We've all heard the saying "you can't polish a turd" or "don't buy someone else's junk" blah, blah, blah. But what if you did? Would it be the end of the world? Are you really taking on someone else's problems? Is a turd always a turd? Here's my story.....I was browsing on that big online internet auction site about 2 weeks ago when I saw a rough looking unfinished 27 Model T hot rod for sale, and it was only 120 miles or so from me. I was out of town and so I called my partner in crime Cuzzin Deke. He goes to look at it and calls me back. "It's a real turd, but I bought it for us anyway" he says. Nothing was finished, nothing was hooked up, no driveline, no brake lines, no pedals, etc. Here's what we bought......
Here is my buddy Dick (Cuzzin Deke) reworking the cowl and windshield......He also did most of the other work on the car.
I went to the local gun shop and bought a new Army surplus pup tent for $20 for upholstery material. Mrs. Povertyflats helped me recover the interior panels and seats.
After a week or so of finishing the work and installing the newly shortened drive shaft we take it on a test drive.
Then it's off to the farm home of Mary Spellman of Spellman Signs to have some race car numbers applied to the car. It is a good drive going down the 2 lane highway on the way to her place. Car seems to have no problems.
Here is the almost finished car after 2 weeks of ownership. Still need some trim rings, paint the dash, light pinstriping, etc.
The car has a 235 Chevy six with a powerglide automatic. 8 inch Ford posi rear end, and a new Speedway front end with Posie's front spring. Here is a closer shot of the new windshield fabricated by Dick. Also a look at the new interior.
whell shoot, you know what you gotta do next? pack it up on the trailor, and ship it on up here to me!
In conclusion it is possible to finish someone's project at midstream and have a low budget hot rod as a result. We had fun and now it time to play. Come see us at the KKOA show in Salina next weekend and say hi. Yes, we bought the car to resale. But we want to play with it a few days first. Thanks for looking at my tech post. Ya'll come back now, ya' hear?
Everybody bitches that rodding is too expensive, shit you are living proof that the theory is a crock of shit! Nice job, another fine job of Rodder Recycling!!-MIKE
I don't think the word "turd" should be said anywhere near that thing. Most people don't have the vision to look at a car in the rough and see potential there to build a nice car. A little ingenuity and some elbow grease goes a long way.
ya really nice work. Cleaned up really well. That's what I'm planing on doing to the one I picked up. Finish up some welds, primer, upolster, new fronten,d etc. Just waiting to get out of my cast to get started. Hope mine turns out as nice... BTW, what brand turd polish did you use?? I got to get me some!! LMAO 25Thobbyist
BTW, what brand turd polish did you use?? I got to get me some!! [/quote] It's just some stuff I bought in a can. Made in Wisconsin. "Turdle Wax"
WOW! Wheredja get that super cool sticker!!! I'd pay at least $100 extra for a car just because of it! That sticker was obviously made by someone virile and intelligent... and by applying it to your car, it will no doubt impart those same qualities on the owner of said car. Oh, and the car is cool too... How much will you be asking?
Very nice. Love the seat covers. Have any pics of the front end as well as the rear end set up? Sits nice and low.
years ago we had a friend that was realy into Oldsmobiles (70s Cutlass' mostly) and he would ALWAYS say "you can't polish a turd". well we found a way to get him back when he would be refering to one of our projects in that manner. we would just come back with "no, but you can paint it GOLD!!!" we had nothin against Olds but it usualy shut him up for a minute. neat little ride by the way.
Here are some closer photos of the front end as well as the rear. Front setup is a Speedway 4 inch drop axle with a Posie's super slider spring. It works well.
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