Project Dragula: B3000 Rat rod
 

Well, here goes possibly the most interesting project of my life. My beloved, BELOVED 1994 B3000 blew the rear main seal 100 miles from home, and crawling it back home on low fluid ruined the tranny for good... The truck was worth about $500 in it's broken state, so I decided to just keep it and do something amusing with it instead, after I picked up my new truck. I've always loved rat rods, and I realized I had all the parts I needed to build a sweet rod, so I'm going for it.

I want something along the lines of this:
Attachment 176875



Motor: I REALLY want to stick with the 3.0 that's on the frame right now, because there's NOTHING wrong with the motor, I fell in love with the exhaust note when I cut off the cats, pipes and all, and most of all, I want this rod to still be a B3000 at heart. I'm going to try and do away with as many electronics and emissions as possible, and I THINK I have an idea for turning a 94 3.0 into a carburetor engine. I got a job at age 14 (nice to have friends whose fathers own their own buisness... hehehehe) and worked for 2 years to save up the money to buy the truck the day I turned 16 and got my license, and since then that truck has been through hell and back with me... Plowing through 3 feet of water, getting a foot of air off jumps, hauling well over two times the rated load in the bed, as a teenager, sneaking out of the parent's house at 1AM to go get my girlfriend as she snuck out of her house, having the bed set on fire by a drunk friend, you name it, that little truck has been through it and come out on top, high school and well into college life, and it's still in fantastic shape. So needless to say I'm a little attached. I want to make this rod kind of as a tribute to the original B3000 in subtle ways, like I'm keeping the B3000 badges to put on it, and naturally I'd love to save the engine if I could. If I can use it, i'm fully planning on pulling it out, pulling it apart a little and giving everything a once over, and then powerwashing the hell out of it. One of my buddies works at a powdercoating/chrome shop, so this may be the first time anyone in the world has seen a 3.0 in true ford colors, beautiful Ford blue block, with chrome valve covers, chrome intake, ect... IF NOT, I'm going to keep my eye on Craigslist, I keep seeing SBC 305s and 350s, complete and running for around $200-400, so I'll pick up one of those. I think the 305 is one of the most underrated engines of all time, I had one in my '85 El Camino and it was a BEAST. Sounded amazing, always ran great, and seemed to have a much better powerband than a 302. Also, a 305 is just an underbored 350, so almost all of the 350 parts will work on a 305. I may , if budget allows, in the spring hit up the local Pick n Pulls on one of their half-off days. They always charge $64.99 for any engine, obviously with no warranty, so I can get one for $32.50, and I'll look for a 460 or some such BBF or a 454 BBC in old 3500s or F350s.

BODY: I'd LOVE to find a late 1920's Ford 5 window coupe, but those are the clique rat rod body, and thus expensive as balls and hard to find. Otherwise, I'm going to shoot for an early 50's Chevy 5-window pickup cab and bed, like this:

I'll chop the cab and shorten the bed. I'm going to have to shorten the frame and get a shorter driveshaft already, might as well go all the way.

Suspension: I'm going to use as much as the B3000's suspension as I can. It's going to be lowered as much as I can, at LEAST 4 inches. (Obviously the big knobby tires are on the chopping block :silly) I'm going to keep the B3000's rear end and drop and tub. MAYBE BAG IT! Man that would be so cool. All comes down to budget though. I MAY try to move the whole front steering / suspension assembly to the very front of the frame, like the rod in the picture, but that's a LOT of work and I'd have to get a longer steering column, ect ect. But I WOULD like to try and do away with the power steering. Anyone know if it's possible on a Ranger?


So, here is the truck as it sits in my driveway...

Attachment 176876

LET THE FUN BEGIN!


EDIT: I'm going to put this in nice, bold, big, colored letters... I'm fully aware that the 3.0 isn't the greatest engine, but I want to use it because the truck has massive amounts of sentimental value to me, and it's sort of a tribute to the old truck. And it's the first time I know of that anyone has tried to convert a 3.0 to carburation, so it's unique. Plus. Because I can. Mwahahaha.

End of day one... Just starting to strip down the front end.

Attachment 176872
Attachment 176873


Poor Baby...

End of day two... The entire engine is exposed and I'm going to try and eliminate systems one by one, like the A/C, EGR, ect ect

Attachment 176868

Attachment 176869

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...rgh/day2-5.jpg

Attachment 176870

Attachment 176871

I'm actually in a good spot. I have unbelievable access to everything in the engine bay, and it still starts up and runs, so I can keep the seals wet as I work on it.


That's all for now, it's raining and icing and 22F outside :(

i've thought about doing that slightly to mine...i still want to drive it daily though

keep us posted!!

HELL YEAH!!!!

rat rods are awesome. think about the motor soon. thats going to be the mojor part of a rat project. the truck itself can look ratty, rough and cheap. But you gota get that nice beefy motor which aint cheap :)

sweet project..what engine to jamming into it?

That's gonna be sweet!

SUBSCRIBED!
I hope this turns out good. Are you sticking with the mazda cab?
What are the plans for the motor?

COOL

you plannning on slamming it? what are you thinking about for the rear end?

http://www.killbillet.com/attachment...7&d=1223951346

http://www.killbillet.com/showthread.php?t=11976

just something i came across

put a flat head in it
that would completely make the truck
for the bed get an old bed
and use a grill from a tractor
make it open wheel front and rear with the big skinny look

That thing is pretty cool, Too bad the people on that link dont think so.

that is going to b bad ass... watching this thread closley.. keep it up

I'm excited to see this.

You down to go to the North Texas meet? (obviously not in that truck)

are you gonna body drop it also or just notch the rear and drop the front

Holy cow, I have no idea my little project would get so many fans so quick! Thanks guys! Also, i'm totally down for the North Texas Meet.

I guess I should have included my plans for the whole deal in the first post... Oh well.

Motor: I REALLY want to stick with the 3.0 that's on the frame right now, because there's NOTHING wrong with the motor, I fell in love with the exhaust note when I cut off the cats, pipes and all, and most of all, I want this rod to still be a B3000 at heart. I'm going to try and do away with as many electronics and emissions as possible, and I THINK I have an idea for turning a 94 3.0 into a carburetor engine. I got a job at age 14 (nice to have friends whose fathers own their own buisness... hehehehe) and worked for 2 years to save up the money to buy the truck the day I turned 16 and got my license, and since then that truck has been through hell and back with me... Plowing through 3 feet of water, getting a foot of air off jumps, hauling well over two times the rated load in the bed, as a teenager, sneaking out of the parent's house at 1AM to go get my girlfriend as she snuck out of her house, having the bed set on fire by a drunk friend, you name it, that little truck has been through it and come out on top, high school and well into college life, and it's still in fantastic shape. So needless to say I'm a little attached. I want to make this rod kind of as a tribute to the original B3000 in subtle ways, like I'm keeping the B3000 badges to put on it, and naturally I'd love to save the engine if I could. If I can use it, i'm fully planning on pulling it out, pulling it apart a little and giving everything a once over, and then powerwashing the hell out of it. One of my buddies works at a powdercoating/chrome shop, so this may be the first time anyone in the world has seen a 3.0 in true ford colors, beautiful Ford blue block, with chrome valve covers, chrome intake, ect... IF NOT, I'm going to keep my eye on Craigslist, I keep seeing SBC 305s and 350s, complete and running for around $200-400, so I'll pick up one of those. I think the 305 is one of the most underrated engines of all time, I had one in my '85 El Camino and it was a BEAST. Sounded amazing, always ran great, and seemed to have a much better powerband than a 302. Also, a 305 is just an underbored 350, so almost all of the 350 parts will work on a 305. I may , if budget allows, in the spring hit up the local Pick n Pulls on one of their half-off days. They always charge $64.99 for any engine, obviously with no warranty, so I can get one for $32.50, and I'll look for a 460 or some such BBF or a 454 BBC in old 3500s or F350s.

BODY: I'd LOVE to find a late 1920's Ford 5 window coupe, but those are the clique rat rod body, and thus expensive as balls and hard to find. Otherwise, I'm going to shoot for an early 50's Chevy 5-window pickup cab and bed, like this:
http://www.collectormotors.com/53truck/53truck.jpg
I'll chop the cab and shorten the bed. I'm going to have to shorten the frame and get a shorter driveshaft already, might as well go all the way.

Suspension: I'm going to use as much as the B3000's suspension as I can. It's going to be lowered as much as I can, at LEAST 4 inches. (Obviously the big knobby tires are on the chopping block :silly) I'm going to keep the B3000's rear end and drop and tub. MAYBE BAG IT! Man that would be so cool. All comes down to budget though. I MAY try to move the whole front steering / suspension assembly to the very front of the frame, like the rod in the picture, but that's a LOT of work and I'd have to get a longer steering column, ect ect. But I WOULD like to try and do away with the power steering. Anyone know if it's possible on a Ranger?

im gonna give a big WTF

didnt you buy your 07 cause the maz was a pos and left you stranded too many times ... sell the **** and build a real rat rod instead of ruining what little resale value what you have has left.

Ok, I think I know how I can use the 3.0 and ditch all the emissions and electronics junk. The image should help to explain, but i'll do my best. I'm going to pull out all the sensors, about half are threaded into parts I've already ditched, like the air sensors, or otherwise easily removed, like the MAF, and then for about a quarter of the rest, like the 02 sensors, I'll pull them out and weld little plates to cover the holes. For the last quarter, like the CPS, i'll just leave them in and snip the wires. Now, Since I want the engine to be carbureted, I'll find some way to gut the throttle body, like cut out the throttle plate, weld over any holes, and then pull out the fuel rails and injectors and either weld them shut, or use a lot of JB weld to plug them up. That way I won't risk losing any compression, messing up the air/fuel mixture, or ect. Now, remember how I hollowed out the throttle body? That will serve as a nice little spacer. I think it's 4" wide, so I'll get a 4" pipe with a 90degree turn upwards, and then custom-fabricate a plate that I can bolt a carb to without restricting airflow, and weld that onto the pipe. Bolt on the pipe, bolt on the carb, cross my fingers and hope to god it starts! :icon16:


Attachment 176825

looks good got anymore pics

The Mazda left me stranded twice, once the distributor failed, and this time the tranny blew out the rear main seal. So, given that it's a 1994, the transmission is shot, the bed, but not the cab or front clip. is dented and scratched, and the interior is dirty, I would be lucky to get $300 for it. That's nowhere near enough to start on a rat rod project. But by using the parts from the Mazda, I have a great starting point and I don't have to spend anything on those parts. Also, re-read my posts. The truck has huge sentimental value to me, and I want to make this as a tribute to the B3000 and all it took me through.

Besides, what the **** kind of rat rod is reliable? Doesn't that defeat the purpose? :silly:

Think I found the route for my B4K if it ever s***'s the bed. Keep on with it! It's gonna look sweet!

Wow... definately intersted to see how this turns out..... subscribed!!

I don't understand what the final outcome is going to be? Lowered B3000 with no fenders?

No. Yes. Kind of. The front clip is already gone, the cab is going to go next, then the bed, so all I have is a frame with a motor. Then i'm going to lower the hell out of the frame, and get the cab and bed from an old, as in 30's or 40's, pickup, and mount them on the lower frame and enjoy.