Thread: New guy looking for tips...

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Hey everyone, just signed up and have been going through the site for a few hours now. This might be kind of long but I figured I'd get it all out there from the start haha.

I've always been a gear head but recently have reached a point where I can look at maybe starting a project car. Problem is I know very little about domestics, and even less about hot/street rods in general. I do know that I like loud, fast good looking cars though
Anyways, I consider myself pretty good with the wrenching side of cars, just not the fabrication. Back in high school (10 years ago) I was building a lot of import motors and have been playing around with motorcycles for the last couple of years but I can't weld and wouldn't trust myself to build anything "important" (frame, mounts, etc).
With that being said I've decided to move on from motorcycles and build something me and the soon to be wife can cruise around in. I seem to be drawn to the body styles from the 30's-40's. I started looking at the "kit" type cars and I came across the total performance t bucket kit. Later I found the "$3k build" post on here as well. This information really sparked my interest at possibly starting up one of these projects over the winter.
Ideally I'd like to use this first build as a stepping stone so the more work the better, but at the same time I'd like to leave the welding and fabrication to the pro's.
Does the total performance kit offer a good starting point?
What if I purchased something like the long t bucket body from d.k. rods and have a local builder build the chassis?
What about the powerplant/driveline? Again, I'm pretty new to the domestic world so I'm not even sure where to start.

I know the bodystyle isn't the same, but I've attached a picture of something close to my ideal car.
If you've made it this far, thank you haha. Any tips you guys can offer (or any Boise locals who can suggest good shops) I'd appreciate it.

Thanks.

I don't know about the other guys, but on my screen that pic is way dark. Here's what it looks like with the lights turned on.

Welcome to CHR. If the pic is your ideal car, don't bother looking at Total Performance.... Their cars are attractive and well designed...you've pictured just another typical rat rod.....

As for the lack of welding and fabrication skills, might want to consider a little bit of night school at a community college or Vo-Tech. Even basic welding and fabrication skills will save you a ton of $$$$$ on any build....

Only local Boise resident that I know is Brant Jackson. Brant is a wiring specialist and has his own business. He does streetrods and other cars.
Being from Boise, I would think you should be looking for an enclosed car to build, or at least one with a ragtop. In either case Total Performance may not be your best way to go. Perhaps you should look for project cars that people have abandoned and want to sell. Can usually find some with lots of good parts and/or partially complete.

Of course if the style you showed in your picture is the style you wish to pursue, than by all means do it. First and foremost you got to be happy.

BTW, welcome to CHR. Many of the questions you will have regarding your build can be answered here.
Good luck.

Well I really like the closed top style but the fiberglass bodies seem to be almost double or triple what the entire t bucket kit costs. I realize I'm going to have to spend some cash but this will also be my first build (or attempt at one)...
Your suggestion on finding an unfinished project though might be what I want. I've been looking around and there seem to be a good amount of them out there, especially for the body style I like.

Dave: Funny thing about Boise, they don't have a community college
I moved here from Denver and was kind of blown away by that. Their welding class through BSU runs almost $1000 and is very hit or miss because they sometimes don't have enough people to fill the class.
One of my thoughts was that I might find a local builder around here that would be willing to train "lessons" for shop help (cleanup, random stuff, etc).

Thanks for the welcomes/tips...

Originally Posted by tdjb

One of my thoughts was that I might find a local builder around here that would be willing to train "lessons" for shop help (cleanup, random stuff, etc).

Thanks for the welcomes/tips...

Not a bad way to learn at all!!!! That's how a lot of us got started in this Hot Rodding stuff!!! Another good way is to find a local car club and make friends with people who share the same interests. Most hot rodders I've met are more then willing to share the skills that have been taught to them, it's how our hobby keeps progressing!!!!!

step away from the computer. never log onto CHR again. burn your copies of hot rod magazine. Pray for forgiveness. Join an Ahmish community and learn to shoe horses.

no? Well, I tried.

Here is the skinny: the more you spend on tools, up to and including having an entire shop at your disposal, the less time it will take to do the job. The inverse is exactly true: the fewer tools you have the more difficult the tiniest task will be. The more time you spend planning and scrounging, the less $$ to do the job, and the inverse is true: Jump into something half-baked and you may find yourself having to do it ALL over again. We had an old saying when we were in the Army: never have time to do it right, but we always seem to have time to do it again.

If you are REALLY, REALLY serious about making a hot rod, then the best advice I could give you is to get a job in a body shop, and learn the skills first. you may even get real lucky,and score a shop with some extra room, where you can work on your own stuff after hours. ( dream on buddy )

Realistically, with the skill level you have attested, you would be better off $$-wise to find you a hot rod and buy it outright.

If this sounds a bit acidic, just disregard and consider that I am a bit frustrated myself... getting too old and crotchety to do stuff the hard way, and yet I still don't have a proper shop. I got a 66 C-10 stepside I am planning to trade for a 85 ElCamino ( just gonna make it run good, no hot rod ) a 64 C-10 fleetside which was probably two weeks from being DONE when the wife threw a fit, I had to shoot it with primer and pull it out of the shop... that was about three years ago and the primer is rusted thru and the whole dam thing has got to be redone.. PLUS it needs a bigger radiator.. I got a 69 chevelle nomad which is sitting in the weather ( pretty nice, someone buy it for 5grand please? ) and i really don't need... and the 78 firebird is about ready for another rebuild. That car will NEVER be made nice, because every time I make a firebird nice it gets HIT. damit. Meanwhile, by 01 Indian Chief needs a new base gasket on the rear cylinder, and a new primary cover gasket. Plus, the cheap ass factory chrome is loosing the fight against the elements. ( it is kept under the carport and covered, but ridden mercilessly ).

plus I am pissed at the old lady. go figure.

Welcome to the forum, as Dave said,seek out local car clubs. You can almost certainly find everything you need through them. Check out the local stock car racers too,most all of them have fabrication skills,or they couldn't afford to race,plus they are a very good source for used high performance parts too.You can also trade work for work, While I can do my own drywall and taping,I really hate it, or I don't have a clue how to set up a nice stereo etc. Keep your eyes and ears open,you never can tell. Hank

Welcome to the forum. Being from Idaho you should have no trouble finding a suitable project or body. Seems like people dumped all of their old cars into the midwest for some reason.

However, I will offer the same advice I have given lots of other guys doing the very first build. Buy someone's cast off project that is nearly done, or one that is actually running. You can do things to the car to make it your own and be up and driving a whole lot sooner than starting from scratch. Building a car from plans drawn on the garage floor is a long, drawn out affair, and not cheap. (if done right) Nobody ever gets out of a car what they have in it, so you could pick up a car for much less than it would take to duplicate it yourself.

The only thing is that you have to be very selective because there are some horrible cars and workmanship out there, so you want to get one that is reasonably well done and affords a solid start.

Good luck,

Don

td welcome and like you i'm new to the building area of rodding . I how ever I do have skills that are required for a ground up build. I have been around auto's most my life and suspension and drive train are important area's . The guys here have had all the answers and pics help when trouble shooting or getting a idea on how to set something up . They may not be building your specific model but they know the in's and out's of rodding .

The guy's are right look for a project someone is selling . You can pick them up for the right money in a rolling stage of build . If some of there work is a bit less desirable you will only have to invest a small amount that way to get it corrected. This is buy far cheaper then a total frame build by a pro or frame purchase . Hot rodders in general do like to work on cars if its theres or anyone's it's a hobby we go to bed with LOL .