Another build thread? Yep, my track-style T

[Bob Parmenter]

..........and we are facing (according to the news media) a decline or possibly a recession in the economy......

Discussion of this stuff could lead to "hijacking" of the thread, but since it's yours Jim, I guess it's okay.

Two words........................election year. You're right about much of the doom and gloom being media driven. And if something is repeated often enough it can become what's known as a self fulfilling prophecy.

I'm not interested in (or trying to) causing a political argument, I'm looking at this as a modest investor and someone who has to make economic decisions based on historical performance. I think there's a tendency to "panic" (to some degree or other) when normal cycling of the economy occurs. Those that "panic" usually are the losers, those that are circumspect are more likely to be winners over the longer haul. In the housing market what we're seeing today, in general economic terms not specifics, is not appreciably different than the last significant market adjustment around 1990. In adjusted dollar terms it's not quite as bad today (yet) as it was then. Most of us lived through that just fine. We also lived through much worse performing economies in the late 70s.

As for election years and the media, recent history can be summed up in a few examples, more if you go back further in time. In '92 it was a popular campaign chant that we were "suffering the worst economy in 50 years", usually followed by "it's the economy, stupid". The media were simpathetic to that particular candidate and never challenged that cannard for the obvious, oh let's be charitable and call it an exaggeration, that it was. Was the economy in a down trend compared to the previous 9 years? Yep, but hardy worthy of the 50 year indictment. In '96 when the PC/technology driven market was maturing (not unlike the automotive industry in the 20s, and the electricity revolution that preceded that) not a word about negativity in the economy. On the other hand, in 2000 when the thinning out of the tech market started to occur (actually, in hindsight there are milestones in 1999 that indicated the shrinkage had begun, but they weren't as visible in real time until 2000) the media took an opposite tact. When a certain political candidate tried to point out that the economy was starting to take a dip, the media ran with the "you're trying to talk down the economy" approach. I wonder where those writers are today? Well, many of them have been writing opinion pieces disguised as news talking about how miserable the economy is/has been for................oh, it seems like close to 7 years. Not sure what that might coincide with, but maybe after a little research...........................

Anyway, for all the doom and gloom that supposed smart people preach, we've had pretty much a straight up strong economic trend for 26 years with the current contraction being just the third in that period. Could it be the worst of the three? Anything is possible, but not likely, barring any major political action that might induce the market to completely retract.

The major shrinkage in the hot rod market won't happen of it's own accord until us boomers start dying off more quickly. Of course politics could change all that if we become the target for those who demagogue the environmental "issues".

[brickman]

You have said a mouth full Bob and I agree with all of it. Patience is a virtue, I too know that it is usually not as bad as the media portrays with anything they report.

[J. Robinson]

I agree with you, too, Bob. You elaborated on what I only hinted at. Anyway, whatever the true cause of a downturn in the economy, it is apparently happening and some people are becoming a bit more tight-fisted. In particular, those who are afflicted with what I call "Barrett-Jackson Syndrome". Those are the posers who are only in this hobby for the money they can pull out of it and have artificially driven prices up. I and others like me who have been involved with cars forever will plod along and make do regardless of what happens to the hotrod market economically speaking.

By the way, Bob, you aren't hijacking the thread if I started the discussion. Besides, I always enjoy reading your well-thought observations.

[J. Robinson]

Alright everybody, breaktime is over. Get back to work! All this yammering isn't going to get a roadster built...

I picked up a pair of headlights at the Turkey Run, so... I began fabrication of the mounts with a couple of short pieces of 2" x 2" x 3/16" angle iron. I cut two pieces 3 inches long. After deciding on the shape and location for the brackets, I marked the pieces with soapstone. Then I cut and ground them to shape. Sometimes there's no easy way to do something; I cut these by hand with a hacksaw and finished the shape on my bench grinder. Next, I drilled them, stuck them in place with welder's magnets, finalized their position with a protractor and level, and welded them in place.

The final appearance is somewhat like a startled frog, but after it's painted and has a grille insert it should look a little less amphibian...

[brickman]

May I ask a dumb question? I like the nose on your car, it seems shorter than the one on the blue car for sale on the previous page, but then I have been looking closer and I am not sure. Is your car set up basicly the same dementions as the blue car?

[J. Robinson]

Without being able to measure it, I have no idea what the dimensions are on that car. It does look longer than mine, though...

[Matt167]

He was asking $ 8000, which really wasn't bad IMO. It was a pretty little car, and almost done. Didn't get to see under the hood, but his buddy said it was a running driving car. I think sales were soft in general this year. His friend was talking to someone on the phone and I overheard him say he brought 3 cars and had no nibbles at all. The '50-ish Chevy fastback in the background just came out of a garage where it had been since the '70's and was pretty clean. He was asking $ 4K, but I bet $3K would have taken it.

We heard over and over from sellers that they were not having a good week. I think the economy is worse now that people want to admit. Dan spent some money for parts for his car, but I got away buying a pulled pork sandwich. It felt SO good for a change not needing anything for one of my projects. Don was able to come away cheap this year too.

Don

'50 Fleetline 2dr in the background

[Itoldyouso]

Doesn't look like a startled frog at all, looks pretty good actually. Isn't it amazing how metal looks when you cut a section out of something as simple as angle iron and grind and shape it a little. Those headlight mounts look super.

Matt, so that is what that Chevy is, huh? It was really nice too.

Don

BTW Jim, humor Bob or he has a nasty habit of posting pictures of these really ugly women..............lol

[Matt167]

yup, pretty sure anyway, could be a '49 but I'm pretty sure it's a '50.. only the grill and trim changed, and there is only belt line trim, so it's a bottom of the line, Special model, more Deluxe than Special models made, in a Fleetline, a Special is kind of rare, if a collector came along, they might have given the asking price. car like that, probably books for 6k

[bluestang67]

BTW Jim, humor Bob or he has a nasty habit of posting pictures of these really ugly women..............lol

Bob does stay up with Don for some good reading .

Jim its looking good with some beams mounted on it . Like Don says i've been amazed at what you turn basic metal into for fabbing parts. This is a skill only born into true fabricators while some of us can learn it is blessed in others. We get better with trial and error as we go and hopefully can get it passed on down to continue a skill that should never die out .

Merry Christmas to all

[J. Robinson]

Hooray! We're back. Thanks to Brent's dedication to this site, we can rock & roll again.

Aside from buying a couple of things, I haven't done much on the roadster. For the last month or so, I have been helping my son with his sedan. He is trying to make it to the "Groundhog Gala" in Orlando next month. Things were looking pretty bleak just a few weeks ago, but the "holiday thrash" we put in on the project got him "over the hump" and it looks like he'll make it. We have just a couple of small things to wire (windshield wipers, gas gauge sending unit) and the car will be roadworthy. The pic below is the induction system.

Next on my list for the roadster is mounting the fuel cell and fab'ing the rear bumper. I'll keep you all posted...

[brickman]

Sweet engine J.R. and glad to have you back, looking forward to seeing more progress.

[Hotrod46]

Yep, it's good to see the old build threads back.

That engine looks great J.R.

I got a question though. Who did the recoloring on the carbs? I'm going with 3 dueces too and will soon(I hope) be needing to get some carbs slicked up for my engine.

Mike

[Rickomatic]

There is way too much talent on this site. I feel soo inadequate at times here. I am a learner.

[Gastrick]

Your son's engine looks nice J. I like the plumbing. Is that distributor fit as tight as it looks in the photo?