Thread: Project $ 3 K Is Underway

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Bigpun---Thats the question that has launched a million fistfights. Neither is cheap. In my opinion, if done properly, they are about equal in quality. Since it is almost impossible to find a straight, usable steel body now, fiberglass is sometimes the only option. If you rebuild an old steel body, you will need welding equipment and welding skills, however if you are doing a "total build", you are going to need those anyway, regardless of what material you use. I have built cars from both, and have spent hundreds (if not thousands) of hours welding and straightning old steel bodies. If you want a hotrod, and want it NOW, then glass is the way to go. If you are way richer than I am, you can call Brookville Roadster and buy a brand new steel body. .

Alright thanx guys and the glass deal with me is that I didnt want a kit car or people calling it a kit car but I am finding out quickly that hot rodding or rat rodding is a very controversial topic. And that it is experience that seperates things.

When you drive a hot rod, or any modified car for that matter, you have to have really thick skin because every time you stop for gas or a loaf of bread you will be confronted with some "expert." Most of them are well-meaning, but some are just out to bust your chops. The most common questions you will get are:

1) Did you build it yourself?

2) Is it real or fiberglass?

3) How much did it cost?

The first one is easy to answer. The second one takes a little teaching on your part, you have to educate them that it is real, and it may be made of fiberglass. The third one is real easy. " I lost track."

I've been in Sales most of my life, so people are easy for me to overlook when they say dumb or inconsiderate things..........sometimes. But depending on the degree of the comment, or how I interpret it at that moment, sometimes I have to come back at them and let them know the question was not appropriate. It is just part of hot rodding.

And yes, you will get the kit car comment, even if it is a restored 1940 Buick.

Don

Alright well thank you very much Don.

Hey Don---You forgot Number 4---"How fast will it go???"

You know people are always asking that. My answer is it will do the speed limit.

Yep, I forgot that one. Got it all the time.

Don

Whenever I get that "How fast will it go?", I usually say either "Fast enough to get a ticket!" or "I have no idea." (which is the truth)...

Say Don
You going to have your sons truck ready in time for Daytona????

No, unfortunately. He is kind of bummed about it too. We missed last year, and this year he put so many hours into it that I thought he would make it. But he keeps reengineering it. First he turned it from a fordor to a roadster pickup, now he has decided he wants an all metal tonneau cover over the bed, punched with about 200 louvers, so he has had to move all of the air bag components to a lower spot on the frame so the cover will fit.

Finally, he took a job that keeps him tied up about 12 hours a day, so he has no time to put in on it. I feel really bad for him but the work he is doing is sort of a one man operation, so I can't even help out.

However, he only started the car seriously after his Brothers wedding in July of last year, so in that amount of time he has accomplished a lot. I can't wait to see the look on his face the first time the 455 fires through open headers and he actually gets to see it move under it's own power.


Thanks for asking about him, though.

Don

Yeah I remember the youngest ones face when we fired up his 67 C10 the first time. I thought he was going to run out of the shop. Then he asked when do I get to drive it. I knew then I had created a monster.

You geting anywhere on your project?

Originally Posted by cffisher

Yeah I remember the youngest ones face when we fired up his 67 C10 the first time. I thought he was going to run out of the shop. Then he asked when do I get to drive it. I knew then I had created a monster.

You geting anywhere on your project?

And he and you will both carry that memory forever. That, as they say in the credit card commercial is "priceless."


Don

would you guys say that alot of the alure of the old rods is just that, that they are old style hotrods. So it really doesn't matter what they are made out of, you get the same feeling of enjoyment.

I am working hard on a '34 Chevy sedan complete car, can I get it running for under $3000.00?

Originally Posted by brickman

would you guys say that alot of the alure of the old rods is just that, that they are old style hotrods. So it really doesn't matter what they are made out of, you get the same feeling of enjoyment.

I am working hard on a '34 Chevy sedan complete car, can I get it running for under $3000.00?

You've hit the nail on the head. Steel or fiberglass doesn't matter, it is the thrill of climbing into something you built with your own two hands and getting to go places and show it off. There is no feeling like it.

Under $ 3,000.00?? Yes you can. If you shop wisely and make a lot of your own stuff you can do it for sure. The only reason I am going over my $ 3K budget is because I changed my goal for the car in mid-stream. If I had stuck with simple tires, brakes, etc. I would have been able to do it for sure.

One way to cut costs is to start with a running donor car. Even if you spend $ 500 or $ 1000 for it, you will get many good parts that can be adapted. You figure, you drive one car in, tear it down, and turn it into another body style. That is all there is to it. (that, and 10,000 hours of blood, sweat, and tears. )


Don

Very true about growing fast, if anyone has a good bond with thier kids it's a good thing! Put him to work!!!HeHeHe!!

I think so too, if you stay in the wrecking yards as much as you can, it saves a tremendous amount of money.