What's your favorite part of a build?

I myself enjoy taking complete crap and assembling a
Body from
It. I don't mean fixing a rusty car, I mean resurrecting a car that is beyond repair. This to me is what the whole game is about. What is it that makes you
Smile, stay out late and lose sleep over a build.


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Gathering parts

 

firing it for the first time and driving it

 

Neat idea for a thread Jim!
I think anyone who enjoys doing what "they" said can't be done is a special kind of wack job, count me in that pile too.

I enjoy solving the problems, creating space where there is none, custom fabrication.

 

THE END! TIME TO DRIVE IT LIKE I STOLE IT!

 

almost all of it ................except body work and upholstery

 

X2, and since it's usually someone else's ride I'd have to say getting paid.

 

The planning and parts acquisition, Making the parts I can't buy. Oh hell, everything but bodywork!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Building the chassis. Start to finish.

 

Parts acquisition is probably my least favorite parts of a build.
I'd like to go to the self or out back and have what I need waiting for me, since I can't have that I'd like to tell my purchasing agent to go get what I need or want, but since I can't have that luxury either - I need to go find it . While I'm finding it I'm not busy doing what I'm good at. I see it as a delay and obstacle. Maybe a guy like you and me should partner up

 

Driving it! which means I don't have to buy any more parts, or do any more bodywork, or any of that stuff.

 

Putting the body back on after completing the chassis


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Designing and fabricating something that most people buy through the catalogues or online instead of making it themselves. I really admire creative automotive design.

 

1/the initial metal work mockup ,moving things round til its got the 'look'
2/ when the project comes back out the booth in gorgeous new shiny paint and its looking really sharp.
3/the 1st drive

 

The initial start up! And first drive but that's a given

 

I like learning in depth about each system as I work on it. I really enjoyed getting the chassis to be a roller, building the engine and wiring.


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Probably the first fire up of engine. That is also when I get the most on edge, but excited as well.

 

I really enjoy fabricating. I'm not a pro at it by any stretch of the imagination, but I enjoy the challenge.I also enjoy chasing down the parts and pieces that will become my ride.

 

There's lots of swamp land to walk thru to get to the first drive. Granted there's nothing like that but Hopefully you guys find some enjoyment up to that point

 

First fire up and cam run in on a fresh motor. The smell of oil and paint as everything warms up.

 

The designing and thinking it out and then seeing that come to be a running driving rig. There isn't a much bigger automotive high than firing your own engine that you built yourself fire up for the first time and then later when you do that first test drive.

 

I like the challenge of swimming up stream doing something that others say can not be done
or rebuilding old parts instead of just buying new parts
when it all comes together that is a great time

 

The challenge of the build, totally holistic for me from planning and executing everything, sourcing the parts, fabricating, assembly all the way through to registration and that first euphoric drive. Knowing that what I did was unique and not the same as numerous other belly button cars out there.

 

I'll add more later, but how about un-doing shit work that the previous owner did? I sometimes talk to my cars (crazy) and apologize for such things.

 

The best part for me is the first 1/3 of the build., the rest is just work.

 

I used to say my favorite part of the build was the mock up stage. I loved putting the body on blocks, pushing the engine in front of it, plopping some tires in place , and then sitting back with a beer and thinking about how it will all look when done. But I have to say I have something that I like even better. I LOVE ordering the parts and watching the brown truck arrive with all those cool boxes of neat parts.

Today my front tires are going to arrive, tomorrow my front wheels are coming, and Ron Pope is ready to ship my front end suspension parts. I literally can not wait for the UPS/FedEx guys to show up at my door ! I am like a little kid at Christmas.

When the truck shows up the whole family gets in the act.






Maybe I will stop building cars and just take up ordering parts.

Don

 

The whole process.. I enjoy the hunt for a new project, usually just a body.. Then getting a frame and making it a roller.. Then once the body is on the frame, the fun really begins.. Fabricating, chopping, wiring, getting the stance just right, all of it.. I always get apprehensive just before start up wondering what I did wrong but then giddy when it starts and drives down the road.. Then it's time to sell it and start over because to me the fun is building, not so much driving....

 

Got to be the search and discovery of the project itself. The exploration of the back country roads , trying to get a glympse of something in an old barn or shed hidden from view for decades. Asking friends, relatives,neighbors and complete strangers if the know of any hidden treasures.
Then the moment when you open then doors of the barn, garage or shed or walk across that old farm field and see your treasure for the very first time. You start asking yourself what is it, what will it cost me, what will I do with it, How I am going to get it out of here, Do I customise it or leave it stock,will the H.A.M.B. members help me out, etc., etc. , The blood, sweat and tears, the cursing, the throwing things across the shop because it didn`t fit correctly are all rewarded when you get to take your grandkids, wife, parents, best friend,etc. for a ride for the first time.

 

I like the hunt for a project, then for parts. Putting it together, test fitting, then stepping back and saying, huh this is gonna be cool. On New Year's day last year I built a die for my press to make a replacement piece for my box, my friends stop over and ask why not just buy that piece, because you can't. I look at each part of a project as a small job, then I get a little satisfaction through the whole thing.

 

I like piling up a bunch of junk parts till there is enough to build something out of nothing. also enjoy trying different process' for example... sandblasting , electrolysis , molasses , citric acid and the next experiment ..whatever that is . that's whats fun for me.