Thread: Project $ 3 K Is Underway

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Thanks, but I think I actually spent $ 3,000.57. Well, my opinion on the 2 x 2 setup hasn't changed too much. The single 4 barrel was a little more responsive and generally felt like a better match. However, I wouldn't go back as I really like the looks of the 2 x 2's and surprisingly I get a lot of positive comments from car guys on them.

Yes, mine are a true primary/secondary carb setup. Vintage Speed, from whom I bought it, built the carbs and put the proper bottom plate under the front one, so only the rear carb has idle screws. It also has progressive linkage so I am pretty much running on only a 2 barrel carb 99% of the time. In defense of the system, I really just bolted it on and that was it. I fiddled a little with the idle screws once or twice, and put a pressure regulator set to the minimum (3 lbs fuel pressure), but nothing more.

So, as Fernando used to say "It's better to LOOK good than to FEEL good." Sometimes we give up a little to gain some coolness, and that is the way I see these carbs. Thanks for asking.

Don

Don, Thanks for the info. I guess I misread somthing thought you went way over on this one. Might have been a reference to another project. If that is what you spent, ...... It usually doesn't go that way no matter how hard we try.

Don was pulling your chain a bit with that $3,000.57. I think the actual final total was a bit higher. (See post #3282)

He's right, I was just funnin you. I honestly just didn't keep track after a certain point, so anything would just be a wild guess. But it has been worth every penny in smiles.

Don

Originally Posted by RestoRod

Don was pulling your chain a bit with that $3,000.57. I think the actual final total was a bit higher. (See post #3282)

Well I thought that is what I saw, but my memory is getting so bad. I wasn't positive that Don was running the 2 X 2 setup, I thought I saw it as this was one of the threads I have read most all of. Last night I was skimming thru trying to find the pic of carbs, but I thought I saw that post. I think I had 4500 in mine when I got tags, but the extras since then have to be over 2000 so I know how fast it add up. But it's all good.

Hey Don; I got a free 8 inch Ford rear end if you need it for any new projects.
It came out of my 65 Ranchero, I can measure it if you need, or would like to have it.
Trying to get rid of stuff I am not gonna use around here, this way when I move I don't have to take it with me.
Kurt

PM sent Kurt.

Don

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I don't need anything but to get it out of the way.
Ya; Seffner is just south of tampa in Brandon.

The 8 inch is 51 inches from back plate to back plate.
Then I have a 9 inch out there that is 60 inches from back plate to back plate. I don't have the drums for the 9 inch though and I am not sure if the bearings in it is the big ones or the small bearings.
The 8 inch has the drums but needs new E brake cables.
Kurt

Whoops, didn't see your post so I also pm'd you. The 8 inch is probably the one that will fit, but I wouldn't take it for nothing, but thanks for the nice offer. I'll measure my old rear tomorrow and get back to you. We can work out some $ if and when I come to get it. How far are you off of I75?

Don

Don
Probably only about 3 miles off the exit.
This thing is not new but it got me from Vegas to Florida.
It will just be nice to get it to someone that can use it, I can not.
And I would hate to just throw it out.
Kurt

I'll call you tomorrow Kurt to work out details. I googled your address, it's only 2 hours from home. I won't have to borrow Dans truck, the back seat in my Honda folds down and we have hauled some amazingly big stuff back there.

Thanks,

Don

I put a fully built 351W in the back of our 86 hatch back Camaro.
It fit right down nice and snug in the pocket side ways so it didn't even slide around
or anything. Kurt

This is a really kewl and interesting thread. I didn't read it all and maybe don't have all the facts on it. I wonder what the cost might be on a bare bones, use what you have, cheapest rod possible. I built a Cobra and spent $40k on parts alone. A guy gave me this '28 pickup as a big pile of parts. I thought I could build it for 5k. I have at least 10k in it now probably more. I think that what happens is we get in to the project and if it goes good we just can't resist making it better, and better, and better and bett...

Tom, you've pretty much captured the essence of it. It comes down to what the builder values and knows (some inexperienced folks don't know what they don't know and end up making decisions they learn to regret, but that's learning). Without getting too wonky about economics, money is just an IOU for value exchanged from one person to another. For some the best use of their value production is scrounging stuff, spending time rummaging through wrecking yards, dumps, barns, whatever. For others it might be inventing a new design of trailer that meets a market need and lots of folks exchange money for the trailer. If you're better at making the trailers for others, then you employ the value you earn that way. If you're better/more willing at rooting through the discards of others then you employ that value. Some folks are very creative and skillful at fabrication, others need the help of those kind of folk. Different roads to similar destinations.

I was surprised to see Don's old thread pop up again but it is a great one, and I'll let Don reply regarding the costs of a bare bones build. From my perspective, the biggest reason for cost escalation in a build is 1) not enough detail in the plan for the build (failure to consider all of the "little" things that add big bucks), and worse 2) failure to stick to the plan once it is set and the build has started. The key to a budget build is to have an accurate budget estimate at the start, IMO - and that's easy to say, but hard to accomplish! My budget "plan" was to use a donor engine & tranny from a Mustang, but I decided early on to go with a custom engine and new Tremec, along with a hi-buck EFI on top - a factor of ten+ to my original salvage yard donor cost.