Page 43 - Issue 39

Steve’s build started out as a stalled project. Well, really low. His vision was to have a cantilevered front and
actually his brother’s stalled project. Steve’s brother rear suspension. How difficult was it? “there’s so much
randy bought the 2-ton dump truck and parked it geometry up there. We talked about that front end for
at Steve’s place, where it sat for a year. When randy months.” So did he get any expert opinions on how to set
decided to go to malibu and get married, Steve seized the it up? “We just rolled the dice and it worked.”
opportunity and ‘cut it all up.’ When looking at the truck from the rear, that trick
and cut it all up he did. inspired by brother randy’s rat suspension dominates the view. everything you see was
rod, Steve had to build something even bigger and badder. designed by Steve and all the plasma and waterjet cutting
this would prove to be a mighty task, as he considered was handled by the guys at d&d Welding. the huge bags
randy’s the biggest and baddest one he had ever out back were sourced from a cement truck. as low as
encountered. He started by ditching the fenders and the it sits when it’s dropped, the truck will clear a 5-gallon
dump bed. the cab has been left alone, save for the Pete bucket at full ride height.
359 visor that’s been heavily tweaked for proper fit. Steve the drivetrain was kept pretty simple. a totally stock
then widened the front axle by eight inches in order for cummins 6Bt/5-speed combo was lifted from a dodge
the truck to look more proportioned once it was slammed. ram truck. Why the diesel? “You can’t have a V-8 in a
But instead of ditching the old frame and scratchbuilding truck like this. i wanted it for the sound.” the rear is still
one from tube stock, he went the unorthodox route by the stock axle the truck left the factory with. it is of the
using the old frame. By keeping the old frame stock, he two-speed variety, so that coupled with the five speed
had to get creative on how to get this beast to lay low. give Steve the ability to cruise freeways effortlessly.

ratrodmagazine.com Rat Rod Magazine 43

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