Customs Never built a car....

Ok,, I really don't know enough information yet to offer advice....

"never built a car".....

1. have you worked on a car? I.E. tuneups, suspension, wheels, change oil, overhaul motor, overhaul transmission...

2. do you have tools? I.E. a whole toolbox with spares, or a walmart starter kit with a rachet and a few sockets

3. do you know how to weld? honestly, the project your looking to do requires welding

4. are you set on this car,, not interested in others,,, for example if you found a running 51 chevy two door sedan with very minor rust for 2500 would you be interested???

5. do you have a garage, is it an apartment garage, or your own house ect....

6. how long are you willing to wait to have a running driving car? if you want it all done and finished in 3 months for 4 grand WOW.. if your willing to work slowly and get pieces and stuff over a period of time......

Log back in and answer some of these questions and you will get a better answer...

without any of us knowing this,,, it is hard to give a good answer.

 

Metalshapes, the OP didn't ask about how to build one third of a car then part it out. He asked how to build a car for that price. The story of how you wasted time and money on an aborted build cause of budget doesn't seem inspirational from here. Sorry man.

When you guys figure out how to build a car purely on hopes & dreams let me know.
(this excludes Pat Pryor, who is actually building a******in car from hopes & dreams)

 

I did not waste any time or money.

If thats all you got from that, you are really missing the point.



If it wasn't for factors I had absolutely no control over, I would have been driving it.

As it happened, I didnt get to drive it.

But there is a little something of that Project in every single car I build.


If that is not inspirational, I dont know what is...



Edit.

Case and point...

When I moved here, I was back to square one.

No money, no tools, no space to work in.

that is when I bought a pile of Model A body parts that over the years became my Roadster.

I AM driving that one...




$4000 would have been a absolute fortune in both cases...

 

It would seem to me that good advise would contain a way to succeed under the given parameters.

Building a car from scratch will take a lot of dreaming, persistance, hard work, contacts, tools, dollars and more if the end result is a working car.

For some folks just the journey to get there is enough.

Having one's eyes wide open to the perils of beginning is necessary. If a true traditional hot Rod IS your dream, as Ryan pointed out, NOTHING should stop you.

Lots of ways to get there...

 

I really enjoy the process, like it was said above.......the journey!
For me it is the whole thing, I love the "Hunt" for parts, asking questions, learning.
I think $4000 can go a long way, that is what I have learned from my own experience.

I met a HAMBer this past weekend at KKOA that has a sweet ride, made from truck fenders and a T cowl, an old $100 Merc Y-Block, etc.... check out his profile and look at his threads and posts: Rob Lee. What a great Car. Again its the journey!


What the HAMB has given me is I don't need a $100,000 Street Rod with the best of everything to be happy, on-the-road, or Kool! I was always down on myself cuz I couldn't have a "Boyd" class of car/rod. I thought that was the only way to build a car.

I bought 5 model 'T's several years ago for under $4000, sold 4 of them and drive the Barn Find T now, it is a BLAST! and gets more attention at car shows then most super nice street rods.

"WOW.......that thing has wooden wheels?!"

Point is have fun.... There are alot of downer posts on this thread....PM some of the guys that have positive things to say and Get Going.......K.Lee said it .............. get started!

 

metalshapes,, I can see EXACTLY what you are saying. I too would not consider it "a waste"....

the learning experience of working on it, the fun, the drive, the persistance, even the loss of being forced to sell it are all things that you learn from.

I too have had projects over the years that have not been completed and sold,, never driven,, possibly not the best financial decision,, but NEVER A WASTE OF TIME....

 

Take note.

This type of piss-poor defeatist attitude from a "realist" is markedly essential to help fuel your drive to build a hotrod no matter what your skills or budget are.

When I dragged my '64 impala home a long long time ago, my step-brother looked me in the eye and said "You'll NEVER get that car on the road". Sure it's a beater, but I have been driving it on the road for twenty years.

So when someone tells you it can't be done- agree with them- then go do it anyway.

 

And did I tell you how much fun the kids and I had driving it this last weekend at KKOA? Thanks Jay, it made memories for all of us!!




Oh, and dont forget how much fun we had in it last year too....







Oh and at the HAMB Drags last year tooo..........That trip to Hardees was a BLAST!! about 8 of us in the hoooptie getting 25 Milk Shakes!!

The Memories............The Journey!!!

I love that CAR!!!

 

Kevin Lee, thanks for the most inspirational, educational, and passionate post I have read on here for some time.

Being new to this as well, I would say take that money and learn how to weld if you want to build it yourself. I bought my project, now I wish I had learned to weld first. Many reasons, but if I could weld, that would have changed what kind of project I started with. So I ended up spending more to get a complete truck, which needs the chassis to be completely redone anyway.

So now that Kevin said so, I no longer have a budget to get my truck done, but the desire, drive and confidence that it will get done. Maybe not this year, but I am working on it.

"We're just not here long enough to mess around wondering."

PS. Ryan, I like your attitude, never met a skater that didn't think the same way.

 

You may see it as a defeatist attitude. I call it the attitude of the hardest working guy I know. A guy who's always had way nicer***** than his peers because of pure hard work in the garage backed by second and third jobs to provide the parts & tools.

My attitude is reality. Not defeatist. My garage and drive are full of completed projects.

The one thing we all agree on.......follow your dream wherever it leads and if you bust**** long enough it'll all work out

good luck

 

word.

 

No, that is not what I meant.


But if you do fall on your face, or the goalposts get moved on you, or whatever else can go wrong...

You own that too.

 

Innovation is the answer to a $4000 car? Innovation only goes so far, think of me as a buyer if you will, the best cars are a blend of both styles IMO.

Should our paths ever cross on buying sprees at the pick-a-part, I'll buy the first round of tacos off the roach coach. Buying is my thing after all

Good luck to the OP, and ask yourself who's been on the low end of this hobby longer, ole 3 job workin, trailer living Shifty or Ryan.

Insulting to me, but entirely accurate.

 

here's my take. First think about the type of car you want to build and then do some research to see if it's attainable with your resources. If not reevaluate your desires.

Once you decide you can build what ever it is you want, DIVE IN! Through the budget out the window. It is going to take a lot longer than you figure and that will give you plenty of time to save more money, sell other stuff, trade for parts, whatever.

Keep in mind though that you still have a mental budget. Don't buy the latest whizzbang geegaw because you got distracted Homer Simpson style. Stay true to a plan.

Be realistic. If a two year (or more) build isn't gonna cut it and you're going to lose interest, buy something that you can drive now and enjoy it while you fix it up. Be honest with yourself. I have bought a couple of unfinished projects over the year because the guy either lost interest (He wanted to drive NOW) or ran out of talent and got frustrated.

 

Like many guys have said, that budget is super low and it really depends on how much you can haggle for parts and your skill level. You'll have to fabricate everything from scratch.

Don't forget not all that $$ will actually to towards building the car. Around here, but the time you get plates, registration, annual sticker, a safety certificate, an appraisal for the insurance and insurance you'll be out $600. Now yo have $3400. I paid $200 for 4 nice gently used 15" bias plys for my coupe. Add another $60 bucks to get them balanced/mounted and a few bits and you've got almost $300 in used tires****uming you already have the rims.

If it were me, I would look for a project, plan out what needs to be done and start gathering the pieces. I would rather take 3-4 years to build something I wanted that's reliable and can be proud of than some cobbled together mess. It will take time. Buying parts on the cheap means you have to look hard and be at the right place at the right time.

 

Nash Hot Rod has less than $4,000 invested, with nearly $1,ooo of that on the ground in Tires. I don't count my labor. It might never be finished, because it's so much fun to drive, "finishing" it ain't a priority.

"Never built a car". Well, like everybody else, we all started somewhere, so when you're done you will have................

 

Buy something that runs and drives, If you dont have the talent to build a hotrod it probably would not be a good Idea for your first project, You WILL get overwhelmed quickly I know from experience. Get something that you can work on a little at a time but still drive and enjoy, that way you have more drive to finish it. Its hard to work on something all the time and never have a chance to enjoy it it gets old real quick and the next thing you know you will be selling your "project" and will have wasted time and money both. Get a runner and you are way ahead of most guys.It probably wont be your "dream car" but thats ok it will be your practice. Then make improvements as your time and money allow while the whole time you are learning. Go to car shows ask questions, read old magazines,take stuff apart and see how it works but keep making improvements and learning and enjoying your ride. Eventually you will have a nice car you can keep it or sell to finance your next (and maybe a little more advanced project). But the knowledge you have obtained will last a lifetime. Most of the guys on here have worked thier way up to where they are now and probably have had alot of cars and projects under thier belt before they try to build one from the ground up.

 

I think it can be done.
Will it be easy - no way!
Will it be timely - not a chance!
Is it EASY to get diverted and SPEND way more than you planned - absolutely!

So keeping that in mind - the advice to learn to weld is essential - lest you befriend a welder! A LOT can be accomplished with SCRAP metal -***** my first Hot Rod had a BUNCH of freebie metal donated from anyone who'd give it to me. I was broke and blew my "wad" on the purchase price 3K for a stalled project. Money I had to borrow 'cause I didn't have it which meant BUYING parts afterwards was NOT GONNA happen as I had to PAY for what I just bought. Still - scrounging the swapmeets and boneyards provided me the parts necessary to get it on the road in a reasonable amount of time.

This can be done on the cheap - but you're DEFINITELY gonna "pay" for it with sweat equity!! Nothing wrong with that - how bad you want it????

 

Thanks for all the good advice, guys! Now I just gotta sit down long enough to read 'em all! Haha!

Cheers


-Crawford

 

I know $4000 aint goinna finish it, but I am pretty sure I can get a decent start, and I got plenty of time. No one said it was gonna come together over night, be or easy, or pretty.....

 

I'm not sure exactly what you're tryin to build, what components, how nice, etc. and I don't want to discourage you, but 4k will not get a "decent" start I don't believe. You can build an A as nice or as rough as you want but $4000 is more than likely out of the picture. Good luck and I'm not tryin to discourage you, just trying to give you a realistic picture of things.

 

Taylor, if you are really serious, I have a 36 ford front axle and spindles with your name on it... free of charge. PM your address.

 

Phooey! Checked it out and your full of*****...

 

I think you will do just fine with a starting budget of $4000.00. But you will need to develop some close friends in the car culture in your area. Start going to shows and talking to some of the people that have cars of your design. Let them know what you are up to. And if they are true car guys or girls, they will most likely support your endeavor, and steer you in some good directions. But keep in mind that this friendship will go in both ways. So if they have a need of an extra pair of hands on there project be there for them. You will be suprised how close the people in this little hobby of ours is. And the friendships you will make will last a life time, long after you have built many cars. So yeah tread lightly but GO FOR IT...John

 

I agree with Ryan and Grimlock...Kevin...whatever.

so You have 4 large. good starting point, but don't spend it on extravagance.
You have alot to learn, so perhaps that blown Hemi on Racingjunk.com for the mere 1000 dollars that needs "fresened up" may not be the best idea for You.

study. study them all. go to car shows. read here. buy*****py magazines You would never buy- even the*****tiest car I have ever seen had "that one thing" that was at least interesting to look at.

the super low super channeled thing is a FAD. Ride in peoples cars. don't be afraid to ask. ( I cannot think of even one of my buddies that would refuse You a ride around the block. They will enjoy trying to scare the piss out of You, or point out what they would have done differently, or are changing.)

GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR PURCHASES.
meaning that most of what You see within the pages of Speedway is junk, and there is better quality stuff avalible for the same money. sleep at least one night on big purchases.

DO NOT SETTLE FOR EXCUSES. "well, it's got a dana 20 in it right now because I couldn't find the rear end I was looking for/it was all I could afford"- guess what? those type of substitutions end up costing You 3 times the money and 3 times the time to rectify.

IF YOU DO NOT KNOW, ASK, READ,LEARN. NEVER****UME.
good example-hell, GREAT example. upside down batwings. I see upside down batwings on front axles all the damn time. 4 minutes on the hamb, or with the directions that inevitbly get pitched with the packing peanuts, and presto! not a problem. but these guys****UMED they had it right. then we get the post on the hamb of "my front end bounces like a basketball over 30 miles per hour" and everyone calls You a********. avoid this scenario. unless You like crying in the shower.

You cannot learn to weld without instruction. period. be it aluminum foil or high Iron, it can be welded. but not by anyone that didn't learn from someone else. night courses are Your friend.

get in touch with MR.FORD. here on the hamb. he's a super cool guythat has stories of woe and victory. listening to him tell guys how he did and didn't get it right the first time out is awesome. his ride is one part inspiration, one part vengance. I will let him tell how it came to be, and the hell he went through to make it happen.

if someone says it cannot be done, well, they may be right. they could also be completely wrong. Pat Pryor's threads here point that out quite well.

it Your car. build Your goddamn car. not a clone, tribute, or a sorta looks like. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and all...but it lacks imagination.

I could do this stuff for hours. I am beginning to feel a bit like Yoda.

4 large...Your budget is screwed, but the idea of building Your own can certianly isn't.

 

$4000 is the budegt as of today, I will be working the whole school year, so that budget will get a little looser as time goes one. AND I DONT PLAN ON BUILDING THIS IN ONE NIGHT. I know its gonna take a lot of time, pain, etc....

 

My advice. If you have no experience working on any car than building and fabbing up a hot rod out of an old A is pretty unrealistic. Buy an up and running complete old truck, late forties or early fifties pick up truck. You will get plenty of experience fixing and improving the truck and these are very similar to the tech used on older cars. The truck will be old enough to be "cool" and HAMB friendly, but still affordable. Also if it turns out well you can sell it and make a little profit. Good Luck.