Rat rod flatbed beater

[hotwheels000]

Whitewalls ? Moonies ?


Now I have to get me a skull


Heres a grill shot,maybe some ideas can come from it for you...

[Tommy R]

I think if you're going for the rat rod look, the vertically oriented expanded metal is the grill choice, hands down. If you were going for more of a traditional hot rod styling, I'd suggest the perforated grill.

This is looking great, but I can't stand rat rods, personally. I was thinking of using the Parma '34 Ford to make a crawler, but was going to model it after my 1:1 '30 Model A (traditional hot rod) I'm building.....which will unfortunately be called a rat rod by lots of people.

Keep up the work, Chris! Very interested in what else you come up with!

[ecoli]

Well, it's been a while since I updated this thread! Got in my 90mm RC4WD shocks from rpp, so was able to go to town on the suspension and link set-up. Went with 4 linked rear and 3-link/panhard set-up in the front. All links are 8-32 allthread sleeved in 1/4" stainless with Revo rodends.

Next, worked on the bed adding all the steel to make it a bed! Being all steel, it's definitely not lightweight.

Still have more work to do. I'm hoping to finish it mostly off by the end of this next week in time to run over the holidays. Still have to paint the body, rust the bed, stain and secure all the wood in the bed, work on the grill, put in all the electronics, work on the wheels. Never ends!













And finally, a pic of the outer rings John (MTHead) made for me. Whitewall rings

[JC CRAWLER]

Way to cool not to subscribe.

[xturdfergusonx]

I am digging the rat look. You should dimple die all your holes that you have drilled. Your seats and bed rails would look sick!! You could do it with your grill like this too:

Just my two pennies!!

[Jester666]

Looks awesome Chris, nicely done! What color is the cab going to be?

[m4rK]

Really great idea for a build. Cant wait to see it finished up!

[ecoli]

Originally Posted by xturdfergusonx

I am digging the rat look. You should dimple die all your holes that you have drilled. Your seats and bed rails would look sick!! You could do it with your grill like this too:

Just my two pennies!!

I actually took a countersink bit to the holes on the bedsides. I couldn't go too deep though, because it's 16ga steel. I really do like that look though, gives it more depth.

I also like that grill you posted

Originally Posted by Jester666

Looks awesome Chris, nicely done! What color is the cab going to be?

Cab is going to be (hopefully) somewhat similar colour to the grill posted above. A buddy of mine was going to paint it for me, but he's still up on a job in GP, so I guess I have to tackle it myself.

Thanks for the compliments guys. Painting today, electronics tonight. At least that's the plan

[xturdfergusonx]

Originally Posted by ecoli

I actually took a countersink bit to the holes on the bedsides. I couldn't go too deep though, because it's 16ga steel. I really do like that look though, gives it more depth.

I also like that grill you posted

You may know this already, but dimple dieing with add a ton of rigidity also.

Sorry to keep giving advice. I just love rusty, ratty and hoodride type stuff. Louvers!!! You need louvers somewhere!!!

[rocresq]

This thing is turning out pretty sweet.

[Die-Laughing]

Hell yeah man, this things bad ass

[ecoli]

Thanks guys. No problem on giving advice, always good to learn new things on a build.

Well, a final set of pics before a Christmas break. She's a runner now! Still have to do the grill/light section, but that won't happen until the new year. I'll hopefully get it out over the holiday break and take some photos and video to post up. On to the pics:

Interior all painted up and in place. Didn't go overboard on the details, since you can hardly see anything through the windows anyways







Electronics all in place. Steering servo, rx and battery under the hood. Esc under the seat area, BEC along the side. Running stock Wraith electronics with a Castle BEC for 3s. 27t Axial motor. Disposable







Body all painted up. Took my time and it turned out ok! First painted the inside with Tamiya copper backed with Pactra backing black. Then did the same thing on the outside. Not heavy coats, just light, especially with the black. After it dried up, took a scotch brite pad to take down some of the copper shine.



Bed all done up. For this, after I was done brazing the bed frame, put it in a saltwater bath for a couple of days and then let it air dry to give it a good rusty finish. Hit it with the scotch brite pad, then with some flat black paint. One more time with the scotch brite pad and it was done.

For the bed, took the torch to the wood and lightly scorched all the wood. Held in place with M2.5 button heads (being black oxide, they'll rust over time). Put on a light varnish to protect it from the elements.







Wheels were primered then painted red. Added in the MTHead white delrin rings (just painted the inner rings with white primer). Rat rod whitewalls





And finally some overall pictures with everything back together. Should look even better once the grill is done...eventually!

[hotwheels000]

Looks great Chris Maybe a cloth top insert on the roof where the cut out lines are would allow you to see and access the interior, if nothing else it would add another dimension of coolness

[sweli]

X2 !!
Awesome looking rig!
Great detail work

[Difuser]

I was going to suggest the same thing as Devlin, it needs a little detail up there but looks killer!I love the Patina overall to it.

[BC Racing]

Your "weathering" of the bed looks spot on....




FTW!!

Originally Posted by ecoli

[justinart24]

Originally Posted by BC Racing

Your "weathering" of the bed looks spot on....




FTW!!

x2

Looking really good buddy!!! What you going to haul...How about 400 cases of Coors to Texarkana?

[Going Up!]

Love it!! Nice job man!!

[rockrigcustoms]

looking great. definately different.

[FATBOYrs10]

can you say "mountain moonshine runner".put a couple of scale whiskey barrels on the back and get to haulin some shine man...i love it