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

[onanysunday]

It's funny how the inside door covers are such different colors. If I paint the interior I'm leaning towards the blue versus the Green since it matches the exterior patina better I think.

 

[onanysunday]

Here are the original colors. I think the truck was Bermuda turquoise.

 

[onanysunday]

One side down one to go. Quite a bit of work. I knew it would be. Ready to add some mud and primer to this side.

 

[onanysunday]

I have an idea to possibly build all of the rack attachments completely from the stock Corvette rack. Other than a piece of steel to bolt it to the gear one rack. We won't build the roll bar for a couple of weeks but at least I can get started on this bottom section of the steering. I also need to make a coil mount to mount the coils down low. And I think I might start picking at getting the engine started 

 

[onanysunday]

 

[onanysunday]

 

[onanysunday]

https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/103318-1959-nash-metropolitan

 

[onanysunday]

 

[onanysunday]

I knew this job was going to suck and boy did it ever. It ain't pretty but effective. Trying to get my head up in there with the welding helmet on to even see what the hell was going on. What a pain in the ass. My back is going to be sore tomorrow from contorting around trying to get up in there. Four pieces of steel and almost 7 hours to get this left side done. Last two pics are the right side without any work done yet. I'm glad I fully boxed it so it has all the strength back in it. This side is ready to spray some undercoat on it.

 

[onanysunday]

Damn I'm glad that's done. What a pain in the ass. Put my red car on the rack this morning and the angle on one tie rod has a negative one degree and one tie rod has a positive one degree. And looking straight up from the bottom it looks to be very close to straight across. And this is exactly what a race car builder told me if it is straight you have as little bump steer as possible. There are a couple ways I can build this steering. The other thing is the factory rack had a bushing on one side only which I am going to mount it all solid. They actually sell a $40 set of aluminum bushings to make these racks solid. Been thinking about how to get more air up into the radiator and realized a regular Corvette has a flexible diverter on the bottom. I drag it over curbs all the time. No reason I can't adapt and put one of those under the front of the truck. I think they are going to have to be multiple diverters for air.

 

[onanysunday]

I was thinking about using a piece of inch and a quarter OD and 1 in ID chromoly tube about 20 inches long and slide the rack through that tube and rosette weld it. But I can only buy a 10-ft piece which is almost $90. So I might go with the design number two.

 

[onanysunday]

2 hours with a cut off wheel and beating it to death I finally got the rod out. Question is now can I weld to it. I tried Center punching it and it just flattened a hard center punch over. A magnet does stick to it. This will be interesting.

 

[onanysunday]

A 21 1/2 piece of 1.25 OD chromoly and two weird size metric nuts m18-1.5 at 78 cents for the pair. We actually had that tap in stock. I will clean the welds up tomorrow and that gives me a start. I had to cut a big chamfer inside on those nuts to clear the radius at the tie rod joint.

 

[Kat-A-Tonic]

You are killing it!

 

[onanysunday]

Call me crazy but I had to add four more rosette welds for a total of eight. Plus welded all the way around the edge. I also need some sort of 6-point flat to put a wrench on it to tighten each tie rod. I don't really want to cut into this tube and make it any thinner anywhere. Not quite sure what to do with that.

 

[richard h]

Call me crazy but I had to add four more rosette welds for a total of eight. Plus welded all the way around the edge. I also need some sort of 6-point flat to put a wrench on it to tighten each tie rod. I don't really want to cut into this tube and make it any thinner anywhere. Not quite sure what to do with that.

View attachment 107083

View attachment 107084

Well, they only control the truck and your safety. Weld away!

 

[onanysunday]

Best bet might be just whittle out a monster nut to slide over the OD and weld it in place. There will also be an aluminum collar that slides over and tightens with set screws to clamp the dust boot onto. Have that dust boot collar slide right up against the nut maybe.

 

[danwalker]

Just use a monkey wrench  :laugh1:

 

[onanysunday]

So much for any part of this project being remotely easy. That rod needs to come forward slightly. So I need to lop off all four of those ears on the cradle. This bracket holding the rack is going to weigh 15 lb by the time I am done. It's going to be a monster. Once those ears are pulled off I can clamp it and do a rudimentary check for bumpster.

 

[Kat-A-Tonic]

Call me crazy but I had to add four more rosette welds for a total of eight. Plus welded all the way around the edge. I also need some sort of 6-point flat to put a wrench on it to tighten each tie rod. I don't really want to cut into this tube and make it any thinner anywhere. Not quite sure what to do with that.

View attachment 107083

View attachment 107084

Get a nut that almost fits around the OD of the tube.  Drill out the center to slightly larger than the OD of the tube and weld it on.  Gives you nice flats to work with.  Perfect for practicing your TIG welding.

Guess I should have read the next post or so, LOL.