Technical How nice was your first hot rod project

My first one that ran, was a '41 Merc coupe. I had a couple of other stalled out project cars prior, but the coupe was the first to be a driver. With the help of a friend we put in a 283 coupled with a '39 style trans. I learned a lot on that car. The first was how not to do wiring - yep, lots of smoke and melted stinky insulation. The second was the fraility of the Ford trans with a lead foot 16 year old. Pulled the motor and sold it back, sold the car and moved on to a ‘33 Chevy 3 window.

 

My first HotRod project was a 1938 International pickup . I got it when I was 16 , got rid of it when I was 28 . The body was extremely rough , but very little rust . I put a 304 International v-8 ,and a torqueflite in it with the original rear-end with 4:10 gears . While I had it I managed to get the fenders straight by swaping labor with a body man friend , myself and a bunch of my co workers sanded and primered the whole truck , but it never did get paint .

 

I am about 6 months and 1200mi into driving my first hotrod build. Started with a hacked up stock frame and a rusty pile of body panels. Taught myself how to weld and fabricate (had basic knowledge but very little real world application experience). Built everything on my garage floor. With LOTS of measuring and research and more measuring, she runs and drives like a dream. I’ve never taken it for an alignment and she drives straighter than my 2009 Tundra! Granted these tiny 1930’s cabs can be hell on my knees being 6’2” but that’s the only complaint I have about the comfort level. I did use disc brakes all the way around which is frowned upon by some, but she stops on a dime!

 

my first hot rod was my first car 1956 Chevy, drove great with some work, 327, junky 3 speed and 456 rear. it was 1980 and here it is today, still in primer. my lil brother owns it.

 

My first build. 1949 GMC purchased in 1981 when I was 13 years old

As it looked first day I drove it to high school


And how it still looks today. Same paint, interior, engine, trans, etc. Just a wheel and tire update.


My first real hot rod build was 20 years later when I built my RPU.

 

I had a few cars that I modified for looks and performance before what I consider my first real hot rod.
The first hot rod built from ground up took way too long and I had to redo quite a lot before it drove the way I expected it to.
Biggest misstep was in the brakes, I used a drum-drum master from a non power assist '60s Mustang, front disc's from a '70s A body Chevy and stock rear drums in the '57 Ford 9".
I really had to stand on them to get it to stop quick.
that and the tire choice, the Radir slicks were great but the bias fronts left a lot of room for improvement.
I got it to almost ready for paint before I sold it.







how it looked when it sold:

 

This is my first build, basically a parts car when I got it. I got lucky and found a sedan body for next to nothing and was able to swap the floors. With all the hasel of putting newer drivetrain I wish I would of stuck with original steering and drivetrain. When I get it running and driving and half way cool looking despite all the little flaws I'll be happy with that.

 

My first that I built.

 

I grew up in a car building family, so I had access to tools and advice that most didn’t. So in the 1980’s at 14 when I started my 1st hot rod Model A, I already had some metal working and fabrication skills, as well as knowledge of what a quality car looked like. I went overboard with making sure everything was ground smooth and blended. Every nook and cranny of the frame was block sanded and painted as nice as the top side. All aluminum and stainless was polished. It turned out nice. But I won’t and haven’t done one to that detail again. It’s not worth the time, effort or expense. Sure, I still grind welds, remove burrs, round sharp corners, and make stuff look nice. But if it doesn’t show, it doesn’t get hours of attention. And I kinda like cars with old paint that you don’t have to worry if a cat jumps up on it or some kid runs his finger across the fender. I’m way simpler now.

 

My first Model A pickup wasn't exactly a cream puff but it wasn't a complete rust bucket, the previous owner made an attempt to build a hot rod but I doubt it ever saw the road. HRP

 

Hello,

If I could go back to the day I saw this faded red 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery rumble into the local Bixby Knolls drive-in parking lot, that would have changed the whole picture. The sound was tremendous. The look was fascinating. I had been looking for my hot rod surf transportation. I was getting tired of asking my friends for a ride to the beaches to go surfing.

A lot of my hot rod friends were no longer surfing and I was one of the only ones still going at it as a teenager. Yes, I got a lot of ribbing… surf bum, shaggy clothing and different outlook on life, as we were all getting older. Teens still, but, older. The 58 Impala that my brother no longer drove was partially mine, but it was not a weekly surf transportation, especially with the longboard sticking out of the trunk.

The rumbling 40 Ford Sedan Delivery had a 348 motor and sounded like the starting line at Lion’s Dragstrip when it rumbled past all of us sitting in the back row of the hangout. When it exited the lot and accelerated down the street, I knew I had to have that sedan delivery or make one just like it. As he came down the rear alley and parked in the back row, we all got to see what was what.

A 348 v8 motor 4 barrel carb, healthy rumble with a cam and lifter kit and a nice color of paint under the parking lot lights. Although, the noise most heard around the lot was “salmon pink.” It was supposed to be “racer orange” as explained to me. But the night before, late in the driveway spray painting the final coat was done by the current owner. He mixed it a little strange. He told me it was orange.

He now wanted to sell it and the price was horrendous for everyone in the lot. I knew him from junior high school and the current high school classes. So, we went back and forth about the price. Finally, he said a flathead engine, and not the 348 and now I could afford the cost.

Jnaki

It was a thousands of miles of trouble free, good running flathead motor with a LaSalle stick coming out of the floor. Now, I had my surf vehicle and if needed, a cool cruising for two. Or more, if I allowed teens to get in the back cave.

Minimal maintenance or repairs, other than a new set of shocks for the front and rear. The motor used a lot of oil that even the best flathead mechanics could not pin point. No smoke, no leaks and great running at all times. Not a lot of power from the stock flathead motor, for steep hill climbs, (like the local ski runs in the mountains 1.5 hours away) but enough for flat roads and shoreline dirt roads. But, it fired up every time and ran like a top on all of our long road trips down to Baja Mexico or North to the Santa Barbara surf spots.

A good teenage surf vehicle, but not always acceptable to the parents… due to the questionable privacy in the back cave with window coverings… YRMV

 

While the outside of my first true hotrod looked ok in it's spray can black primer, straight axle, tilt nose, olds rear, and engine setback. I was so anxious to drive it that the interior left a lot to be desired. (as in no gauges, cheesy hyd. throttle, gutted interior).
Add to that a long bolt for a powerglide shifter and you could safely say it was a far cry from nice. It was however, fast, and that's all that mattered to me back then.

 

This is an amazing story haha. Very cool. I need a 28/29 panel truck in my life.

Gordy

 

My first hot rod project was a 36 Ford 5 window. I traded a buddy (Sid Sommers) a Rolex submariner for it that I ironically found submersed in the river when I ran my jet boat up in the sand on Government Island, I was around 22 or so. The 36 had a 327 and a power glide, rear end from a Chevelle (upper and lower trailing arms). I over carbureted the little SBC with a couple of Edelbrocks, and polished the intake and the power glide (yeah, these issues have been plaguing me my entire life). I remember being so proud the day I brought it home on the trailer, right before the neighbors asked if they could throw some crap on the trailer as they assumed I was headed for the dump.

I bought the glass fenders from Dee Wescott since he was near by, and I had met him at the swap meet a few times. Later I found out both he and his glass were quite famous.

I met a cool old guy named the Phil the Junk Man, also at the Portland swap meet where he was a staple, holding court in the lower lot. He took a liking to me and had me over to his house in SE Portland, he found me some running boards, a dash, a rumble lid, a roll down rear window and some misc. hardware (door handles, window regs, etc). I remember him taking very little money from me as I had very little at the time.

I remember Dave Mathews (SE Portland car lot owner) had a black 36 roadster with a rumble seat, and he was nice enough to let me remove the rumble lid striker from his car, sketch it out and make a template in his office before re-installing it. I went home and made my own striker.

I built the car in my little garage, painted it 84 Corvette red (it was 1984 and the Gen 4 had just come out and I thought it was the neatest thing on wheels so I borrowed the paint code as I couldn't afford the car).
Mitch Kim added some tasteful silverleaf pinstripes outlined in a neon blue/purple if I recall.

My ownership of the car ended as my marriage did, another acquaintance Hank at Peggy's Classic Cars on 82nd in Portland handled that sale for me. Peggy's had a nice collection of classics, customs and hotrods, it was one of my favorites haunts as a young un.

The car ended up with black wall T/As (big and littles), Enki 5 spoke wheels (kind of like a magnum 500) that I painted the black parts of the spokes to match the body. My kids have fond memories of riding in the rumble seat, interior was grey upholstery, a decent stereo, original lights and a painted grill with SS trim.

There was a HRM article about adding disc brakes while lowering the front end on 35-40 Fords, there was even a template in the magazine for the caliper bracket if I remember right. It used AMC bolt on spindles and calipers? I think, something like that. It dropped the car nice in front, and I recall it stopping well without a booster.

Full hood, SS trims, black rubber running board covers, rumble seat steps, 36 bumpers I had chromed at Oregon Plating. One of the weirdest things I did was to weld in a roof I bought at the swap meet that had a big glass panel that hinged open (didn't slide like a moon roof). I planned to upholster it in black vinyl to appear like the original insert but never got around to it and the glass grew on me. You can barely see the glass in this early selfie (disposable camera) please pardon the awesome mullet. I was headed across the 205 bridge to take the car to Hank that day. This was my last drive in the 36, the look on my face brings back some tough memories.

I do recall chroming all of the window garnish moldings. I have always liked the shiny bits. Sadly, no other pictures exist, I wouldn't have this one, but my kids brought it to me a few years back. My ex kept all of the photos sadly. I'd love to see the car again, though it likely is not as nice as I recall.

I will love 36 Fords forever because of this car. As you can see from the ramble I posted, it wasn't just about building a car, it was about building relationships with guys in the hobby, friendships really, many close. I still build them, cars and friendships, I hope I always will.

 

Spent a couple years in highschool gathering parts and sticking them together. Took my driving test in it.

 

First one was rough, but she turned out nice.

 

My first hot rod project in 2004 in Pomona (CA) garage where I built it during winter.

 

Well I think mine old 54 was nicer when I got it..less rust wear and tear, and dings...I had other cars previously but this was my first "Real hot rod!" If I tell my Chevy's story from 1988 when I purchased it from a friend,All the way till now ,I would be here a wile!!....lol so I will keep this post short,
I got her ,A stock 150 sedan in 1988, and swapped out the 6 for a sb 350 in 89 got her back on the road in about 1990 -91, She has been on and off the road several times since... She still runs and drives and is still a work in progress car, I doubt I will ever finish her , ... BUT I cant complain about the fun we have had,And hopefully will continue to have ...

 

It was 1977, and I had just got my first job. I had no money, no tools and no car building skills at all. I did have a space in my dads 3 car shed so figured everything was do-able

So $240 bought me a T Bucket project - one perimeter chassis, one body pretty much fresh off the mold, a 60 Chev diff and two old rear tyres which were stuffed.

I overestimated my talent, used the Chev diff head in a mates 57 sedan after we blew his diff to bits, and onsold the rest a year later for $200.

Then I bought a rolling T Bucket chassis and body with 283 for $900 and was streets ahead till I put the 283 into my Holden ute after I blew its 161 cube engine to bits. Onsold the rest for $500 another year later

Still mad keen on a bucket, I bought a Model A bucket for $2500 that had been on the road before with a 289 Ford and auto. Body had been chopped up, so I got a body guy to build a new one and then I went to university to study accounting.

Should have learned then and there, that to rebuild a car you need either talent or cash.........I did the rinse and repeat thing about another 6 times before I ended up with a finished bucket and I couldnt fit the family into my bucket.

So I moved onto another bucket with a blown BB Chev and managed to do a high 9 second run in street legal trim

Success at last and next race meeting (NZ Nationals 2013) I put the whole deal into the wall at half track, and my racing career was done!

First bucket wasnt nice, and last bucket was too nice to bang into a concrete wall

 

Work ethic definition; Were there's a will there's way :,do it right first time,so you don't need to do it again. > How my Dad told me. Learn first,then do.

My 28a roadster ,I first got running in 1959,was very nice I think, { took 3 years},lots of work,no $$$, an polished every thing that could be.

 

It was a steaming hunk of crap.... and I loved it!

 

My very first hot rod, and first ground-up build. I just did the best I could and learned a lot along the way.

 

My first car I built entirely on my own was pretty crusty but had a cool factor to it. I learned very quickly that steering geometry and front end set up really matter though. Took me a while to finally get the whole thing sorted but once I did, the car handled really well (for being an early Ford).

 

Very Nice You learned the right motor to pick for sure.

 

I still have it almost 30 years later. It was a barley functional old car that I drove around Northern VA and DC as a 20-something between under grad and grad school. Got parked in my parents driveway during grad school, but I did put in a rebuilt motor over a summer break (with a girlfriend that eventually became my wife) that I won in the early days of ebay for $300, shipped!. It spent times in garages and barns while the kids were small but eventually got a CE MII, a rebuilt T5 and 10 bolt rear. All new wiring too. I was in the process of painting it when I bought my 40, only got as far as the firewall (fenders were in primer and got shot in satin black to match the rest of the car). Been back together and fully functional for about a decade now. I drive it everywhere locally, its super reliable and has almost 9000 miles on that new motor I put in way back in 2002.

Still trying to improve it slowly. Picked up a new grill this past year, again off eBay for a remarkably low price. I keep lots of watches out for things I need for it.

 

I guess the my first “hot rod” was the ‘41 Chevy pickup I drove in high school. Had a ‘59 Chevy 6 that would hit the radiator with the fan during “hard” launches. Modification included 15” wheels, glass pack, a “Mustang orange “ paint job. It was the oldest vehicle in our high school parking lot ( class of ‘69). The orange paint job is long gone, but my brother now owns it…

 

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...irst-hot-rod-aka-tin-hunting-stories.1052537/

 

It was 30 years ago. My neighbor had a chopped model a body that he had cut the firewall off of with a sawsall, and screwed a piece of plywood to the roof. He was using it as a dog house, complete with dog turds and the smell of urin. Here is what it looked like 2 short years later. I loved that car.