Thread: Going on a little road trip.

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Tomorrow morning I am leaving to drive up to the Atlanta Ga area to meet with one of our members who is building a '46 Ford coupe. He is tricking it out with Chris Alston suspension, a 9 inch rear, and a turbocharged Chevy engine. The reason I am going is because I am getting all of his left over parts, like flathead, transmission, banjo rear, torque tube, front axle, brakes, etc. Pretty much everything but the frame.

We started talking about this way back in February and he has now gotten the car into the shop that is doing the suspension work, and has stripped all the unneeded parts off. He has proven to be a super nice guy and a true hot rodder who wasn't out to get rich off of the parts, just wanted to see another hot rodder on a budget benefit. We talked on the phone today for a long time, and it was as if I had known him for years. Rodders are really special people.

So, I am heading to the shop to pick up my utility trailer and some tools, and tomorrow am I will start out. It is 600 miles each way, and now that gas prices have dropped a little some of the sting of getting there and back will be out of the trip.

I'll be sure to take my camera and take lots of pictures of his '46 project and some of the other cars in the shop. He tells me they are very impressive and the shop does top notch work.

Plans for all of Pau'ls "cast offs' are to have Dan and I whip up a frame and build a little modified using Dan's old roadster pickup body. I haven't had a flathead powered car in years, so this will kind of nice to do. It will be a low buck, build what you need car, and I have already found one that I like a lot and will try to copy. I won't be getting started on this one till at least the Dodge is done, but with all the parts I am scoring from Paul I will have a good start when I do.

I did a few things to my Crown Vic to try to squeeze some better gas milage out of it for the trip, like inflating the tires a little more and substituting Mobil 1 synthetic oil. It isn't bad on the highway, but not sure what the trailer will do to the milage............especially loaded on the way home.

Here is the car that I want to pattern mine after when I get to it.

Don

I wonder if you can do it for around $3000.00..........No I think some one tried that already.
BradC

Well, be careful don't get any tickets and be home early
Papa Ken

Hey, YOU'RE BACK!!! Welcome back to the non-vacation world. Did everyone have a nice time?

Don

Originally Posted by BradC

I wonder if you can do it for around $3000.00..........No I think some one tried that already.
BradC

Hehe, on this one I just might make it. All I have to do is keep getting handmedowns and stuff I can get deals on. So far I have a free body and some very inexpensive parts, thanks to Paul.

Might have a chance to redeem myself here.

Don

We had a real nice time, I'm just not to good at relaxing. So after a week I'm ready to go, I miss my garage .
Ken

I bet 99 % of us guys are just like that. Only thing worse than going on vacation and relaxing is sitting in that stupid chair they put in the womens section so you can sit there and wait while they try on a hundred outfits. Every time I had to do that I would see some other poor schmo like me, sitting there bored out of his mind too.

Glad to see you back.

Don

Don,
The new project looks interesting, do you know what you are going to do for a frame?
Ken

Yep, we have two sticks of 2 x 3 x 3/16 tubing laying around, and I plan on using that. I will find a model a rear crossmember and do it just like I did my '23. I probably will also use a Total Performance front tube crossmember and perch, because for something like $ 75 you can't beat it, and it is a hard to find diameter.

BTW "Papa Ken", I need a raise in my allowance.

Don

Oh good, I was hoping you would build it. I have a extra model A rear cross member, but I want a lot for it. Let me know if you are interested
Ken

Do you really? If so, when I do get started on it I'd like to talk with you about it. (and YES, they are worth "a lot" whatever the price is, I would be happy to pay that amount. (My best imitation of Arnie in "Christine" when he was telling the old guy he wasn't asking enough for the car. )

Don

Im sure your headed up 75, but if for some reason you get by jville give me a call. Or if you need help on this side of the state.

O.K. just let me know, you know how unreasonable I can be I was thinking I would give it to you but you would have to pick it up. I'll bet we could shoot the bull for days
Ken

Thanks for the offer John, yep, heading straight up 75, but I do appreciate the thought.

Ken, I think you are right..........we could probably spend some time talking. I hope you visit down here sometime, Dan and Don would love to meet you too. You and Dan seem to have the same attitude toward how things have to be done perfectly and I bet you two would have a lot in common.

Don

I'm looking forward to it!
Ken