Topic: 1935 Ford Pickup Rat Rod (Read 81898 times)

hotwheels · « **on:** October 25, 2011, 12:31:05 PM »

Well i just picked up another project. This one is a 1935 ford pickup rat rod. It was started by someone whom didn't have any real idea on building the suspension and chopping the top. Some of the stuff in really ugly and i just have to figure out a place to start. If you look at the pic's and see anything i should change or any idea's on what you would do to fix this ride so it becomes a professional build instead of a backyard build.

Here are the pics:

hotwheels · « **Reply #1 on:** October 25, 2011, 12:33:02 PM »

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hotwheels · « **Reply #2 on:** October 25, 2011, 12:35:06 PM »

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RaTaTat · « **Reply #3 on:** October 25, 2011, 12:36:17 PM »

Gosh thats a saweeeeet looking cab! scarry looking welds tho

hotwheels · « **Reply #4 on:** October 25, 2011, 12:36:45 PM »

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hotwheels · « **Reply #5 on:** October 25, 2011, 12:39:54 PM »

Some of em are really bad. Here on the rear spring, i have to cut the springs welds on the axle and place the axle back underneath where it was originally. Not sure why they cut it and moved it like that.

RaTaTat · « **Reply #6 on:** October 25, 2011, 12:42:51 PM »

Interesting, I love the ride tho going to be sick as hell when you are done with it. Personal project or customers???
The only thing different I would do is tilt the cab forward a few inches for a more aggressive stance.

Dustin Arnett · « **Reply #7 on:** October 25, 2011, 01:12:31 PM »

I can see why ya picked it up, looks like there's a lot of good parts to use.... I say you build a new frame though. It seems to skinny to me. Also needs a notch in the front. That rear end doesn't look right with the wishbone/leafspring set-up... I've never seen that before... I'm no pro though.... So, I'm sure you can get better input from some of the other guys & gals on here... I'm looking forward to see what you do with it..

~Dustin

hotwheels · « **Reply #8 on:** October 25, 2011, 01:16:20 PM »

It's a customers ride. He had a so called hot rod builder building it and then ran out of patience with it and told the guy to take it somewhere else. I looked at it and told the guy i will help him get it on the road. Just have to find a place to start and go from there. Think i will probably start at the front, reset the hair pins and stuff, and work my way back. Probably remove the cab after i get most of the suspension redone, then i can reset the engine and transmission.

obama · « **Reply #9 on:** October 25, 2011, 01:45:57 PM »

I vote for a wider frame, think that would be the easy way, then figure out the rear end set up. Agree cab looks cool, but another customer?? what happened with the Hudson.
Good luck!

Grumpyoldman · « **Reply #10 on:** October 25, 2011, 02:29:52 PM »

Quote from: obama on October 25, 2011, 01:45:57 PM

I vote for a wider frame, think that would be the easy way, then figure out the rear end set up.
Good luck!

I have to agree with Mr. President, Make a NEW frame and loose a lot of headaches.

Greybeards Customs · « **Reply #11 on:** October 25, 2011, 05:33:27 PM »

I agree with everyone else , that would be such a cool truck if you tilt the cab a little bit and loose the tranverse rear spring . Install a set of coil overs and a panhard bar and the rear is finished . I think one of the major concerns would be the steering , what type setup will you use ? This truck has all the potential in the world to be a bad ass ride . I'm not so sure its a '30 model though ? Not real up on the early chevies as far as dates go . It will look really cool after you get rolling on it . Glad to see another build posted on the forum !

hotwheels · « **Reply #12 on:** October 25, 2011, 05:35:15 PM »

I guess the frame is professionally built. From some of the stuff i am seeing, it's not a very well built frame. The customer want's me to make this frame work, so i don't have allot of choice when it comes to building or replacing this frame.

Today i did some work on the front suspension. The left driver was sitting forward 1" further then the passenger side. I was able to pull everything back around to where i am within a 1/16 of an inch. I also removed the hair pins, backed the threads out to where i now have half the hyme joints. Because i now have the correct spacing on the hair pins, i had/have to move the back of the hair pin brackets back about an 1 1/2". After i cut off the brackets, cleaned up the metal, i put that stuff on hold and took some measurements around the frame. Everything looks good measurement wise until i get to the z part of the rear frame. Right where the riser is by the cab, it is 29" wide and the horizontal pieces are 30 1/2" ......so i looks like i have to remove the rear transverse spring and pull the frame inward so i can get the back to 29".

hotwheels · « **Reply #13 on:** October 25, 2011, 05:55:03 PM »

Also ran into a cab issue. When they cut the front of the cab (don't ask my why), but they did a horrible job. The passenger side is 1" long at the bottom and the drivers side is about 5" at the bottom.

I too lowered the cab to get an idea of what it will look like as i get to working on the cab.

Cornfield Customs · « **Reply #14 on:** October 25, 2011, 06:28:17 PM »

looks like you have a ton of work ahead of you , some times is it good to nudge customers into what will work out best. a new frame would ultimately be the best idea, that way you know everything is the way you want it to be. customers are not always right you just have to convince them it was all their idea lol. good luck on the build, fixing other peoples mistakes are always a challenge

Grumpyoldman · « **Reply #15 on:** October 25, 2011, 06:47:46 PM »

Doug, That isn't a Chevy body, Let alone a 30's body. I looked up all the Chevy PU Bodies from 29 to 50 and they don't have the same body lines as that body has. Here's a picture of a 30 chevy and a 30 ford pu cabs.

obama · « **Reply #16 on:** October 25, 2011, 07:04:27 PM »

Any chance the customer would go for widening the frame, since you already have width problems in the back? I understand it is much easier to offer advice from afar than to be there and have to deal with what the customer wants, and the snow, ect, you just do what ya can, and we will support it.
Agree, great to have another build thread going on the site.

RangerRat · « **Reply #17 on:** October 25, 2011, 07:07:10 PM »

Yep I think I'd start by building a new frame if ya can talk them into it that way you know what you got and that it's all good

speed and custom of ne · « **Reply #18 on:** October 25, 2011, 07:17:04 PM »

if we can help you find anything let me know speed and custom of ne

hotwheels · « **Reply #19 on:** October 25, 2011, 07:29:55 PM »

Quote from: Grumpyoldman on October 25, 2011, 06:47:46 PM

Doug, That isn't a Chevy body, Let alone a 30's body. I looked up all the Chevy PU Bodies from 29 to 50 and they don't have the same body lines as that body has. Here's a picture of a 30 chevy and a 30 ford pu cabs.

shit, i aint sure what it is, there are no markings on the cab.........Gonna have to look through ford and chevy pics.

Grumpyoldman · « **Reply #20 on:** October 25, 2011, 08:07:06 PM »

That looks like a 35 FORD body the body lines look the same as on the 35. These pictures show a 35 Ford. The Ford bodies looked the same from 35 to 37.

tommy2tone · « **Reply #21 on:** October 26, 2011, 03:32:23 PM »

I agree with Grumpy. It does look like a 35 Ford.
It will be a nice ride when you get all the problems straightened out.

hotwheels · « **Reply #22 on:** October 26, 2011, 06:43:17 PM »

I talked with owner today and he brought over some paper work. Paper work shows that it is a 1935 ford. Thanks for the help on that.

Grumpyoldman · « **Reply #23 on:** October 26, 2011, 07:03:23 PM »

Well it was Greybeards that said it didn't look like a 30s truck. So i had to see what it was. So quit playing in the snow and get to work......jk.......

hotwheels · « **Reply #24 on:** November 08, 2011, 04:41:50 PM »

Alrighty then, yesterday and today i made some progress on redoing allot of the work previously done on this truck. Some good stuff done and some bad stuff found.

First, i started working on the rear suspension of the truck and found it to be waaaaaaay out of alignment, like over an 1 1/2" out. So i started removing the transverse spring and sadly, found it to be broken. Once i finished removing the spring, a set up the frame level and moved the axle back to where it would be centered. Here are some pic's:

From doing some measuring off of the spring itself and where the spring was welded on at, i found this spring isn't the right one for this type of build. It is a 10" spring and it need's to be a 15 !/2" spring set up in order for it to be rewelded to the bottom of the perches and keep the frame level.

News:

AuthorTopic: 1935 Ford Pickup Rat Rod (Read 81898 times)

tommy2tone