:: Unique 31' Ford Build ::

[Syndicate Chopz]

Different is good , as long as it is sound engineering . I sell big wheels for a living , so they don't bother me . I love the big block , not so hot on the powerglide , they are great on the drag strip , but they always leave me wanting more . I honestly think it's A1 other than the glide , love the build ! I'm ready to see more [P

Gregster.... I understand where your coming from....
But if you could only see tha' limited room I have in tha Cab... it's gonna be next to Impossible to fit anything else besides a Powerglide in there!! haha..
I already got my knees crammed in my face!!
Got a Close family friend that rebuilds tranny's for a Living... he offered to rebuild it for free for me... so Guess I can't pass that up!!

 

[Syndicate Chopz]

Its a great looking truck.. wheels arent my thing.. although they use to be.. but its your truck and build it the way you want it.. and who cares what the traditional guys say.. i look forward to the day when i roll up next to some traditional guys at a show..! How tall are those rear tires.. just out of curiosity?

I feel like i have seen this truck, by any chance did u buy it off a dude over at KB.. who has a wild looking datson truck with the suspension components in the cab??

Tha rear tires are 285/35/ZR22....
They measure right at 30" tall....
Tha Truck measures just 39" to tha highest point of tha cab....

And yes... you are right!!
You probably have seen this Truck before....
I am tha Original Builder of that Datsun 620 Bulletside....
I traded straight across for this Project... It came from Lancaster, CA...
I miss my Datsun.... and believe the Owner is trying to sell it....
Wish I had tha money... I'd go buy it back!!

I will have to start another thread with more info on tha Datsun....

 

[Gregster]

I can dig it --- there's something to be said for comfort . by the way I like your wheels and with the copper/bronze coating even better . bon speed builds a really nice wheel , I talked with them at SEMA about some wheels for my truck project and was very impressed , they do nice large diameter wheels without the innercity look .

 

[Syndicate Chopz]

Very cool looking truck, I actually like those wheels with it, thinking if you do the engine kinda fancy looking to go with the wheels, to contrast with the rat body, that would be cool and different. Its good to see something more unique,definetly like the whole thing.

Ratdog...
Thanks for your Support!!
I'm actually hoping to be able to Run an Inglese 8 Stack Manifold...
Give that motor a more Vintage but Bad A$$ look to it....
have you had a chance to see those setups yet??
Here's a Pic of a Sinister 8 Stack Setup....
Let me know what you think....

 

[CORPO]

You did some very creative stuff on that datsun.. i will be definitely interested in what you come up with on this one.. and you are right he is trying to sell it... i think 6 grand...

Anyway.. i think the rims will look cool with a copper finish on it.. i think they would look really cool once they have that aged copper look...

 

[ratdog]

That intake will be awesome,I love those,always been my dream to have one of them ,but my budget says edelbrock performer and 4 barrel for now.

 

[Sam_Fear]

Black motor with copper accents will POP! Copper stacks on that intake would be sweet too. And you aren't kidding - the first builder didn't leave much wiggle room to play with in the foot area.

I like what 117harv did with the copper on this sedan: http://www.ratrodsrule.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13156

 

[Donuts1]

I'm diggin it! Cool build!

 

[Syndicate Chopz]

Suicide Shifter...

SO... one day, while at tha Local Junkyard here in Town.....
I spotted a Shifter on tha Side of an Old International Tractor....
I immediately fell in Love!!
Tha Color already matched tha Rat Rod...and it was mounted on tha
Left side of tha Tractor... which WAS PERFECT for what I visioned it for...

Took me about 9 hours of fabbing on it... reworking tha Swivel mount... building a Mounting Bracket... and Designing tha Linkage to work in the Reverse direction...of what tha shifter moved...

I also sectioned about 8" out of tha Top of tha Handle to get rid of some of tha Top Heavy Weight....and make it more user friendly to shift outside of tha Vehicle... Chopper Style...

 

[Syndicate Chopz]

More Pics of Shifter after Being Mounted...

 

[Thunder1]

Cool use of tractor parts!

Thunder

 

[Syndicate Chopz]

Mounting tha Split Wishbones..

Going with a Suicide Front Setup on tha Truck.... I mounted tha Axle 5" in front of tha Front Frame horns....
Used 3/4" Heavy Duty Rod Ends... to Provide a Strong Pivot Point for tha Airide Suspension...about to be installed...

 

[Syndicate Chopz]

Some Pics of tha Front Bag Setup

Here is a few pics of tha New Shockwave 7000's that I ordered...they come in a Protective Can that is Optional to run if you want... but I only used tha Can's for Mock up while Welding by tha Bags...
I decided to go with this Setup, after realizing that I could disguise tha front bags... where a Shock would normally be mounted...they have a built in shock absorber, with 10 position adjustability....
From a Distance people will wonder where tha Bags are, because of tha Super Low Profile of tha Sleeve bags... they have a measurement just under 4'' OD..
The custom Upper mounts I made have a Slight Angle built in to them to run paralell to tha Wishbones... Extra Gussets were used to Add strength to tha Wishbones...

 

[Syndicate Chopz]

More Pics of them Mounted Up...

 

[Syndicate Chopz]

Front Panhard Bar

I decided to Go with Front Panhard bar to keep tha Front Axle in Check, while tha suspension completes its Cycle from Parked to Ride Heighth....
I am only going for a Ride Heighth of 3-4".... the Shockwaves are capable of 5-6" of Lift, which in turn being mounted on a Forward point on the Wishbone will act as a Cantilever and could provide much more lift if needed....

Tha' Panhard was built as Long as possible to minimize side to side movement... tied into tha Left Frame Rail with a Polyurethane Bushing, and mounted on tha Opposite side with a 3/4" Rod End mounted to tha inside Passenger Wishbone. Tubing used was bent out of 1" .120 wall DOM .....

Tha Whole objective was to keep tha Panhard hidden and tucked away so not so noticable....

let me know what ya think...

 

[Syndicate Chopz]

Rear Watts Link & Back Half

Just a Few Pics of tha Rear Watts Link that will be used in place of a Rear Panhard... also, you can see tha Pattern I came up with to Build tha Rear Frame out of 3/16" Steel....I will be using all flat Pieces rather than Box Tubing, or Round Tubing.... this will allow me to achieve tha Radius, and shape I desire...
I'm hoping to achieve a Very Subtle Flowing Look that will match tha Front Frame Horns.... tha Frame will actually narrow out towards tha end points, while still providing a solid mounting Point for tha upper and Lower Link Bars on tha Watts Link..
Also shown in tha Pics are a couple patterns I have built that will be made into a boxed Crossmember between tha 2 Frame rails... this will add strength and Durability, but tha Main accomplishment of this will be to make tha "Boxed" crossmember into tha Air Supply Tank for tha Air Suspension. It will have to be TIG Welded to avoid any pinholes... But should be Helpful in Keeping main components hidden to tha best of My ability! This in tha' end will have an Overall Clean and Visual Impact on any on lookers...

 

[Bonehead]

Panhard came out nice. Great pictures and build thread.

 

[bob w]

Two master builders in Fruita! Who woulda thunk it? Lots of fresh ideas and great pictures.

 

[39chev]

That thing is awesome. I like the whole thing love the big wheels on it.

 

[CORPO]

thats is some great fab work you are doing.. the rear of the frame is going to look really good...

I wish i had gone with a watts link in the rear of mine.. the panhard is as long as i could make it.. but it still gets more sideways movement than i wanted when its aired out....