New to Hotrods

Hi everyone, I am 19 and looking into getting into hotrodding. I have no one around me that is in to it and was looking for some help getting started. Im located in Cincinnati. I am hoping someone is around here that i could buy parts from or even come see their hotrod and learn a thing or two from them.
Thanks,
Sam

 

Sam,

Go to a cruise night, weekend car show, find out what clubs are active (there's gotta be a cruise night every night SOMEWHERE in Cincy) and get yourself involved. Do you have a project going?

 

Youre already on the right track by not using the "R" word.

 

How exactly can i find a cruise night

 

Check out the cl***ifieds in Old Cars Weekly (Krause publications weekly newspaper).
They list cruise nights for every state.

Welcome to the HAMB and the hobby

 

If you're ever in Cleveland you're welcome to stop by my place.
Mat

 

mmmm.....Cincinnati. Montgomery Inn ribs and chips. mmmm.

Good plan - go to a car show. Find a car or cars you like, talk to their owners about them, where they're from, where they go, what are their favorite shows for their type of car, etc.

You've got a computer, man, google "cincinnati hot rod", "cincinnati car show", etc., and see where it takes you.

Good luck
Pete

 

Thankyou for all your help so far. i am currently finishing off a 79 Trans Am restoration. I was wondering what you all recommend me starting with for my first hotrod?

 

If you look around you can pick up a decent driver 50's car pretty cheap. I myself would not be so worried about getting the most desireable model just yet. Get something that runs good first and foremost so you can drive it and attend some car shows and have fun with it while you work on the cosmetic issues it may have. Trust me, having a car that you can hop in and drive is a LOT better than having one sitting around that does not run.

 

Go to the shows/cruises and look around. Figure out what you like and start looking. Don't buy something that you're not REALLY interested in building/driving just because it's cheap and the first car you find.
Larry T

 

first time build a T bucket would be good, pretty simply and basic plus a hell of a lot of fun!

 

When you get the Trans Am on the road, you'll really get momentum, as the car people will come to you. I'd say, take to Trans Am to a bunch of car events and observe.
Meanwhile, read every car magazine you can and check out websites.
If you decide you like the traditional hot rod stuff, you're already at the vortex of that world, right here! Many of the people who started hot rodding are on here, as well as thousands more who live it every day. The wealth of information here is incredible!
Welcome...

 

Sam,

I am a fellow 19 year old from just north of you in Columbus and I made a similar plea for hot rod guidance on here about a year ago. I got in contact with several people through the HAMB. One person invited me into his shop and has been extremely helpful, even helping me get started with my very own build! I guess my point is that the HAMB is a great place to meet people who are willing to help a young person get started with hot rods. It might take a while, but you will find someone willing to help. In the mean time spend as much time as you can on here reading. I have learned so much just through reading and it has also given me many ideas for my project.

Also a 23 T is a great first project, but I may be biased as that is what I am building.

 

Go to your parts store most of the guys their will know of a cruise in or car show..

 

Here's the link to the oHIo social group. You'd make the 100th member!

 

pm corngrower32 on here, his name is josh shaw and one cool dude.
he's like the pappy to young hotrodders in cincy.

 

Maybe that's where that Damn nickname came from!! and not that one girl that one time...

I'll get the kid squared away..

oh... and remember, this is Cincinnati, he'll start off with a STEEL 32 FORD!! (Jus Kiddin' ... Maybe a gl*** one)

J Shaw

P.S. Good feed back from the guys above by the way! All of it very true!

 

Tons of info on this site I am new here myself (not new to hot rods) fifty's cars are a cheap way to start. Brands like Olds, Buick, Pontiac are still priced ok. I have a 48 Olds and a 57 Olds both with 455's the 57 is 95% complete the 48 is 35% complete. Most of the guys I know are never really done with there cars. There is always one more thing..................

 

X2 Josh Shaw would be an excellent choice to show you the ropes. He's a hard core hot rodder if there ever was one. Get him to take you for a ride in his '32 2dr and you'll be an addict forever.

Frank

 

One like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59T2Njw8c8k

 

Biggest cruise night around here is the Steak 'N Shake in ****ord on Friday Nights. Also living here in Cincy, we are central to most of the major events in the midwest.
Coming up you can make a trip to Louisville for the Street Rod Nationals in a couple of weeks, then you have Cincy Street Rods Hot Rod Drags in August, and Fastiques' Pumpkin Run the 1st weekend of October. There are plenty of Hot Rods here, you just got to know where to look.

If you don't see me in my avatar, I'm usually driving my '48 F-1 or I borrow my dad's 40 Ford coupe (it's candy green with flames, can't miss it) stop and say hey.
Lou

 

1979? DANG! That there is one of them there new cars!!

i wouldn't buy a project yet. i would read as much as you can and go to as many car shows as possible. talk to people. look at the cars and don't just decide which you like and don't like, but pay attention to what it is about them that you love and hate. chops, paint, styles, eras, etc. when you really know what you want, start a project.

suggested reading:
Magazines: The Rodder's Journal, Rod & Custom, Hot Rod Deluxe, Street Rodder, Hop-Up, etc.
Books: Anything by Don Montgomery, "How to Build a Traditional Hot Rod" By Mike Bishop and Vern Tardel, "The Birth of Hot Rodding" by Robert Genat & Don Cox, etc.

I know I am forgetting a lot, but that should keep you busy.

-drZ

 

i remember my first ride in his 32, kick *** and fast car.

 

I second the Pumpkin Run as an excellent source for traditional rods & customs. You can hardly see all the cars in a day. Danny's Rod shop nearby is a good place to find out about who builds what around here. I have had good luck with the guys out at American Metal Cleaning for rust dipping. Read the local Cincinnati Enquirer for the event and charity car shows. Most of the Smyth auto parts have knowlegable car guys behind the counter. And of course the HAMB is the best source of all!

 

Get in touch with the Cincy Street Rods or the Fastiques of Southern Ohio

 

well 2 years later this kid is about to graduate from UNOH studying high performance motor sports with an even bigger love for hotrods. I had to put the hotrod stuff aside so i could make school my priority (and because i have been flat broke haha) Anyway I was hoping you guys could point me in the direction of where to look to try to get started into the hotrod business.

 

Welcome back and kudos on the education. Hope u at least attended a show or two.

 

This has been a heartwarming thread from the very start. Not a bit of negative input. There is a very rich hot rodding tradition in the Cincy area and in Ohio in general. Congrats on staying focused on your education and keeping an interest in hot rods along the way. You're going to be just fine. Now get out there, get involved and good luck.....Don.

 

what should i do to get involved

 

What shops are in the area? Have you met any locals, yet?