1st try Binder Rat Project

Hey folks!
Enough of my intro thread. Better start my build thread here.
Ive made it quite far on this build in the past year and a half so i have alot of catchin up on here so here it goes.

The day of delivery:

First thing i did was see how small i could make the rear windows:






Then i cut off the roof. Now remember, this is my first build and i have never done anything like this before. Hell, i bought a cheap welder just for this project!
I likely did things wrong and i have learned that along the way, but its okay, im still doing it

Next, i had to get the bed in place to see what it might look like:

AND.....it was fugly, so i needed to shorten it.
I shortened it to my height, 5'10", cause im part redneck like that




I made sure i kept the factory stamped lines in the side and that they all connected in case one day i wanted to complete the body work and make the truck pretty or something.

Next, i chopped the drivers door down:


Then i picked up this SBC on Craig. I know some will say that im cheating or whatever, for using a 350, but im trying to be realistic here. This is my 1st build and i want to be able to replace parts if i break down on the side of the street. Cant do that with an Olds Rocket as the power plant.



I did a horrible job putting the cab back together so i had to patch the top :/


I also tried this visor thing on for size. I was going to do the cardboard areas in expanded metal, but i dont think its the look in going for.

I wanted to use 20" wheels.....cause im young enough to think that 20's are cool or something But some big flashy wheels just wont do!
I choose to use 2007 dodge ram 1500 spare wheels . Just setting it up to get the overall look here:




Picked up a 1968 GMC C15 chassis. Yeah yeah yeah.....IFS but i have a plan!





UGLY!!!!! And this is with the springs removed!!!!


I decided to move the cab and drivetrain back as far as i could to give an illusion of a suicide axle (obviously its not, but it looks better then factory IFS rats)


Removed the cab to Zee the frame:





1/2 way done on 1 side



Cab back in place to check the look






I origionally planned on running NO fenders



Looks pretty cool so far..... but something just doesnt look right. The bed too low? The cab too high?


SECTION IT!

Sectioning process:







Looks better. Cab is just sitting here to make sure it looked good.



Now i need to section the door.
I didnt want a big weld line through the center, so i peeled the skin back, cut the frame, the reinstalled the skin with 3" off the bottom.






Here it is with the door in place.




You might notice above that the windshield is split.....with duct tape and cardboard!
I wanted to see if i liked the look.......and i do.

need to get the cab together now.
I used the drops from the section to back all my welds inside since my cuts aren't perfect.









I wanted to try the rear fenders on for size. I had already narrowed the bed to fit the rear tires.




CRAP! it looks good. Guyss ill have to mod the bed again to run the fenders

So, here we have fenders installed. I needed to do somthing about the step too so i shortened it to fill in that weird void betqween the bed and cab.


Rear axle in the one above needs centered. I had it centered in the radius of the factory bead without fenders, but with fenders, its off.




Wanted to swap for disk brakes up front, this truck will have to work





I dont know who either of these weird dudes are, but i talked them into drilling the holes for the motor mounts for me .They only broke a handful of bits through the 2 hour process (8 holes!)



Motor mount in



Random photo of the frame


I want to run these caps!

Now its time to split that windshield.










Got this radiator from a neighbor. Im going to run it sideways. Ill tig the cap to the side then rotate it so its thinner rather then wider.




Mounted the steering column



Picked up an Alis Chalmer fuel tank for my air intake.








I will be building my grill shell in he next week or so.



The top will come to a sharp point and meet the sharp point coming off the bottom of the intake.
Ill use copper tube for the vertical pieces in the grill and the same in the intake.

Well, there ya have it. Thats my build in a nutshell.
Once i hit the 7 day member mark, ill post the video of it

OH, and who can resist a photo of the shop dog?!

Cool stuff. You are not worried about cutting one up. I like that!

Admin wrote:Cool stuff. You are not worried about cutting one up. I like that!

Go big or go home right?!
Honestly, this build is more of a challenge to myself. If I can make this one work the way it should, then I've just gotten myself into a lifetime hobby....so long as someone doesn't screw it up for us all.

Jmlcolorado wrote:

Admin wrote:Cool stuff. You are not worried about cutting one up. I like that!

Go big or go home right?! .

That's right.

Huuuummmmmm?.........I'm thinking this might be your first build. You didn't aquire those skills setting around reading the HAMB though.

Love that dog. If he rides along, will he be able to fit his head thru the door window to hang it out into the breeze? Pretty cool stuff there.

Arieldouglas wrote:Huuuummmmmm?.........I'm thinking this might be your first build. You didn't aquire those skills setting around reading the HAMB though.

FalconEddie1964 wrote:Love that dog. If he rides along, will he be able to fit his head thru the door window to hang it out into the breeze? Pretty cool stuff there.

Ya know..... I've been trying to figure out a way to smash him in there with me, but his anatomy just doesn't work with the one and only option to sit in the truck
I'm still trying to figure out how to sq ueeze the 8 year old between me and mom for trips

You'll just have to cut a camper shell down and put on the bed. That way everybody will fit. Probably not too many cut up camper specials around.

That would be freakin cool! Use the back of another cab to keep the same body lines and curves. Build a removable topper

Do 2 long mail slots full length on each side, then match the 2 mail slot rear windows on the back!

Nice work. Are you going to cut the frame horns off, or leave them long?

Chris55 wrote:Nice work. Are you going to cut the frame horns off, or leave them long?

Frame horns have to come off! They have been bugging me since I got the frame, but I've been waiting to build the radiator shell before they get modified. They will end up looking like the ends of a model a frame with a cross bar in place.
It's been tough cause I want them to get cut back a lot but the steering box will dictate how far back they go.

Big thumbs up! Your ride will be one of a kind. Not a cookie cutter car. Been wanting to cut the top on the 38 coupe but didnt have the guts. Just want to take 1.5 out of it. Just to make them think!

Looks good. Can't wait to see what you get done on it this year.

Well the UPS man strikes again!
Got my exhaust tubing to start building my grill shell.
Just got 3 90's and 2 45's.
Stupid me for thinking it would be easy to make these pieces look good!
Started with something like this

Trying to find a good aesthetic angle

Built a quick jig to keep it all straight

Round 1 fail!
It's too big and doesn't have any character

Ended up narrowing it 4", then shortening it 3" then angleing the top down 10 degrees


Looks great I think.


The extra piece of tube on the bottom is for an easy spot to place the weld clamp to.

heck i thought you was going to attach that extra piece of tube in with the radiator

JRiggs wrote:heck i thought you was going to attach that extra piece of tube in with the radiator

That would make for 1 hot grill shell!




It's got a long ways to go. I am going to grind all the welds then sheet the sides with 18 gauge.
The only think I'm worried about is the top. I have a feeling it's going to look too flat like the kitchen table :/