To Build Or Not To Build : Rat rod TJ

[Giffer]

ok this sound pretty "out" there, but what about a ratrod jeep?? i mean slamming it down to the ground, chopping the windsheild, and painting it flat black, dropping a chevy sb in her, and some old school pinstriping. i think if this one down it would truly be a only of a kind. oh and NO crome. i think im going to build one.

[Spinalguy]

i would like to do that one day to my old TJ

[cuzican]

I've been thinking about doing this with my 89 YJ if no one buys it soon.

Already have the SBC, convert to an auto w/o transfr case. 8.8 rear, graft in the front end from a 2wd Commanche or ...

I hadn't thought of chopping the top.

[fony3]

I seem to recall a picture of a dropped YJ on this site...Would give you an idea of the look!

[Elsifer]

with the t-case in there your rear ds would be extremely short with the diff in line with the rest of the drive train.
drop the tcase, and a commanche 2wd front would work great.

Rat rods, either love em, or hate em. Plus it often depends on what it is, and how it was done.

I like the idea of the chopped TJ, a minimalist modern vehicle, that could be very model-t-esque. Its gonna need some curves tho, a tj/yj is pretty square, and some softer lines will be needed.

It would be a one of a kind tho. Pretty cool project idea.

[hps4evr]

find an old DJ? pretty much a 2wd cj. i think they were used as mail carriers, possibly with right hand drive. anyways, cj's had more curves. drop it down. lose the roll cage. maybe some half doors. thinkin a nice short cj-5 would do the trick.especially with the big old round bug eye head lights. a small block with valosity stacks. give it that old schooool look.
oh, and mooneyes of course;)

[apex]

[TJ54]

I vote no. Don't do it.
Jeep and ratrod are two terms that never belong together.

If you think a 10 year old jeep, could be reffered to as a "rod" of any kind I suggest you go to your local bookstore and look at a few of the hotrod type magazines.

Slamming a TJ, putting in a small block giving it a nice paint job could maybe kinda look ok. But please don't call it a ratrod  

[MEANGREEN]

there is absolutely nothing cool about a chopped and lowered Jeep. It's as ghey as a lifted 4X4 camaro

[superles]

I know I will get shot for this one, how about a rat rod 53 willys wagon. It's in the back yard waiting for something to happen

[Giffer]

well to everyone that against the idea, well to bad i think im going to do it. it will be awile before i can start, i already have 2 projects on the go but next year i plan on having my 76 done, so i can start then.

TJ54- the fact that they are 2 things that you never see done is why i would want to do it, i already drive a big ol' jeep, now its time for a fast one. and about it being so new, ratrods are made out of all sorts and years of cars and trucks, so instead of the chevy sb maybe ill find an old flat top..... then can i call it a ratrod??

superles- i wouldnt do it to and old willys, this is an idea that is probably going to out out pretty bad.... dont do that to an old jeep that may be unreplacable.

[superles]

I agree 100% with what you are saying about yor rat rod project and not doing the Willys Wagon. I thought I would get a few collars up, and then it would validate what your thinking of. Please build according to a rat rod theme and not a lowered grease mini truck type project. I look at them and go "how to make a $20,000 truck work $5,000."
I'm thinking of selling the Willys for a reasonable price if anyone is interested, just know time to get it done. It would come with a Chevy Blazer chassis and the Wagoneer chassis. Would like $4000 but would be open to offers.

Les

[MEANGREEN]

Willys wagons and even trucks came in both 2 and 4 wheel drive. Both have been used at hot rods and rat rods and turn out pretty good. A CJ,YJ, or TJ look ridiculous lowered, chopped or anything along those lines, and will be worth nothing when done. But go ahead a do it if that's your thing. I am just giving my personal opinion, doesn't make it right.