I'm just like you. I browse the HAMB everyday and everday I can find inspiration that gets me to the garage. Everyday I can find a something to tinker on. Something to take off and clean or weld or beat a dent out of. Everyday I can also find something that easily reminds me of how bad I **** at cleaning, welding, and dent straightening. It's taken a bit. I'm on my second engine and transmission in two years. I think this one will last a while. The first set was in the car when I got it. Drove it until it died. I used the HAMB to find everything I needed for the second engine. Keeping it simple still. Everyone has a belly ****on and so do I. I've done a lot of body work. Never knew how before. I've never been inclined to metal shape but now I do. Without hesitation. I can deform a panel or fender faster than an accident. Making it look right is taking some doing. I'll get there. I know how to weld. Well enough that that skill has been used more than once at work when a boss found out I could do it. Lots of oilfield equipment still running with my beads holding it to a skid. Lots of good it did me when I rebuilt my dash. Twice. Taught me a good bit about welding 18 gauge. Lots to learn. I've had no outside help from anyone other than my wife and one good motivated friend. I've got less than $6000 in this build so far. I get pissed just like everyone else does. Over the years I've learned, with a lot of help from my wife, that breaking **** when I get angry goes against the grain of what I'm trying to accomplish. I come inside to cool down and when i do I usually sit down in front of the computer and look at what I started with. I browse through every stage of effort and look at every step. Some were good and some were bad. More often than not it was a learning experience gone bad that needed to be repeated. Such as it is, "it" is getting there. I have fallen in love with this hobby. I do this everyday now and it doesn't look like it will stop anytime soon. Today my wife took the kids to the park. I met them a little later and snapped some new photos. I think I'm on to something. Damn I need a rear bumper. Oh well. No idea why I wrote something so lengthy just to show another car that's been around since the Hindenburg exploded. Maybe I'm spreading the gospel a little. Thanks for the Jalopy Journal and to all you guys who keep me inspired.
Hey Blacksix, that car has "the stance" and is one of the better looking late thirties mopar coupes, I have seen in awhile.Good work, it looks like it was built from the heart and soul. I only see one thing wrong with your pictures, you should have included, the family in some of the shots.It only took me 2/3s of my life to figure out family and health are some of the most important things in life.And they will make the car look that much better. Here is a lousy picture of a 37 plymouth coupe, I built in the late 70s, please forgive the fake wire basket wheels,ect, but hey, it was a great car and I enjoyed it very much. Seeing yours brought back some good memories, keep up the good work.
hell yeah guy, that cars REALY coming around it looks piles better then when you started. realy like it with the fenders on it now. should look sharp with a thin reare bumper and some running boards. very nice keep on keepin on tim
Great post. Great car. I think you're saying what I've been thinking for a long time...this Hokey little board has taught and inspired me to do things I only dreamed of before. Bryan
Thanks guys. An original '37 Dodge bumper should be in the garage in the next few weeks I hope. I traded the original grill shell from this car for it so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I know Flat Top has the tail light pedestals for this model or at least I hope he still has them. Running boards? Looks like I'll have to make those. That should be pretty damn interesting.
that is a great looking car. I know what you mean about hobby and a sickness. i roam this site all day long and cant wait to get home to work on my car, or one of my buddies projects. this site is great, all of the pics and tech articles make me want to push the limits of my original plans for the car and try things i would never have envisioned attempting before. I started a work do***ent to save all of the tech articles that I think I may need in the near future too for gosh sakes. Again your ride is great and it is cool doing things on your own and learning from you own mistakes. My current car is my first doing bodywork to also. It didnt turn out to bad though. keep up the good work. Dan-O
Leave the running bords off! This sickness is a lot like what I imagine alcoholism to be like. Continually hiding it from the family, making excuses, planning the day around the next drink. Sure they know I drink, but they have no idea how bad it is. They just couldn't understand. Reminds me of a George Thoroughgood line..."if you don't start drinkin', I'm gonna leave" My family are very supportive and encouraging but it would be great if they actually got involved more. I'm working on my boys (7 & 2). Pete