The Height Of Fashion
Q.I have been reading R&C for years-it's a great magazine! I would like to see a complete article on setting up the ride height on a hot rod as it seems to be a gray area. Could you please clear this up in layman's terms for us first-time rod builders. It's one of the first things that needs to be done in the building process and no one seems to have solid answers. Don't you think this would make a good article? I will be looking forward to this information so I can get started on my vintage tin projects.
Slim
Via E-mail
A.Y'know Slim, we thought this was such a good idea that we already did it, back in May 2008. If you still have that issue, go back and check it out (or alternatively, log on to our website as it's in the Tech section!), and you'll see we showed how to set up a '40 Ford coupe body at the desired ride height, then set about working out the chassis ride height and dimensions from there. Actually that pretty much sums it up in one sentence. However, while fenderless cars can be set wherever you desire, albeit taking scrublines into consideration, the ride height of full-bodied cars is limited by tire clearance inside the body, unless you want to get into major bodywork, like mini tubs. And if it's a full-fendered early body style, you really are limited by tire clearance inside the fenders, unless you want to move them up on the body too.
Worth The Weight
Q.I knew I should have e-mailed this after I read the article "Around the Bend." I used my Harbor Freight bender to bend square tubing also, but not having my own machine shop, I used a barbell weight with a round edge and two plates bolted on each side to bend 1/4-inch square tubing. It worked great and took all of 10 minutes to make. It was cheap also! It's already round and has a hole in the middle, and since it bolts together you can space it out if needed with thin washers. I found the tubing needs a little clearance because it deforms slightly and grows a little thicker as it wraps around the die.
Many sizes of weights are available for different size tubing and can be found cheap at yard sales and swap meets. I included a picture of the one I made and another weight to make a die for bigger tubing. The 5-pound weight will work great for 1-inch tubing.
Ron Berg
Via E-mail
A.A perfect case of lateral thinking! I love cheap alternative tools. My toolbox has a number of strange objects and homemade oddities for various jobs, like the curved L-shaped steel spine of an office chair that makes a great spoon for reaching inside slim doors, or my various pullers for specific jobs.
Diesel Fit 'er
Q.In a recent article you covered possible four-cylinder engines for rods. You mentioned an earlier article that covered other four-cylinder motors. I missed that one. What issue was that in? Have you also done one on six-cylinder motors or have you looked at putting a diesel in a street rod? Are the Dodges too big? Are there any older Mercedes diesels that could work?
I have a '40 Ford pickup cab I am thinking about building.
Tom Urban
Via E-mail
A.Whoa Tom, slow down with the questions! That earlier four-banger article was back in our July 2006 issue. We've not done an article on six-cylinder engines. Now, to your diesel questions. I have two friends with diesel engines in their rods, one in an F1 pickup and the other in a '32 pickup. However, these are both in England and both use the diesel four-cylinder motor from a Ford Transit van. The '32 was highly tuned, turbocharged, and indecently quick (I drove it to Germany once and can confirm its rapid pace on the Autobahn), but the reason both these cars exist is their owners' ability to use cheap agricultural diesel fuel not available to the general public.
Older diesel engines are noisy and not as refined as modern versions, and in my opinion aren't ideal street rod motor candidates, which-and again, this is only my opinion-rules out the older Mercedes option. You don't say whether your '40 will run stock front sheetmetal, but a quick measure-up will tell you if the Dodge diesel will fit. New Dodge Rams use a 6.7L Cummins turbo diesel which produces 650 lb-ft torque at just 1,600 rpm, and 325hp at 2,900 rpm. The 6.6L Duramax as used by Chevrolet is rated way lower at 460 lb-ft and 250hp, though the 6.6L turbo diesel in the new GMC Sierra weighs in at 660 lb-ft at 1,600 rpm and 365hp at 3,200, with Ford's PowerStroke 6.4L turbo diesel pushing out 650 lb-ft at 2,000 rpm and 350hp at 3,000. The new Grand Cherokee has a smaller 3L turbo diesel V-6 that makes 376 lb-ft torque and 215hp if space is an issue, though of course these are all new motors and may be tough to source.
New diesels are fuel efficient and produce low emissions, as well as being quieter than their rattling predecessors, and it would make sense to go for the newest engine you can find or afford if a diesel-powered street rod is your goal. You may also want to check the Internet for deals abroad, as diesels make up close to 50 percent of the passenger car powerplant market in Europe (true!) if a smaller diesel motor would suit your requirements, though many are front-wheel drive. Alternatively, Ford's Duratorq turbo diesel is available in the Jaguar X-Type, returning an amazing 49 mpg. Unfortunately the Jag isn't officially available in the U.S. with the diesel motor.