How One Man Turned A Classic Peterbilt Into The Ultimate Rat Rod

Ridiculous Rides

A self-confessed ‘gear head’ has taken his love for modification to a whole new level, by transforming his 1984 Peterbilt 359 semi-truck into a monstrous hot rod. Owner Jim Muncy, from Ohio, modified the vehicle so much that he named it ‘Overkill’, and in the space of just five months every component except for its original engine had been customised. When asked how he would describe Overkill, Jim said: “Raw, massive and unique. There’s just nothing else out there like it.”  Videographer / director: John Cummings Producer: Frazer Randalls   Editor: Ian Phillips

Transcript

00:00I wanted to do a ratrod semi truck. It's definitely everything that I could have wanted and more.

00:11Peterbilt trucks come in all shapes and sizes but have you ever seen one quite like this?

00:21Raw, massive and unique. There's just nothing else out there like it.

00:30It draws attention wherever it goes and it makes people smile.

00:41I'm Jim Muncie and this is Overkill. It is totally, completely unique. There's nothing else out there like it.

00:53Unique indeed. Jim took a 359 Peterbilt and set about creating this awe-inspiring beast of a machine.

01:02I had this vision of a ratrod semi truck. I had an old semi. This is in 2015. I kind of outlined what I had in mind.

01:12It evolved more into a hot rod. The majority of the work was done within five months.

01:21I just looked at it one day and said, this thing's overkill.

01:25I look at this thing and to me it's a rolling piece of art.

01:31With the raw steel frame, the leather and the wood interior.

01:38So the main frame is just done with two inch mild steel pipe.

01:42It just gives the whole truck a nice beefy industrial look.

01:47We just put a lot of different materials that wouldn't necessarily normally go together

01:53and incorporate it into a really cool hot rod.

02:00I've been a gear head ever since I was 15 years old. I just love fast cars and trucks.

02:07It's a blast to drive. I mean just looking out over that big massive engine and that long hood is just, it's just cool. It's fun.

02:17And while this vehicle may have changed beyond recognition, it still retains the original engine.

02:23It's an 855 cubic inch Cummins Big Cam 3. This is our air intake.

02:29It was made out of two top fuel dragster hats.

02:33We also have triangulated four link suspension and airbags to control the ride height and ride quality.

02:41Performance wise, right now we're putting out about 450 horse, 1400 foot-pounds of torque.

02:51With the 306 gear and the direct drive Allison automatic transmission,

02:57it's good to about 100 mile an hour before it hits up a range of the RPMs.

03:02And it's also good for burnouts.

03:04Makes a little smoke, doesn't it?

03:24The lug nut covers were made from billet aluminum.

03:27They were machined for us by a high school shop class.

03:31And they just turned out absolutely beautiful.

03:33The wing is just for fun.

03:35It has no purpose other than to look cool.

03:38I really don't have any problems finding a parking spot or turning it around.

03:44It's really got a very sharp turning radius.

03:48And of course, this rig turns a few heads when it's out and about.

03:53The best thing about driving overkill is just the reactions of people.

03:57That's what it's all about.

03:59It's just fun.

04:00It makes people smile.

04:02They've never seen anything like it before.

04:04So everybody's into it.

04:06And it's just a unique, wild vehicle.

04:11I've built one motorcycle and I've always wanted to build something else.

04:15But this is way beyond anything I could ever dream of.

04:18This is so cool.

04:19It's awesome.

04:20You don't see anything like this ever really.

04:24Super singles open wheel and the four link on airbags.

04:28I mean, it's got everything.

04:29Everything you could ever ask for in a rat rod.

04:32You can't be in a hurry if you're going to take it somewhere.

04:39It's going to get a crowd of people around it wanting to take pictures.

04:42It's crazy.

04:43I wanted to do a rat rod semi truck.

04:46And it's definitely everything that I could have wanted and more.

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