Thread: What were your steps when you first started???

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According to some that would be correct, my cars don't get driven until they are done, paint and upholstery included. I've got daily drivers, no reason to put a half done car on the road.

when you say working on the chassis first, what is there to be done on the chassis?

something strange iz' happnin' to my posts. I was agreeing with Dave about the unfinished rod driving thang. Like moving into an unfinished house, ... once you settle in it's hard to finished it. 2 times it disappeared when I posted. Anyway to answer your question, that too depends on the degree of rebuild, what you want to end up with when your done. You might make upgrade modifications like suspension changes, etc. or you might build an entirely new chassis from scratch.

i guess with my question on the chassis is this...

How do I know what's good and what's not with the chassis?

To start with if your going to use the original frame, you should inspect it for stress cracks, make repairs or decide if is worth saving. Then make any modifications (That depends entirely on you) as long as the modifications are roadworthy. Don't put a death trap on the road. I would recommend doing some research and decide what you want to end up with. Then go to shows and talk to rodders. Talk to them. tell them what you have in mind or get ideas from them. Have a plan. You can always change your plan as you go along, but I would still have a plan of what you want it to look like and what you will use the car for before you start. You know what they say. Gotta have a map if you want to know were you're going. He HE He

sounds like a plan

any ideas on what tools I should invest in to start off with? Please provide some links too

Tim, main tools you will need are a good set of wrenches, sockets, compressor and tools for that (not a neccessity but useful) welder (this is for repairing body panels and rewelding frame) cutter for removing frame brackets, jack and stands, Engine stand and hoist, These are the tools I have needed so far on my rebuild. also for engine work you will need a ridge reamer, torque wrench, and other tools depending on the need, most of these tools can be rented at the auto parts store as they can be expensive.

what would all these tools cost me?

is gas welding i would need to learn for fabrication? If not, what tupe of welding do I need to learn

Originally posted by Timastyle
I basically want to know what steps you guys took in learning about cars and what questions you asked to get to where you are today?

If you didn't know, I'm trying to get started with cars and start building a hot rod, but I don't know anything about it. I am trying to take this opportunity to learn from you guys as to what steps to take. Thanks guys.

I don't know your gender or your age, so don't take this the wrong way.

I would suggest that if you are still in School, taking an Autoshop course if your school offers one.

Sure they'll have some dorky 60s' flicks explaining how a modern(yeah okay)combustion engine works, but there is no better place to start.

Then I suggest a metal shop course if it isn't included in your Auto course.

Mine had both.

Of course then I also grew up next to gearheads(my Uncle has ties to early NASCAR as well as the Bay Area Rod Scene)and so I got to learn by watching.

Also I suggest picking up several mags...

Hot Rod, Street Rodding, Street Rod Building, Mopar Muscle(biased choice here) and Popular Hot Rodding.

There is nothing better in my opinion than(learningwise)reading how things are done while getting a heavy dose of pictures to look at. It gives you something to strive for when you go out to turn your first wrench on your project.

I'm 26 and am finished with school. If you read my earlier replies here, you would get some info about me and what i know.

Originally posted by Timastyle
is gas welding i would need to learn for fabrication? If not, what tupe of welding do I need to learn

Gas or "Acetylene" welding is probably one of the EASIEST methods to learn.

I posted earlier that you should take a metal shop course. You will learn most types of welding and fabrication there.

And I believe some may not agree that Acetylene welding is probably best. Especially if it has ANYTHING to do with body fab and repair work.

Less chance of thinning and warping the metal due to excessive heat.

If you are already out of school you might look into a shop class at your local College or JC.

Originally posted by Timastyle
I'm 26 and am finished with school. If you read my earlier replies here, you would get some info about me and what i know.

Ahhh okay I didn't mean to infer anything though.

Best thing is to take a shop course at the local college if you have no knowledge on how to do something auto related.

I don't know what College tuition is in California at the moment but you should be able to find a reasonably priced course at a JC.

Anyway I hope that you weren't offended, I'm sorta new here and I'm working around the board trying to figure this site out.

Not offended at all and I didn't mean to seem as though I was rude. I am looking into going to my local JC for courses. I am going to take auto fundamentals and I want to take a welding course as well. The cost is $26/unit. The 2 classes will be 8 units, so if you do the math, I think its well work it. $208 for 2 very helpful courses, that is if the teachers know what they are talking about. I think it's too late to start in the Fall semester, but I am definately going to go for the Winter Semester. In the mean time, I want to learn as much as I can on my own. I think once I get the car I want to work on, I can then progress in my knowledge. I'll then have something to work on and learn. One of my coworkers, he's 59, knows about engines and such, but he doesn't have the time to teach me really. I am trying to get on his case to help me out. Maybe I might be able to get him to come around.

Here's some other info about me...

Because of my fast driving, my license is suspended for a year and a half, and I want to take that time in building a hot rod. Do you guys think its possible to make a project car come to life in that period of time? If not complete, I want it to be driveable so that I may use it as a mode of transportation. What do you think?