OK, so, many of you are going to say that it cannot be a Rat Rod because it is too new, but others are going to say that it is what the owner says it is and that is that. Well, whatever your side, or, if you are somewhere in the middle, this article is not about that, it is about a man who chose to build something different.

He chose to define his build, his way.

Now, isn’t that the whole reason Rat Rods were built to begin with?

See our article on Rat Rods. No matter your thought on what a rat is, or is not, this build deserves respect. It is a labor of love and a well put together piece of machinery. Read down to see what Andrew built.

Make sure to check out the links throughout the article and to Check out his YouTube channel at Murdime Garage.

What type of vehicle?

It started life as a1990 Chevy S10, pick up truck.

Who is the first owner of the project and is it still their project?

Well, I bought it at the junk yard, so, I don’t know who had it first.

When was it purchased?

I purchased it in 2003, for $200.

Was this a father/son, Daughter project?

I have 3 children, 2 girls and a boy. They have all helped along with my father.

Now, the question everyone is dying to ask, why this vehicle? Why would you rat out a Chevy S10?

I wanted to be different.

Everyone does the same thing, builds the same builds.

I just wanted to be a little different.

the door handles on the truck actually came from my father’s front door at his Homestead house that was built in the early 20s

Give me some backstory, some info about you.

Well I am disabled now. I became disabled 2 years ago I have Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease. (Link provided for anyone interested in what this disease is.) No it’s nothing to do with your teeth, it is a type of muscular dystrophy.

I use to be a mechanic before the disease. I can remember being 4 years old and helping my dad build hot rods and I feel in love with the car scene. So from there I started getting dirty. I love to make parts, weld etc. I enjoy every aspect of it.

I begin losing feeling in my extremities from the peripheral nephropathy, breaking bones in my foot causing me not being able to stand on my feet, or being able to walk very well. It then forced me to sit down and take more breaks and got worse and worse and finally my doctor told me if I keep going I won’t be able to walk any more.

So, how was the truck prior to starting the build?

I started with just the junk yard truck. It was in was rough condition.

The bed was damaged, so I said, “Let’s build a wild rat rod!” and went to town getting parts in line.

I am still no where close to being done.

What have you done to it so far?

I started with a  262 v6 out of an 86 full size Chevy. Same as 4.3. I went through it. Bored .30 over with flat top forged pistons, new rods and crank.

Comp cams made a mean mother thumper cam for it.

The heads have be worked over, with new valves and springs for the big cam.

Had to use 350 push rods because they are longer.

1.6 ratio roller rockers, Edelbrock rpm intake, with 675 cfm street demon carberator.

Msd ignition.

The trans is a turbo 350 with a stage 3 shift kit has 2300 stall converter by Summit Racing.

The drive shaft came from a 65 Chevy C10 short bed, the rear end from a 4×4 s10 blazer.

2″ drop spindles and coil springs up front, mini leaf and 3″ block in back with air shocks.

Where is it now, in the rebuild stage?

I would say it is 50 percent done.

Any special parts you have used?

it has a original 1927 model a grill shell s10 cab and a 38 international bed cut down to fit

On special parts I found a 1938 International bed in a field. I asked the old man who owned the field if I could have it and he told me if I wanted the bed that I was more than welcome to it.

I got the grill shell off the 1928 Model A at a swap meet.

My father has the same condition I do, also, he is a Vietnam veteran. I learned how to work on cars from him. Growing up as a child, we always had a hot rod, so it became instilled in me at an early age. Now, he’s always there to lend a hand or give me some advice.

See the pictures of the build below, but, to see the build as it happened and to keep up on what is going on, check out his YouTube Channel – Murdime Garage