I just spent the better part of two evenings building brackets to install a 12V generator on the 302 Ford engine I am going to install in the '27 Track "T" I am building. I had to do lathe work on the pulleys, and fab up some brackets and spacers. A friend of mine dropped by and saw what I was doing and asked why I didn't just bolt on an alternator and be done. I told him that I wanted to be different. He told me "Oh, you want to be different, just like everyone else". It got me thinking, just how different are you if everyone else wants to be different just like you? When does cutting edge different become the status quo?
WHen guys who "get it" do something "different" to make it better, it gets noticed, and copied enough to make the status quo. When guys do something different just because it's different, it's typically not better... and gets either overlooked or disdained.
I'd a been looking for a 260 to swap into the car, they came with a generator, so no need to fab brackets.
Yeh, you could buy a bracket or 2, neither would fit like the picture in "the catalog", spend days waiting for the brown truck, then modify it to work, blast the chrome off, repaint it..need I go on? Just build it right with your heart and hands and who cares what they say?
I think you are confused about your reasons for doing what you do. People SAY they want to be different... but in reality, they are just itching to be CREATIVE. There is a certain amount of satisfaction that you get when you build something with your own two hands. And to just build it like someone else does... isn't very creative at all. Building it like someone else does, is still an accomplishment... and is still something to be proud of. But then you have a need to "take it to the next level". And that next level... when mounting an alternator... goes from R&R'ing an alternator... to putting one on with a new shiney aluminum or chrome bracket... to eventually being creative and making your OWN bracket. The next level after THAT... is making a bracket to mount your alternator that guys will gawk at... and eventually copy. And then after that... you begin to evaluate some of the ones that guys fabricate and others gawk at... and THEN you begin to define your own style... and carry that on to other things. This concept is adopted from Bloom's taxonomy... different levels of knowledge and learning. Observation and Recall of information knowledge of dates, events, places knowledge of major ideas mastery of subject matter Comprehension understanding information grasp meaning translate knowledge into new context interpret facts, compare, contrast order, group, infer causes predict consequences Application use information use methods, concepts, theories in new situations solve problems using required skills or knowledge Analysis seeing patterns organization of parts recognition of hidden meanings identification of components Synthesis use old ideas to create new ones generalize from given facts relate knowledge from several areas predict, draw conclusions Evaluation compare and discriminate between ideas assess value of theories, presentations make choices based on reasoned argument verify value of evidence recognize subjectivity I have used Bloom's Taxonomy for years in evaluating people when they talk about, or build cars... you can tell what level a guy is at just by the way he talks, and what he builds... or what he talks about building. It's a way to know where a guy is at... and know where to begin to help him grow. Guys that are "hungry" for hot rods... will progress quite quickly through the steps... while some are just content to sit at one level. No step is "better" than the others... it all deals with the individual and where he wants to be. I think it might be a little dangerous, and then up for debate by those that like to piss in someone's Cheerios... but coming up with a taxonomy to define building cars... might be a fun exercise of the brain. Sam.
Ok so if you don't want anyone to be like you then instead of different be a misfit; its worked for me ever since I can remember. Here's the deal, if you have to explain why you are doing something it is usually lost on the listener. I never use the excuse of being different for a reason to do something. Screw different, the best excuse to do something that I ever found is "because I can."
Yeah, that's good stuff! I find myself questioning where I stand. Part of me wants to do a straight up hotrod, but then I think I might get bored with that, and maybe I want it to stand out in the crowd a little bit.. and I know that when I build something new and creative in my everyday life it's much more rewarding personally. I also don't really care what anyone else thinks because I know that I am way more critical on my own stuff than anyone else ever is... So if I make myself happy, it's probably pretty good
SamIAm, what if you're not even at Recall of information? Is there any hope? Can I grow? What will it take? If you just want to be different, paint a Honda purple and be done with it. There has to be more to it than just "different." Creativity, a respect for tradition, a love for certain aesthetics, all these things play a part.
Inovation is what counts not necessarily something totaly new, besides how many people have a car exsactly like yours? not to many they are all different, but what's different with yours from everybody elses, and that counts
Well I sort of hope you didn't do it just to be different. The guy who rhinestones his car did that to be different. Seems to me yo ushould have answered "because I like it like that".
Sam, Thanks for capturing and expressing that subliminal need to make it better. This thread rates right up there with your "Build a Car With Your Mind" thread.
Damn, SAM! Once again I'm with you. EXCEPT for where you say you can judge where a guy is at on the scale of Automotivedom (huh?) by what he says he is doing in the garage. Some folks prefer not to bore people with what they are doing and pretty much do it for themselves. Would you consider this guy a nincompoop because he doesn't stand there running off at the mouth at what he is and isn't doing?
on one of my motors I was intent on using a generator. spent at least three hours building a bracket to mount it where it would work and look right, just when it was almost finished, after lifting the twenty pound generator up for the hundredth time, I suddenly had a change of heart. I'm building a '60s styled car for christsake... I bought a chrome alternator and bracket. Sam, your post makes me think of an affliction, that of H.D.A.D.D. it's High Definition Attention Deficit Disorder the ability to concentrate is very rare, but when it happens the clarity is amazing. you should post more often
"Oh, you want to be different, just like everyone else". It got me thinking, just how different are you if everyone else wants to be different just like you? When does cutting edge different become the status quo? I still like dummy spot lights, lakes pipes, spinner hub caps, and even dice on my rearview mirror oh ya and red rims on some cars... They were different then status quo and now paisa....WHO CARES? Do your thing!
I was looking for someplace to say something, and this seems like the right place. Damn, it's difficult to make something and have it turn out nice. The tools, the time, the trips to the stores (hardware, metal, etc.), the patience, the knowledge, the "I just want to get it done" thoughts, the "damn, I just messed it up again" thoughts, the discipline, the "I'll make it better next time" thoughts, the trials, the errors, the redos, the changes, etc., etc. Can you relate? Thanks, Kurt
Youe really got to build for your self,if you put the best you can do in something,its functional,looks good and you are proud of your accomplishment than you have done more in one small whatever than most people do in a lifetime,just by doing something with hard work,honesty and pride puts you in the category of different 'cause so many people dont want to sacrife for what they want and end up settling for less and not make and effort. Like minded people will understand where you come from with what you do.
Jeem.. I agree with you... some guys let their stuff talk, or don't like to brag at all... I'm not saying I can read any car guy... just the ones that begin to spew the knowledge. Like the kid who comes up and can rattle off cam specs, wheel and tire sizes, stereo amp ratings, carburetor CFM's... or a who's-who of hot rodding... it's THOSE guys who you look at and think "yea... but where are you gonna take that knowledge and what are you doing with it" Anyone can "recall" facts... it's the lowest part on the food chain... but ALSO the most exciting for people, because they have that enthusiasm... and you can channel that enthusiasm and help a person grow into someone who can think critically about rodding. Kurt, I can relate... I think the desire to create something nice has to be stronger than the desire to "just get it done" before you can begin to create things that are truly lustful. It's all about growing... and a desire to grow. Some guys are content with where they are... and that is fine. The guy who takes it to the next level is no better than the guy who is content with slapping shit together... as long as each is in a place of contentment in their being. Sam.
"Do what you like, and everyone else will like what you do. Or they won't, but you won't care 'cause you're doing what you like." "It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it." I do it for the challenge. I'm not particularly skilled, knowlegible, or creative according to Sam's or any other scale, but I'm at my most creative and happiest figuring out a clever, clean, and simple way to solve a problem, and then implementing it. If my final product works as intended and looks like it was always there it is probably a success from my point of view. Most of my successes are invisible to most folks. To me generator vs. alternator is just not that interesting a question.
If the car in your head has a generator, then there's really nothing more to say, is there? Unless it's a tech question about making the vision into reality.
Alright then, Sam, when is "Zen and the Creative Force Behind Hot Rods" going to be available? Will you sign mine? hehe.
At the least we should get some minds together to hash this shit over... we could have a retreat where we sit around drinking beer, contemplating the issues that rodders struggle with... topics for discussion at our hot rodding retreat may be... "Define RAT ROD" and "Is a SBC Traditional?"... or maybe "Will there ever be traditional electric vehicles" and maybe "Alternator or generator... who really gives a fuck" hahahahahaha!!! Sam.
Are you a bolt on guy? Or a fabricator? Do you send it to someone? Or do you engineer it to work yourself? Do you have the "can do" attitude or do you just say "fuck it, it is what it is" Some people can build hot rods........ Some people shouldn't even attempt to .....
I fabricate for a living, as far as engineering goes, I use the school of hard knocks for my engineering.
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