Hot Rods Does it seem like the ring is never within reach?

Maybe 10 years ago I bought a running 327 w all the goodies carb to pan. Vette valve covers, high rise Winters intake, double humps & the "Rock crusher" for 800$ off a neighbor.
Thats what he paid in the 80's from an ad in the sunday classifieds. He never got around to finishing the project & just wanted his money back...
Then he starts laying all these NOS parts
Hurst shifter, Mallory dizzy, Crower cam, GM valve springs & valves. Erson lifters, Chromed Hurst motor mount, Stewart Warner guages, head gaskets, VC gaskets, high volume oil pump, Water injection setup Ansen crossmember, Even old magazines & paint supplies as well. "You've gotta take all this stuff too"..... Hell yes I will !!
I posted a pic here way back then, wish I could find it.
Im still using parts from that haul. I sold the Muncie & Hurst Shifter & made more than my money back.

 

The Rodeck under the "bonnet" of my roadster makes me smile!!!

 

I remember my dad contemplating buying a new Chevy Pickup in 1996... "I can't believe anyone would pay $20k for a new truck!".. Haha.. If he only knew.

But there has been a significant jump in the last 3 years. I got a quote for a 30x40 building and it was $30k bid in 2020, I'd bet it's close to twice that now.

 

yep.

 

I bought my 2002 F150 crew cab new for 19k. I still have it as well. It looks like it's seen better days though.

 

In 1969, a new Chevy 1/2 ton, 6 cylinder, three speed on the column, no radio sale price was $1969.00 at Felix Chevrolet in LA.

 

I remember when I was 16 years old and neighbor had a '32 3-window rolling chassis with a salvage 283 sbc. Chopped, channeled, body work about 85%. He wanted to sell it for the princely sum of $600. Could not afford it then and still can't afford one at today's prices. So, not much has changed. I did manage to get my 2nd choice done, '29 on '32 frame highboy.

 

Hey Alan.....

Was that a straight 6 or the 305 V-6???

My Dad was a mechanic at a GMC dealership back then & he bought a '68 3/4 ton with the 305 V-6, 4 speed & a 4.10 gear....That thing could pull a house down, but struggled to run much past 60MPH! LOL It was supposed to be my 1st vehicle, until some brain dead broad crashed a red light at 55+ & hit us in the right front.

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

I can add a 1992 F150, 6L 5spd, short bed. Options: 3.55 gear [forgot posi], sliding rear window, tow package [didn't amount to much]. $12,076. Still have it too. Not pristine by any means. Still works for around town, recycle, dog park/woods.

 

Chevy. Straight six, stepside.

 

I think dad was pricing a loaded out big block 3/4 ton if I remember correctly.

 

Adult beverages, count me in

 

The bad thing about prices going up is that they never go down

 

I dunno about where you guys are, but around my neighborhood the salvage yards that sell parts for our style of cars are long gone. Three of them that I used to frequent, gone within the last dozen years or so. Swap meets can still generate stuff but even that's hit-or-miss. Solution? Mail order?
New parts ... higher prices. A buddy of mine just upgraded his '57 Chevy with a brand-new 5-speed setup, direct from a catalog. He looked for options but in the end, spent the money to get what he wanted.
You've heard it before - it's not 1980 anymore, fellas!

 

Just thumbed through the newest Summit catalog...DAM

I feel fortunate to have spent the last 50 years going to swap meets, adding to my inventory. Everything I bought over the years was at a good price. I have enough to keep me busy for awhile and if need be, I can sell off some stuff to add to the working capital.

 

This comment made me do a double-take, as I have the Frigidaire Flair (made burgers on it this afternoon) and an aqua toilet (date coded 1959 even) but I don't think I could shell out $2500 for a new engine block. I've put quite a few cars together but I've only ever spent the money to do a rebuild once, everything else was already used when I got it.

 

In answer to post #140....


But which looks better ???


This one!

 

Er, it's not the only thing looking worse for wear. Have you looked in the mirror lately?

 

If we're going to talk about trucks, I bought my 71 Ford f250 in January 1971 for $5000 and I still have it and it still runs and drives.

 

I am with you on that! 5 years ago I was quoted 60K for a 40x80 with concrete. and I said "No way Too much money" I paid 120K last year for the same building.

 

Yep, I was quoted 106K.

 

My wife sent me to Barrett/Jackson Scottsdale in 2012, we attended the auction on the Thursday. There were all sorts of 60’s vettes for 30,000 and teal and peach striped hotrods and customs as low as 18 thousand. That was well down from previous years and cheaper than now, so things do go down in my experience.

 

Couple listed
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/386407130464512/?mibextid=YgwqL6

 

ALWAYS just out of reach.
And never getting any closer.

 

1948 The Pike

Hello,

Interesting question…

My brother and I were always at the Pike when we were little. It was an easy mile or so drive or bus ride from our Westside of Long Beach house. Our dad liked going there because it reminded him of his days visiting the place in his early days. But, he always liked the hot dogs and chili at the snack bars at the main walkway.

One of the stops we always went to was the merry go round. I had to ride with my mom holding me to the up/down horse. My brother was with our dad, but he got to lean way out to grab the rings they had in the dispenser on each circular rotation. Even with my dad holding me, I could not reach the ring dispenser.

So, after many tries, getting older and having a larger wingspan as a little kid, I was able to finally reach the ring dispenser. Why? If anyone got a gold ring, it was good for a free ride. Silver rings were given back to the operator when we got off of the ride.

So, yes, from that early on situation, the “Does it seem like the ring is never within reach?” was always in play. Life is like that. Growing up and learning to take the bumps with the smiles was all part of the overall plan.

As a little kid, no. We always got the silver “ring” at the Pike’s merry -go -round. Ha! But, as a teen, yes. It was beyond our reach. So, as more things became evident that we were not going to ever get a chance to get for our hot rod builds and cruisers, we adapted our sights and made do with what we had or were able to obtain for the moment.

Jnaki


Sure, the 348 Chevy motor in the original sighting of the old 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery would have been nice. But, I did not want to borrow money from my brother at this state of affairs or go partners with my mom on this car. The old hot rods were still a little “ripe” in the destructive stage at our house in 1960. So, I adapted and still was able to get the chosen item, a Flathead powered 40 Ford Sedan Delivery for my new adventures down the line.

But, as the years progressed, there were other things that came up on the future purchases. At the time, they were out of reach, but a possibility. I had an old surfboard I had been riding for a year and a half. It was ok, but with the learning process getting less as the ability grew, I needed a new one that would allow me to advance to the next level of activity. So, I waited my time and started to save any money that came my way.

By the time other things came and went, the future purchase was still there and now, becoming a necessity. So, finally, some saved money, trading in my old surfboard and one we made our selves, I was able to purchase the top of the line Hobie Surfboard Model created just for the #1 guy in the surfing world, Phil Edwards, a So Cal local. We made a deal and within weeks, I was the owner of model #4 and the surfing moves and stylish design of the board made things easier. It was a little bit more radical at the time. The surfing progress moved faster and the performance was much improved.

Note:

In looking at our teenage and 20 something hot rods, yes there were a lot of things we wanted. New American Racing Equipment 5 spoke mags that just came out for total street usage was the number 1 item that was deemed necessary for the black 58 Impala…But, as usual, monetary issues were the number one item that held most of us back. That caused time for reflection and ways to adapt to what was actually necessary.

There were ways to earn more and to save. So, with a few choice decisions, I made changes to the outlook and was able to move to the next level of hot rod, custom car mode. 5 pristine Buick Skylark Wire Wheels and modifications to get them mounted/balanced for the now, fast cruising and whatever came our way.
Thank You…@themoose

The ring comes your way if you adjust your goals and make things reachable… We all can’t build or own the ALA KART, but our own ideas into our own hot rods give off the satisfaction at the time. If not, then it is time for a re-adjustment of goals and wants. YRMV

 

I think what people fail to understand is that 2024 will be the good old days someday. every measurable metric will be worse than it is today in another 10 years. possibly far worse than we could even imagine.

 

In this day of age you really need to shop around. friend in kentucky called me complaining about amazon $170 price for a caterpillar module. i did a little research and cross referenced the number for him and sent him to his local napa to buy it for $62. napa guy was happy i gave my buddy the napa part number and wanted to know how i cross referenced it because he cannot do it on their system.

anyways the buddy called again a few days later and i tried to cross reference that but no avail but i ran into the same part at rockauto as the first part i looked up for him. I didn't have the heart to tell him it is only $38 there. same part depending where you buy it $38-$170.

you need to shop around and hit those live auctions out in farm country and buy up those goodies before us scrappers/hoarders/resellers buy them.

as for toyboxes, i built my first one in 94. builder knew my dad and uncle and other family members and talked me into building it bigger than i planned at 40x104. he was back 8 years later putting up another one that was 40x88. not long ago i heard prices of what concrete was going for and i ran the numbers and what they are paying for concrete slabs now, i built the whole 40x104 shed for that price. no way i could afford to build those buildings now with brand new material and pay for labor too.

like i said, need to shop around and do as much as you can yourself and come up with alternatives. Heck i brought a whole pallet full of car parts that i really didn't need but wanted just the truck tool box off of it but it was cheaper than buying just the toolbox directly. pallet after shipping which was the biggest part was $258 but the toolbox alone was $700 so i brought the package deal and hopefully i can get rid of the other car/truck parts i don't need and have my box for free. same thing with the pallet with my rebuilt steering box on it that i wanted, hopefully i can recoup my money getting rid of the parts i don't really need or maybe i will buy vehicles that need work that those parts will fit on and reflip the repaired auto?

There is always a way around it even if you don't have the funds. might not be exactly what you wanted but there is always a way to keep floating.

 

For me, money is always the issue as well. I have a notorious habit of getting a build about where mine is at now and selling it for spare change just to clear my credit card bill on it and then starting over. My friends love it, ( lots of cheap rollers out there), but I'm sitting on my hands on this one as I work it through.
I'm about 4K away from the road but it seems like 4 million at the moment.

I know how you feel!