pro-240c wrote:

actually, the NHRA and the RTA/EPA have been working together and now there are minimum req's (chassis sizes, tyre sizes, engine sizes) for ALL hotrods and their associated year of manufacture.

a good thing to weed out the very disturbing trend of "rat rods".

pro-240c wrote:
"rat rods" are very different from "grass roots" rodding of which you speak - even though both may involve holes in the floor to see the "grass roots"....

seeing a 22 "T" with rusted chassis rails, 4 wheel cable operated drum brakes, rust hols in the doors so i can see the driver's sock colours, crossply front tyres on wire rims and oh-so-horrid original steering with the only major mods being a 350hp 351C, a C4 and drop spindles makes me cringe - and it should make everyone else out the worried to even see that sh1t driving next to them. it's not only exceptionally dangerous to have a rusted chassis, but a rusted chassis that was orignially designed for a flathead fourpot making 22hp now has a 350hp+ engine in it.

grass roots rodding is getting a repro chassis with rack and pinion steering and disc front brakes, a cheap body (glass or steel) and having some fun with a low buck engine combo. my dad built something similar out of a 35 chev using a 253 and a torana front end. cost him about 10k on the road i think.

THAT'S budget rodding - not driving an assembled scrap metal yard and calling it a "hotrod".

tens_and_twenties wrote:
Quote:

pro-240c wrote:
it's a 240C dude. about the same size as an XY Falcon.

And no strut towers. That's key

pro-240c wrote:
a good thing to weed out the very disturbing trend of "rat rods".

Pro 240c, what is your issue with rat rods?

I really dig the rat rod scene and if I had more time and less projects would love to build one.

For me it is embracing the the original hot rod ethos.

Its about thumbing your nose at the new cars that we cant afford and building something up on the cheap with whatever parts are available that will still smoke em at the lights.

This whole site is really about Hot Rodding, its just that we are doing it with old Datsuns,and some of the Datsuns I have seen here are pretty rat.

pro-240c wrote:
it's a 240C dude. about the same size as an XY Falcon.

Dodgeman wrote:
Quote:

Freak wrote:
Pretty much a datto body with all the running gear of a hotrod. Registered as a hotrod you could get away with murder in terms of having to meet regualtions.

Sadly, it's not going to happen, at least not in NSW.
Unless the regulations have changed, a hot rod is defined as being a car, of American origin [with specific exceptions] that was manufactured up to the 1948 model year, that was originally constructed with a separate body & chassis.

None of our Datsuns can possibly meet the criteria. As for geting away with the regulations, i suggest that a quick chat with the registration Nazis will change your mind about that. The only catagory that allows the relaxation of some requirements is 'club' registration & the usage restrictions are substantial, to the point that many can't handle the limitations & opt for full rego with all the engineering reports & compliances. [& cost]

The Hemi belongs in the '33 coupe & the little KB10 deserves to have an engine thay actually fits the engine bay. I thought about the Hemi in the Datsun, but one look at the size of that Hemi, & i just forgot all about that idea pronto.