Yep, a flatfender rat rod is the secret project that I have been compiling parts for over the last year and a half. I recently found out another magazine (a car mag) was building one too. So I figured I'd let the cat out of the bag.

Over the weekend I went to work hanging the rear springs and the Ford truck 9-inch rear axle. It will be a two-wheel drive Jeep, built for cruising the burger joint, and if you are at all familiar with rat rods (google it if not) you'll know that they sit pretty low. So in order to get the frame closer to the ground I used front springs (they are shorter) out back and mounted them outboard of the frame and spring-under. I built a post-mount for the front spring mount and the rear utilizes a factory flattie shackle mount adapted to the side of the frame with plate steel. I could lie and tell you the boogery welds were on purpose to give the Jeep a nasty look, but the truth is it's been a while since I've welded so my skills are as rusty as my Jeeps frame. All that's important really is that it holds together. Anyway, I also had to modify the leaf spring perch to move the axle back an additional inch. I also built my own U-bolt plates. I know what you're thinking. If I was installing springs from scratch why didn't I just move them backward and put them where I wanted them. Easy, the body mounts would have been in the way. I've also ground out and welded up all the cracks in the rear half of the frame. It's really a mess. This frame has been through a lot of trails and two frame-off rebuilds that I did. Who knows what happened to it in the other 50 years before I owned it. Truth is, if I was planning to put in a V-8, flexible suspension, big tires, and use it off-road I would find a better frame. But for the small tires planned and the weak engine, this frame will be fine. I'm just about ready to drop the body tub on. Stay tuned.