Thread: Project $ 3 K Is Underway

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Thanks Bobby. Dan just got home and he stopped at the shop on the way. He said the tunnel is all cured and it looks good to him. FINALLY !! Now I can set the body aside, finish up some minor bracket welding, and off to the sandblasters. I've been trying to get there for the past 3 months but couldn't do anything til this darned floor was done.

I think it will be a real boost to see the frame and running gear painted. Things should start to move pretty fast then. ( I hope )


Don

Are you going to be doing the vroooommm vroooommm . I bet the feeling is over welming getting closer to completion. It has me just in awe from the frame getting close here too.

Yeah Bobby, I'm getting pretty stoked. I'm shooting for the 4th of July to have this thing on the road. That gives me almost 90 days, so that should be reasonable, I hope. If not, it won't be the first deadline I've missed.


Since a lot of you were out coloring eggs today, I had to color something, so I colored my transmission. Gave it one more wipe down with prep sol, blew it off, and painted it. I bought a new gravity gun just like my old one, but decided to try the old one this one more time. I want to save the new one for stuff that shows, like the frame and suspension, and didn't want to toss the old one till I was sure it was worn out. Ended up it worked perfect, and I got absolutely no dirt or oil in todays paint.

I misted on one coat, then laid up 3 more medium/heavy coats, and it went as good as I could have hoped for. No runs, and the gloss and flake is pretty uniform. It is so much better than the paint job I did last week, and I am really glad I took the extra two days work to make it better. Now I won't have to throw a towel over the transmission when I post pictures of the frame and engine without the body on it.

Here are a couple of pictures of how it ended up.

Don

I also removed the taped up dummy transmission from the tunnel I fiberglassed yesterday, and it popped right out of the mold, thanks to the tape. The resin never got near the foam, so this is the method I will probably use for things like this in the future.

After I got all the foam and tape off the transmission I slipped it back in and held my breath.........but it had lots of room all the way around it, so I am finally done with that *%#%%$$## tunnel. The tunnel is no wider than it was, only a couple of inches higher.

Here are some shots of it.

Don

Now my projects can center around getting the frame ready to sandblast and paint, but first I have to make sure I have all the little mounting brackets that I need welded onto the frame. One that I had to make a decision on was the mount for the transmission cooler.

I finally decided to mount it right across the frame under the front of the oil pan and crank pulley. The engine sits very high, so this area is clear, and it will get good airflow right up front like this. It also sits no lower than the bottom of the frame, so it will not catch anything going down the road.

All I had to do was make up a simple little bracket for one side, and I will drill and tap the underside of the frame on the drivers side to bolt it on there. I had to shift it over to give me room for two 90 degree fittings there to plumb the lines into. This is a double pass cooler, so both the inlet and outlet are on one side.


Don

Don that color is sharp. You made a good choice when you bought it. The reflection is better then some factory paint jobs very glossy. I was wondering if i missed it somewhere what color you doing your frame in .

Thanks Bobby. The plan right now is to do the frame and body in the same color as the engine/trans. it's called Fusion Orange, a Hummer color. I am going back and forth on the suspension and interior. Probably will be off white, sort of beige-ish, or satin black. The white seems to be getting the nod for right now at least.

Once I shoot the frame it will be easier to make a decision, I think.

Don

Sounds like a good combo. Color combos can be a chore to make a decision i know. Well im sitting in the bleachers here and have my eyes open.

I've spent some time looking at paint schemes to help but dont want to mock someones colors but probably won't be able to help it some what since all colors have been used.

Don, that transmission is simply beautiful. Thank goodness the one in my coupe is not visible; it looks like junk compared to that. By the way, I really dig that color.

Thanks on both counts Jim. From what I have seen of your projects, you don't have too much to be sheepish about. BTW, I am so happy you are doing your thread.....I'm loving it, and so is everyone else too. Gets kind of addictive, huh?


Don

Today is April 10th, 2007, and it is my anniversary. Well, not MY anniversary, but rather the One Year Anniversary of when I started this thread. Yup, one year ago today I started this nonsense with this statement:



Project $ 3 K Is Underway
I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I thought a safe, dependable hot rod could be built for $ 3000.00. It wouldn't have tons of chrome and flash, but would be a basic, get-in-and-drive rod, that would not be embarrassing to drive. I felt if I built it the way we used to, by using parts we could scrounge from swapmeets, and other sources, it was attainable.

The main reason I thought this project might be appropriate is that there are a large number of our members who are thinking about building their own rod, but don't know how to begin, or what car to build. That first car can be very confusing, and mind-boggling when you start adding up the costs and labor.



I knew going in that some of the information I was going to show would be a little boring and old hat to many of our members, but the intent was to put it out there for others that had never done this, or were in the middle of doing a similar build, and who might not be sure how to do certain aspects. But I got a very pleasant surprise because when the "Old Masters" among us would stop by to visit, their comments were always very upbeat and encouraging. They were also very kind, as have been all the comments along this journey.

At times some of you have flattered and at the same time embarrassed me with comments like "craftsmanlike" and similar words. I know very well what level of builder I am, and it falls short of those terms, I have seen some of the beautiful work the real "craftsmen" on here have posted, and my skills certainly are not in the same league as some of those. However, I thought that might be an advantage in this thread, because I wanted to convey to the folks just starting out in this hobby that any average backyard mechanic/builder like me can turn out a running/driving rod with limited resources.

Doing this thread has been one of the most fun things I have done with respect to putting any car together, and the humor, ribbing, and company you have all provided along the way has been very much appreciated and helpful. You have tolerated some of my little goof ups and false starts, and have never taken me to task on them. In fact, your kind comments and suggestions have helped shape the final outcome of the car and make it better than it would have been without your support.

The thread and this forum have become very much fun for me, and even though we have discussed every topic in it from cats, to kids, to who-knows-what, the thread hopefully has accomplished the goal of helping the novice builder realize his or her dream of doing a car on their own. The things all of you have brought to this thread have certainly enriched it. I am also thrilled to see more and more of you doing similar threads, and I can't wait until you guys post an update so I can read about how you are doing yours. It is always fun to peek into another builders garage and see how things are coming.

Where is the car now costwise? I have NO IDEA. That isn't a cop out, or being evasive, I just have lost track. For a while I was spending money like a drunken sailor, but even at that I would guess I am in for about $ 8000 -$10,000 right now. Probably more on the low side of that estimate. It is hard to tell, because I can tally up the big purchases, but I have made a lot of small Home Depot and hardware store purchases that are impossible to recall completely.

So, anyway, thank you to everyone who has contributed so much to this thread by your posts and your viewing of it. You have no idea how much fun you have made this past year for me. I have never met one of you, but still feel a very strong friendship and respect for all of you.

If I were Denny I would do one of those cakes with a candle, but I can't, so I will just do this stupid little guy.

Don

Don from what im learning $3000 could be in a rat rod put together and driven , Your build is still in a obtainable budget for first time builders like me . Lots of ideas have been molded for use (molded ) . Keep up the good work .


Now as for back yard mechanic you have to have a chain hanging from a limb . I have one and use it with come along to raise riding mower straight up when needed.

Happy Anniversary get it to go vrrooommm soon .

Happy Anniversary!

I found out about your post late in the game. But I try to check in on your progress at least once a day. Went back and read all the previous pages too.

You're going to wind up with a really sharp ride. I haven't found any of the posts to be boring.

$3000 is hard to do AND have a nice car. It has been done, but not without some serious horse tradin'.

Your going to have to start another car when you get through with this one so we'll have something to follow every day.

Mike

Thanks Bobby and Mike. Yep, another year older and deeper in debt. (Old Tennessee Ernie Ford song.......16tons) Kinda fitting though.

Strange you should mention another project after this one, because I already have it formulated in my head. I have a '30 Ford cowl in nice shape, and 4 nice Fordor doors, so I am going to build a roadster pickup like my Son has done, but not so fancy. I have been picking up all the cast off pieces from Dans '29, like his rebuilt '40 Ford brakes, '29 grille shell, steering arms, etc. I also have a second 394 Olds engine that was running when we pulled it out of my buddies '60 Olds to put a 455 in that car. I also got the transmission.

Combined with a bunch of '35 Ford wire wheels, headlights, wishbones, etc that I have squirrelled away, I am going to shoot once more for that magical $ 3K number. That build will stay true to it's purpose and feature lots of free and homemade parts, and wear a coat of rustoleum or similar paint.

Obviously, I am going to take a little breather once the T is running so I can hit some local cruises and shows, but I am already chomping at the bit to do the Model A. Oh yeah, and I still have to finish up my '39 Dodge pickup somewhere in there.

I think once I have a running/ driving street rod to putter around in again the next build will be less pressure to get er done on any time schedule. Right now it has been over 7 years since I have had one to drive, so it is time to end that drought.

Don

Heh, heh, doing the thread takes almost as much time as the work on the car, huh? It is fun, though. I have really enjoyed this thread and that is what inspired me to start mine. Keep up the good work.

When you get this baby on the road we need to have a "gathering" someplace so all of us Florida people can see, in person, the car we have watched come together on our computer screens.