My Model A Chopped and Channeled Rat Project!! (Page 1/1)
nyranger6830 SEP 14, 12:00 PM
Hi all,

Well as some of you may have seen I was on the lookout for a Model A chassis for a while so that I could start a Rat Rod project Ive been looking to do for a while now! Well I finally found one locally for $500 and it was brought to me for $30! Not a bad deal, It included the frame, front and rear end, 2 Vintage V8 Ford Wheels and 2 Ford Bronco wheels with tires. So In the last few days Ive split the wishbone on another front end I picked up, took off the old front and rear end, and removed any brackets I did not need! So right now I have a bare frame ready to have a front and rear end mounted up! The front is almost done, just need to reweld the metal bungs in the radius rods and attache them to the frame, and the next step is installing a rear. After much thought, Ive decided to use my 79 Camaro with a 305 and Auto trans as the donor for my rat. So im gunna take the rear, drive shaft, engine and trans and put into this car. So I want to drop the rear out of the camaro and attach it to the frame but Im deciding how id like to do this...

Heres my question: The original Model A rear setup came with the horizontal leaf spring that attached to either side via shackles. Can I attach that spring to this rear in place of shocks or coilovers, and just attach a panhard bar and radius rods and call it a day? Or is there more needed? Will it be strong enough? I dont need it to be pretty and I dont need tons of preformance and comfort so Im not looking to spend alot on coilovers or expensive shocks.

Another question: When I remove the 305, can I take the mounts with it and attach them to the frame? Will that work?

Any thoughts or suggestions are highly appreciated! I also just want to say I havent really been on here much in the last few months and compared to these other forums, well there really is no comparison! I have not met one rude person on this forum and never had a question unanswered! This is hands down the best forum going!

Thanks alot guys and I will upload pictures at some point, I cant now because im at work lol

Thanks guys,
Tony

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Fieros......Gotta Love Em!

Dawn: My 86 GT!

NEED PARTS? I GOT EM!!

Racing_Master SEP 14, 09:12 PM
A Panhard bar would not be wise to use with leaf springs. Yes you can use the leaf springs, however, delete the panhard bar and torque arm from the setup, and install slapper bars instead. A panhard bar (and the suspension links) installed would cause the rear of the car to bind up. A panhard bar moves the rear end left and right throughout the suspension travel, however leaf springs act as their own lateral stability, that go direct vertical. The conflicting forces will cause a bind problem.

The 2 links cannot be connected either, due to the leaf springs themselves are links that provide the link to the chassis. You will create axle bind still, using the camaro's links and torque arm setup.

If you are adamant about using leaf springs, use slapper bars or a pinion snubber to control the axle twist.

As for the mounts, it wont be a unbolt and rebolt kind of swap. Yes you can use the mounts, however you have to create your own mount brackets to bolt to the mounts of the 350 that bolt to the cups on the engine.

Personally, I would solid mount the engine to the chassis in the front, put a rubber mount on the transmission, and install the camaro's 2 link with torque arm, with coil springs, and a Watts Link built out of a wheel hub and some steel.
nyranger6830 OCT 24, 05:20 PM
Well Ive done alot since last writing!

I purchased this chassis for $500 and made my money back on it by selling the rear and front end!



I removed all the mounts and unnecessary items:






I removed the Camaro rear and set i up next to the frame:



I also rust-proofed the frame and shot it with black primer:






And this is how it currently stands:








I started to box the frame out am halfway through, I just have to weld in the bottoms of every piece. I also have a 4-Bar link setup from Speedway for the rear along with a panhard bar kit, and mounts to use the transverse leaf spring to make a buggy leaf suspension. Once the boxing is finished, I intend on welding up the rear then move on to setting up the drive train. Thoughts?


Thanks,
Tony


Would really like to know what some of you think of these welds. Craftsman Arc welder at 95 amps, with 6011 rods on 10 gauge steel:



------------------
Fieros......Gotta Love Em!

Dawn: My 86 GT!

NEED PARTS? I GOT EM!!

Khw OCT 24, 11:30 PM
Pretty neat. I'll have to check back and keep an eye on this threrad.
IanT720 NOV 11, 01:14 AM
Awesome! I go too about 30 rat rod shows every summer they're the best

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86 Fiero GTX project now tearing up the street, My build thread! 3800sc, interior, wheels, suspension and more! http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/089483.html

carnut122 NOV 11, 11:39 AM
Nice! After looking at the first pictures, I was thinking, "I sure hope he's planning on boxing the frame." Keep the pictures coming!

[This message has been edited by carnut122 (edited 11-11-2012).]

mwzephyr JAN 23, 09:30 AM
Bump
Looks good so far.