How do you guys stay motivated?

OK, I've been collecting pieces all summer for my truck build. So far I've got a cab, 322, Maverick rearend, 700r4, stock A front end. (should I even try to use the stock A spring or just replace it, it's fairly rusty?), 17" artillary rims, quite a few small bits. I'm planning to use a suicide style front end, some amount of step-up in the rear. This will be my first build, I've been studying the brianangus threads and others on here about the frame builds. I keep feeling like I'm getting in over my head, and I don't want to end up with a big pile of ****. I'm planning to purchase some 2x4 rails soon to begin the frame. Would like to hear any advice on where exactly to start, how to prevent some early rookie mistakes. Like the ***le says, how do you stay motivated and stop the voices in your head that try to hold you back?

 

When you figure out how, let me know, and I might get something done.

 

You are overwhelmed by the scope of it. Break it down into sub-tasks. Like clean and r%R things such as the rear end. You can use elbow grease and prep tons of stuff before you even start that frame. Weld bungs in all the bones, polisish up that spring and planish the ends.

If you do ONE little thing each night you will progress. I always have tools or material ready before I head out to the shop. If that task won't happen due to something odd have a backuptask that you can click off that night!

 

Like Tman said, break it into individual pieces and tackle one at a time. Get a dry erase board for the garage and keep it updated. Also, the very best ch***is building advice you'll ever get is a dvd by Bob Hamilton at www.streetrod101.net . It's 6 hours of AWESOME instruction and you can rewind and pause and play again.

My build took 8 years and its far from finished but it's on the road finally. I got discouraged many times and considered selling it as a project but I'm glad I didn't!

 

You need what I call a Jewel to marvel at.

Pick the one item out of that whole car that really turns your crank. Maybe it's the dashboard, or a quickchange rearend, or the engine.

Work that part thru to completion til it's a Jewel that makes you smile. Put it somewhere prominent in the garage and when you get slowed on other stuff, walk over to the Jewel and realize it's all gonna look like that.....someday

Then follow Tman's advice on breaking it into smaller tasks

And whatever you do, don't put a TV in the garage.

Good luck

 

I like the "jewell" idea. For many guys it seems the engine is it. Myself, I need the ch***is to be done.

 

I'd say your first step is to viualize what you want the overall finished truck to look like. Draw something up or get some photos of what you're after and post them up in your garage.
Next get a large level and see how level and flat your garage/shop floor is so you can use it as a reference when mocking up your build.
Getting tires on your rims may seem like putting the cart before the horse, but it'll really help you out when mocking up, especially with stuff like front end set up and rear end placement.
If you're not super confident about building your frame, find someone who has done it themselves (and done a good job) to help you.
Paul has some stuff in the tech archives on building a frame that is priceless (great pics to go with the steps).
I reused my A spring, just sandblasted it and painted it.
I found breaking things down into little jobs and listing them helped. Jobs you can get done in a day or two (or less) get crossed off as completed and give you a sense of accomplishment that is motivational. It'll seem daunting at first as the list will be long, but you'll be suprised when you see how quickly it all comes together and you'll have a got alot done.

Flatman

 

thats a good idea,i myself have gotten overwhelmed, I have to finish a complex wiring harness, lots of engine stuff, my intake manifold and carbs, relocating my battery, rear control arms,new struts, finish my wheels i'm modifying, put my interior back in, reupholster some parts of it from sun fade, carpet, oil pressure lines and oil cooler,new door hinges,block out my primer,put on the top coat,etc,etc, it gets overwhelming quick,and then i get nothing done. going to sit down and do part of my harness so i can put the center console back in,then something will be done.

 

i've spent 7 straight nites in the cold garage, too cheap to use the heat, getting runny nosed trying to make templates for building a firewall for my topolino...dont have a welder, or even close to half the stuff ya need to build a nice traditional rod...cutting 16" galvanized steel stock with old worn out tin snipes...takes 2 hands to cut 1/4"........then to find out i missed something in the paper template...making all the time consumed a waste...i stand back and look at my topolino and smile and start over.............
encouragement from fellow Hamber's helps alot...40 years of waiting for this car helps bigtime too............motovation??????????.......i guess kickin myself in the balls for not getting it right is pretty good go power...scared about what i'm building for the first time ever in over 20-30 hot rods i've put together?? scared ****less...may sound corny, but i muster strength and knowledge as best i can from here, the Hamb...you know, "USE THE FORCE, LUKE......."
the front straight axle and steering is the first major part of my build, and i don't know a thing about these straight axels...........read on, "gr***hopper"....there's plenty of great folks here at the Hamb to help walk ya thru the lows of rod building i think..gonna find out............

 

Make a list, it's much easier to go down the list crossing off tasks as you complete them. If you just jump in there and start randomly working on stuff it'll seem like you're not making any progress.

Physically crossing stuff off the list seems to work for me.

P.S. Get yourself some good Hot Rod DVD's, Movies, Magazines, etc... Seeing other people having fun with their finished cars will get you movtivated to get your's done.

 

It depends on the build. When I was doing my first car, I didn't have anyone around that had any experience to do all the crazy and radical things I wanted to do nor anyone to give me any encouragement. I wasn't getting very far as I was overwhelmed. Then an old graybeard neighbor gave me some sage advise. "For your first build, use as many complete pieces as possible (like someone else used frame, or a new one if you can afford it) keep the body mods to a minimum and keep it simple". Like most guys doing their first car I wanted all this radical stuff that I saw on other cars but his words served me well and I followed his advise. I was able to complete the car and make a decent little driver out of it. That really allowed me to know what I did and didn't want for the next car. Especially when I came to realize that some of the stuff I wanted to do wasn't realistic after all. If I had continued down the original path I never would have finished that first car and probably not gone on to build the dozens of cars I have built since.
Now some here will probably argue with this and say go as crazy as you want, but the truth is, for most people, getting that first car safely on the road is the greatest motivator to doing another and learning from your mistakes.
Now days motivation is much easier because I know what I want and the path to get there. But you know what? I still keep them relatively simple and make sure they are good drivers with practical engineering.

 

Start here !!!!!! It worked for me >>>>.

 

Lists, I have lists on top of lists. Here is a WAY simplified motivational list I have on my bulliten board.

*Blast body/install new subrails
*Build Frame
*Make it a roller
*Fit engine/******/rear, cut driveshaft
*Prime all
****emble/wire/gl***/exhaust
*fire

Like I said, the list is over simplified. Each of those tasks has 10 sub tasks. But I wanted to make the list that way to show myself how simple it really is!

 

Just pick a task for the day. When its done early, pick another task. Remember, it all has to get done eventually. I really like working on a few things at one time, just so i know clearance issues never arise. I.e. mounting my steering column and building headers at the same time to ensure there arent going to be any "oh ****s" when i get to final ***embly time. Of course, a rolling ch***is is a good place to start!

 

Thanks guys, all of this is what I needed to hear. Agree completely about no TV. Will definitely check out the DVD. I completed a restoration on a "45 Jeep, so I'm familiar with breaking the build down into small projects, but the ch***is was finished when I got the jeep. My biggest concern is getting the ch***is set-up properly, starting from zero with nothing to reference off of.

 

i make general list , then break down each thing as i go....adult add definently doesn't help on big projects.... some cars go together easily....others seem to drag on for years...(13+ , in my case....) a good round of mock up will do wonders for a project.... brandon

 

Hey Brandon, thanks. Your buddy hooked me up with a great deal on the parts I needed. Wonderful fellow.

 

Try to get something...anything done each day. Some days it may be just putting your tools away or sweeping up. You'll be pleasantly surprised how quickly things get done if you break the project down to smaller jobs.

 

one more thing. Don't be afraid to screw something up----- we all have but that's how you learn for the next try. Measure and re-measure and do it again before you even place one tack of weld and then measure it again.

 

Good thread,

Some good advise here. I'm getting ready to get started on my '50 Chevy AD 1/2 ton which will be my very first project of my own. What I have done is first come up with a concept of what I want it to look like. I have then broken down into little tasks like the others said and created a schedule. I'm also working on a website so everyone can follow the build along. I figure pressure from others will keep me going !.

Ed

 

mock the body, engine, transmission, wheels, tires, etc, as much as you have

up at ride height and get the tape measure out.

 

My wife forces me to go to my parents house and work on my car. It's tough because I have only a small garage which houses my complete and finished roller. Most days my time is limited so I usually try to work smarter. Example: Currently I am patching various holes in my floor pan, I may prep those spots for an hour or two just because I have those tools out and handy. Then I'll spend the rest of my time welding or making patches and save the grinding for another day. Its like a dirty, vicious cycle. It also helps at my parents because there is no distractions, just work, clean-up and leave. I do have small projects I work on at home on the days I can't be at my parents, polishing trim, etc... The point is to prioritize and focus. A little bit every day puts you that much closer to being finished.

 

I agree.

Adding to that, I've chosen to set an estimated time to have a completed rolling ch***is. It's a bit different for me since I'm going to use a 32 frame vs scratch building. So now, I'm only focusing on everything it takes for that matter. Once I've got that all mocked and set then I can move on to the body and all the customizations I've got in my head.

Have you looked into some of the people on the H.A.M.B that build and sell frames? Bob Bleed / Aceholes come to mind for your project.

 

Wow!! 13 plus! That's about where I'm at!

 

Do everything to the best of your ability. Take your time and try to think ahead. Take pride in your work, and remember if it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

 

Every day learn something new.
Every day do something to your car, even a part purchase.
Its good to feel overwhelmed, I'm still beyond confused about my '29 A Sedan plans, and I have printed reams of paper regarding Rolf's build (and lots others) in a file folder.
I work a few hours at Wild West Rod and Custom during the week and am still unsure about my suspension design and gas tank choices. It'll work out when it does. The more other cars I look at, the more my head hurts some days! But the motorvation is always UP!

 

Building an automobile from scratch can be a bit ovewhelming at times. Looks like you have some nice pieces to start with. Many good suggestions here however once you get your frame and make it a roller you can put the engine in, put the cab on and start to see a pile of parts turn into your vision.

This will certainly give you motivation. Get a frame, if you build it or buy it, get one this winter. Then get the big pieces together and you'll see major progress.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, stay with it.

 

Pressure ?? you want pressure?? Never mind the other website and keep posting on your project right hear. I'm sure you can get all the pressure you need

 

???
You mean she tells you to go work on the car? Nice to have support.
You mean she wants you outta her hair? You being bad?
You mean she drives you crazy and you HAVE to get out? Don't reply.

I used to do this stuff for a living. It's GREAT to do it for fun.
Now I'll build and rebuild a part until I'm happy with it.
I keep remembering that I want to say I built it when I'm driving it.
If I just want to drive something... I'll buy it. (Ok, within my "budget").

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.