"Hot Rod" or "Rat Rod", How to Mount an Antique Pickup Truck Body on a Late Model Pickup Frame for Under $3000
Publisher: HotRodPlans.com
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Chicago, USA
Language: eng
Format: eBook (PDF)
Number of pages: 107
Table of contents: title: # Forward: The story of what happened to Chester when he disappeared from the hot rod world after authoring the legendary “How to Build a T-Bucket Roadster for Under $3000“; title: # Preface: How Chester’s hot rod roots influenced this eBook and what you can expect if you build a hot rod following the plans in this eBook.; title: # Getting Started: How easy it is, when you know how to do it, to mount a classic pickup truck body (Ford, Chevy, GMC, Jeep, International, whatever) from the 40s or 50s onto a cheap 1970s Chevy (or other) pickup truck chassis, which is wider than the old truck — but, don’t worry cause Chester’s gonna show you how to do it cheap ‘n easy.; title: # Prepping the Frame: How to trim off excess frame mounts, relocate the fuel tank and drop the chassis 5″ (the cheap and easy way) for that cool, low look. Plus, an easy way to mount pro-street wide tires without narrowing the rear end.; title: # Mounting the Body: How to center the antique body on the modern frame and how to channel the body to make that hot rod truck even lower.; title: # Making the Firewall: You want it to look good when you pop the hood or tilt the front end, so here’s how to clean up all the unnecessary crap from that old firewall and make it smooth and nice for the least amount of money.The first use of Chester’s innovative template making.; title: # Building the Floorboards: Your donor truck floorboards are likely to be trashed, so here’s how to build nice, new ones (with some creative tips on where to get materials for little or no cost) to go with your channeled body. More of Chester’s quick and easy templates.; title: # Mounting the Steering Column: How to mount the donor truck steering column and brace the dash.; title: # Adapting the Swing Pedals: Making the clutch connection, mounting the brake power booster and getting the pedals to fit and work in the old cab. And, don’t forget that the throttle’s a pedal, too, and Chester shows how to easily mount it.; title: # Making the Tilt Front End: Guaranteed to be everybody’s favorite chapter. Shortening the donor frame so the antique doghouse fits on it. How to weld the bumper, hood and doghouse into one tiltable unit — reinforced, of course. (Plus, an introduction to Chester’s “Widowmaker” grinder).; title: # Mounting the Gas Tank: Eliminating one of Detroit’s bad ideas — the side saddle tank! Relocating the tank to where it should be.; title: # Rebuilding the Rear Bumper: How to narrow and reinforce the bumper while making it ready for a trailer.; title: # Fabricating Exhaust Stacks: Quick and easy 3″ stacks and a Chester trick to give them a chrome finish for $10!; title: # Driveshaft: Chester’s driveshaft shortening skills always draw attention and he’s back with more. We won’t spoil the surprise, but you might find yourself heading for the lake with a bar of soap.; title: # Brakes: How to utilize the donor truck’s modern, safe brake system.; title: # Engine Compartment: When you tilt that front end, you’ll want to dazzle ‘em. How to do it without the expense of a lot of chrome.; title: # Electrical System: “Don’t let the wiring scare you,” is what Chester says and the way he explains it so simply and clearly will make this chapter worth more than the cost of the eBook alone.; title: # Interior: First, choose your comfortable cruising position and then let Chester help you design a seat to fit. Plus, how to make the dash unique, with inexpensive gauges and what you should avoid.; title: # Flatbed or Pickup Box?: Just because your classic truck field find has a trashed bed you shouldn’t be discouraged, especially if you’re on a limited budget. Chester shows you how to construct an attractive, useful flatbed using scrap metal and a nifty multi-purpose fuel tank protector that can be taken off for use as a welding table or a campsite BBQ (talk about clever!); title: # Battery Box: How to use material you can pick most everyday from people’s garbage as a sturdy, attractive battery box.; title: # Radiator: Chester’s the master of scrounging radiators and shows you how to use either a wide crossflow radiator from your donor truck or an alternative upright radiator.; title: # Rear Fenders: How to make hot rod style rear fenders that move with your rear axle so you won’t have to ever worry about rubbing when carrying or towing a heavy load, and do it for only $50!; title: # Bill of Materials: Putting his money where his mouth is, Chester gives you a detailed Bill of Materials showing just what he laid out recently on his hot rod truck build — and it’s less than half the $3000 budget. Proves that Chester’s not BS’ing when he says you can do it on a true beer budget.; title: # Title and Plates: Needless to say, you don’t want to waste time and money on this process and Chester’s experience licensing hot rods all over the country the past 50 years proves invaluable.; title: # “Oddities” — Some other Cars I’ve built: In this bonus chapter, you’ll no doubt get some additional hot rod inspiration looking at and reading the descriptions of some of Chester’s amazing builds ranging from a 392 Hemi powered 1980s Dodge Rampage pickup (with tilt front end), his 375 HP Corvette powered Ford Ranger (sorry, Ford guys) and his “Deuce” on a Model A frame, along with the story of his “wildest ride” in a 500 cubic inch Cadillac powered VW Beetle!; title: # Tips ‘n Tricks: Another bonus chapter with a wide variety of Chester-like approaches to doing things on a budget. Chester’s economical home sandblasting setup using beach sand is another tip worth more than the price of the eBook!; title: # Adios: Chester’s unique thanks and goodbye chapter.; title: # On a Human Note: A personal message from Chester.; title: # Preview: A photo of what you can expect to see in Chester’s 3rd eBook.