hi adam ! welcome to the board ! don't be afraid to ask questions here ! if we can help, it will be a pleasure. ron & gene have a ton of experiance and know what a good driving rod is all about. rat rod is a term that means different things to different people. some, however, are really unsafe - even for a fairground cruiser. there are many ways to build a rod within a budget and in the process, you will undoughtably learn many new skills. but above all, use practical build techniques and you will be happy with the results, as it will be fun and safe to drive.