1930 Ford Sedan - Rat Rod

350ci SBC  + block huger headers + Holly Manifold + Holley650 Carb + GM 5speed Tranny
Ford 9" Rear End with Triangulated 4 Link + Dropped I-Beam Front Axle + Suicide Springs
Mid 40's Chevy Artillery Rims + Finned Drums+ Firestone Tires 

The build begins...................................................

The first task was to chop the top 3"!!  With this body style a chop is pretty easy considering how all the body shape is really straight up-n-down and all the glass is flat. Plenty of bracing is used to keep everything in shape.

Since it is a rat rod with the natural patina, I left the welds exposed, un-ground, and finished them with a rust/brown acid metal finish.

After the chop was finished, a sub structure and floor was fabricated out of 18ga sheet metal. The blend with the theme of the build I used several/numerous colors of paint, sanded thru them, them used a rusting patina on the bare spots. Looks old and worn.

To fill in the roof, use used a roll bender to fabricate "bows" out of 1" square tubing, created a crown in both directions, then rolled a crown in three pieces of sheet metal. The sheet metal was riveted to the roof sides and bows. It was meant to be "rustic" to match the overall look of the project. The inside was painted, and the outside was patina'd around the seams and rivets to get that "old" look.

I fabricated a fuel cell using a 15 gallon steel drum. Custom made a mount to hols the drum is a horizintal position where the rear seat would normally go. Stainless steel straps hold the drum in the mounts.

One of the sub-themes of the build was to use "pistons" as accessories. I started with fabricating these rear tail and turn signal using old Ford Flat Head Pistons. Chucked them up in the lathe and turned the inside so I could fit re-pop '59 Cadillac buckets and lenses in them.  The mounts are tubes I turned down to fit in the wrist pins holes.

More pics of the lights.

also made a "piston" nut to use on the air cleaner, a shift knob out of an old motorcycle piston, and the horn button is the top of a flat head piston.

I needed some seats. Bomber style seats. As always I want something different that no one else has, and they had to look old and worn. Started with some patterns and sheet metal.

Cut, bend flange, bead rolled in some ridges, bend them into shape, and welded them together

To get that old patina look, I used 5-6 different colors of paint and repeatedly rubbed thru different colors. Have to look real close to see it is not real.

Some more photos of the frame and running gear. The frame and suspension was fabricated at Riley Automotive here in Colorado.    The exhaust was interesting to route around the ladder bars and axle.