Dirtydog's Rat rod build

[Dirtydog]

Well i know its not a 4x4, but hey, 50% of it is safari stuff.

so heres what i got so far,

swb safari chassis (with fuel tank )
safari rear axle (4.625, lsd)
old truck cab think its an old commer, not too sure

so heres how she looks so far:

Cab sitting on chassis, lotta work to do but just to see what it looks like.

fits perfect on the chassis, gunna be easy to do body mounts.


perfect between the two arches



Lots of ideas, lots of time to sort them out so lets see what people think



Hope people find this interesting

[williamhamilton]

I have similar plans working through at the moment so will be eagerly watching your progress NICE!

W

[Dirtydog]

not bad for a total of $50 so far eh?

im a bit stumped on how to do the steering.

looks like i will be using an old chevy front axle, so dunno yet....

[KIWI_TERRANO]

Why dont you make it 4wd for a bit of a laugh?

Otherwise 2wd with a v8 powerstroke would be awesome!

[tomsoffroad]

Awesome man. Gotto love the rats Its a Morris Commercial cab by the looks of it

[Dirtydog]

i was thinking of making a 4x4 originally, but too much complicated things to do lol,

and cheers for the hint Tom,

found exactly what it is:

awesome, now i know what parts to look for....

im tossing up between diesel v8 with stacks, or big block chev with lake pipes...

the good thing about rwd is i dont have to worry about finding a gearbox and transfer case that mates up, and nothing like having massive tyres on the rear and skinnies up front.

[tomsoffroad]

Or duals on the rear?

[Dirtydog]

now duesl would be cool, probably cheaper tyres too

[zukmeista]

Do you know who owns that red suzuki ute in the background? And if they might want to sell it?

[Dirtydog]

i know that the engine is a 3 cylinder daihatsu and is farked.....

dont think the guy wants to sell it, but i can always ask for ya

[zukmeista]

Please do, want a project and that one looks pretty rust free.

[Heath]

This thread (and some others) got me thinking about my rapidly approaching midlife crisis and the need to plan for its arrival. So I started looking for a project. I was thinking of an old yank tank but parts etc was going to be apain so I thought why not something different like a jap truck available in NZ and make it into a rod. I found some pics of an old fj40 rat rod at a SEMA show and now the idea has taken root (even the missus said it looked cool) so anyone got a buggered 40 series cab chassis laying around, no engine or trans needed (going bent 8 and auto).

End result something like this (maybe with a couple of turbos and stacks)

http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?imgurl=h ... EwAg&dur=0

[Dirtydog]

i saw one that was an old datsun ute cab, was pretty cool.

i think to make it work you need a older truck still...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-par ... 224020.htm

that may be worth while, already got the rust for ya lol

[Dirtydog]

well i have done a bit of research, and think i have found an engine that will suit,

how does a chevy 454 big block sound? $3,000 with an auto trans.

plus the guy has heaps tunnel rams etc for sale too.

looked into the diesels, only ones under 5 grand are the oldsmobile 5.7L's, which apparently are a headache fueled by diesel....

ive been told they are gutless, not good on milage but have good torque.

i think for this im more partial to more hp, plus they sound awesome.

so lets here what you guys think?

[lincooln]

sounds awesome. 454 are all good

Makes me thinks of ideas for a budget art rod, such as Suzuki chassis, some sort of cab, a na 2jz, and stuff like that

[Dirtydog]

thats how my one was born, had an old chassis sitting there, had a diff, and Toni was cleaning up his yard, otherwise this cab was going to go to the scrapyard.

after that ive just been slowly picking up parts for it.

still on the hunt for a cheap donor car though...

[Heath]

well i have done a bit of research, and think i have found an engine that will suit,

how does a chevy 454 big block sound? $3,000 with an auto trans.

plus the guy has heaps tunnel rams etc for sale too.

looked into the diesels, only ones under 5 grand are the oldsmobile 5.7L's, which apparently are a headache fueled by diesel....

ive been told they are gutless, not good on milage but have good torque.

i think for this im more partial to more hp, plus they sound awesome.

so lets here what you guys think?

Someone suggested today that a diesel would be a pain with RUC etc and although petrol is more expensive it not like these are daily drivers so hey why not a petrol donk.

[De-Ranged]

A rat build to me is a budget that is stupidly low and is about what can be begged, traded or worst of all bought they are junk builds made from cast offs

My $1000 challange is one, buy, build and cert all for a $1000.... I've traded favors, junk and effort.... the direction the build has gone has changed several times based on bits that have turned up or the fact I couldn't aford something.... it has taken ages hopefully soon it'll be going down for cert just a couple more trades and I'll have another motor and the last bits
It is a great talking point (with more than a few story's involved with it...)

I say stop being a poser, do you have 454 didn't think so you want to do a real rat build man up.... go down the scrap metal dealer tell him you'll buy the next V8 that comes in or go round the rural trucking outfits and see if they have a old truck that is way past COF then try and find something they want .....

Ps heath you keen on that tub I can see if the guy is keen on trade... then we can play the game

Cheers Reece

PM sent regards a few bits

[Dirtydog]

lol, i think the 454 is the only thing i wil purpose buy for it

everything else is down to what i can find.

and im hoping if i get the v8 of this guy he might have a 350 chev he can do me a deal on for my 4x4.......

ive been scouring the rural areas looking for old cars to get, cant find any though...

i look forward to seeing this $1000 rat rod, ive heard of them doing it in the states, but i mean, have you seem some of the junk yards over there, wed have to pay 100's just to get a part they could have for a few beers...

[De-Ranged]

My rat ended up being a bike.... hey a $1000 budget and $550 gone for cert
My son is making up a website for my engineering its going to be one of the builds on there... when its done I'll post the link

Cheers Reece

[tomsoffroad]

Heres a motor I scored for free 345cu International. Been sitting in a paddock for 10+ years. New 2 barrel Holley, couple of frost plugs and she runs mint.
The chassis is 100% scratch built and the cab is an old A series Bedford which my Grandfather bought new Hope he doesn't see it now

http://s1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd491/tomsoffroad/?action=view&current=IMG_0099.mp4

[Dirtydog]

that is mean!!

love the sound of the engine, so grunty....

I can see if ya have the engine it would be less than a grand.

thats gunna be the expensive part for me i guess....

[MNC]

Heres a motor I scored for free 345cu International. Been sitting in a paddock for 10+ years. New 2 barrel Holley, couple of frost plugs and she runs mint.
The chassis is 100% scratch built and the cab is an old A series Bedford which my Grandfather bought new Hope he doesn't see it now

http://s1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd491/tomsoffroad/?action=view&current=IMG_0099.mp4

Just need to modify it with a bigger funnel of fuel so it can get into town

Looks like another awesome project

[Dirtydog]

well guys a little update,

my cab and everything else is at the new house, so fun can begin,

better yet, i just scored a L200 with everything but motor and trans for free.

so its really looking like i will be able to make it for alot less than 1000 bucks.

i supose good things come to those who wait (even if they are forced too )

all i will need is an engine and trans and she will be going, after i do the work on the cab of coarse.

trying to find bonnets and guards still, but if i cant find any authentic ones i will make some from fiberglass.

i will start taking pictures once cab is on the new chassis,

p.s, any ideas for the swb safari chassis and rear diff i still have?

[Dirtydog]

and does anyone want an l200 cab? panels are all straight no rust that i have seen yet but i will have a look.

[SupraLux]

The second I saw this:


It immediately reminded me of this:


You should totally throw the cab away and put a giant dolls head on it instead... that would be very cool

[Dirtydog]

lol, now that would be funny,

maybe thats what i will use for my purpose built 4x4 lmao

[Heath]

Found a hood ornamanet online you could copy for your project (might do one for mine maybe....)

[mercutio]

i'm not sure that would get through a WOF wouldn't that be considered as a dangerous portruding object

[Heath]

Possibly right but cool none the less. Make it removable for WoF?