Art & Inspiration Some thoughts on the coming year

Need to finish the wiring, build a set of running boards, wood floor in the box, address some minor front suspension stuff, finish the interior, fix some paint runs and probably 100 other things I'm forgetting. Should be on the road this spring

 

Next spring I need to install new window regulators and upper control arm bushings that I’ve had on the bench for awhile but I wanted to finish out the season first and then life got in the way.
We haven’t made any travel plans as yet for next year but I normally look for an event somewhere during the year that’s new to me along with the few within a days drive we’ll attend with the group we run with.

 

Now that it's starting to look like a car, and I'm at a position in life where I can better afford to work on this thing. I have the wiring, cooling, tires and a thousand little other things. The plan is to get it running and driving by September for my little brothers wedding.
Honest to goodness I had a dream that I threw a windshield in it and just drove the heck out of it.

 

Is that going in the OT whatever it is? I’m not a purist, Chevy motor, Ford body, best of both worlds.

 

Hoping to have this thing wrapped up in 2025.

EDIT: The wheels are "mock up rollers", I forgot this was on the main forum.

 

Not really commenting on plans for the new year but just realized that the Hamb cut off date of 1965 means we are dealing with cars that are at least 60 years old now. How much time do we have left?

 

The last time I drove the wheels off of my hot rod was when I broke my axle leaving a red light spraying the house down racing a kid in a Mustang ​

 

Just Drive The Bombs...

 

Hoping to complete the bodywork and maybe the paint on the '38.


Hoping to rack up another 4-5000 miles on the '32.

 

We didn't know how much time we, or our rides had left the day we started all this stuff. I drive a 48 model year car and a 49 model year truck, and I'm a 56 model year (makes me 68, so you don't have to do the math).

After all these years playing with cars & trucks, I have no idea how much time either of my rides have left, nor do I have any idea how much time I have left to enjoy them. Doesn't mean I'm not going to make some plans for next year.
We will likely form more hard plans after this busy season, but I expect to drive both of my rides a lot next year.

 

Having realistic goals are always good.

I am really tired of the heat and humidity and my willing to get out stops about June and starts back up about November. The older I get the less I want to sit around a show all day. I've gone to local shows, parked, walked, hung out with some buddies, and in 2 or 3 hours I'm pulling out. Give my award to the guy over there with his new balance shoes polishing his car and putting tire shine on.

My main car related goals are to drive my shit more. I want to drive both of these to some form of vacation weekend this cool season. Mechanical things to be addressed is the oil leaks on the Buick, the Tudor is running and driving great. Maybe lower the Buick some more, wide whitewalls, and who knows.


2025 Hotrod Showdown and driving this.


Then if I feel like it, drive this to Lonestar Roundup. I think roundtripping the Buick will be nice, may not be able to freeway fly like I used to, but at least I will be comfy.

 

I have GOT to get this thing back together!

 

If it's the last thing I do...

 

Move into the new house/garage/shop and start filling it up with projects that will take me another 20-30 years to actually finish!

 

And start moving stuff that I'm not going to use but you need into your place!

 

Keep doing what I've been doing for almost 74 years now. I really like looking at other peoples cars, and will attend Pebble Beach in 2025, also want to see the 75th GNRS. Really need to sell off a lot more stuff, need to have a reasonable stash of "Play Money", so when something I need turns up I can just hand over the funds the next day. The TIG welder is a prime example. It is always fun to add a missing piece to the two main project cars. Organize the mess is always a great New Year's goal, I got to January 3rd one year, and lost interest.

Bob

 

sell this and Finish my wife's Healy ( carpet ), engine swap in my 32 and finish my 38 Dodge coupe'.

 

Finish the 37 Ford Ute: lower it another couple inches, complete the wiring and interior, bedliner on inside of bed, redo exhaust system a bit. It runs and drives now, but will be better once these items are completed.

Engine work on the 52 GMC: swap Vortec heads onto the 350, and some small items. The mid-70s truck 350 with corresponding low performance smog heads should run a lot stronger with the Vortecs.

 

Cool car. Once you're done painting the garage, do the car LOL

 

What has it run?

 

I dig your 52.

I have two of those mid-70's truck 350's I'm wanting to put cams and smaller-chamber heads on to up the performance. A good starting platform, but they sure are dogs.

 

While I’m always optimistic about the new year and even make plans having unplanned back surgery a year ago a total knee replacement this year I’ve come to the conclusion “Life. Is what happens while you’re planning other things” I hope all of you who have made plans have the heath, time, and money to complete them. Every journey starts with the first step.

 

For 2025? Basically most of the stuff I was going to do in 2024 and didn't. Get the top insert and interior done and a better tune on the carbs. Take the car to Rhinebeck, Rodtoberfest, Gathering of the Faithful, Hemmings Cruise (did get to the last one in 2024). Maybe TROG as a spectator.

 

Starting in 2007, I did 7 trucks in 16 years. Last year was the 1st that I didn't have an auto project in that time. My current plan is to laugh more than cry.

 

Paint my 39/40 Ford tub like this 41 Chevy Ruby Maroon

 

Maybe... just maybe this one will get closer to being back on the road... maybe...

 

I’m off to a good start in 2025!
Woody’s transmission swap is well underway,
Beach camping trip is booked,
And buddy’s ‘57 is painted!

 

My goal for 2025 is to get back into it. Getting my 61 Olds done for Detroit 2024 took a lot out of me and to be honest, I needed a break. I've barely done anything in the shop this year outside of basic maintenance on my daily drivers. I have 2 nice cars that run and drive great so it's been wonderful taking a step back and enjoying them to use rather than to just build.



I think a reasonable goal for this year would be to turn my Nomad into a functional vehicle. It's super rough but it's solid where it needs to be. I think I'm just going to go over it mechanically, rebuild the stock suspension, maybe put disc brakes on it, and drop in a good used SBC/350 combo and roll. Just make it a basic, safe, complete car to drive. This is one that I want to build from top to bottom, but I also want to renovate my house, and would be allocating work and funds to that project for the next couple years. I don't want to let the Nomad sit dormant that long. I could take a couple thousand bucks, make it work, and use it until I decide to pull it apart.

In reality, 2024 was a tremendous year for my family and I. My wife made partner in her firm, I won a $1.7M verdict for a client at trial and resolved another pair of seven figure cases. Business has been great. I also became a coach for my 6 year old daughter's ice hockey team, which has been more fun than I care to admit. Most importantly, my family remains healthy. For 2025, my focus is on maintaining and improving on the year before. Keeping my office growing and prosperous, getting in a bit better physical shape so I can keep coaching and playing, and to keep enjoying the cars on the road and in the shop.

 

I would like to get a bunch of the old guys gathered up, healthy enough and with current passports and make a pilgrimage to the Gilmore automotive museum. Not necessarily with hot rods or even to one of their events. Keeping the bar low…