RE: BMW 2002 butchered in the name of rat roddery
Discussion
AdeTuono said:
Couldn't agree more. My 'rat' (if I'm allowed to call it that) has nearly everything bobberz decries, but I think you'd be pushed to call it anything other than a rat rod (apart from piece of s
t, obviously!)It has a modern engine, IFS, coil-over rear, discs all round, Rocket/Centrelines & radials.
Just to placate him, I'm also in the midst of a 'period correct' '32 build (drums, 'I' beam, steels and crossplies), and also have a shiny/billet '32 as well.
Ade... Best car collection EVER!! t, obviously!)It has a modern engine, IFS, coil-over rear, discs all round, Rocket/Centrelines & radials. Just to placate him, I'm also in the midst of a 'period correct' '32 build (drums, 'I' beam, steels and crossplies), and also have a shiny/billet '32 as well.
Also that BMW 2002 Rod is a win!
Lots of arguing which is funny, take a step back and you realise PH are very good at their job...
Currently in the process myself of building a 31 A Coupe with a BMW 540i motor... (doing this backwards perhaps) Should be fun though!
Cotty said:
What are you using body wise? Fiberglass replica, real steel, metal reproduction? any pics?
Sure,Exert taking from the build thread:
Well, yesterday when trawling around other forums (traitor! I hear you cry…) the conversation got on to the project car, I thought it would only be a matter of time before I started to hear the ‘but that’s not a REAL hotrod it hasn’t got a Ford or Chevy engine’ type comments but instead it was just a simple ‘why?’ so I decided it was time to spill my thoughts out on to this virtual paper and bring you all up to speed on the chaos theory…
‘Code Name B-52′ as it has been named has spawned from my personal love of hotrods mixed with my want for a modern drive train, my last project was a ’67 VW beetle with a 6.5 inch roof chop, stretched arches and a rad paint job, the plan was to stick a scooby lump (the cries of traitor are back) in the back and run it as a street monster but a new job forced a sale so that left my life…
So now that things are fairly steady again it was time to strike with a new idea and there had always been a huge V8 hole in my car ownership. So grouped together with a couple other guys we formulated V8UK and I suggested we should have a ‘project’ to work on, write about and eventually make it into a publicity tool.. What better way than with an out and out Rod!
My hardest decision was what to go for, last year at Billing I was parked next to a 32 delivery and the tubbed rear end fully had my attention! With a fully chromed big block with super charger to match, my mind ran wild and I thought YES that is it!
Started to look for a fibreglass body as I wanted this to be able to live outside and be drive-able in all weathers and not have to be too precious with it… I instantly got distracted by realising I could build my dream car for roughly the same cash a ’30s coupe! So all other plans went out the window as I told the lads I had put an order in for a body!
The plan was always to have a tube chassis, not built for drag racing but for safety and performance handling on the road, this means full custom suspension setup and I can use any running gear I want as the chassis is being made to what ever spec I want!
The donor car… When talking to GM Bodycraft (guys putting the chassis together) we decided it will be so much easier to buy a running vehicle that we can use pretty much everything off, as we are going for a tube chassis and modern stylings this is where the big block idea left the building (partly down to costs also as I want this to be finished ASAP). So the hunt began, now noise and power were the main concerns but it also had to be easy to bolt in and not have a monster ECU to get stumped by, so a slightly older modern car was needed…
An XJR was on the cards, huge super charged lump & a great sound track to follow… Wiring nightmare… Abort.
What next, hmmm, Lexus LS400 or Soarer? Possible, very cheap freeing up more cash for other goodies but just a bit dull, then this little BMW 540i popped up on ebay, looked amazing and had 15 mins of bidding left to go… V8 CHECK, low miles CHECK, cheap price CHECK, IRS CHECK, noise.. well I didn’t have any time left to research so this was unknown…
Bid.
Win.
Ah, it’s in Bournemouth… Oh well ROAD TRIP!
2 days later we headed to the coast in the V8UK Monaro to pick up the new toy.
It was too good to be true, the car is in amazing condition and runs very smooth, the trip home was great fun giving the old girl a good work out! The car was completely stock so the noise was pretty bass heavy but fairly quiet until the loud pedal was stomped! The term ‘woofely’ best described it.
Only one thing for it, rip the insides out and then rip the exhaust off. WHAT A NOISE! it sounds amazing, couldn’t be happier with it! So now we have a fuel injected V8 with low miles on the clock and a great base to start building a car off.
The factory power figures are 286BHP the rod will weigh (with a wild finger in the air type calculation) around 1000KG when it’s done give or take so should make it into a little street rocket!
Not very american and not very traditional but that’s not me, love how hot rods look and how they sound, love how modern cars drive and go… It’s a half way house and will never really drive like a modern car but will be a lot closer than most. The noise and looks is something I will be able to live with forever and to me that’s what ‘hot rodding’ is all about, build what you want as it’s your car.
Seems the image links didn't copy across so here is the link to the thread: http://www.v8uk.co.uk/forums/topic/code-name-b-52-...
Or if you can't be arsed to go to have a look then this sums it up pretty good...
ps. I am fully aware you didn't ask for the life story I just quite enjoyed reading through it again...
67roofchop said:
ps. I am fully aware you didn't ask for the life story I just quite enjoyed reading through it again...
That's fine as an avid reader of Street Machine and Custom Car in my youth I am used to reading about hot rod builds. Personally im a fan of the 31 tudor, I just like the proportions. I saw the Santa Pod run in the BMW, its about 2 seconds quicker than my 325i. But that's with a full interior.
suffolk009 said:
hmmm, I don't think those two above are very ratty. I always thought Rats were about using cheap bits that haven't been chromed, boggo old wheels, and doing something very extreme to them. Didn't look very far on Messrs Google, but quickly found this. And I haven't a clue what the body comes from (marina?)
That looks like it was a Reliant Robin to me...Cotty said:
That's fine as an avid reader of Street Machine and Custom Car in my youth I am used to reading about hot rod builds. Personally im a fan of the 31 tudor, I just like the proportions.
I saw the Santa Pod run in the BMW, its about 2 seconds quicker than my 325i. But that's with a full interior.
Ah that's OK then! Didn't want to be jumped on for posting an essay hahaI saw the Santa Pod run in the BMW, its about 2 seconds quicker than my 325i. But that's with a full interior.
Awesome! The 540i had all the seats out (apart from drivers) and most of interior but then that was all shoved in the boot so perhaps a little traction aid haha
That is a very good looking car you have there, I do like that era of BMW
wibble cb said:
suffolk009 said:
hmmm, I don't think those two above are very ratty. I always thought Rats were about using cheap bits that haven't been chromed, boggo old wheels, and doing something very extreme to them. Didn't look very far on Messrs Google, but quickly found this. And I haven't a clue what the body comes from (marina?)
That looks like it was a Reliant Robin to me...
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