 

[Sunnybeach]

Very nice. I like the front end even more now.

Keep up the good work!

 

[Neverdone]

Very nice!!!

 

[cornfield customs]

here is a teaser shot