• Welcome to For Trucks Only !

    We are a community of American Brand Pickup Truck and SUV owners. Join now! Its Free!

1949 Dodge Rat Rod Truck

Well hey ya Rob! Yo still plugin' away on the '49? (I'd love to find me a used old set of the 331 Hemi Valve Covers), for a few of my projects, but they seem to be a bitch to locate these days..... Wish I'da done it when I found them for peanuts some time ago......... (Yeah I'm kickin myself for not grabin' them back then now!)
 
RustyRatRod said:
This is about where I am with it today. There has been a little more progress, but just small details. I am held up at the moment by a pretty large purchase. The adapter plate and flywheel kit to mate the 833 OD transmission to the early Hemi bellhousing. That's about 750 dollars. A big chunk for us all at one time, but it'll happen in time.
All of this has taken me about four years to date, so it's not something I have been able to just sling together be any means. It's a lot of hard work and sometimes it's hard to see progress. Posting it up like this helps though because I can look at it and see how far it has come. Hope yall like it so far.
Click to expand...
Sensei Rusty: I would like (Honored!) to be your disciple. Wow Rusty, I'm new to FTO and sooo glad I found it. It's folks like you that inspire me, you're doing 'backyard' madness that peeps out here are paying big dollars to fancy dancy shops in SoCal, Capitol city of Hot Rods and Rat Rods. If I had the funds, I'd bring you out here and open shop. We'd make a KILLIG! Killer build, ingenious thinking. Thank you!
GW.
 
GW. said:
Sensei Rusty: I would like (Honored!) to be your disciple. Wow Rusty, I'm new to FTO and sooo glad I found it. It's folks like you that inspire me, you're doing 'backyard' madness that peeps out here are paying big dollars to fancy dancy shops in SoCal, Capitol city of Hot Rods and Rat Rods. If I had the funds, I'd bring you out here and open shop. We'd make a KILLIG! Killer build, ingenious thinking. Thank you!
GW.
Click to expand...


Wow, That's inspiration to finish!
 
I'm definitely going to be following this build . Keep us posted Rusty .
 
GW. said:
Sensei Rusty: I would like (Honored!) to be your disciple. Wow Rusty, I'm new to FTO and sooo glad I found it. It's folks like you that inspire me, you're doing 'backyard' madness that peeps out here are paying big dollars to fancy dancy shops in SoCal, Capitol city of Hot Rods and Rat Rods. If I had the funds, I'd bring you out here and open shop. We'd make a KILLIG! Killer build, ingenious thinking. Thank you!
GW.
Click to expand...


.....well, I don't know about all THAT, but thanks. I am going to get a couple of things for it today I found on CL. Will let yall know how it turns out when I get back.
 
LocuMob said:
Nice work Rusty! That's some impressive work. Like the dually rear. It won't be a Rat rod, it'll be a Thrifty Rod!
Click to expand...

Funny you say that.

I joined The Hamb shortly after acquiring the Hemi. I thought it would be a good place to get some pointers on an unfamiliar engine. All of them adamantly told me that I could not build a budget Hemi.......there was no such thing.

I have proved them wrong, believe me. I will not disclose what I have in it, but it is well under the 3K dollar mark. I will admit I had a fantastic core to start, but I have pinched every penny where I could.
 
HALIFAXHOPS said:
55 Gallon drum fenders would be awesome!
Click to expand...

THANK YOU! I have been thinking of what to do there. Looking at trailer fenders......I thought about getting four and sectioning them together. The drum idea is great. I may just do that. Thanks.
 
Gotta say this- I'm happy you didn't sell it!!!!can you guess this e

image.jpg
 
341 desoto-neon plug wires-318 timing cover and pulleys-318 electronic distributor with desoto shaft 440 air cleaner in my 77 brown warlock
 
d5679 said:
Hey Rusty-what's the idea for fenders?
Click to expand...

There will be none. This is a fenderless build with the radiator support and shroud out front. I found a radiator shroud from a 1925 Durant Motors Star Car locally in a antique store. 15 bucks. It's even chrome.....although well surface rusted and ratted just right.

I do plan on a removable hood so that I can drive it in inclement weather.....because this is gonna be a DRIVER. however, it will not have sides on the hood. The Hemi must be seen. I will do a mockup of the radiator shroud soon and post some pictures so yall will get the idea. Trust me. It will be cool.
 
d5679 said:
Gotta say this- I'm happy you didn't sell it!!!!can you guess this e
Click to expand...

Yeah me and you both. Just kinda worked out that I kept it. And get this.......guess what motor mounts I am using? Remember that whole set of truck 318 mounts you sent me? Yeah. Those. All I had to do was saw one corner hole off the driver's side mount on the rear side and move it to the front and weld it on. BAM, bolt in swap.
 
So what's new with the rat rod truck ? I know you said something about the front end in another thread but an update would be great . :cool:
 
Thanks for asking. I haven't done much more. I did convert from power to a manual steering box, as I will not have the room for a power steering pump. The truck is going to be very light anyway, so I don't think it will pose a problem. I did start on a front bumper involving a set of 383 connecting rods. I guess I could get a picture or three of that.
 
RustyRatRod said:
Thanks for asking. I haven't done much more. I did convert from power to a manual steering box, as I will not have the room for a power steering pump. The truck is going to be very light anyway, so I don't think it will pose a problem. I did start on a front bumper involving a set of 383 connecting rods. I guess I could get a picture or three of that.
Click to expand...
383 connecting rods ? Are those the bumper brackets or are they the bumper it's self ? Now I'm curious . :rolleyes:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top