I had a pretty good day yesterday. I (in my 60's) helped a young buddy (barely 30) spend the better part of a day, getting junk to build his Hot Rod. He bought for scrap price a complete driveline and front suspension from a '48 Merc. Now when I was his age this stuff was plentiful and cheap. Since back then our labor was all we had to give for stuff, we would spend all day getting something out of the woods rather than buying it for cash, that we didn't have. That's what we did yesterday. His build will succeed because he wants it the way he wants it, not because he's bulding it like everybody else does or because its the easy or cheapest way. It makes me feel good to know the spirit is still very much alive.
Good on ya. The spirit IS alive, isn't it... And it's helped greatly when those of us who cracked our nuckles years ago in the fields and back yards help and encourage (instead of preach to) the younger folks. And I think it feels better helping than tellin' the "kids" what they are doin' wrong. Send some pictures!
Sorry to find this post on page 14. Please keep us posted with the guys build. Your insight is appreciated.
Hi, Tman, you shure get around! I am building my jalopy pickup in mutch the same way, with everyones takeoffs, I am also going to save a 47 twodoor sedan ford by keeping the stock axel and stuff, the former owner was going to do the mmtwo with a linkin versay rear! Oh well, one more project wont kill me! well, mybee it will...Roach.
Thats pretty much what hot rodding still is here in Oz, though a lot more people are buying cars built these days. The roots and base of Aussy rodding is still in the garage at home. Ugh, having said that, the latest 'Big dollar' car over here is a Boydster, cost the dickhead over 100g can anyone really call that a hotrod and keep a straight face?? Not I.
Yep, That is exactly what its all about. Not only is it the idea of building instead of buying. Its also about teaching each other the best and easiest ways to make it happen. It's what the Hamb is all about too.
Turdytoo, that sounds great. I would love to know what his plans are, pictures would be great (it seems I'm not the only one that thins so too, how about that). To answer your question, umm, NO.
remember salvage yards that let you explore? you'd wait all summer planning the trips to the junkyards. waiting for a good frost to kill the ticks and snakes. till the sticker bushes lost their leaves and you could see everything. dress warm, carry a tool box with a couple of beers and your buddies in tow. scrounging brackets and hardware. the dreams of cool car potential in every wreck out there... man, there was no better way to spend a saturday than junkin'. there is not many yards left that let you go in unescorted. nowadays you go to a counter and tell the man what you're looking for and he sends bozo to find it and take it off. no hardware, no brackets and no idea of the vehicles condition... plus a whole lot more money. if you know a yard thats old school... take a kid or two, let them run around and explore. call out car names and dates. the experience will be big fun and big educational. but don't wait too long, the good yards fading away. sorry to step on your thread. i was just day-dreaming.
amen, clemdaddy, That how I grew up dad would drag me to the junk yards and we would spend the day just looking and scrounging man I miss that i'm now 35. Last sunday we went up in Ohio and had to dig a 55 ford wagon out I bought for parts, it took all day but we had a blast just like we used too. I have the itch to go scrounging again already.
Not to continue stepping on the thread, but I've taken my kids to Horn's salvage in Springdale a number of times just to walk around and look. And sadly, that's an old yard that's fading away, turning to scrap and headed for China.
That's what its all about. I agree everyone should stop and read this. Build it for you, the way you want it. Keep us posted.
The Jalopy Journal
