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Hawaiian Rat Rod Build-up part 2
Don Pierce's `30 Model A Coupe
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Photos
by Don Pierce
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Looking at
Don's dash, the first thing that catches your eye is
that GIGANTIC 1935 Dodge Speedo that has been gently
inserted into a smoothly modified A-bone gauge cluster.
The second thing, is that bitchin' steering drop made
out of a "No Parking" sign and a hole-filled rear wing
bracket from an unknown Import trunk lid. |
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The
Hawaiian Rat Rod is being built by an artistic ability
to adapt almost anything useable while at the same time, making it
look as if it were all part of Don’s overall scheme of things—See
parts list and specs sheet
below on this page.
y
looking at the photos, you can see Don Pierce hasn’t stopped
working on his Hawaiian Rat Rod one bit. Actuality, he has made
considerable progress in the last five months overcoming all kinds
of obstacles while using his imagination in ways rarely seen with
anyone building a Rat Rod.
As
a bonus, along with a whole slew of new photos, Don has supplied an
updated parts list. But it’s anyone’s guess, (other than his
own) how he was able to fit so many odd pieces – from over 20
different cars – together only to end up as if they were
specifically made for his Hawaiian Rat Rod at some hotrod factory.
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There are
over 100 lightning-holes punched throughout the Hawaiian
Rat Rod. The Deuce frame alone has 20, ten on each side
ranging from 2 1/2 inches in diameter to 3 1/2. The
headers are a one-of-a-kind custom creation by Don. |
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At
this point, it would be pretty hard for anyone to deny the ingenuity and thought process that has continued to go
through Don’s head only to reconstruct rusted, twisted bits `n
pieces of an old Model A Ford into perhaps one of the most sexiest
hunk-of-metal on wheels in Hawaii today. There’s just something
about a Rat Rod that (when built right) is also undeniably romantic
and Don has been able to capture that with the Hawaiian Rat Rod.
To
sum things up, when you’re in the building stages, sometimes there
is a certain poetic rhythm that only happens when the cosmos are in
unison and things seem to fall into place easily. And Don’s
Hawaiian Rat Rod certainly qualifies for being in that building
stage.
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A `76 Ford
Pickup steering column looks right at home in the almost
completed chassis. |
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Due
to his hectic schedule – a three hour acting class every Monday
night at Diamond Head Theater and three hours every Thursday night
singing bass with The Sounds of Aloha – other than getting photos, it has been
pretty hard obtaining detailed build-up info, (specs mainly) from
Don. So, to satisfy your true hardcore rat rod appetite now, without further
ado here is how far along
Don has gotten with his Hawaiian Rat Rod.
Click on ANY picture for a bigger
view.
More photos below Specs
Sheet
Click on ANY
picture for a bigger view.
More photos below Specs Sheet
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Hawaiian
Rat Rod Part Two
Honolulu, Hawaii.
Specs sheet & Junkyard parts list.
"Creativity
is often the result of necessity, availability and
the
thickness of one's wallet." – Don Pierce.
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Body:
1930 Model A Ford Coupe.
Body assembled from 19 cut-up pieces.
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Frame Stuff:
Frame: '32 Ford original frame rails
Front & rear cross members: Model A
Frame K-member: by Owner
Front Axle: '32 Ford (dropped, filled and drilled)
Front Wishbones: '34 Ford Split & Drilled
Front Spring: Posie reversed eye.
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Driveline:
Engine: `87 Mustang HO 5.0
Intake Manifold: junkyard (Cobra)
Headers: Owner built.
Mufflers: junkyard Flowmasters 40.
Trans: `87 Mustang 5-Speed.
Rear-end: Early Bronco 9" (limited slip)
Rear Wishbones: `36 Ford.
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Steering:
Steering Column: `76 Ford Pick-up.
Steering Box: Suzuki Samurai.
Clutch Master Cylinder: `93 Jeep Wrangler.
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Brakes:
Front Brakes and Spindles:`54 Chevy.
Brake Master Cylinder: `65-66 Mustang (drum-drum)
E-brake Handle: Nissan 300 ZX
E-brake Cables: Ford Ranger
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Wheels:
Front Wheels: `54 Chevy
Rear Wheels: `48 Mercury
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Body Modifications and
parts:
Top Chopped: 3 inches.
Hood: Lengthened 4 inches
Dash: Modified Model A - Speedometer: `35 Dodge.
Power Window Assembly: `93 Mazda RX-7 (for rear window).
Seat: Chrysler Van (middle seat)
Seat Tracks: Mitsubishi Pick-up.
Seat Belts: Nissan 300 ZX
Gas Pedal: "spoon" - actual stainless steel large tablespoon
(cutlery) found in junkyard.
Gas Pedal Assembly: combination Toyota Land Cruiser and
Nissan 300ZX.
Fuse Panel: `75 Fiat
Wiring Harness: Jeep Wrangler / Mustang / Cadillac.
Circuit Breakers: `67 Peterbilt
Headlight Switch: `70 Mustang
W/S Wiper Motor: `69 Toyota Land Cruiser
Windshield Opening Mechanism: `37 Ford
Inside Door Handles: `92 Geo Tracker
Inside Door Latch Assembly: '73 VW Beetle bear claw latches.
Door Handles: `30 Model A
Trunk Latch Assembly: `96 Saturn
Radiator: `30 Model (re-cored) chopped 2 inches.
Tail Lights: `39 Ford.
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Lightning-hole Count
and Diameter Size:
Frame rails: 10 on each side, 20 total. Diameter: 2 -1/2in
front. 3-1/2in punched in back half.
Visor: 9 lightning holes. Diameter: 2-1/2in.
Front axle: 16 holes.
Wishbones: 11 holes each side. Total: 22.
Steering drop: 4 on each side. Total 8.
Skid pan support: 26 holes.
Total: 101 lightning holes and one oil pan drain plug access hole.
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Louvers:
Deck lid; 3 rows of 32 louvers, 2 rows 40 louvers, total of a 176
louvers punched by George
Kruse (Kailua, Hawaii.) And For those needing louvers on early cars
only you can contact George at: 808-262-5692.
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 Watch
for The Hawaiian Rat Rod
Build Up Part 3, It gets fired up.
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©2006 Honolulu Streets Magazine. This story and photos may not be
copied, published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed without the express written permission of
Honolulu
Streets Magazine. |
