Introduction

[Mike in AZ]

might not be a '37 Ford frame, for one, so finding the serial number might be fruitless....and i guess i agree more with Mart in his line of thinking....as to when i read your original post about it being a '37 hot rod pickup.....in my mind's eye, entirely different idea of hot rod....but that's the fun of the world.....stick around and ask all the questions you want about flatheads, etc. and i'm sure you'll get plenty of good answers....and hopefully you can build into what you want and you can enjoy it....good luck....Mike

[rotorwrench]

All you have to do is go to the top of the board and read Ryan's statement there (He's the Boss). Most are tolerant but some are not. As with any board like this you have to be ready for what ever comes along. On some boards you really have to have thick skin.

[russcc]

Vic Piano said it all. It's all in the game, and everyone plays it's different, that's what's great about America and Forbarn.

[Mart]

Hey, don't get me wrong, If Jim is interested in flatheads fair enough, like I said we all love em, and he will get all the help he can wish for. I am not saying Jim shouldn't be welcome here, just the car he chose to base the project on isn't the sort of thing we would normally see here.

My own cars leave a lot to be desired if viewed through the eyes of a restorer but at least they look as much like Henry built them as I can afford to make them. I think sometimes I am stretching FB patience (bearing in mind Ryan's own guidance) with my own stuff.

To be honest, I'd like to see a picture of the Lola before I see another pic of the "37 pickup", and I don't doubt your background and knowledge. It's just that the style of vehicle is at the complete polar opposite of what this forum represents.

There's a fellow asking on another post what is the very best battery to use to avoid losing judging points. That represents the true purist approach. There's a moderate ground that tolerates deviations from stock and like I said before the purists are gracious enough to go along with that.

I have a 41 pickup that I have been building. It has a y-Block. I have never posted a buildup thread on the Barn because I know it is not what is wanted here. I only mention it if someone asks about something other than the running gear, and I think I have a snippet of information that may help.

I am only trying to explain why your car has received a cool reception. People are too polite these days to say anything, but this one is just too far removed from Ryan's guidance that it simply does not fit in.

Gotta turn in, it's late here.

Mart.

[jimisbell]

Originally Posted by Mart

I am only trying to explain why your car has received a cool reception. People are too polite these days to say anything, but this one is just too far removed from Ryan's guidance that it simply does not fit in.

Well I appreciate your concern, but I didnt thinkI got a cool reception! In fact I got a very warm reception from just about everybody.

Thanks to all who encouraged me.

[ford38v8]

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Jim,

In one of your posts, you asked what defines your car as being a ratrod. Surely you jest? No, not a jest, as the question was put in a defiant attitude. Your car is the very definition of a ratrod. Not just paint as you suggest, not just primer over raw welds and dents unworked, not just unfinished, sloppy and uncaring workmanship wherever you look, not just total disrespect for the stylish design your car began its life as, not just the lack of proper suspension and clearance that prevent its being driven on many roads and into most driveways, not just electrical hazards of which some can be seen in the pictures, but when you put it all together, it is a ratrod without question.

No question it doesn't belong on the Barn, and below you will find the quote from Ryan that defines what the Barn is NOT about.

Now I'll say this: I am a purist and wouldn't do to a Ford what was done to yours for all the money in the world, BUT... I like your car. It looks like fun, it looks like someone had fun building it, and you'll have fun in rebuilding it with a flathead. It's a no holds barred all out scary piece of iron and I know that there are lots of purists like myself that secretly envy the freedom that can be had with doing a ratrod. Congrats on a fun ride and hope the other purists don't gang up to kick me off the barn for saying so. Below is Ryan's Rule:


01-02-2011, 03:47 PM #44
Ryan
Administrator



Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 367
Re: Hey Fellas... Some Clarification...
Bottom line, this is not and will not be a STREET ROD forum.
__________________
Ryan Cochran
- www.AtomicIndustry.com

[Vlahos221]

Pretty nice car you got there Jim. I am also new to the forum as well, and reading everyone post about no street rods / ratrods I guess that how it goes my car has a 1934 flathead v8 and to this day I love it if some one asks me what kind of car I'll tell them but now ill leave it be because I don't want to start anything. I'm here to gain info on flatheads help people with problems that we have had or problems we might run into that's how I see it. I hope I don't get kicked out but if it happens it happens.

[Mart]

Jim, I like you, you are persistant and polite. I think you will find the Fordbarn a welcoming place. I did just re-read the first posts though, and the warm welcomes are abundant, along with people expressing their best wishes on your intentions. But I think everybody had the same misconception as me, and expected something more like banjoQ's avatar.
The mood did change after the pics were posted.

So, welcome to the barn.

Mart.

[Vic Piano]

Wow, it looks as though some of these self-righteous, closed-minded individuals are experiencing epiphanies and actually accepting the fact that Flatheads come wrapped in a lot of different packages. It is mindboggling to me that anyone would be so indignant as to cast aspersions toward someone they don't know, and try to legitimize their attacks by quoting "Ryan's Rule"... If Ryan doesn't want something on the forum, it is his decision (and his alone) to make! Clearly, he does not need any surrogates to preach and/or enforce his intent. I respectfully suggest, to all who have responded here in a negative fashion, that they try to expand their limited scope relevant to Flathead powered vehicles and embrace the different approaches employed by others, with respect to their vehicles. Just because someone likes a particular style, does not render all other applications as invalid or inappropriate.

[jimisbell]

I fully respect the people who are purists. I belong to the Rolls Royce club and the Jaguar club. The idea of a chevvy powered Jag is distasteful.

BUT,

The people I disagree with are those that have carved out a distinction between Hot Rot and Rat Rod, and were not there from the beginning in SoCal as I was, and dont know what they are talking about. I wouldnt even disagree with them if the distinction wasnt a negative. But the idea that a car built to race on the "lakes" was or is a lesser car than one built to race illegally on the streets of LA is ridiculous.

[jim1932]

I don't know why people get so bent out of shape over the forums.... Most people on here can appreciate any car. I certainly wasn't criticizing the car, I was simply explaining why some might call it a Rat Rod. I welcome you to the forum and certainly welcome you years of experience. Ryan owns the place and classified the forums. Fordbarn for restorations, with three sections based on the year of the car, and the HAMB for hotrods. Ryan set the rule of no Ratrods.

In my opinion a Ratrod is done on purpose. It is a car specifically made to look like it is disjointed and made of spare parts. An in your face type thing with tractor grills, parts made of wrenches welded together or barbed wire. I also think a lot of poorly done hotrods are often called ratrod. A hot rod to me is a car build for speed. It works well together. Some rat rods are barely drivable. My comment on the interior was that it had a lot of heavy diamond plate steel in it (which is very common in ratrods).

Not trying to define YOUR car either way, just discussing what elements people today call a rat rod. There are even several groups of thought. There are a large number that call any hotrod a rat rod and think the terms are interchangeable, there are classic hot rodders who take huge offense at the term Rat Rod and think it means a car that is a cobbed together piece of junk, and there are the guys who think it is an extreme mad max type hot rod and go to great expense and skill to make a car look like it was very cleverly constructed of junk parts.

Like I said, welcome to the forums!

[texas webb]

Originally Posted by jimisbell

Well.........not to start an argument....but I didnt bring it up.....

1)I dont see paint being a reasonable criteria. I have seen glossy paintjobs that look worse than a good flat paint.

2) I grew up with hot rods in the 1950s, graduated HS in '54. Hot rods are any car with a non stock engine PERIOD.

3) Rat Rod was a term coined in the 1960s by people that wanted to feel better about spending huge amounts of money on a car made out of steel tube and plastic containing ONLY one true automotive product, the engine. It gave them someone to look down upon after their silly expenditures on a car that would never grace a racetrack.

4) if the difference is "finished/unfinished" then I think that is a very inane criteria.

I will say no more on the subject except to cite my 77 years and 120+ cars of expertise growing up in Southern California.

Very well put,Jim and welcome to the Barn from SA.Some people just need a snickers bar and relax.

[ford38v8]

Vic, you can go suck eggs with your name calling personal attacks. You just can't seem to get through a thread without taking someone down, can you? Its you who are close minded and unaccepting of the purists much more than the other way around.

[jimisbell]

Ok, now, this is MY thread and I dont allow bickering. ...LOL I like a good debate, but not bikering. We can all have a difference of opinion without getting "into it" with each other.

If we must fight, the old way out was to drive out to the Torry Pines cliff over the Pacific and run toward the cliff, the one who jumps last is "right".....or dead.....

[Vic Piano]

Originally Posted by ford38v8

Vic, you can go suck eggs with your name calling personal attacks. You just can't seem to get through a thread without taking someone down, can you? Its you who are close minded and unaccepting of the purists much more than the other way around.

Looks like I hit a nerve with you once again Alan. Don’t take it personal, I didn't single you out but, you know what they say... "if the shoe fits"... I took no one down, as you say; I merely defended a newcomer against unwarranted and unnecessary criticism. Now, I think it’s you with egg on your face yet again. Have a nice day, maybe some egg salad for lunch might help...

[FHFD]

I've never had a desire to be a moderator, until now..so I could close this thread.