Hey everyone, just looking to get into traditional rods and customs. I'm not terribly familiar with rods of any type except for what I've see in magazines and at car shows. Normally I work on newer vehicles, but have a little bit of experience with a few older cars here and there. I'm looking to build something from the early to mid 30's; preferably a Chevrolet of some sort, and may need some guidance/opinions from some of the seasoned veterans that are affiliated with this site.
Hey...........always skate with your 'head up' when you carry the puck across the middle!..................welcome Add to your "personal info" page so we know more about you and what you drive. Don't be thin skinned if somebody jumps your ass here. It's best to just sit back and watch other guys ask dumb ass questions
I think I''m ready to take the verbal beatings that seem to come with asking a stupid question. It all seems to be justified. Hopefully I can avoid that abuse by following the rules and using my head a little bit. I thought I updated my info when I registered, I guess I didn't save it properly. I'll have to try and edit it again.
Welcome, Ponch! Seems there are a lot of HAMBers from within the Cheddar Curtain! As your name suggests, are you a Pontiac guy by any chance?
Actually I pretty much like all cars, buy my name on this forum just might have something to do with being named after a certain actor on a TV series that was aired in the 70's. I think we all can figure that one out which show that is... I even had a CHiPS bigwheel when I was little Guess I could've been named after worse celebrities though.
Hey Engine-Ear (or anyone else reading this thread), this may be my first dumb question to ask and I know it's an introduction forum, but who is a good source in the midwest to find 30's cars? I only know one person around here that's into rods, except a car club I've seen with some nice hot rods and some so-called "rat rods" but I've never personally talked to the guys. I'm just trying to get into the world of rods and would like some leads if possible since I have no experience with this type of vehicle. I'm trying to do all the research I can online about the history of rodding, but reading articles doesn't replace personal knowledge of the guys here on the forum. Thanks!
welcome....finding old tin in wis...good luck, but there out there... beware of early 30's chevys, they are full off wood and are a pain in the ass....although well worth it in the end. woods gotta come out and metal in place....just an fyi...
Frank Poncherello, you old dawg! ...you and old John Baker in that 4X4 chevy stepside pickup...yikes. Like PBR, don't expect to find much around here w/o paying a lot for it...not sure if it's still open for business, but you might try Van's Auto Salvage in Waupun and also a yard up in Shawano run by an old indian (can't remember the name of the place but he has LOTS of older stuff)...the place can be unusually expensive and he is characterized by some as a pr!ck, but options are thin, ya know?
Vans should be gone by now...or atleast that's what i've been told. keep an eye on craigslist....interesting things pop on there every now and then....
Welcome from next door! I would try Zeb's in Marion and Jack's Auto Ranch in Watertown for old tin, you can also sometimes find some reasonable tin on ebay or craigslist, there is a place called Lucky's Rod and Custom out in Weyauwega, don't know much about it though.
Welcome from a former cheese head. Grew up in Neenah. One of my best friends still lives up there and works at Appleton Papers. You'll learn a ton here!
hi Ponch! Hope you find a project and join the rest of us idiots!Do you have a budget ?if so double it!
Thanks for the welcome everyone and thanks for all the info! I have a couple leads on cars, but I'm not hearing back from anyone. The one guy I heard back and basically had a deal finalized with from had a nice 31 Chevy 4 door sedan and a 30 something Model A 2 door sedan, both with titles and both have been sitting in a pole barn since the 50's and now all of a sudden the guy doesn't want to part with them...So I guess they're gonna sit there for another 50 years and rot into nothing, what a waste (even if I was gonna chop em up ). A friend of mine may want to part with his project, a 1936 Chevy 1 ton cab/front end and a 1946 Chevy frame and box. Most everything is there to finish it, rebuilt axles and a 250 6 cylinder and a Nailhead with a 4 speed, problem is there is no title or tag on the cab, and Wisconsin is a bunch of Nazis when it comes to re-titling anything (unless someone has a tag and title they want to part with). I'll keep my eyes open for other cars though. Zeb's is a good place to start, I've been there a few times, I've also been to a few small yards out in the boonies that actually have all kinds of old stuff, but nothing has a title. I know the guy that owns Lucky's rod shop in Weyewega, it's not a shop really, it has lots of cool nostalgia items for sale, car pictures, tons of old oil signs, gas pumps, and all kinds of miscellaneous cool stuff. Also he has a car show every year with free lunch and registration for all show cars, it's a pretty cool show but not enough hot rods there. (maybe I can find some help here to fill some stalls at the average joe car show) Hopefully I can find something here on the H.A.M.B for sale or trade for my Bel Airs for if all else fails. Again, thanks for all the input everyone!
I almost forgot, hey carguy, you metal finish at IPP or 41? I work over in HDR wiring up command vehicles. I think recognize the car, in your (avatar if that's what it's called?) Was that picture taken at a car show in Oshkosh by chance? I remember walking around at a show and that car stood out to me, I just can't remember what show it was at.
umm... yup that would be me and yes Gertrude comes to work with me once in a while... And we try to hit all the local shows even tho she is not what you'd call "show worthy" but we have a good time......PAUL
Welcome aboard.... and if you miss the "Shakedown" we'll have to kick your teeth in... hahaha! www.symcoshakedown.com
Ponch, If you aren't afraid to cross the St. Croix, the MSRA is a great organization and they put out a newsletter monthly (more like a magazine!) that has classified ads in it, usually a number of 30's vintage projects. Membership is $25 a year, well worth it. Welcome! Tim
What Joe said! Milwaukee welcomes you. I'll give you my advice on building an old car..... YOu want a "cool" custom or hot rod? Do your self a favor & DON'T build a 4 door!.... That's right, I said it, 4 doors were NOT cool in the old days & still are not cool. Figure out if you want a custom or a hot rod, then figure out what style you like, maybe pick an era or better yet a particular year or couple of years that floats your boat. NOT so much a year of a particular cars make, but a year that the styles were "cool" to YOU. For instance, I personally like hotrods from the post war era (1946) till about 1957 or so, but customs from the post war till only about 1952. I wouldn't buy an old car just to buy one, find one you really dig, do some home work, talk to dudes in your neck of the woods, Rob Paul runs the Greenbay streets! Do you remember the episode of CHIPS when they went to the skateboard park? I hope you have a friend named John & I hope some of my ramblings where helpful. Sincerely, Cheatercarl
Welcome from IL. A buddy of mine is putting a 64 Seagrave engine in a farm tractor. Another guy at the Hunnert Car pile up put one in a Ford A. Your profile is cool. You got the skills, jump in waters fine.
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