Project WTF -Rat Rod Coupe- The Build!

58Chev · ETOBICOKE, ONT

RE: Project WTF -Rat Rod Coupe- The Build!

Dave Scott · ANCASTER, ONT

slab wrote:
Your metal shaping equipment looks the same as what I started out with. You know about the 2 pieces of angle iron in a vise trick right. It works real nice as well. I have two pieces 5ft long about 3/16 thick that I used to make door bottoms and such. You use vice grips to clamp the areas out side of the vises range. You can also attach one piece of the angle iron to the door bottom as a dolly with vice grips to bent the edge over nice and neat(unless you have a curved door bottom) You get the picture. Looking good Dave.
Rich

Thanks Rich. All tips are appreciated

fatchuk · ST MARYS, ONTARIO

Good on you for your effort Dave..practice ,pratice is how you learn and get it done there is lots of pieces of metal for mistakes..One thing I have used a lot is a I have an wodden box about 4ft x 4 ft and 12 in deep and filled with sand I use that a lot for shaping and beating metal into submission as well as lots of pieces of 2x4 to grind and make bucks to help shape and form small metal pieces that I don't have the big boy toys for..

Dave Scott · ANCASTER, ONT

fatchuk wrote:
Good on you for your effort Dave..practice ,pratice is how you learn and get it done there is lots of pieces of metal for mistakes..One thing I have used a lot is a I have an wodden box about 4ft x 4 ft and 12 in deep and filled with sand I use that a lot for shaping and beating metal into submission as well as lots of pieces of 2x4 to grind and make bucks to help shape and form small metal pieces that I don't have the big boy toys for..

Thanks Chuck. I'm limited on space, so even if I wanted all the nice big tools, I don't room to keep them.

We make do with what we have

RacerRick · TORONTO, ONT

Good job. Just one thing - don't use files in your vice like that. They are very brittle and will break. Pick up some cheap angle iron as mentioned above - get the nice and thick stuff. You will always find a use for it!

Dave Scott · ANCASTER, ONT

preparing for the big chop tomorrow...

spun the car round to point the cutting arear at the door as it's going to get messy

using a bungy cord to give me a guideline

made another special measuring tool.. exactly 4 inches, the amount I want to raise the rear

clone lines

just a "before" picture

this is where the re-shaped window will sit..

I have a cunning plan for re-attaching the body

Fordy Acres Car Farm · DORCHESTER, ONT

Cool! Are you totally eliminating that belt line body reveal? If you plan it right, you could bead roll a new profile into that panel once you have severed the top - maybe make some roller dies to match the doors. Just a thought.

Dave Scott · ANCASTER, ONT

Fordy Acres Car Farm wrote:
Cool! Are you totally eliminating that belt line body reveal? If you plan it right, you could bead roll a new profile into that panel once you have severed the top - maybe make some roller dies to match the doors. Just a thought.

I'm thinking of making the bead line go along the door, then onto the back, but follow the curve down, instead of going round under the window. I will probably cur the wheel section out completely anyway, so that would be an ideal time to incorporate a new bead line

Cat in the Hat · BRANTFORD, ONT

I have crated a RAT ROD MONSTER!

Dave Scott · ANCASTER, ONT

Cat in the Hat wrote:
I have crated a RAT ROD MONSTER!

hehehe

JohnnyBgood · ST CATHARINES, ONT

If you cut more out of the front than the rear it will look like the body has a rake without it really having a rake.....eh

JohnnyBgood · ST CATHARINES, ONT

Just took another look at your pics. I guess your thoughts are not to cut the front roof post, but leave them and cut the back and raise the back of the body up...damn..forget my previous suggestion.

34guy · MISSISSAUGA, ONT

Should have your doors tacked in place , before you cut the back of the body off

will keep the cowl and roof somewhat stiffer , even some bracing door to door

body will be flimsy as an old dish cloth if you don't

Just sayin cut away

Dave Scott · ANCASTER, ONT

JohnnyBgood wrote:
Just took another look at your pics. I guess your thoughts are not to cut the front roof post, but leave them and cut the back and raise the back of the body up...damn..forget my previous suggestion.

correct

Dave Scott · ANCASTER, ONT

34guy wrote:
Should have your doors tacked in place , before you cut the back of the body off
will keep the cowl and roof somewhat stiffer , even some bracing door to door
body will be flimsy as an old dish cloth if you don't
Just sayin cut away

Thanks Joe.

There are upright one by one's from the floor to the roof at the back, which I can cut around, keeping the rigidity. It's all good.

I've cut it now by the way, pics to follow (filler-tastic)

Dave Scott · ANCASTER, ONT

Great day! a bit chilly with the garage door open, but I didn't want metal, rust and filler dust everywhere.

Ok, on with the show

Nice clean chop

Reasonably straight me thinks

sanded it all down...... some filler in the air

well looky here! I have edging I'll grind all that filler crap away at a later date and have more edging

Can you guess what I'm going to do with this?

yeah.... drill holes! lol

Test fit before I go any further. Looks good to me

made some backing plates

minimum damage to original metal

Closing her up

didn't have time to finish the window placement today

I'm stoked, it's exactly where I wanted it

Loving my rat more every day

janies dirty 37 · SOUTH RIVER, ONT

WOW Dave. Good on ya! That looks right on track.

No fear and forge ahead.

Dave Scott · ANCASTER, ONT

janies dirty 37 wrote:
WOW Dave. Good on ya! That looks right on track. No fear and forge ahead.

Thanks Janie, I'm sooo happy right now

janies dirty 37 · SOUTH RIVER, ONT

Ya...... good luck getting any shut eye tonight or the rest of the week for that matter.......
FYI, That voice you hear saying "look at me" is NOT your rat......but is prob the wife.
Just tryin to keep you out of trouble Dave.

I'm sure anyone seeing your progress is happy for you.

Reminds us why most of us are here.

toomuchjunk · S/W ONTARIO

Dave Scott wrote:
janies dirty 37 wrote:
WOW Dave. Good on ya! That looks right on track. No fear and forge ahead.
Thanks Janie, I'm sooo happy right now

Wow look at you go!!! You even had time to take pictures for us. You should be happy.

Question ---did you cut it different at the front then the back or the same all around?

Looks good!!!!

TMJ

slab · BRANT COUNTY, ONT

Looks way better Dave. That tail shot looks sweet! Your photo shop pic shows the wheels above the body on the back. Not so in your real life pics. Is that the way it's staying?? I'll keep my preference to myself seeing how your the evil mastermind behind the build.

slab · BRANT COUNTY, ONT

Hey what's up with the leash???

flatblack55delivery · PORT HOPE, ONT

Good on ya Dave, that rat looks bang on . Ed

Sacotu · COBOURG, ONT

knarley dude

slim · DUNDAS, ONT

Nice work Dave. is it just me or doe's the rear wheel look further back now. Just an observation.

JohnnyBgood · ST CATHARINES, ONT

NICE RAKE!!!!!

Dave Scott · ANCASTER, ONT

Q&A time:

TMJ - I didn't cut the front, that's how it came, hence raising the back to match

Slim - the wheel isn't any further back than before, it just looks odd in one of those shots

Rich - The whole body is sitting on 2 inches of wood on top of the frame (for jack access for now) so it will come down a bit

Johnny B - It's a temporary rake! lol although I do kida like it, hmmmm, lol

Rich - again - the leash is so I can pull it back into the garage without slipping on the snow

Dave Scott · ANCASTER, ONT

Sacotu wrote:
knarley dude

... is that because I used the word "stoked"? lol

flatblack55delivery · PORT HOPE, ONT

Quick dudes get out the snowboards . Ed

-- Edited by flatblack55delivery on Tuesday 18th of February 2014 08:50:50 PM

123pugsy · MARKHAM, ONT

Looking good Dave.

34guy · MISSISSAUGA, ONT

looks good Dave . I love the pull start !!!

JohnnyBgood · ST CATHARINES, ONT

ha ha ...pull start...now thats funny...ha

JohnnyBgood · ST CATHARINES, ONT

I don't know what it is about a rat rod, but watching you guys build these things out of damn near nothing makes you want to go out and start to build something...I got a old fridge out back that im pretty sure Dave can show me how to make a coupe out of it and I think I can get some measurements and tips from the cat in the hat to build a frame. Got back rims..fatstax had a small block from his buick he might sell..got a turbo 400 sitting under the bench..wiring from a monty in a box...half way there..yep..next week I start to drag stuff home....sweeeeet.

Fast Elvis · LONDON, ONTARIO

Nice Dave.......with this pace and renewed energy, we just might see this bad boy going for a test spin sometime this year...lol.

Fordy Acres Car Farm · DORCHESTER, ONT

Dave Scott wrote:

I'm stoked, it's exactly where I wanted it

Loving my rat more every day

Dang!!!

I must say, I had reservations, not fully understanding what it was you were trying to accomplish....But Wow!!! That's right, I just said "but Wow!!!" In this shot, with the body raised up, it has more attitude! I like it!!!!!

I agree with you on the belt line from the door following the contour of the 1/4 panel too, now that I can see it.

GOOD STUFF!!!

-- Edited by Fordy Acres Car Farm on Wednesday 19th of February 2014 01:42:38 AM

Fordy Acres Car Farm · DORCHESTER, ONT

Not to sway you one way or the other, but after studying the picture above, I think you could chop an inch or so out of that rear window opening or at least raise it up a little bit. Just puttin' it out there before you fully commit - maybe work some of your photoshop magic on this shot(above) or one directly from the rear?

Carry on McDuff, you're doing a fine job!

toomuchjunk · S/W ONTARIO

Fordy Acres Car Farm wrote:
Not to sway you one way or the other, but after studying the picture above, I think you could chop an inch or so out of that rear window opening or at least raise it up a little bit. Just puttin' it out there before you fully commit - maybe work some of your photoshop magic on this shot(above) or one directly from the rear?

Carry on McDuff, you're doing a fine job!

Yea what he said

I was thinking the same thing

TMJ

Cat in the Hat · BRANTFORD, ONT

Got room for a gas tank now?

Dave Scott · ANCASTER, ONT

Fordy Acres Car Farm wrote:
Not to sway you one way or the other, but after studying the picture above, I think you could chop an inch or so out of that rear window opening or at least raise it up a little bit. Just puttin' it out there before you fully commit - maybe work some of your photoshop magic on this shot(above) or one directly from the rear?

Carry on McDuff, you're doing a fine job!

yeah, I'm thinking that too. It would centralise the window wouldn't it.

Hey Folks! I'm always open to suggestions, this is my first attempt at a hot rod so it's a learning curve.

Dave Scott · ANCASTER, ONT

Cat in the Hat wrote:
Got room for a gas tank now?

indeed there is

Dave Scott · ANCASTER, ONT

Opinions please...

I have an idea for the bottom of the rear. Instead of adding more metal at the very back, I'm thinking of adding an old style bumper, which I can add tail lights and number plate to? Either twin flat bars, or twin tubeular bars:

What is the legal requirement for the height of rear lights?

Dave Scott · ANCASTER, ONT

ooooooh, I like this..

bumper 2.JPG

Fordy Acres Car Farm · DORCHESTER, ONT

Dave Scott wrote:
Fordy Acres Car Farm wrote:
Not to sway you one way or the other, but after studying the picture above, I think you could chop an inch or so out of that rear window opening or at least raise it up a little bit. Just puttin' it out there before you fully commit - maybe work some of your photoshop magic on this shot(above) or one directly from the rear?

Carry on McDuff, you're doing a fine job!
yeah, I'm thinking that too. It would centralise the window wouldn't it.

Hey Folks! I'm always open to suggestions, this is my first attempt at a hot rod so it's a learning curve.

It IS your car and your opinion is really the only one that counts, ......but like I said "Not trying to sway you one way or the other", if it were mine, I would leave the top of the rear window where it is and raise the bottom 1 1/2" to 2" to put it a little more to scale with the rest of the top. Try it out on photoshop first though or use a cardboard template on the actual car to better visualize it.

There are so many cool builds going on here, makes me want to get going on something myself! Thanks!

Fordy Acres Car Farm · DORCHESTER, ONT

Dave Scott wrote:
Opinions please...

I have an idea for the bottom of the rear. Instead of adding more metal at the very back, I'm thinking of adding an old style bumper, which I can add tail lights and number plate to? Either twin flat bars, or twin tubeular bars:

What is the legal requirement for the height of rear lights?

I like the twin flat bar shown, looks like '28 - '31 Model A. Keep it simple. I don't know about attaching tail lights to it though, might look odd? You seem to be quite proficient at photoshop - try some ideas there first and post them up, I'd be interested to see the various looks.

58Chev · ETOBICOKE, ONT

Looking good Dave.

You say, that you did not chop the front. Was it previously chopped or is it stock?

flatblack55delivery · PORT HOPE, ONT

Maybe some nerf bars or bumperettes lots of cool styles you could go with . Ed

slim · DUNDAS, ONT

Hard to see in the pictures but it looks like you got some fungus at the bottom of the b pillar. If you fixed that by adding a 1" or so to finish it off and blend it into the wheel well I think you could get away with sectioning the door front to back to bring both to the right height. door needs shortening anyway. Instant RAKE!!!

123pugsy · MARKHAM, ONT

Dave Scott wrote:
Opinions please...

I have an idea for the bottom of the rear. Instead of adding more metal at the very back, I'm thinking of adding an old style bumper, which I can add tail lights and number plate to? Either twin flat bars, or twin tubeular bars:

What is the legal requirement for the height of rear lights?

Express van lights are way up there, so too high is OK.

If they're bouncing down the highway by the wires, they're too low, I think.

Cat in the Hat · BRANTFORD, ONT

Same as headlight. 22"

hemi43 · ONTARIO

Cat in the Hat wrote:
Same as headlight. 22"

So shoulder height for you?