Technical Things to try an avoid on a rod build

Dana, I took the time to read it, agree wholehearedly, and can easily tell this ain't your first rodeo!

 

I found another small part of this post;
"Replacing a front clip"
Can be good,but also can be a screw up. The stock frontends on most frames are very well designed an can be fixed back to good working order coming out much better then many of the clip changes I've seen over the years. It's much EZer to add disk brakes to then adding a hole front clip and trying to fix it ,with poor alinemint too old frame and other problums. One that seems to be used a lot now as a new clip on old cars is Mustang2 ,they work well if the car your adding it too is as lite as a Mustang 2,but suck if its more lb's. The other thing is putting one were a tube or beam axle was,this is done fairly often now becuz the builder or owner thinks the tube axle can't ride or steer well,Bull Shit,they just don't know how to adjust a tube axle=do some book reading an learn how or ask. I hate seeing IFS on any open wheel old hot rod= here's your sign 4 that"this guy didn't know how to work with a straitaxle'.
If your playing with air bags,I'm not the guy to ask. But some of the ones on this site are,hope they jump in if needed by any one

 

Well, uh, . . .

One should also avoid the fan, I saw one almost get it on the side of the road from MoKan to the hotel this year.

 

Avoid NOT pulling it out into the open and stepping back to have a real good look at it during the build,
Based on dealings with people in the classified section both for sale and parts wanted, I have come to the cunclusion that most avoid spending any money

 

avoid compromise.

 

I'd have to add avoid taking short cuts because you are in too big of a hurry to get it done to do it right.

The killer for me over the years has been failing to stick with the original plan and ending up with a shed full of unused parts. They will get used someday and probably on a rig I build to sell in the next couple of years but I probably have as much money tied up in parts that I decided not to use that I bought for the 48 over the years as parts that I will use. Part of that is due to the master plan changing drastically in the past few years but it is money that could have been used better at the

 

My standard method of checking if the engine is running is to lean over and drop my reading glasses on the fan...

 

Probably a more efficient method than using a "gold chain around the neck"

My next suggestion is : Avoid using a metal watch strap to test if the battery is fully charged

 

An action like that will leave a life-time reminder!

 

After 4 decades of working on cars, I wont wear ANY jewelery. And gold is an EXCELLENT conductor...

 

Searching for that "F@CKING LOVE IT" button again...

 

Some guys laugh at me for spending so much time and being so detailed in the planning stage...theres a good reason for it.

 

Some guys laugh at me for spending so much time and being so detailed in the planning stage...theres a good reason for it.


Is it because you can't decide what to start on ?

 

Hahahaha. Smartass. You know me waaaaay too well!

 

As an "avoid list" I too was gonna say wives n girlfriends. Maybe "1-800-imported" too.

 

One thing i did before i started my build was to search the net for pictures.
I saved tons of pictures to compare what i like and didnt like.
I think this was very importand for me to get it as i wanted.
There was allso a few threads here that helped me alot.
The first 50 or so pages in "The ugly bucket! de-uglifying thread" have
alot info how to avoid mistakes. Its about T-buckets but alot info is
useful to whatever you build,
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/the-bucket-of-ugly-a-de-uglifying-thread.824491/
And some other useful threads.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/t-bucket-headlights-lets-talk-options.839262/
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1950s-period-correct-hot-rods.430894/
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/traditional-wheels-part-1-steelies.629421/
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/the-mother-of-all-dash-gauge-threads.303543/

 

More Things to look out for; Do some thinking about engineering. You can't just hook something up,becuz it looks good to you=most often is a screw up; Here things to think about; Bumpsteer}The bone rear mount should be thought of along with the steeringbox/pitman arm*end, so the two are fairly close to each other{ with in about 6in. or less an about the same hight off ground. Also caster of axle/often needs to be adjusted by cut an weld of bone up near axle to get caster{ 6* to 7* at ride hight/loaded}and turning/tire not hitting bone in turn. It's not "tad" to be stupid,yet we see guys just copying stupid stuff a lot,with no understanding of how stuff really works,one thing most often done wrong is cowelsteering,only very very few are done with out big bumpsteer probs. If you should like a better turn then you have bones straight,,you can bend or pie cut,bone's inword ,about just passed the tire and then run even along the frame/steering rod moves as wheel turns pretty much out of way as well.

 

Gosh, Dana.
'You're touching on literal 'Automotive Engineering'!'

Actual observation made by my auto shop instructor upon my pointing out the use of the '37 Lincoln Zephyr box, relocating shift stick 5" to the Starboard side, affording room for 'crowded pedals'...
I replied, "Naaah, it was nothin'...It's just a 'hop up'..."

 

My buddy in high school had a channeled '31 roadster. '53 Buick mill, '39 box, Model A steering.
He called it "the roadster"... I tagged it "The Bumpster". Hard to keep it between the fence posts on a 2 lane road...
Caster at a minimum, wishbones split, attached thru the Model A side rails. Drag link and tie rod were made up of all right hand thread ends, (ball and socket type) so just imagine what happened over silver dollar potholes! Wouldn't let me touch it.
He drove it all thru high school...sold it to some stranger.

 

Avoid mixing brake parts. Find a car with donor system and take it as a complete system.

Charlie Stephens

 

Pick an era and stick to it. Not long ago I saw a car with '70s etched windows, billet pedals, '90's 'vette wheels, etc..
Know what the final result will be before starting.
And don't buy anything from Pro Comp. Its junk.

 

Hmmm, so no finned Buick drums on '39/'40 backing plates, right?

 

Visitors.

 

Been welding for 55+years, been married for 50. I'm still having the conversation with the wife about the wedding ring. I won't wear one. Saw a guy's ring finger burned off when his ring arced out on a bare spot in a welding lead. Saw another get the finger torn off when the ring hung up on a jagged piece of steel we were picking up with a crane. Don't like jewelry and loose stuff around the work area. Sticking your hand into a moving fan is not a real good idea, either

 

My ex F-I-L and I were building a house and the lumber delivery came in stacked wrong. We restacked it, as we were doing so a tiny red spider bit him on his ring finger. By evening his finger was so swollen that he had to have the wedding ring cut off. To this day I swear he did it on purpose as he never wore
a wedding ring again.

 

One example they provided in High School shop class, was somebody was working on disconnecting a battery or somesuch and managed a short to ground through wedding band. It turned red hot. Think he lost that digit.

 

"Don't let your mouth write no checks your body can't cash."

 

Best thing about a build is you can close the garage door and your project won't bitch , complain , have to be fed....avoid haste in a build..take your time , learn new skills ..and ..Have fun

 

Good advice. I will add;
Meet new gear heads,
Share what you know with others doing the same thing

 

Avoid telling the world or making the wrong car friends. Bad company corrupts good morals.

Watch for spider webs when you take it home. Or even before you take the infestigation home..

When cleaning out a rat nest or poop.. wear a mask, you can get a real bad sickness in your lungs called Hantavirus Respiratory Syndrome.

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