Thread: Project $ 3 K Is Underway

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The last couple of nights Dan and I have really been putting in some hours on our cars. We worked til 7 AM this morning, from 8PM last night. Today we started about 2 PM, and I just got home, and Dan plans to work until 7 AM again. It is so much cooler at night, and we get a lot more done.

We slipped the body back on the T for the final trial fit before paint. Wanted to make sure everything cleared and fit, and luckily, it did. I am also not going to use the big headlights I mocked it up with........now that the car is together somewhat, they just didn't look right, so I will use them on my Dodge truck. I dug around in my headlight collection, and found a nice pair of Guide lights that look much better, so that is what I'll use.

I installed the windshield to get the full effect, and am really happy with the stance and all. It looks just like I wanted, and it is just as low as I hoped. Dan and I are going to make our own T grille shell out of 18 gauge steel, because the fiberglass one I bought doesn't fit the radiator perfectly. He convinced my tonight that we should bend up our own.

Here are some pictures of how the mockup looks. I'm pretty stoked. Starting to look like a car finally. If I get it primed and painted by next weekend, that will only leave some wiring and plumbing to get it running.


Don

Dan has been working on his transmission tunnel, and has it about licked. He built a framework first out of thin round stock, and is now skinning it with 18 gauge sheet metal. The entire floor will be welded into one piece, and he is going to paint all the interior panels body color, and just put some snap in carpeting where your feel go on the flat sections.

Here is a picture of where he was when I left tonight.

Don

The T is starting to look really good. Have you decided what color to paint the body yet?

Dan's trans tunnel is shaping up nicely also.

Great workmanship on the part of both of you.

Alright!! We're back on the real subject of this thread... Don, I can hardly wait to see your T painted. I love the low stance...

Your son is a great talent, too. We old farts can learn from his patience and skill. Keep the updates coming on both cars...

Thanks guys. Yeah, the only subjects we haven't discussed on here are our favorite recipes, and who killed JFK. My mind does tend to wander sometimes. Duane, I've decided on satin black, maybe with some scallops in the orange, or maybe with just a painted on girl riding a camshaft , like some of the old manufacturers decals. The reason for the satin black is that I am not a good enough body man to go for gloss black. Plus, not having a booth makes it tough. I think the satin will fit the look of the car better too.

Dan rolled in at 9AM this morning after a 20 hour marathon to get his tranny hump done. Must be nice to be young and be able to work for that long, I wouldn't be getting out of bed for a week if I did it. But he really got a lot done. Here are some pictures he took. He still has to make one more piece to cover the shifter area, but will put the body back on first to get it in the right spot.

Next pictures you see of mine, it will hopefully be at least in primer, maybe even paint !


Don

Looking great Don, be hitting the cruise-in's this fall! I like the idea of the orange scallops with the girl, very old school and cool IMHO.

Don your's is looking great.

You MUST get a big smile every time you see the work your son is doing on his too. The talent and dedication must have come from somewhere (and I suspect I know where that was).

Thanks Brick and Mike. Yeah, he does good work. Of course, I'm prejudiced. Last night he looked at my T and said he wishes he would have built one of them. I offered to trade, but he didn't seem interested.

Don

WOW Don what a project. Granted, I did "skim" this thread ... 136 pages is a lot of reading, but every 5'th page makes it easier (and quicker). I see the 3K budget went out the window, but I still think it would be a worthwhile project for a newbie to start in on. I think the time factor is the only thing that might be "unrealistic" for the average newbie thinking of building his first rod.

I'm walking into my project with a 3-4 year timeline in mind. Working 5 days a week and the rest of life getting in the way means weekends and weeknights isn't every weekend and weeknight.

Yep, once you cut out all the gossip and bs-ing we've done on this thread, it leaves about 2 pages of actual car build stuff.

You are right about the amount of time it takes to build a car, especially from the ground up. I know some people have done it in a very short period of time, but this slightly more than one year build has been as fast as I have been able to do it. My '27 took me 6 years.........mainly to find some of the old timey parts at swap meets and places like that, and also because of the money. Not being rich, it takes a long time to come up with the cash to buy all the stuff you need. Not many people have thousands of dollars laying around that they can just throw at a "toy." Stupid things like food, rent or mortgage, and kids seem to always get that extra little bit of money you were planning to buy car parts with.

Another thing is that the actual work itself takes time, and sometimes you just don't feel like going into the garage and working. I know there are days where I could be sanding on SOMETHING, but I just can't muster the energy to want to do it. Like any other hobby, it is only fun when you feel like doing it.

I think your 3-4 year timeline is pretty realistic, especially if you have a significant other to try to keep happy at the same time.


Don

Don, I've finally got the pic's of the seat base in my car. Actually it sits pretty comfy the way it is. I started with 3/4 birch plywood cut to size then sat in the car and got a "footprint" of my backside, and made the cutout's. I got a freight strap from one of our delivery driver's should have got 2, but didn't want to push his generosity. I figured that if they could strap down large loads and the straps didn't loosen they would support my 200lbs with little sag. I used the freight strap to go side to side continuous and when I ran out I switched to my trusty tow straps for the front to back. I used an air stapler with 1/4 crown staples I adjusted the air pressure so it didn't blow through the strap, but did set it in enough that the crown was holding not the leg's of the staple.

I drove the car alot this past weekend and it has not loosened at all. I may do the same type of thing for the backs and leave it that way for awhile, everyone who see's it think's it looks good.

Ron

That looks perfect, and is exactly what I am going to do. I bet that really made it more cushy. Now, when you put foam over it, you should feel like you are in your favorite recliner.

Thanks for posting this info Ron.

Don

Foam???? I think I might leave it like my favorite lawn chair.

If you leave it unfoamed get ready for a permanent grid pattern tattoo'd on your posterior. You'll look like a checkerboard back there.


Don

. . . then sat in the car and got a "footprint" of my backside . . .

Therein rises a mental image . . .