Hot Rods Does it seem like the ring is never within reach?

Thank you, Jim.

Ben

 

After retirement I’ve come to the realization that my building days are over.
I’m just happy during my work life that I had the opportunity to make a few that I could take into retirement.
Now to just keep them running .

 

I should have bought 2 of these blocks I wanted back 5 years ago, but I figured I would wait and just get them when I needed them. I have a buttload of old 2 bolt main blocks laying around. Mainly 265, 283's and 327's.

The main reason I was looking into the new Dart blocks was the affordability of machine fresh 4 blot mains with hyd roller capability using factory oem parts.

 

Oh and Jim @squirrel .....I never said it was a gold ring. It could be a ring make of dog turds.

 

Well, shucks. I am turning 87 in week or so. I don't remember a time when things were different. Like the man said, supply and demand. Wants versus needs. Not complaining here, but we are living well on our S.S.. Some of us, me included would be HAPPY to have a 40 by 50 garage. You are complaining that another is so high? With inflation, only about $0.08 per square foot more than the old one if my hillbilly math is correct.
Most "young kids" have just as much chance today as I did. I did not own a home until in my 50s. Have not made a car payment in 30 years. Don't have a lot, but what I have is MINE. And it is enough that all seven surviving kids will get a little, if they outlive me.

Be content wherein you are.

Ben

 

Not everything is more expensive. TV's (and other consumer goods based on microchip processors) continue to buck inflation.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for televisions are 99.16% lower in 2023 versus 1952 (a $991.62 difference in value). Between 1952 and 2023: Televisions experienced an average inflation rate of -6.51% per year. In other word's, a TV that cost $1000 in 1952 would cost just $8.38 today.

Probably the one major thing, the "Back to the Future" writers got correct. Flat-screens everywhere by 2015.

 

Kinda one of the reasons I never though about having a real fast or even a race car. All that costs $$$ and I can't focus on one brand or even type of car......I want them all.

I go for quantity not quality.

F'ing classic........

 

I can't help noticing that a lot of friends, the ones who complain the most
about rising prices, never mention they have garage shops that are better equipped
than most repair shops of 25 years ago. "2 post lift?? of course I have a 2 post lift"
I remember when having an hydraulic floor jack was the height of luxury.

 

I totally agree that some of the price jumps we see these days seem ridiculous and unjustified. It could be that the cost of those blocks has risen because the focus is on late model LS type stuff and sales volume of the Gen 1 sbc stuff has dropped off.
I wanted to build a blown SBC for my Austin a few years back. It was running fine with a single four barrel but what’s a gasser without a blower. My hot rod account wasn’t robust enough to do it. So, I took a serious look at all the junk I had collected and was just sitting around. I sold off a bunch of stuff and bought heads, a manifold and drive parts. Thankfully I had the blower.
By selling off some of my “treasures” I was able to get the Austin running with a blown small block and had some left over. I didn’t miss the sacrificed parts for a second.
As far as finding a Dart block at a price more compatible with your wallet, search everywhere, put want ads up. You never know what you might find.

 

The pendulum swings both ways.
It takes time for things to change.
However the rate of speed at the ends gets slower, and slower.
As I see it manufacturing during the '40s '50s '60s was through the bottom of the swing meaning the speed was accelerated. Stuff ( good stuff, ie metal ) was plentiful.
This era, now, is one of adjustment in on many levels. The result is what we moan about.
Cheap Materials and Cheap Talents are scarce. Prices reflect that.
Great progress in plastics and electronics are enjoyed by many, but not so much by us HAMBrs
My self, I grew up with very little, the depression devastated my grand parents.
My parents had to ( thanks to war ) ditch there desires for self improvement.
I learned to to take it as it comes. Oh well.
Speaking of aviation Got a buddy, Air Force mechanic, twice I've seen him buy a new vehicle maintain it 12 years and sell it for twice the price.
Any how hang on, the swing for us, will get slower and slower until people ( the masses ) decide to get their hands dirty, and make real stuff.
HERES HOPING

 

One of my favorite pictures. This was done with a $50 block.

 

My latest Speedway catalog is a few years old. Checked out the price of what I needed. Not too bad. Looked online for the current price. Yikes!!

 

I must be living large: I have two hydraulic floor jacks.

 

If I had to pay someone else to build my cars they would be AMT or Revell cars.

 

Some things are cheaper now, some are more expensive…
Clothes are way cheaper now than in 1988.
Gas has never really changed based on inflation.
I think other stuff like new car parts are up…old parts are down.
I think also we have to look at how many people we support… responsibilities, retirement …
Some hot rodders don’t complain about buying an $80,000 truck… but squeak at a $10,000 engine.
Also, when you’re young, you’ll buy that new carburetor and eat Jack in the Box tacos for the rest of the month. Hey, wait… I still do that!

 

Truth. Having a garage was the height of luxury too, rolling a floor jack on a gravel driveway ain't easy!
My first two builds were pretty much constructed in borrowed/rented workspaces.
The comment has been made that we should be content with what we have. That's a good outlook I think.

 

Starting out, the ring was within reach, purely due to life choices I made, though I'm not saying it's the direction most people take.
I guess people would say I'm an anomoly, never had kids, never had expensive addictions (outside of cars), and I have a wife that "accepts" my need to be involved in this whole car hobby craziness.
I had a career as a machinist (industrial), stayed at the same place for thirty years, I was never the guy always looking for "greener pastures", was fortunate to only live a mile from work the whole time so never had large gas bills that some have.
Started at $5.00/ hour in 1977, no raises that I recall for five years while classified as a specialist, things did improve when I reached journeyman status, I was able to have a go at drag racing until I got married and realized that wasn't sustainable.
Still, like others, I had these demons always saying "you dont need a bank account", eventually finding myself deep in three major projects.
Then a combination of a forced early retirement and physical limitations put things in perspective so most all car activities came to a screeching halt.
I do have some things that sustain my enthusiasm even though my shop activity has been pretty quiet.
For my roadster build, I too had a need to have an engine that was beyond a crate motor, now, I dont know if you have considered an aluminum block but If you thought the price of that steel Dart block was expensive................
Yeh, it's a curse!

 

...and don't even get me started on the guys that need a 40 foot trailer for their hot rod - and a golf cart to go to the refreshment stand.

 

Thinking of 3 years ago vs now, I wonder if the increase in price on the Dart blocks (among other things) coincides with GM not making them anymore?
Sorta goes back (as been said) supply and demand.

 

Just remembering when the approved method of swapping transmissions was to park the car over the bar ditch in front of the house, slide under from either end and go to work. Oklahoma red dirt in my hair, under my collar, down my back and hopefully I wasn't laying on an ant nest. My mom was real good about reminding me to spray the dirt off with the garden hose or jump in the horse trough before coming in the house.

 

Shoot, I’ve lived on scraps a long time. Been out priced in the new vehicle market since around 85. Couldn’t afford a house payment, utilities, and two vehicle payments, so we made a change and started buying older vehicles. Only new hobby car parts I bought for years were small stuff like gaskets and bearings. Bought and sold junk to get more junk. Back then 15” tires were everywhere, I didn’t buy a new tire for 10-15 years, only used pull offs. eBay saved me tons of money on speed parts that others sold to get the next new thing. Some hard parts were traded for. I threw everything into becoming debt free so I might enjoy retirement. And I did that first year and a half. Then all this inflation hit and suddenly it’s back to watching what I spend closer.

If you gotta have that Dart block, you better get it now. It’s doubtful it will get any cheaper.

 

Through the years I spent most of my money on women, booze and cars, in reverse order. The rest I wasted!

 

I always end up buying engines needing rebuild from friends or off local ads. Been pretty lucky and yet to get a cull that wasn't rebuildable.
For heads I've mostly used factory heads, but my last two builds got Edelbrock and Dart heads because I got lucky and bought both for way less than the price they sold new for, and both were like new condition.
At my age I probably don't plan another ground up car build, but still might do some engine builds. Hoping the price of engines doesn't get so bad I have to stop driving one of them!

 

A friend bought a 71 Cuda 440 6 pack when he got out of the service. $3500 I think. Sold it in 78 for $3800, again I think. 27k miles. Close to stock, little cam, headers, and of course Cragers. Bracket raced it and did pretty good. I said not to sell it. I was talking to a Mopar guy this past summer and he remembered the car and knew who had it! Owner number 3 or 4. Motor built up some more, 47k miles, basically survivor, owner hardly ever took it out, needs paint. I introduced friend to Mopar guy and he got him in contact with currant owner and he let him take it for a ride. So friend is buying it back for $110,000. Cash. It would have cost friend maybe $1000 a year to keep, make anyone feel better?

 

Prices have gone nuts over the last few years that’s for sure .
Cars that’s used to be cheap are now big bucks , parts are expensive everything’s gone up .


As some of you know I moved into a house a few years ago and the only shitty part is it has a one car garage really impacts my hobby and my stuff collecting . It does have storage in the rafters and I have a 10x10 shed out back .

the last couple months I’ve purged almost all my old car crap .

why ?

#1 it’s worth a crapton of money and I “ freed up “ about 2000 bucks that was sitting collecting dust for years just because of “ someday I might need it” mentality.

in this day and age with the internet on computers most stuff is available readily and I don’t care about holding onto stuff any more .


One thing I’ve noticed and it could just be my own personal shitty luck , but all the parts I hold onto are always just slightly off or won’t fit the build so I gotta buy new stuff anyways .


Anyways I’ve rambled enough . Off my soap box

 

Everything I want gets more expensive every time I get some money together. The weird thing is, everything I already have gets worth less at the same time.

 

Can't take it with you

 

Prices went crazy a couple years back, just can't seem to remember why...and the major manufacturers have no reason to reduce pricing today. Hey, you were willing to pay the higher price then so why not today? Next year it will still be the same story.
I built my current shop (4600sf) in '08 for less than $90k. I have property that 'needs' a shop; if I duplicate my existing it will cost right at $750k. Go figure that one out...
No, can't take it with me but the kids will likely need some assistance if this keeps up.

 

If I was you, I'd do without $1000 of something to buy a SHP block, they are so well built, me, my kid and grandkids will never wear it out.

 

I retired nine years ago thinking I would finally have the time to get my '29 Model AA on the road. Stuff happens, but I at least have the engine and transmission rebuilt. Now I need the $500-1,000 stuff to buy (radiator, driveshaft, wiring, glass, interior, etc.) plus the nickle and dime (under $100 at a time) stuff. Can't afford those things merely on pension and social security, so I got a job substitute teaching. But surprise vet bills, daily driver repairs and maintenance and the usual appliance breakdowns come first, so I am not gaining much ground on the hotrod. I'm still hoping I can get the engine and transmission installed and broken in by this June, which will be 50 years after I bought the truck back in 1974. I just won't give up on it. Any other HAMBers taking this much time to get their hotrod on the road?