1947 Ford F1 Rat Rod

Rat rods just might be the most interesting vehicle ever to roll along the blacktop. While any good build will turn heads and have people asking questions, nothing gets quite as much attention as a rat rod.

A rat rod is a custom car or truck with a deliberately worn-down, unfinished appearance, typically lacking paint, showing rust, and made from cheap or repurposed parts.

The rat rod flips the finger to the lawn-chair-rodding crowd that build hot rods for show and don’t actually take them out and enjoy them.

This 1947 Ford F1 definitely meets the definition of a rat rod. I especially love the spittoons mounted on the dual carbs. Repurposing is cool. Especially when it comes to rat rods.

Purists would complain that this Ford has a big block Chevy motor in it, but this truck is clearly driven and enjoyed.

Full Statistics

Frame:

Custom with steel tubing

Engine:

Chevy 454 big block 4-Bolt main. Standard bore on the crank & journals. New rings, bearings, valve job, and gaskets. Big Crane Thumper Cam
Old school Weiand Tunnel Ram from the early 70’s. Dual 1974 750CFM Holley carburetors.
Custom valve covers
MSD distributor
MSD HVC Ignition
Rear mounted Fluidyne High Performance radiator

Exhaust:

Custom stainless steel headers with Try-Y pipes
Side pipes are 7 inch Stove Pipes

Drivetrain:

Saginaw 3-speed and it is mounted in reverse to get the shifter over where it needs to be
New Ram clutch & pressure plate
Narrowed rear end with a Trac-9 Housing with a True Trac Locker out of a Winston Cup car and with a 3.82 gear
Rear hubs are Wide 5
Custom cut driveshaft with Chevy front and Ford rear

Front Suspension:

Chevy S10 with S10 steering
Powder coated tubular A Arms
Adjustable coil over shocks

Rear Suspension:

4-link setup
Rear shocks are AFCO double adjustable
Shocks are $2500 apiece new

Body:

Truck was sanded down fairly smooth to the metal with enough Patina and paint left for a nice contrast
Coated with a ceramic tile water based sealer
Hood is a lift off with 3 pins
Tail lights are 40 Ford replicas

Interior:

Custom built
Floor is a sheet of copper with swirl marks from a scotch brite wheel over a treated plywood frame
Old fashioned front porch Glider Swing all framed
Floor pedals are TB & C Series 600 Race pedals