Thread: Hey guys! in a newbie and need help!

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Hey guys! After what has seemed like months of searching i have finally found an awesome rod forum! So, i wanted to say hi to everyone and introduce myself. As you can probably tell from the title, i am in need of help. I am a virgin to this whole street rod hot rod scene, and really do not know where to start in terms of research for a future project. I think i have decided that the 1930's ford body styles really suit my tastes the most, i just love the large grills, hood shape, and just generally everything about the 30s coupes, and pickups. I am also really not a fan of show rods as much as i am of rods that are drivers, something about slightly unfinished old schools rods just gets my heart pumping. My dream is really to put together a street rod driver that i can put on the road 4 times a week, and still have a blast driving. Is it possible to have a daily driven rod? is this a dumb idea? i have a million other questions but this is just a start. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks guys!

Welcome dorikin69_
A daily driver is doable. I live in snow country so personally I would park it in the winter/salt season. But the rest of the year could be open season. I've thought about that myself some. Maybe when my p.u. dies, buildin' an old fat fender truck for the business.

Yea, i also live in snow country for a few months of the year, though streets are usually plowed within a day or two of a dump. Not driving for a few days is a sacrifice i would happily take for owning a rod though, i can walk if need be!

In upstate NY I usually start cruisiing around april and stop the end of October. My 37 is driven about 3-5,000 miles per driving season and is also shown so yes I can drive mine every day if I want.

Alright I have some more questions. If this is the wrong forum to be doing this, please redirect me. I know its so hard to make guesses like this cause there are a million variables, but how much does it (realistically) cost to put together a street rod. I am thinking 30-34 ford coupe 3 window. because i don't care much about showing the car, and just want a fun driver paint and chrome and what not isn't neccesary (at first). Cuase it'll be driver ill probably need a fairly new motor, chevy 350? and chassis, i am clueless about, is it a better idea to get a new chassis, that is designed for street rods, or try to recondition and use an ancient 30s chassis?? so how much would ya'll estimate for a fairly basic setup like the one noteed above?

hey dorikin, just wondering why you said a 350 chevy instead of a small block ford, for i own both, and parts and price are vary comparable and not being bias toward either one i personally would choose a 351w which is very potent if built right for your 30- 34 ford, and by the way i live in snow country also and who says a rod has to be 2 wheel and not 4wheel for i know a lot of nice 4x4 rods. hope this helps you, galaxieman

Techinspector....thank you very much your post was super informative.

galaxieman: i guess i said 350 chevy out of ignorance. I really don't know what all is compatible in these cars. I just seem to have noticed a trend of people using 350 chevys. Personally, i would much rahter use a motor that is different than eveyrone else, and is of the same manufacture as the car, but once again price plays a huge part in all of these decisions.

Originally posted by dorikin69
i guess i said 350 chevy out of ignorance. I really don't know what all is compatible in these cars.

Compatiblity is in the Eye of the WELDER You can make any thing work it's all bout the time you want to spend putting parts in, if you want originality its all about you, no one is just like you, no one has your taste's. One of my fellow HGMYNTSer's has a 67 chevy Stepside with a caddy big block, you dont want to know how he keep's the engine in between the frame rails, but you really dont want to line up with him. Do what you want, the more you do the better you get, and most of all dont get bent about some thing not working; take a break get on the computer and ask some one here, we are more than willing to help the new guy's

Otto

I want to thank all of you guys as you have been extremely helpful. I have kinda a big question that i feel stupid asking. Are the 30s fords model a's? or did they make model As during the 30s as well as other models

Thanks Techinspector! I have been looking at a lot of these kits and chassis etc. Some of them claim that they are rolling chassis but then do not include frames. Is a frame what you use to connect body panels etc to the car?

Originally posted by dorikin69
Thanks Techinspector! I have been looking at a lot of these kits and chassis etc. Some of them claim that they are rolling chassis but then do not include frames. Is a frame what you use to connect body panels etc to the car?

A frame is what the body is attached to and all the axles, suspension, differential, tranny and engine are mounted to, if it don't have a frame, it ain't rolling.

Streets- The fact that the chevy motors are compatible with any of the transmissions is pretty much why i was leaning towards the chevy. Compatibility and user friendlyness is a big factor here. You said you built a T for 7,000. You are obviously extremely knowledgable, so i assume building a car for this cheap is easier for you to pull off then say a newbie. But, do you think it is possible in your opinion to build a daily driven model a chassis'd rod for under 15,000?