I have been facing this dilemma in my life, and not just one thing, but many. My '46 Chevy Pickup is but one example of this dilemma, but first let me describe the dilemma, which seems to be a part of this midlife...err, I mean after midlife crisis I seem to be in. And it was brought to my attention in the Vintage Guitar thread, where someone posted a '59 Telecaster recently that had the original finish taken off. I have a '59 P-Bass, and although it has original finish on it, the body is from '63 and the neck has no finish and a replaced decal, and aftermarket original style tuners...it's mostly original, but it's a players bass, just like that '59 Tele that had the finish taken off. It's a players guitar. The dilemma is more trying to make vintage stuff work in the modern age. I want to be able to comfortably drive my '46, which requires changing the rear end gearing, or changing the transmission, or both as I'm doing. Or, change the engine so the RPMs are tolerable at highway speeds, etc...I want a driver's '46. This is similar to my bass...I love it and you can pry it from my cold dead hands...but it's not 100% kosher from a collectors standpoint, but it's a player's bass. I have the original tuners, but the one I have are not all crapped up, they tune and stay in tune. Similar to my '46, I want to drive it but not be all sparkly and shiny with fresh paint and all original replacement parts. From a collector's standpoint each part you replace with a new one, even if NOS, is not original and devalues the item. I don't care though, I want to enjoy it and value looses relevance, mostly. I know there are some on this forum that abide to the collector's mentality, and many of you might be like me. I just never know where I fit in, and seem to butt heads with others where they consider me to be "hot rodding" my classic truck. Maybe the H.A.M.B. is the best place for me, I feel like what I strive for is an "Antique Rod". I want good sounding music, but don't want to chop the interior up, I want navigation but not cut up the dash to install one, comfortable seat, etc...I want to change all these things or adapt them in a way that hides them as best as possible. How do you guys look at this situation? I imagine a good number of people face this same dilemma that I do. DISCLAIMER: please don't hate me for tossing this question out to you, just ignore it if you disagree, think it's dumb, or just want to hate it. I'm more than willing to discuss anything in a rational way, even if you do disagree with me, but have a hard time dealing with myopic minds. In short, which I'm not good at, if you can't contain your emotions, don't reply and this thread will die.
I'm a guitar player as well, and honestly I don't think updating your ride will devalue it like a guitar. To the people here, yes. But in the open market I think most people actually appreciate certain modern upgrades that make it more safe, more comfortable to drive, etc. Even a good deal of people here are on with certain such changes. But in the end it doesn't matter. The general mantra here is-your car. Build what you want. And I agree....
I had three vintage Chevy trucks with improved power, one with a GMC 302 and the others with 261’s . The engines were modified, 5 speed and OD three speeds made 70 mph not a problem…Two had disc brakes. Two were lowered a few inches, all had front sway bars..But the handling still left something to be desired when compared to modern trucks…So driving them required paying to the road and traffic..
You're making me feel better, this is kinda what is happening to my pickup. When I bought it I couldn't afford anything restored and in super nice shape, so I looked for a truck that was as original as I could find for a price I could afford. Not ideal, I knew you always end up spending more by going this route. Then I started to discover that the ERA truck I selected after looking at most of the available trucks from the 20s up to the late 50s where not suited for highway any better than the For Model B/BB was. I'm changing the rear axle to a '55 Series II with the '55 open driveshaft, a T5, and adapting that to the original '46 bell housing so that I can still have the pedals as-is. I could modify them also, but at the time I thought it would be nice to get original replacement parts to renovate the pedal system. Yes, I'm such a wordy guy, I didn't want to elaborate. I plan to use my phone, and previously had a 6v->12v converter, they're pretty cheap. I planned to run a cigarette lighter off it so I could use Maps to navigate. Since I got a CarPlay in a Tacoma I drive, and it's amazing, almost driving changing. It is connected to the stereo system, cause it is the stereo system, and it has a small microphone from a wire coming out by the gauges, and all this goes on while I can see the navigation. So, this is what I want to try and adopt: (no affiliation, but these have Linux, not some crap WindowsCE or IOT BS which some of the CarPlay is supported on. Caveat Emptor to iPhone owners. This also supports Android phones also, of course as it basically has Linux. Even though I have worked on Android, it is why I own an iPhone. I digress...plan is to mount it in glove box and possibly swing out on arm to face driver, or mount under the dash to secure it. The music can play over bluetooth, but with Maps, you really need power or your phone will die, and if you travel through non-cell regions your route is lost if you turn it off, but as long as you have power the navigations continues to work. This has a stereo, there are a few places I can mount the speakers, but small ones in the kick panels could work. (tracking info removed from URL, var select radio or accessories) https://www.ebay.com/itm/144253643282?var=443560198999 I know that will be the case, but I believe I will also end up swapping out the front axle at minimum and get something with solid brakes, even if it's new aftermarket. For right now I think I'll be fine with the power of the 235, it's not the original for the truck, it had a 216 in it. It now has a '54-'62 235 with the high compression head. I won't bore you on details in this post. I replied to you guys in the same post, so this will be a pretty long one, but just wanted to say, my new moniker, I'm an "Antique Rodder". (please, not hating on grammar/spelling, yes, I can be dyslexic)
Is this Nashman from Canada? Lol . Id not... Several others love vintage vehicles and guitars and have similar dilemmas. It's a good problem to have. Original or capable. Find a perfect balance for yourself. The solution is clear for us
So you want a vehicle with old styling but drives more like a modern one? Nothing wrong with that! That's a lot what mine is, original looks outside and in, later engine and driveline. I prefer the old looks over the current bellybutton cars, but I also like the power and dependability of a later engine. The best of both worlds!
It really sounds to me like you already have it all figured out what you want to do to your truck. I don't see your dilemma.
Welcome...I'd say you're in the right place. Hotrods come in all shapes and sizes, with varying degrees of modifications. What you have planned for your pickup is the kind of thing we all do around here, some mild, some mild. Spend some time searching and hanging out here, and you'll find lots of stuff you can identify with. The VCCA, Model A Ford Club, etc. were started by like-minded people who wanted to preserve the virginity of their chosen cars, and that's fine, but some of them (not all members, but enough, unfortunately) get pissy when someone wants to violate their vehicles by making modifications. We don't do that (modified vehicles is what this sight is about, after all), as long as you observe the intentions of this site.... modifications that would or could have been made prior to 1965. You'll see some things that represent a newer representation of hot-rodding than the 1965 era, but those things are more or less out of sight/out of mind, and not mentioned. The only thing you've gotta look out for when asking questions around here is.... we're good at suggesting ways to spend YOUR money, so pick and choose advice wisely. Lean back and enjoy this sight. There is a tremendous wealth of knowledge and skill that gets shared on this site, and if you can endure the occasional smart-assed comments from guys like me, you'll learn a lot and enjoy your pickup more.
Good stuff 28phonebooth but he has been on here for 3 years with almost 200 posts. I’m sure he has this place figured out. Only thing I could add is, don’t worry about where you fit in. Be happy and the rest will fall into place.
You want to drive. My bet is most VCCA cars are garage art. There's a place for that, but it is not for everyone. Modify your truck to your taste, tune it for drivability, enjoy it making memories.
HaHa! Thanks @wraymen ! I didn't check his profile. By the way he posted I thought he was new. Well, we all know what happens when we 'assume'. Carry on...
Yes, I've been here posting for a few years on/off, and have always had a lot of interest in all things Antique, since young. Wasn't trying to make you guys think I'm new here. Trying to figure out where I fit in has gone on this entire time. But it is only recently that I am understanding why some of those other clubs don't want me. Wasn't really looking for a club or anything to be in, I just want to find like minded people. I know the people here are more suited for me, and after my recent run in with the Inliners International, it just made me believe this was a better place for me. I would also like to meet people in my area that are interested in wrenching, even meet up and learn/share with each other in working on our cars and trucks. Many of the other so called "clubs" tend to be more of going on drives, to car shows, etc...and that's all good but I get bored at car shows after about 30 minutes if I'm not talking about wrenching with someone. I like old stuff, and my '46 is an example of that. I don't know for fact, but I believe my '46 was painted with a brush and Rustoleum, yet I love the look of it. I don't need to go overboard on power and drop a V8 in, but disc brakes on the front could be a nice addition. I was a bit ruffled when I first posted this thread, it was just after a big run in against some old guard folks in the Inliners, but I have also always admired the way Ryan moderates these forums. He doesn't split hairs over words as posted, and doesn't tell people they need to speak like they would in their Grandmother's Church, stuff like that. I have always tried to stand up for users rights on the Internet and many moderators feel they decide what is right/wrong and don't care about infringing out view online. Ryan has not done that, AFAIK, and he has never bothered me on any of my posts.This is after all like a mechanics shop and mechanics don't speak like someone's Grandmother in Sunday Church. I'm really not out to cause anyone any problems, just looking for a place I can fit in...
LOL...anyone totin' a Tele has gotta be cool, Maybe that would be a T totin' a T, and in my case totin' a P, or if you had B you could be totin' T and a P...the power of 8, doncha know? That's what's cool about wingin' it, there's lots of options!
I'm surprised you received a negative response from Inliner's but you did indicate it might be a local situation. The only qualification they list is "inline engines." It doesn't even have to be a 6 cylinder any longer. Inliner's International was originally a group dedicated to performance improvements of the Chevrolet 6 cylinder. I follow their facebook page (sorry fellas) and it's all about modified inline engines from mild hot rods to dragsters. I can't imagine Inliner's having a problem with that. If I had an enclosed driveline, I'd be looking to get rid of it too. Lou Manglass
I too was a very active member for decades. I wrote articles, gave presentations at conventions, etc. I even tried to stage a drag race at the Dayton convention. II wanted nothing to do with racing. Liability, blah, blah, blah... In the end I organized and sponsored a inliners class at nearby KilKare Dragway without II's help or input. Six cars showed up. Six cars - including two I brought. At the Detroit convention a few years earlier mine was the only inline race car to show up at the Milan Dragway. No class racing was held. The final straw among many many straws was they revised their charter to say they were not going to emphasize race cars or performance builds, but embrace all aspects of inliner vehicles. I decided I no longer had anything of value to offer, nor did the club have enough to offer me to justify my continued membership.
LET IT GO. We understand you are unhappy with that org., you've made THAT abundantly clear, but geezus, that's enough already
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