Need to hear it here from rodders

Everytime that I come to the HAMB, I come excited with hope and leave depressed. I have always wanted a chopped '32 Ford coupe, still do, even though I now lean toward a traditional flathead '29 A roadster. I want to drive the wheels off one, too, and do some good while doing it, like Dave Schaub's 49in9 (http://www.49in9.com/), and also do it while I'm relatively young.

Here's the situation. My wife and I have got much more important priorities, ages 5 and 2, who are our world. I realize where I am now and that I need to soak in every day of their childhood. I know that even as I do this, they will be grown, and I'll be wondering where the time went. I know that my priorities with the boys are right.

The boys love cars and racing. I try to get them to as many car shows as I can. I want them to be involved in rodding. I want them to be a part of the good that can be done through rodding. I want them to grow up seeing me working with old cars. The universal problem that I haven't figured out how to overcome is cost.

It was when I was little, and it still is - old Ford rods are expensive any way that I can figure it. In my mind, I can't figure out how to build a safe, dependable Deuce coupe or 29 A for less than $15 (which we don't have), and honestly, I don't think that I can do it for less than $20. That is an incredible amount of money for me at my stage in life, given that we just moved and are trying to buy a house (where any "extra" money should be saved toward the down payment).

I tell myself that an old Ford rod is way out of reach now, but I won't listen to myself, so I spend way too much time in thought and on the internet looking, planning, everytime starting with hope and ending with the same conclusion - I just can't make it work.

Do any of you have any advice?

 

Unfortunately you have come upon a realization of life, there are priorities, and in reality your family should be your priority.

You may have to wait as painful as that may seem as there will come a time when you can afford to follow your dream if you work hard, and make the right decisions.

You have to pay to play is how it goes.

Sure there will be guys who will tell you that you can do it on the cheap, and maybe you can but in most cases if you start with cheap junk and spend almost no money on it that is what you will have in the end. Junk.

Good luck and don't let the dream die. Buy one piece at a time even if it takes 20 + years.

 

Keep looking!

My dads 32 pickup project should be on the road for less than $6k.

If you want it NOW or you are in a hurry it costs more, If you want new shiney parts it costs more and If you need someone else to build it, it costs more.

This past weekend, I drove by 29-30 model A coupe, stock and complete - tires to tailights for sale with a price of $3500.

 

www.daveramsey.com

Get rid of all your excess crap, do you need 140 TV channels? Eat out every day? Two car payments? You can build a nice hotrod for far less than 20K, you just gotta be thrifty.

 

take it one step at a time..

and get a plan of what you want, and start slowly,,it could take alot of years, but it will also teach the boys the meaning of commitment.

20$ here10$ there..etc..and as they get older get them more involved in funding the project..lawn mowing money..or other small ways to have fund raisers.

make it a part of the journey,... to the dream

 

Be patient. I'm a 2nd generation Rodder, my parents are both teachers in Iowa.. So money wasn't always plentifull. building a car doesn't have to be a I need all the shinny stuff now or I want the latest trend in Rodding. My father has had his 33 Dodge for 36 years... and He's still not done with it. Some of my fondest moments were riding with him and breaking down due to the fact he had to make a part work instead of buying one to fix it. If you want a cool Ford hot rod just keep your eyes out don't get in a hurry and something will surely come your way.

 

A '32? Ain't gonna happen. An "A"? Sure, why not? Just lose the 1-800-Dial-a-rod mentality. Look around your area, surely somewhere near you there's a rusty pile of crap sitting... use the Hamb like the tool it is and learn how to do things yourself. Look for people near you that are like minded and learn from them.

A car with a soul isn't built within a budget, it's built within your heart.

 

bailingwire ...

Sounds like you already know the answer ... building a Deuce coupe or an AV8 roadster is darn near impossible to do for under $20K ... let alone for under $15K.

Why not build a more affordable Hot Rod or Custom? ... perhaps something that will seat your whole family ... fixing up & "driving the wheels off" that car can teach just as many "life lessons" to your boys and can create just as many great memories for them then if you were to build a chopped '32 coupe or a flathead-powered '29 roadster.

 

Be the very best father and husband that you can. Nothing else matters.
Go to car shows, get on the HAMB everyday, and associate with your "car" buddies.
This is an expensive hobby. Not just the car, but modifications and the tools, too.
Not doing "it" right will lead to disappointment. You will always sleep well being a great family man.

Mark Twain said...
"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest."

 

Pick a cheaper car. You can keep trading up. You won't find a better group of people to let your kids be around than car people. Teaching them not to touch the pretty cars and to stay off of folk's running boards is character building. Having them help with the old car is a way to impart a good work ethic. Your boys can even learn the proper time to cuss. In any case, get into the car hobby at the level you can afford. The '32 can come later. Good luck.

Phil

 

Maybe get something you can take them for rides to the car show in. A shoebox could be cool. There are lots of cars that you could share with them.

 

I week from this Friday, I'm going to my grandson's high school graduation. I paid the hospital bills when his father was born by selling a V-8 60 tin side engine and a chopped '33 coupe and boxed frame. Over the last 45 years, I've had a bunch of great cars and I've never looked back at what I could of done with the '33. My boys and grandsons are far more fun than I deserve some days

 

theres nothing wrong with being hot rod trash

 

What you need, is a Station Wagon.

Something reasonable, like this:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=322395

Then you're covered , iffin' you decide to have more children......

 

Dont give up the dream ,hope,,!
Naturally as a good patriarch you have responsibilities. But like the good mentors that previously posted ,your family should be first ,,,more so than the wants .
Families and your soul ,dont just walk around easy for the taking ,like todays societies and media might make you believe!
Who says you guys cant work towards a dream together,, building a stronger family unit in the process.
But listen to these guys of experience ,possessions can make you forget for awhile ,but whatever is behind them always comes back no matter what your addiction !
It is definately hard to not desire what some of the fellow rodders possess ,but alot may desire what you have whether they admit it or not !
But mainly if you quick slam a car out with junk you"ll have an expensive pile of deathtrap in the end as well . Take your time and do it right the first time !
No one can take that from you all !

 

Dead on, Especially the car thing, brand new cars are the single biggest wast of money that most everyone is "OK" with.

It took me a while to get smart, but I have already bought my last new car or truck.

I don't know why it is ok to spend 30K on a car that is worth 20K the instant it leaves the lot. I have done it, but fact is that is some DUMB shit.

 

all of us live in a world of dreams,could have bought a 32 in my yoiunger days thought they were too high , thought wrong , i could sacrifice one of my nice rods and but a crappy 32 if there is such a thing as a crappy 32 have two 32 one 4 door and a pu this whole things is about our dreams them in front and them that have passed you will get your dream if you try i still dream of a 32 5 window

 

Okay. Buy a house. The hobby of having a hot rod is a long time in the future.

Make sure when you get that house it has a nice garage for that (future) hot rod project.

 

im with the guys saying buy something the whole family can have fun in. include everyone and probably get more support from the ol' lady when you want buy some shiny stuff for it. 2 boys would only fit in a coupe for so long before it comes down to taking turns. i can remember dad hauling the whole family down to the Tastee Frezze for banana splits in the old ford

 

I'm with Mazooma and Chili Phil. Good advise.

 

Craigslist has a bunch of old cars that you could pile the whole family in to go to local shows cheap.......teach the boys about cars and keeps the wife happy with the fact that you can give her a break while you take the kids for a few hours to the shows...forget about a '32...there are many cool "hot rods" cars for under 6gs out there! Get out there! $0.02....

 

You just need a cheaper rod to start with and then trade up.
That's what I have done my whole life. Bought one, fixed it up, sold it, bought one, fixed it up, sold it, etc.

You can still expose your kids to cars until you have a rod. Hit the local cruise in's and shows, point out what you like and they'll like it too.
We have a 4 and a 2 year old and I have been working on a '40 Ford as our family hauler. It's good to be a family man and involve them in what I am into but 4 people won't fit in a roadster. I have to wait on my roadster for a while. Get a family friendly car first.
That being said, buy the house first and then get the hot rod. Buying a home is one of the best moves you'll make. You gotta pay to live somewhere.

 

Mazooma hits the nail on the head, he knocks the ball out of the park. No other advice is of any value, save for www.daveramsey.com
That said, the dream never has to die as long as you have it, and share it with the kids. Circumstances will change, your time will come. If it comes while you can do it together with the boys, you'll be a rich man indeed.

 

I agree! I think this would make a cool custom! Something you can take the whole family in. You don't need a 32 or A Ford to enjoy the hot rod/custom world. Start out with a car like this and enjoy. I could not afford a classic hot rod, so about 3 yrs ago I got my Acadian wagon at a good price. I am very happy with it, and now have no desire for any other old car.

 

dont listen to these guys ,bailing wire ....it can be done .... but only if you have skills ....if you cant weld , or use a torch ,your screwed , you had might aswell look for something done , you wont be getting a real 32 however unless you get really lucky ....

should be able to build an A for under 10k pretty easy....i have put together some cool hot rods in the range of 3,000-8,000,...the secret is to be adaptable ,if you set out to build a flat motor ,quickchange ,roadster your already defeated , but you buy a brookvile roadster body in pieces , american stamping rails ,dropped axle, e-bay alum rad, and go to the junkyard for the rest , like i said your going to have to have skills though..

 

I can understand what you are saying and how you feel. What I did in order to get my dream car was start small and work my way up. Get a cool cheap traditional project to work on and learn the craft. Then when it is complete, sell for a profit(important in this plan) then go onto the next doing the same thing. In a few years you will have made enough profit to get that rod. And have learned the knowledge and skill to do everything yourself, to save money and have that pride of building you're own rod. Good luck man!

 

What ever you decide, make sure you provide for the family 1st. I know lots of guys with expensive hot rods & couldn't go 1 month without a paycheck. Some not even 1 week! Their car was their priority.
For me- I had a house before I bought a car. Renting w/ a hot rod wasn't an option.
32's are expensive. Set your sights lower to start & work your way up.

 

Keep your priorities in line, and get first things first, house, etc. Then, do what you can to adjust discretionary expenses to start a hotrod fund. It will probably grow slowly, but if you make some steady slow progress, you'll get there. And if you are patient in looking for the right project, there is no reason that you would have to spend 15k - 20k to have a cool, safe hotrod.

There is a lot more appreciation for things that we wait on and work toward than those that we get instantly. Great way to teach your boys those values as they grow and help out, and see how it is to work and wait for the good stuff.

 

Don't let the dream die....buy it one piece at a time(parts don't eat or drink),learn to do as much of the build yourself, but always get the 'good guys ' to help if you think your not up to scratch.There are still good deals out there,just got to find them,that can be part of the fun.Wish you all the best.

 

Be patient , the speed us graybeards are passing away your going to have a parking lot full of cheap hotrods to choose from.