Rat Rod Ls Ride

[1Fine69]

well im looking to build and everyday driver that i can have some fun with.plus id be great to have hagerty insurance instead of being on my pops plan and jacking up the price. i want to start learning some serious skills so i started looking into ratrods. i feel much safer experimenting on something that i feel i cant mess up to bad. I was wondering if anyone knows about any websites, shops, or anything in general about rot rods that have ls based motors in them. I looked around a great deal but didnt find anything. I understand the whole ratrod them calls for a totally different type of motor but i think it would be awsome to have a ls1 or 2 in there to drive everyday. it would be fun and have great gas mileage. I was looking at this car as an example. http://www.hotrodders.com/ads/showproduct.php.i wanted to spend no more than like 16-17k so if u have some ideas dont go crazy on me! if anyone has any general or specific info for me it would be a huuuge help. if its a stupid idea....tell me! thanks alot.

[chet]

check out www.jalopyjournal.com the board is called the HAMB and the best one out there for what you want.

[1Fine69]

tyvm...ill make sure to check it out

[RobM]

are you gong to go fenderless? or do somthing with a hood and fenders?

in my opinon an LS in somthing like a 3 window coupe or a T bucket with an open front end on it... wouldn't be so pleasing to the eye.

but an lsx in a early 50's chevy or somthing similer would be pretty cool.

[Restomod]

The HAMB is very much about Traditional Hot Rods and Customs.You wont find any LS powered cars there,Flatheads and Nailheads are the norm with SBC being right there. Be forewarned many of the guys there will not hesitate a second in ripping you a new one if they dont think your idea does not fit the traditional scene.

[1Fine69]

o im 100 percent aware haha. i love the old motors they run. i wish i had an ounce of their knowledge and talent. the thing is....the car would be driven everyday and it need good gas. i was thinking to run fenderless. i wanted a roadster at first but thats not practical. i was thinking about making it a removable hardtop. i know it soudns crazy but this is my experiment car. also i would close up the engine bay probably. i know its not tradition...if i could have it that way i would because i like it more. but if i could find a rolling car like that 31 and jsut swap the motor...or maybe even just change over the carb to fuelie, i think it would be better than driving my ford escape everyday! plus i jsut got a quote for me to drive an 02' trans am ws6......6800 bucks...for 6 months!!!!!!!! i went to geico and they were cheaper at 3 grand a year but i cant do that. its ludacris. any more input would be great guys. thanks for your help. hopefully this interests some people and i get some good feedback. who knows, it may turn out to be a cool idea

[SicMonte]

im into it!! being a rat rod guy myself...id actually like to see an LS1 in an old hot rod. I go to all the shows around here and i will tell you one thing...you wont be "accepted" by the hard core greasers and rockabilly's...but who really cares?? If you like the car..and it is what you want...then GO FOR IT! Im behind you 100% on this one...I think its a great idea. I was going to do something sililar to my 59 apache pickup...but the funds got too low so I had to sell the truck.

[jaybee]

Oh, if you go to the HAMB don't use the term Rat Rod!!!!!!!!! They like quality construction with pre-1965 parts and appearance and prefer the term "period correct". Some of the participants have insane skills but control on flaming if you go outside the topic might be considered a "controlled burn".

[1Fine69]

haha ill remember that. i just need to find a nice car that i can put a motor and trans in. i was looking on ebay and i thought a ls1/t56 together would be fine. i would have to probably fab motor mounts and stuff like that. i basically have no iidea till i get either a real junker thats has a a setup that can be replaced by the ls1 and t56, or, i find a roller that i can just plop the setup into. if anyone knows any good places to find stuff like that im all ears. so far hotrodders.com has been my best resource. thanks for the input guys and im glad u arent beating my rookie shot in the dark idea to death!

[SicMonte]

beating your idea to death??? I WANT TO DO YOUR IDEA!!!! i love everything about it...

[1Fine69]

haha thanks man. i respect all of you guys and im glad to hear that its not a totally wack concept. man i just need to find a donor car that can take that ls1/t56. i would jsut get a newer fbody if it wasnt for insurance. if anyone finds something let me know. thanks again

[SicMonte]

a guy i know is selling a 49 chevy coupe. he wants 5K for it. nice car.

[1Fine69]

hey could u message me the link, or pics...or whatever u have on it?itd be a huge help

[indyjps]

youll be out on your own with this one. the rat rod guys wont help you cause its not a 40's -50's engine, the street rod guys wont help cause its a rat. I think we can all help with ideas.
depends on what car youre thinking of starting with. a 50-53 chevy 2 door would be perfect for this.
Ive always wanted to do a rat rod mid 70's vette, modern engine nice underneath some peeling orange valve covers, nice interior behind the tinted windows and the worst looking peeling faded factory paint I can find with a great set of wheels. just build it up and dont paint anything, put the old junk back on it.

[1Fine69]

hmmm...what about this? http://www.hotrodders.com/ads/showpr...2&cat=5&page=2