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

The thing is that if you could justify the block at $1500 it should just as justifiable at $2500 just harder to pay for. I would like the sbf version for my Fairlane but that would force improvements in the transmission and purchase of turbos. My goal at one time was 800+hp not so much anymore. The money was used to refresh my BB mopars while I was still working. I’m glad I went the way I did.

 

Osage, ya got me beat. Bought the 40 in 89. it's been on the back burner since 97.
Others have come and a couple have gone.
I'd like to thin out the collection, but I don't have the knack for selling and even when I hand that off, stuff doesn't move. That would make a big difference.

 

That's it right there, everyone has their vices, a period correct kitchen isn't one of mine and I don't get why people, my daughter included, goes nuts for mcm stuff.
I'd certainly buy a Dart block before I bought a flair range or an aqua toilet.
Matter of fact my blown big block is Dart big M based, life is short, go buy what you're into and what makes you happy before it's to late..... or the prices go up again.

 

Speaking of "strokes" my small block is a 427, doubt you will find one in a wrecking yard!

Mark
Strap an Evinrude on your drag boat and tell me how much fun it is.

 

It's all relative. In 1972, my 1st job out of hs paid $2.25/hr, gasoline was around $0.30/gal for regular, and my biggest expense was car insurance. And it was big! Over $400/year. And that was the required insurance in Massachusetts at the time.

I did live at home still, gave my mom a little bit each payday. Clothes came from an army/navy type store. Dungarees were $6/pair for Wranglers, blue chambray work shirts were $2/each. Underwear was $5/weeks supply, both t-shirts and tighty whitys.

So I lived within my means. 62 CJ5 Jeep with ahem, cough, cough, 4 engines in 3 months, all salvage yard refugees. 3-327s and the survivor, a 62 283. That was after puking the F-head 4 banger. And I was into racing snowmobiles then. Bought the last one that fall, $1300, a stock class racing sled. And I was helping on a couple dirt cars as a way to get my fix of oval racing, and learn something.

2 years later gasoline was starting to get expensive, $0.50-0.60/gallon. And as I knew better, I started to build a modified dirt car, my 1st, at 19 years old. With basic hand tools, a pistol drill, a 9 inch angle grinder, a buzz box arc welder, and a set of torches. Yes I worked for a company that allowed me to use the machinery I had been checked out on, a bench lathe and the oldest Bridgeport. I made up for lack of knowledge and funds with enthusiasm and stubbornness.

And had fun not knowing what I didn't know. I think that sometimes we get lost in the dreams and let things get in the way of getting on with it. I know I've got stuff that I probably don't need. Do I want to go back to cutting brackets out with the torch and grinding to get a finished part, drilling with a single speed pistol drill? No, but I know I could if I had to. When I assembled engines then, it was plastigage and Mittotyo vernier calipers, and a Sturtevant torque wrench. And lots of salvaged parts. And they ran! To my amazement, I only lost engines in the Jeep. Those were not full rebuilds, just head work, oil pumps and timing chains. Somethingabout 5.38 gearing and salvage yard engines, they didn't like running down the road at 3500, 4000 rpm.

My dirt engines never blew up, probably due to not being as powerful as some others engines. Only lost 1 injected 350, and that was a pro built engine. And then only because of getting a faulty oil filter.

Bottom line, we've got to get on with what we've got, and enjoy the effort. And help each other if we can, old body willing...

That, I find, is more of a hindrance these days than the cost of stuff. With planning I can get the things that I can't make. But my body is really not up to the task frequently. Oh well, carpe momento...

 

Its still all doable. You just have to be resourceful and crafty. You gotta keep an eye out for good deals and friends who know friends. Cant find what you want? Find something similar and MAKE it work. Like i tell my kids, you gotta want it, and stay focused!

 

You can't understand vacations , traveling , buying non car toys , nicer home ! Were all different , some more myopic than others , ain't it great !

In order for it to " last as long as you do" you better not ever start it, drive it & worst of all race it , they're all time bombs & you don't get to choose the fuse !
"If you can't be with the one you love , love the one you're with" I've lived by that since the 60's !

 

So, what is different these days from days past? It has always cost a lot of money to go fast with the first class, shiny, new stuff.

The old slogan at the speed shop near me used to say "Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?"

If you didn't have the money, you chose other options, or you didn't go as fast.

Had a buddy that always told me that you can afford what ever you really want, you just have to decide how bad you want it, or what you want the most. He was correct.

 

Don’t get me wrong, I can make it happen and probably will. It will just take a little longer. It was just frustrating.

I was telling Moriarity offline, about how much I had to spend on moving dirt from one end of my property to the other. I could have bought multiple blocks, but it’s all in your priorities at the time.

I was just miffed this morning, at the jump of 100% in the last year.

I will survive. Cue up the disco music here…..

 

The Dart sbf block is 90lbs more than a Ford 5.0 block so you do get the beef.

 

This from down here in Australia. Should cheer you up immensely......... You're welcome...
... No, seriously, stop laughing...... and yes, it's real...

Dart SHP PRO Small Block Chevy Cast Iron Bare Engine Block, 4.125" Bore, 350 Main
Sale price
$4,433.00
Regular price
$4,774.00
SALE
Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

 

This is simply minimally regulated Capitalism. This is the design and intended function.

That's not political, but economic. That's the system we chose.

If y'all don't like it, you will need to look at other economic systems.

 

I can see the Glitter Ball turning ...

 

Mine are Not HAMB friendly,

60s looking Race Rod but not all HAMB fast parts
This 32 (Not mine) is a Real street car ,
Street driven with SBC
(aftermarket block ) with Hp in a bottle , If I remember correctly a hot rod since the 60s, wrecked afew years back @ top end of 1/4 , then Rebuilt !!
Hot Rods ,Racing aways $$
The Op , the 1 k new mark up on Dart
= 20 fill ups of gas , $50 per tank,

I pick up a few mouths ago
Dart aluminum tall deck
SBC 2 years old Not Window or blown , can get right @500 cid
less then your post of Dart machinery block before the mark up price ,,
There are used Parts , blocks , short, long All across USA , In this Hobby / sport All does not have to New , But you need to know what your buying
We also know Not every one is honest!!

I missed out on set of new steel fenders for 32 for 1/4 what one sold new ,, sold with in afew mints of posted.

 

!!!!!Not true !!!!
You Never Know what are in Yards ,
& Im talking about now !!!

 

Ahhhh, mid-life crisis. They're always fun......

 

A Dart block is cheap compared to the two vettes and a harley that I ended up with somehow... Although, both vettes were actually my kids first and the Harley was my dad's whatever that means...

 

Seems every thing I need to get within my circle of existence is 2-300% more. I’m kinda happy if it’s only double (aka 100%)

 

I don't see the attachment to the 'vettes, but I totally get the Dad's Harley thing.......

 

I'm not very attached since I already sold one and will have the other for sale as soon as I find the knock in the motor and get it fixed... However, vettes are a big part of how I ended up in this hobby since I grew up riding in the back of them from the time I was probably 4 or so.

 

In the trunk...???

(I would have said "In the boot...???", but I didn't want to open that can of worms again....)

 

Back window in my dad's 65 and under the "shelf" in his 70. Actually, my brother and I both rode in those locations together. My mom had the family car with a back seat but we actually even took a trip from Illinois to Florida riding in the back window of my dad's 78 when we were both still small. That was back before kids died not riding in a car seat... I'm obviously joking on that last comment, but you know what I mean.

 

Vetts & a H--D or engine Blocks?
In most cases Yes a Vett & a H-D would cost more then a block,
But just a Vett block & a HD block
Not that Expensive 1K or less un less a Pan ,Shovel, Knuckle maybe , also unless Vett block is a certain year & option
I do have a certain year block from a vett value ( Restoration ) is more than a new aluminum Dart block , but it's not for sale

 

I save money by not actually doing anything.

 

More proof that not everyone likes the same stuff !

Keep that rare block long enough & the gooberment may not let you sell it ( or there'll be no market for it )

 

...on the other hand, most old parts you've had for years are probly worth many times as much as what you paid for them.

 

Old men bitchin' about high prices. Some things never change! Some random thoughts on the subject...I've been a super cheapskate all my life. Raised poor. I hate inflation and I'm always scroungin' and looking for a deal. Another thread talks about time travel-well, if I could go back and talk to the wide eyed new hot rodder that I was becoming at 15, I'd tell myself this: "This is a very expensive game, the nicest or fastest cars are generally owned by rich guys who do not come from the your ilk. If you want a respectable ride, you are going to have to sacrifice". It has taken me a loooong time to come to terms with the cost of playing in this arena. When I drive to work all week in Atlanta traffic in my Willys and see zero cool old cars along the way, I get the feeling I'm the last of the Mohicans, like I'm thinking everyone else ran out of money and got priced out of this game. This old car thing is very important to me, and I certainly have made some big sacrifices to do it. Currently I'm contemplating how I'm going to cover upcoming paint costs on my latest ride. I am just trying to wrap my head around it. On a previous paint job, I knocked over freshly filled touch up gun jar full of mixed clear. Ran all over the bench. I actually squeegied it up and put it through a strainer cuz I couldn't bear to see that liquid gold wasted....that was 20 years ago...Think it's more costly now? I know it hurts like hell, but like another guy said, either shell out the green, or go sit in the recliner!

 

I built cars before this one but I think this is the cheapest.Most of the parts on this roadster were free or cheap from swap meats or friends Cause nobody one of those old hot rod parts. I had about 6000 bucks in the car fully painted and with the seat And top upholstery, With the first free motor. That was more than 10 years ago I believe and yes, those good deals seem to be drying up.

 

Mark, if you're talking a true street car that seldom gets up in the R's, yes a high horse all aftermarket engine is total overkill. The Man will only allow so much tomfoolery out there, and with the threat of the other crazy drivers pulling out in front of you, or the ever present deer, yeah, going sideways at 120 on a two lane is something I'm done with. However, If a guy is going to actually go race his rod in some form of safe sanctioned competition, and do it week after week, expecting the thing to last more than one race, then more and more of those heavy duty dedicated HP parts start looking more attractive. Look at Brian Kohlman's operation. That thing couldn't do squat with junkyard parts. Squirrel has been pretty successful using 60 year old stuff, but his recipe is very specific, and those 427 blocks are tough, so it can be done, but those part and pieces all have to be carefully vetted to make them live in harsh competition. I'm happy there's room for everyone. Cruz on....

 

Someone will always have more expensive stuff than you do. For instance, this poor slob had only this old Lambo and park next to me. I felt bad for him, but didn't rub it in his face...