How many of you have done a father/son/daughter project?

I am at a stage in life when my boys are getting old enough to want their own car. I have three boys. 15/13/and 8. I want to spend my limited funds on my 59 Biscuit.....but, as my boys get more and more enthused with cars, I find its getting put further and further on the back burner. I have been able to collect a number of projects over the last couple of years, and my 15 year old decided that the 71 Duster is what he wants, the 13 year old has GOT to have a Mustang, and I have a 66 coupe in pieces that he has fallen in love with. I only hope the 8 year old will want something older. lol

So how many fellow HAMB'ers have put aside their own project, to enjoy the ultimate "quality time" with their kids?

 

I built a car with my son/n/ law. He was a newbie to the car scene, but It was the most fun I had in a long time, we did bump heads on a few portions of the build cuz he is more of perfectionist than I. I do have to admit that he took me in directions on the build that I forgot existed, and made me better for it.

 

I haven't had that opportunity yet, but look forward to it when my boys get a little older. My dad restored a car with me when I was 12 and it was the best time we ever spent together.

 

Nearly all of my projects have involved my dad, all very cherished moments for me. And several years ago my son and I built this OT autocross Camaro. Polyurethaned all the bushings, built healthy motor, swapped in t-5, disk/posi rear end, made the interior racer friendly, added huge tires and wheels, really slick exhaust, and paint. We had a blast it was a 325hp go-kart.

 

Always wanted a street rod. Built a 32 Victoria w/ 600hp with my son .Was a 5 + year build but a time I'll never forget. Now we're building him a chopped 35 Chevy 2 door sedan. That's what all of this is about. Hope father andsons/daugters continue to build for years to come. Keeping it going

 

Built 69 Mustangs for both boys, quite a few dirt bike projects, rebuilt a 69 Kindsvater ski boat and trailer 20 years ago when they were younger. Great learning curve for them. They are both engineers now.

 

65 El Camino with one son.
66 With anotherl

 

Son and I have done a couple together----------last couple of years we did two coupes together--still have 'em

 

Currently my 5 year old son and I are working on a late 60's or early 70's garden tractor. We stipped it down to the frame. Still need to clean it up and re***emble. He is obsessed with working on stuff in the shed and this gave us a good outlet. I've been amazed at how capable he is at pulling things apart only being 5. He's gonna cause me problems when he gets older. He's already layed claim to my 50 ford that's waiting to be worked on. Now I need to get his twin sister interested in something to rebuild. I know the Garden tractor isn't necessarily HAMB on topic, but I was hunting for a project for us to do that he could drive when were done.

 

My Dad and I built my 40 from a POS from behind the barn to what it is today. All the time we spent, and the memories we made are why I'll NEVER sell the car. We started on the 40 when I was 13. progress was slow, as we also did a 66 mustang and a lowered OT mini truck for me as daily drivers while I was in High School. Building the 40 was the best thing for me to do as a teenager. It taught me to work hard for what I want. It also took my attention away from hanging out with wrong crowd of friends is was in with that were choosing the WRONG path while growing up. Most of them never made it out of HS.
My 8 year old son is big into BMX racing now. He learning mechanics and responsibility by helping keep his race bike in shape. Next fall my dad has an old John Deere riding mower to fix up with him. My son is obsessed with mustangs, so when gets around 13, I hope he still has the interest in them and we can build him one together.

 

My boys helped tear this one down !
And my youngest one and me rebuilt this old 82 Honda Odyssey last winter !!!
Good times Great Memories !!!

 

thats what started the entire car thing for me was my dad having me help on his zephyr lol and now im going to try and finish it for him 10 years later

 

I have 4 kids, 2 boys n 2 girls. They were home schooled and they all had a high School shop project. Oldest boys was a 1954 Ford customline fordoor. Kilarney green w white top, full frame off restoration w I-6 223 3 spd overdrive. He drove that car to college and also away from his wedding. Next was oldest girl. She had a 1978 Ford F250 4X4. Good stock runner 351M 4spd. She wanted a flatbed instead of the fleetside box so she had to learn how to cut and fit and weld. Also how to grind it out and weld it again! She repainted the truck. They still have it although they and the soon to be 4 grandkids don't really fit in it anymore. (they drove away from their wedding in the 52 F1.
Next was youngest son his was a full restoration on a 1954 Plymouth Plaza. Rebuilt the 231 flattie. Parts for this car were scarcer than hens teeth to find.
Youngest daughters vehicle of her dreams was a 1973 Ford F250 4X2. She upgraded the brakes to 1979 all around. Completely repaired the truck and then built a killer 390 out of the 360. She is also married now and has the truck on their ranch in Wyoming.
My job in all of this was to lean on the fender and drink coffee and offer advise. I made it a policy to try not to touch their projects but just supervise. I found that to be extremly rewarding for all of us.

Ken

 

I have 4 sons 28/36/38/42 none were interested until recently my youngest has expressed an interest in building a 28-31 model A 2 dr. sedan. That's probably because I just happen to have a 388" sbc race motor sitting around waiting for a new home. I'm a retired body man / fabricator with 50+ years experience. Finally!!! one of my sons wants to learn a dying trade. At my age, I hope I have enough time to p*** on my skills and experience...

 

I waited FAR FAR too long to do a project with my father. We have a 13 year old son and I hope this will end up a father/son/grandson project

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=473875&showall=1

Like many I would guess, my dad and I did not seen eye to eye when I was a teenager living under his roof (I was a punk). Now I'm a married father in my 40's with a little perspective. My dad took me to my first ever car show, I was only interested in the shelby mustangs, panteras and sports cars. When I was in my 20's my dad had a m***ive heart attack which slowed him down, I was busy starting my family and moved to Montana.

Don't wait until they are a thousand miles away with a family of their own... its tough to make it happen then.

DO IT NOW

 

My 28 Tudor is kind of a daughter /father project. She helps as much as she can, and is interested in the outcome.
She found it for me(the tudor), probably because she has her eyes on my 53 chevy.

 

My daughter has helped me with a few things. But she is livin in Washington these days.

I am currently doing two grandfather grandaughter projects. It is quality time, the only time we really have serious conversations about life in general.

She probably knows more about clearances and proper tunning from the crankshaft out than most of the fellas on here. But what she really gets out of helping Grampaw is answers to the questions that most teenagers wouldn't even dream of asking.

She probably won't ever really use her mechanical ability when she's grown and gone but she will use the what she learns about life in general. I hope I haven't screwed her up too much.

She'll get her own project when she goes to work this summer. She doesn't need a project that I fund, that's a life lesson that every kid needs to have, make your own way.

 

My daughter (and my wife) are both involved in the Chevy. Heck, they were the ones who came to me last spring with an envelope full of cash and said "go get a project car."

The wife seems to prefer parts hunting to actual hands-on stuff on the car. But, the daughter LOVES heading out to the shop. She doesn't get squeamish, either- I handed her a putty knife and pointed her towards some suspension parts with 60 years of grease and dirt, and she went to town!

I always keep a little list in my head of stuff she can do when I'm working on something that's really a one person job. And I don't push her- she can be involved as much or as little as she likes. But I always make sure she feels welcome in the shop, even if she's just hanging out with me.



Now, when we start a project for her, I'm going to talk to her about "if you don't work, it won't happen." And then I'll let her learn it the hard way.

 

I've been building cars for years with my Dad, we are best friends because of cars
I have two boys and a girl and can't seem to get them to spend more than an hour
in the garage with me.
My youngest boy seems to have the most interest in the hobby.
He's 14 and is more interested in late model **** and exotic sports cars

 

I have a 6 yr old nephew by marriage who I am trying to get into the garage. He is hates getting dirty. I need to throw him in a mud puddle or something. My other nephews in NJ are car nuts and always had me pop the hood on my truck and ask me what everything was. They are 2 & 4. They are from my brothers kids...so the car crazy blood is in them.

 

I have built cars with/for both my sons and daughter. I have a picture of my son age 5 helping me pull a engine out of a 57 chevy, that was 30 years ago. My daughter is a great welder. All 3 are still active in the lifestyle

 

Started collecting the parts for a "27 RPU and discovered my 7 yr old grandson is crazy about hotrods. So I finally get the parts needed together for the ch***is mock up and what happens? His family all move back to Michigan. All is not lost thou as my 9 yr old grandson is starting to show some interest in something besides wrestling and video games. Wonder what I'll be working on when my 1 yr old granddaughter starts showing interest.

 

Hell, I can't keep any of my brood out of the garage when I'm wrenchin on something. None of my stuff is offically father son or father daughter, but they're always more than willing to help out. Makes it take 10 times longer, but it's good memories.

 

grandaughters count?

 

I have 4 kids (3 sons and a daughter). The rule in our family was that you had to rebuild a car if you want to drive. We did a VW, two 66 Mustangs, and my daughter got off easy....we bought a Ford Explorer that didn't run, so we did a wrecking yard engine swap followed by a wrecking yard trans swap. My project 52 Ford truck sat behind the barn for 12 or so years. Frustrating, but I wouldn't trade that time with the kids for anything!!

 

Of co**** it does. You're p***ing along a love of old cars to another generation.

 

I started that way. I thought that was what it is all about???
They get to do all the fun stuff I used to do. LOL


http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q306/vagabond407/1110001759.jpg

 

I'm currently (it's gonna take a long, long time) working on a 72 Triumph Bonneville with my 4 year old.

 

Don't stop once you start. My dad and I started a V8-60 powered '15 T touring when I was 11. We drove about 5 or 6 hours away, picked up an original paint T body, with '14 fenders, rolling, with original seats. A few weeks in, he severely hurt his back and we stopped. It sat for a few years, and every once in a while he would try to guilt trip me into it, but I was a kid. I didn't have the interest at the time, and that was that. Whenever any people came over, he would exclaim, "Can you believe he doesn't want to work on this?!" A few years later, he tried one last time, and it was right around when I turned 14, in October. He quickly mocked it up with wheels and tires, and asked me. I realized that it could be done, and that I could be driving that to school. I agreed, and thought about what it would look like in my head, bigger wheels and tires, flames, open headers, etc.

And then he took it to Hershey and at least doubled his money.
It doesn't bother me that he did that, but it bothers me more that I let that slip through my fingers then. I'm 20 now, and I can't find anything solid enough to build for twice the money he spent back then.

Good luck!

 

Did one with my son (65" Corvair vert) its his daily driver at college. One with my daughter 65" Falcon. She drives every day t0 high school. My youngest at 13 will be doing an 58' station wagon because she needs something bigger, she plays the harp. Not sure what yet were still lookin. I wouldn't have done it any other way. Although at times they will call for help most times I don't have to worry they can take care of any problems themselves. There thinkers