Lost in the Supermarket

So this is my first build in years, I have gotten alot done, but there is alot more to do. When I look at some of the other build going on, they look very steady, something that comes from continued experience and good green resource. So saying that, what are your guys usually build order? or do you have the usual checkoff list?
For some of us newbies, or ones that have been out of the game for a while please share with us your plan of attack.
Sometimes I find myself sitting back and just staring at it and thinking **** this thing will never be drivable or done, I have bought stuff I dont need, need more cash etc.


Thanks

 

You will never get it done if you are in the Supermarket.

 

get it to sit on all 4 tires, get it to steer, get it to stop, get it to run, drive it, finish it.

 

True^^^^but you got to know what you expect from your rod first.

 

***uming it's a running driving unit, the first things I do is the exhaust and rims and tires, I want it to look and sound like a hot rod right away.

After that I start a good cleaning and address mechanicals like loose front ends, shocks, brakes, etc.

Next would be body and paint along with trim and gl***.

Lastly and way low on my priority list is interior.

Yeah, I got one right now that I'm overwhelmed with just looking at it but when I break it down to areas it doesn't seem too bad. 'Course timeframe, budget and schedule are out the window.

 

Welcome to the club.
When I built my first rod I spent more time sitting, looking and thinking than building.
Eventually it got done.
And I have stuff in the corner I didn't use... but may someday.
frame
front and rear suspension/axles
4 wheels
brakes
steering (how does the engine fit?)
body.... highboy, channelled?
etc etc

 

I hear you.
Half the time i look at the Cadillac, i jut shake my head and question my sanity.
But I'm new to some of this, but not mechanics.
Keep your chin up.

 

I build a motor then look for something to wrap around it.
There are several projects at the casa and as parts come availaible I'll get them. If its a good deal then I dont mind storin stuff. I have it all marked so if I croak the lovely can get it all to the right buyer.

 

It totally depends on what the car is already, and what your plans are with it.

My first build was my A Tudor. I was overly ambitious with very little experience. I blew the whole thing apart and picked away at it for more than 10 years before I finally drove it. I did it ALL WRONG.

If the car needs to be blown completely apart, plan for it. Attack it a piece at a time. Put a white board on the wall in the garage with categories and room under each to write your next several steps so you can build it methodically.

If the car needs freshening up, just do that, but remember to do all of the SAFETY things first! Fix the brakes before you lower it. Put new tires on it before you splurge on interior. Go through your steering and suspension before you throw an interior in it.

I say this because it takes a LOT less work to make an old (and mostly complete) car reliable and enjoyable than it does to customize it. Once its reliable, even if it looks bone stock and boring, you can drive it to go get parts, have work done that you decide someone might be better at (body, paint and interior for me!).

Also, buy EVERYTHING you possibly can BEFORE you start tearing into it. For example, on my shoebox I have the dropped uprights, Aerostar coils and all four shocks ready to go, BUT I'm not going to put any of that together until I have the engine and trans back in and the car is running reliably. First things first, you know? I'll probably be doing the ECI dual MC kit too, but I'm not worrying about it until the car is driveable. A bite at a time if you will.

Remember when EVERYTHING goes wrong there's only two functions you want... steering and brakes! NEVER skimp on those!

 

I just do one thing at a time up until something else has to be done so that I can do what I started ........ I think

 

How do you eat an elephant ? Answer, one bite at a time. The point is, if you look only at the enormity of the build it will seem like there is just so much to do, but if you break it down into little pieces it will let you see progress and keep you motivated.

I like to keep a build book that is just a simple ruled notebook and in it I will put "Things to do." One page would be "Front suspension....things to do" and I would list stuff like "Strip paint from axle for priming" . Another might be "Have spindles honed for new kingpins". Then, at night, after working on it, I sit down and give myself a little reward by drawing lines through the jobs I got done that day.

Dry erase boards are something that some people do with the same sort of info on them. As they finish a task they either erase that line or draw a line through it. It simply gives you some idea of where you are and what you have accomplished.

Right now we are putting a 10 point cage in my one Son's car and every time we work on it we just try to get one more bar tacked in place. We are finding that by just doing a little bit every few nights the enthusiasm is still high and we are not burning ourselves out by doing 12 hour marathon sessions, and maybe screwing up something because we are tired.

Don

 

I sit and stare at my projects all the time. I call it my "mental enginering", I believe that my wife calls it something else.
Seriously though I have found that making a point of working on the project everyday really helps. Even if it is only for a half an hour. Even if it only to clean up the work area so that when the next day comes I can really do some work. Keep at it.

 

haha its a Clash song.

 

I spend hours staring at my projects...think it through. Although I always wonder what the hell I was thinking? dig?

 

Well then, while you are staring at it in the garage, you should really ask yourself "Should I stay or Should I go?"

 

Sounds good everyone.
I have the todo list already per part, and honestly its close to drivable. Its mostly coming down to money these days.
So in the mean time I am looking at the custom parts of it because of the waiting and its been hot around here and the money isnt growing fast this summer.

Thanks for putting things in prospective.

 

Or is this just a train in vein, or do I have complete control? Maybe its just a pressure drop.

Ok I will stop. haha

 

Begin with the end in mind. (Have a plan)

Figure the style you want, and look at other cars that do it for ya. Mixing styles almost never ever works (just look at some traditional style cars on 20 inch bling rims to see what I mean)

Then figure the cost of the major components & sit down & see if their costs and your budget are friends or not. No point in starting a "Champagne Charlie" car if you are on the bones of your ****.

Once thats sorted, you have either a runner, or a big project in your shed.

If its a runner and you want to keep it on the road, then go over the safety stuff - brakes suspension, and tires and get them all safe. Then work on stance. A cheap car that sits right looks way better than a Champagne Charlie car that sits too high.

If its the big project in the shed, you can do the safety stuff as you build, so focus on the stance. Unless its a g***er, get it low

Well thats what I have learned from doing the exact opposite too often. I learn more by stuffing up it would seem.

All the best with your project

 

Drive it to the casbah. Then ROCK THA CASBAH.
I was a kid in GG in the 60's, early 70's. Brookhurst and Westminister.
HOMIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Don, are you trying to "rock the casbah"

 

Looks like I was late on that one. To answer your question, there are no rules. Do what you can when you can and eventually it will be a driver.
I've always got em running and driving before I worried about looks. Plus there still fun to drive even if they arent cosmetically pleasing. All it takes is a little time and even more $$$. good luck