1964 Dodge A-100 Hot rod sort of rat rod build thread.

[n4st]

At 90ft-lb with a 18t sprocket, the chains would react about 600lbs, or 300 lbs per chain. That's 5 times less than the working load of 1,540lb for the cheaper chain. Should be good to go with that one and save the cash. I had a feeling that would be the case but its fun knowing the capability. 

 

[onanysunday]

At 90ft-lb with a 18t sprocket, the chains would react about 600lbs, or 300 lbs per chain. That's 5 times less than the working load of 1,540lb for the cheaper chain. Should be good to go with that one and save the cash. I had a feeling that would be the case but its fun knowing the capability. 

View attachment 67375

:dude:

 

[onanysunday]

Two out of three pairs of bulkhead connectors now done. Very happy with these after redesigning them and making them beefier. That left side was really rusted out. The unibody metal is approximately .050 thick and I am attaching all .125 steel. Certainly turned into quite a project. I think it will be ultra strong now. And I will be adding additional gussets from these pieces to the frame rails to make it very rigid. The right side got hit on the bottom real hard so I had to use Big C clamps and crush that box back square. Of course everything is twisted, bent, and tweaked A few of the upper welds I will finish later when the front tires are off and I can get to it better. P i t a to get these done as it was.

 

[onanysunday]

 

[onanysunday]

C5 Corvette batwing oil pans are going for $500 all day long. Found this one shipped to my door for $275. May or may not need it but I'm guessing I'm going to have some ground clearance issues and this might just be the ticket. It is sitting in there backwards just for the photo but has a quarter inch clearance on each side of the frame rail.

 

[onanysunday]

 

[onanysunday]

Been a long time since I have done this much welding. I did not have enough heat in my front shock mounts. Went up two clicks on the heat and some on the wire speed and it is burning a lot better. Shock mounts, however, are Overkill and will be just fine. We have one Miller 212 and 2 esab welders. The esab has been acting up so I grabbed the Miller. Holy crap does that thing weld nice.

 

[onanysunday]

Had to weld in my gussets to the middle bulkheads before I start welding these main sections in.

 

[onanysunday]

:dunerdude:

 

[onanysunday]

Left front corner is a real s*** show. Lots of rust. This last pair of bulkhead connectors will be some work. Right side is solid.

 

[onanysunday]

My plan all along has been to mount the fuel tank at the back of the truck behind the rear tires. I would like to put 25 gallons in it. Sitting here looking at this thing I'm thinking that weight is going to be too far back. In the two side openings at the front low below  the bed I was going to put a little trunk with a lid to store things. Now I am thinking two 12 and 1/2 gallon fuel tanks up forward in front of the rear tires. This gets that couple hundred pounds centered more. Then build my storage trunk in the back part of the truck. The only issue is I would need to put a fuel fill at the very front corner each side of the bed. My concern would be fueling with a hot turbocharged engine 3 ft away and the vapors coming out. Just not sure if that would work and what the danger would be.

 

[onanysunday]

Well one of the guys here at the shop may have just come up with a simple solution. Just have a small portable fan that I can hook on a bracket that blows the fumes away while fueling. Seems simple and easy.

 

[onanysunday]

 

[onanysunday]

Inching closer to having a frame built for this truck. It will be in two sections so I can pull it all out. Weld what joints are left while it is out and then paint it. Several cross braces that I will add later once I have some of the systems put in. That includes another big piece of box underneath for the roll bar main hoop to tie intnce it goes back in there will just be one joint to weld in the truck. I am going to add one more bulkhead connector at the very front so there will be two in that area.

 

[onanysunday]

I might build the bumpers before I pull this frame out. Let's me weld and make my brackets to attach. Rough design made out of cardboard. I would build it out of 1/8 steel. Little shorties for the back like this. This bumper is 6 in tall. I think the trick would be have an inward curve on the outer faceplate piece of steel.Then the bumper in the front would go all the way across and maybe be four

to four and a half inches tall. Then do a little cool guy frame to go around the license plate. This would have end caps all finished off.

 

[onanysunday]

I think I'm liking flat on that face plate instead of an inward curve. And then I will weld on half inch plate on each end so I can radius the heck out of it.

 

[onanysunday]

.120 steel for the front bumper. It should weigh in right at about 25 lb. A little heavy but I know I have more protection up front. Cutting that compound angle before attaching the two front pieces will be fun. I had to do a little lightening in my half inch steel end caps to help my quarter mile times. LOL. Wouldn't surprise me if this truck ends up weighing 3500 lb when I'm done. It will be interesting.

 

[onanysunday]

That compound angle was fun. I got it very close and only had to cut two welds and flex the two pieces twice. Several things going on with those angles there and I wanted to make it look right. This will get painted matching bronze same as the wheels. Brackets will be a project and I want to tie them into the main frame. Well sort of. The patina on that grill is so cool. I love it. I don't know if I'm going to put any kind of mesh or anything in it so you can look through the big holes and see all the frame and mechanicals inside.

 

[onanysunday]

The factory frame brackets are held on with big 5/8 -11 bolts. The front one was rusted out so bad I had to torch it out when I tore the truck apart. So now I had to put a replacement nut and a couple of plates in. Then from the other side and the main frame additional plates will wrap around and weld into these plates. Which ties the front altogether to the main frame. Either I'm tired or damn these two plates were a lot of work. Access getting up in there is a b****. Had to grind a couple of the welds with a carbide Burr. Pain in the ass. Now I can build some quarter inch thick brackets to bolt the bumper up.

 

[onanysunday]

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