Page 44 - Issue 39

Cooling is handled by an aluminum radiator that was liberated from
an articulated dump truck. Steve cut it down to a more manageable
size and mounted it in the rear. Water flow is directed with two-inch
sanitary stainless pipes running up to the engine. Cooling is never an
issue and according to Steve, ‘It takes forever to get warm.’
This is Steve’s first attempt at building a car of any type. What was
his total out of pocket expense? “About $5000,” says Steve. He did
do a lot of bartering and horse trading, but that’s the nature of the
beast in building cars like this. He used what he had around the shop,
and made deals and leaned on his friends for the rest. For example:
He needed six tires for his truck. He found a deal on 28 of them for
$50 apiece. He kept six and was able to sell the other 22 to help
finance his build. He was also able to take advantage of his welding
skills to perform a lot of the fabrication by himself. But remember, he
had never built a car before. What does Steve have to say to any of
you out there who are considering building your first rat rod? “Buy a
welder. Cut some metal. Get hurt. You don’t have to be Steve Darnell
to build a rat rod.”
Special thanks to his wife, Amanda, brother Randy. HUCK, Graig
Sneed. Greg McKinney and Gary Morris.

44 Rat Rod Magazine ISSUe THIRTY-nIne

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