Hot Rods First drive after 3 year build

So, it took me three years. I was 60 when I bought the '33 Ford cab shell & joined the HAMB shortly thereafter. It's just been inspected by an "enhanced" vehicle inspection station here in PA & p***ed. Now the state has to bless the build & (hopefully) give me a "street rod" ***le & tags. I did take it up & down our road & I am cautiously optimistic. It shifted smoothly & the engine ran good. The brakes were a bit hard, so that will have to be examined. Also, I only took it up to about 30 MPH, so the real acid test is looming. It didn't overheat, although it was only 55 degrees my neck of the woods.

I did everything myself, except for making the frame. The frame is a Model A type, "z"ed 11" in the back & 4" in the front. The wheelbase is 104." The cab is a '33 Ford, the grill is a smoothed '34, the headlights are from my buddy's '47 Diamond T, the gas tank is from a '24 Federal Knight truck (bought from a HAMBer), the engine is a stock un-rebuilt '65 Chevy 283 (with an Edelbrock 500 cfm carb) & lake style headers (bought from a HAMber), the trans a rebuilt Saginaw 4-speed, the rear is a new 9" Ford (my big extravagance) & the radiator is a new '64 Mustang type. The suspension is off the rack Speedway stuff. The wheels are 16" spares from the junk yard & the tires are used 6.00-16" B.F. Goodrich Silvertowns. The seats are from a Dodge M-37 Army truck. The tailgate is from a 40's era Ford, with louvering by HAMBer "57 Homemadehardtop." The pinstriping is by HAMBer "HotrodJen." I traded her a balloon tire bike for the gas tank striping, which is to be continued (I hope she doesn't elope to Texas).

It took me a year to restore the cab, doors, grill shell, headlights & gas tank. I also had to fab a firewall & the cab's back, which were missing when I got the cab. I chopped the cab 3" & channeled it 5 1/2" over the frame. It took me a year to install the motor & trans & ***emble the ch***is & another year to make a floor, trans hump, wire it & do the brakes & misc. details. I'm an O.K. sheet metal guy, but I'm a lousy mechanic. So, a huge THANK YOU to the HAMB for all of your guidance & support in the many times I've been in a panic state for one reason or another. I've learned a lot & it has enriched my life greatly. Now, why the hell are my brakes feeling so hard? It never ends..ha-ha.

 

looks excellent, and im normally not a huge fan of faux patina. but it looks good, nice build.

 

Now that's neat! Is that a garbage can for the shroud?

 

Awesome! I dig those seats and the whole truck looks great. I hope you get help on the brakes

 

Fleetside....GREAT looking truck! ENJOY the fruits of your efforts.

Murph

 

Cool!

 

I like it a lot..and the reason the brakes feel so hard is because you didn't wanna stop HA HA

 

Great looking truck. Great to see us (I'm 62) still building cars. Hope to have my 35 on the road by next years birthday.

 

AWESOME!! Congrats of the highest order my friend, it looks great! I remember when you first started on it! Cheers!

 

Truck looks great!!! Have fun!

Bill

 

great job! looks awesome, i love that style!

 

I like it! Everything looks good!

 

looks great. I bet it fun to drive around

 

You have got to be feeling real good about the build! Congratz,Man!

 

It's funny you say that, because I'm not crazy about the concept either. When you get my age, however, you understand yourself a lot better than you do when you're a young buck. One thing I learned about myself is that every time I make something real nice & shiney, I mess it up. It's inevitable, really. Then I wring my hands & sweat bee-bees & lose sleep. Today, for example, I was touching up a spot on the gas tank I got a big blob of spay paint on the bedside. (I'm surprised I didn't shoot myself in the foot in the Army.) Guess what?...I left the overspray there. So, the paint job is in response to my realization of the Wabi-Sabi factor, nothing is finished, nothing is perfect & nothing lasts. Besides, the paint job was only about $30.

 

cool paint job congrats on the completion and impressive that you already are flying the alliance tag... man that thing looks like its been on the road for a while.

 

Nice work !!!!

 

That is a very nice looking truck. I have a 32 pu so I should know. You should be proud.--TV

 

Yeah, it's a garbage can top. Now you know my dirty little secret. The funny thing is that I'm still using the rest of the can for my s**** metal container.

 

Cool looking ride! I like the seats, but I don't think I could ride in them very long...

 

nice job

 

*****'n hot rod. Well done.

 

Nice job!! I love the shroud!
Is it drum brakes in the rear? If so did you put in a metering and proportioning valve?

Here is link that explains: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/brakes/brake-types/master-brake2.htm


Nice job, I love the truck!

 

nice color! what is your recipe for color and faux patina???? d'ont worry in canada lol!!!

 

Wow, Fleet.....that is wicked kewl!!! I love it. Big thumbs up. When you get tired of it, PM me. I'll buy it!!!

 

Great job and a fine looking ride!!! I'd be proud if I could just spend ten min's on my project. I don't think three years is to long of a time period to get to where you are. I'd like to know mire about the $30 paint job, so do tell!!!

 

congratulations ........it's a great feeling firing them up and to then drive around the block, well done.

I am also interested on how you go there without fenders for registration/licencing, please let me know

 

Nice ride, congrats. If I can build my car within a 3 year period, it'll be a miracle! I would also love to have more time to work on it. Hell, I'd love to have more time at home to LOOK at it...hahah congrats

 

Good job!

 

Great little rig. Lots of neat details there and a very business like hot rod look. I love it, though I do admit I would have to get rid of the blue plug wires. Very well done and congrats! Hope everything goes smooth getting it legal and you have tons of smiles ahead of you.!