Hi everyone. I'm new to this site. I thought I would do a little introduction. As you can see from all my recent posts I have a few ideas and hopefully I can solve a few problems. Hopefully you can help me with some too. I'm an old fart from Southern Illinois. I've been around the block a few times. This era of truck is new sheet metal to me. I come from the street rod crowd. I have built several old rods ranging from '23 to '47 but mainly '32s and '34s. I had been building "nice" cars but the rat rod bug has bitten me. I've got a buddy thats into 62-64 Chevy 409 cars. He also has a '65 GMC with a 409 in it. After spending several miles in his truck I was hooked. After shopping around for a while I picked up a '62 basket case. Like most stories go, I should have kept shopping. It was supposed to come with a complete frame. All I got was the bare frame rails. I made a poor decision to convert to an early 80s frame. From what I read on the web it would fit. What I didn't read was that it fit if you were going 4x4 with a lift kit. I wanted 2wd and low. That left me with a bad combination. Lots of cutting and welding later, the '62 sheet metal is on the 84 chassis and low. It will fit, but I don't advise it. My project isn't done yet. I still need to mount the front sheet metal. It has all been fit but not perminately mounted. I want to do the shift linkage (auto with column shift), start the wiring, install the windshield, and a few other minor things before the front clip is installed. My gauges are ordered (full set of Steuart Warner Wings will replace the stock gauges). I want to get the A/C and heater box in yet too. Now is where things get a bit twisted (like my mind). My power choice is a little different. The motor is a CUMMINS, but not the one you are familiar with. I am using a 4bt. It is the same motor as the early Dodge pickup 12v diesel motors just missing 2 cylinders. It still makes lots of torque and about 120 hp stock. Mine will have a turbocharger upgrade and the fuel pump turned up after it is running for a while. I am using a 475 turbo which is the same as a 400 turbo with some straight cut gears, making it a little stronger. Paint on the truck will be satin black. The wheels are rally GM van on the front (6.5 wide) and rally truck (8 wide) on the back painted yellow. There are tall bullets mounted in the wheel centers. There will be some speed shop (or something similar) lettering added to the doors to complete the look. Hopefully it will be on the road by summer.
Couple of things I forgot about the truck... The motor is pushed back as far as possible because it is heavy. I am trying to keep the front suspension loaded similar to a stock truck. The 4bt weighs more than a big block. The brakes are hydroboost since there is no vacuum to run the booster with a turbocharger. I need to make the radiator mounts yet to hold the aftermarket aluminum unit. The dash is now shiny black. Trim rings and centers have been installed on the wheels. The front suspension has dropped spindels and lowering springs. The rear suspension has a spring flip kit. The gas tank has been placed in the rear of the frame. The rear fenders will be widened 1" to clear the rear tires. I want them snug but they just don't fit now. I have spare axle shafts in stock already. I know the diesel will brake 10 bolt axles.
Welcome!! Welcome!! I'm not sure you can call that a rat rod though, looks too nice, maybe rat rod inspired?
Cummins powered? NO WAY! Beck, I run a Cummins distributor in SC. Let me know if you need any technical, service or parts info. I've got access to it all... along with some of the best Cummins certified technicians in the country. Nice looking truck!
