I also think that is not the right starting point for a rat rod. There are plenty of willys trucks (or other old trucks too) that are in such bad shape they aren't much use for anything else, but would make a perfect starting poit for a rat rod. That truck is way too nice to hack up then get tired of it and scrap it.
52project wrote: So I'm not really sure where I'm going with this yet. All I know is I want the frame shorten and stronger. I have no clue what to do for the front end yet. The truck has a inline 6 Chevy engine that I might keep, I also have a 350 I could put in it. If you guys have any ideas please let me know! All insight and ideas help
I'd leave it as is, but the easy way to shorten the frame is to find a Willys wagon and steal its frame. Then drop the truck cab onto it with either a bobbed bed or a Model A bed with the Willys fenders.
*^My first project vehicle. Sorry, no photos...but it came out really nice.
Or get another dead pickup that has a good grille and cab and do that, then have two 
52project, we're not trying to discourage you. Folks around here are well known for doing stuff to cars just because. Just discourage it on this truck, we appreciate something nice when we see it. Now go find a real starter rat and keep us posted.
That thing is worth more like that than a rat rod. Gotta be patient to sell. Too many people want to flip a car nowdays.
How much you asking?
Aaron:
I am gonna disagree in that I dont think that any car is "Too nice to cut up" no matter how rare, they are project fodder for the person who pays the bills.
Rust free and complete cars are the best start since you will not get mired in bodywork efforts and missing parts that are hard to source.
What I can recomend from 40 plus years of doing this stuff (not that I woulda listened at 17) is to have a pretty good plan of what you want and how you are going to achieve it.
Do you have the tools and budget to do this sort of work? Do you have the skills? Note that the rat rod posted had a custom frame section: Can you see yourself doing that? If you do cut er up, what are your plans for making sure that it goes together straight and true in the suspension department?
A lot of the guys here are all too aware from personal experience and observation that about 80% of projects end up abandoned due to a variety of circumstances School, Female Units ,Houses and Kids being some of the common ones! What you are proposing might be a multi year project...where you see yourself in 3 years?
Regardless...I would say go for it, you will learn something.
NOHOME wrote: Do you have the tools and budget to do this sort of work? Do you have the skills? Note that the rat rod posted had a custom frame section: Can you see yourself doing that? If you do cut er up, what are your plans for makng sure that it goes together straight and true in the suspension department? A lot of the guys here are all too aware from personal experience and observation that about 80% of projects end up abandoned due to a variety of circumstances School Female Units ,houses and kids being some of the common ones! What you are proposing might be a multi year project...where you see yourself in 3 years? Regardless...I would say go for it, you will learn something.
^^^ this is good advice. Builds tend to take longer and cost more than you originally estimated:
"Estimate how long and how much, then triple it. You won't be far wrong." - Jack French, writing in the 750 Club's magazine. (Quoted in Race and Rally Car Sourcebook)
you can develop the skills as you go, but that means that it won't be as nicely done as if it were your second or third build. There will be problems with it that really bother you. You'll probably cut up and rebuild parts of it because you're unhappy with the current results.....at least, that's what I have been doing on the car I'm building.
(Personally, I'd still start with something in less pristine condition.)
mndsm wrote: That thing is WAY too good for a rat.
+1 way too nice for rat-rodding. There are plenty of busted up examples out there, if you really want to rad-rod one of these, I'd say sell this one and get one of those. You'll have more money for the project that way.
Bumboclot wrote:
...Reminds me of this game I used to have as a kid...
Please do no make a Rat Rod out of that beautiful piece of machinery. Please!
Rat Rods usually start out as piles of useless rusty garbage that get turned into re-arranged, hacked-up piles of useless rusty garbage. That Willys looks to me like a cool daily driver or weekend hauler, and I'd be proud to drive that thing as-is. You should, too!
If it needs a motor, build and toss a motor in it. For a 17-year old, that should be quite the project right there.
If you ABSOLUTELY have to build a Rat Rod, start with something else and either use that truck as a cool parts hauler or sell that truck to someone who will appreciate it. There has to be a buyer out there for that thing.
Haha you guys have made me decide to keep the truck as is. In the future how ever I will find a beat up willys an rat rod it!!! Thanks for the advice everyone! Probably saved me alot of headache and regret.
In reply to 52project:
Cool
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