Projects My first hemi car

1000000090 by Manostihl83 posted Nov 17, 2024 at 2:39 PM

1000000089 by Manostihl83 posted Nov 17, 2024 at 2:39 PM

1000000091 by Manostihl83 posted Nov 17, 2024 at 2:39 PM

Glad to be able to be a part of the forum. Always dreamed of owning a classic car with a hemi in it, and a few months ago I finally got to realize my dream thanks to the help of great friends. Shes a 1951 2 door imperial and needs a lot of work but the engine turns and the bores look great. I'm on a very tight budget but would like to have her running and driving by late spring/early summer. I'm leaning toward a traditional hot rod style with her. I know the fluid drive isn't the greatest but it's what I have for now unless it doesn't work. I have plans for that later .

 

Try the pictures again, I'd like to see it.

 

I tried again. Going out to garage in a short and I will try to get more

 

I can see the pics, well I think most of them?

 

Not sure if what’s between pics is a pic, or?

 

I haven't been on a forum in years sorry I'm still trying to figure the pictures out. I only posted three. Not sure why it's showing the letters and numbers in between

 

Congratulations... Dig it $

 

Well, I couldn’t take a screen shot of the three, but they were all there. So alls good, and see you have it figured out now.
I still wonder about the red writing, maybe moving them from an album you have here on the HAMB?

 

GoBut I

Thanks man. I really plan on making her a traditional/rat rod. I need to find some seats, and make some door panels and probably door handles too. I weld on the daily at work so the floors don't scare me

 

Don't say "rat" here, frowned upon. Have you read the "Hemi Tech index" yet? probably won't be cheap getting it running.

 

Here is one local fursail

 

I only said that because I don't have a lot of money and I will be putting her together with what I can afford and come up with like it or not. What is cheap anyway these days? I figure the engine rolls over, has compression, valves aren't stuck, all I need is a carburetor rebuild , oil, oil filter, distributor cap, plug wires, and the starter I have may work and she will run

 

I haven't read the hemi tech index yet though. But I've read plenty about them in rod and custom, hot rod magazine, and street rodder magazine. Like I said in my o.p. I've wanted one for a long time. None of these old engines are cheap anymore

 

here the term is banned as defined as a poorly built death trap, nothing personal.

 

I get it but I don't want to build anything crappy just building what I can afford. Which isn't much. I live on my own income supporting my lady who is disabled but can't get her disability because they think she isn't disabled enough.

 

If it is a Hemi . . . it will be expensive . . . not matter what you do with it. Ask me how I know these things! LOL

 

Hey @Manostihl83
Howdy from Dennis in Seattle.
As a person that loves old unique MOPAR'S, and as a 71 year old Gearhead that understands the way these projects can gobble up money big time!
It's refreshing to see that a 33 year old is willing to take on such a project, that will be daunting, in regard to all that will be needed to bring this car back to life.
Go for it kid, there are a lot of us that will be following along, to observe your progress!
Thanks from Dennis!

 

Thank you! I look at it as fun. I've been wrenching since I was very young. I love to weld and love classic cars. Hopefully here in another week I will have the engine running

 

And that, is the essence of Hot Rods.
I think many younger guys get confused with Rat vs Hot.
I parked next to a 20’s Chevy PU, no fenders, matte black paint. Some chrome on the engine. Really a nice looking truck.
I told the fella, “nice Hot Rod”. He replied “it’s a Rat Rod”.

There wasn’t one poorly thing done that I could spot in the few minutes I looked at it.

 

I prefer "beater" for cars that aren't fully finished, but are good runners.

 

For 15 years my rod was a beater '48 plym with a 455 Olds & then a 331 hemi....

 

Begs to question. What is a Rat Rod? I have seen many that are called a rat rod, yet they are very well put together to look like they are not. So would that be considered a rat rod as per forum definition? On that same note I have seen some put together that I would never put on the road so poorly built.

 

Before you start it, you should pull the rocker arms and clean out all the crap that tends to form inside the shafts to make sure you get adequate oil to the top-end. Back in the day a lot of folks ran non-detergent oil and that stuff solidifies in all the wrong places! I would also pull the pan and oil pump - and clean them as well.

 

I second this. We all want that old lump to fire up, but
1. it could be very expensive if it gets damaged
2. going in and cleaning/inspecting not only is cheap, it give piece of mind that things are going to work better and you have a better working knowledge of the thing.

 

Building to a budget is traditional...not necessary to label it as a "rat".

Cool car. Looking forward to watching it come together.

 

Thank you

 

I've already had the pan off and cleaned it. But I have to pull it back off because of a pinhole in it . I agree though she is going to get cleaned thoroughly.i can't wait to fire her up!

 

I never even thought of that. I will definitely do that. I have to pull the oil pan back off to repair a pin hole I didn't see anyway and I'll clean the oil pump too