Page 14 - Issue 37

He met up with familiar face, Crab, at a
local show after fi nding the rust was calling,
“I’ve always had an eye for rats,” Clay told
me. “But it was after really talking to Crab
and having him tell me it’s really not that
hard or expensive to do that made me
decide: ‘I’m gonna do this!”

He sourced a 1948 Ford F1 and a 351
Windsor two weeks after the conversation
and after seven months of work, had his
completed ride. A C6 trans and 9 inch
31 spline rear end fi nds itself nestled in a
homemade double Z’d frame and up front
he runs a solid front axle. We’ve seen over
the last 36 issues, everyone has different
methods and techniques of achieving their
visions - Clay had an out of box (well out of
garage) way of doing things. “I built the thing
under my house, LITERALLY!” His house
is raised on beams to avoid fl ood damage
and even 2x6’s were used to lift and move
things around on the project. 10 days before
Crabs’ October show, he ran into problems
with his then current power plant. I call
them ‘technical diffi culties’, but he ended
up locating a 460 big block and fi nished
installation the day before the show!

But it doesn’t end there, oh no. As much
as human nature calls the improvised and
oftentimes stressful hurry exciting, I found
the most excitement from Clay when he
spoke of the comradery he found in his
new found rat family. The South’s notable
Dennis “Crab” Landry and Ron Alexander
were mentioned as he spoke of shows he’s
attended and his plan for the future along
with the ability to pile his wife and two
young kids into the cab and hit the road. Rat
rodding has given the full family the ability
to enjoy and share his rusty passion and with
plans of opening a shop dubbed ‘Head In
South Garage’, I’m sure that we will see much
more in the future!

14 RAT ROD MAGAZINE ISSUE THIRTY-SEVEN

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