I know I'm not alone, what did your project look like the very 1st time you drove it? Even if it was just around the block, subdivision, down the road...etc. You've been working on it for years, every waking minute, it runs, excitement takes over and you have to take that first drive. So post up some pics, I've heard plenty of milkcrate seat stories so i know there's unfinished driving happening. Now i know this wasnt the safest thing in the world, but after 2 years of blood, sweat, scars, we couldnt wait anymore.
Oh ya been there before man. Driving "the project car without the front clip or with my *** on a milk crate! Ah the memories! Jay
Very first drive in my '32 pickup was shortly after we fired it up for the first time. Coming back up the driveway,, HRP
I started building this sedan in the early 90's but never finished it and sold it almost 13 years ago before I ever drove it. I was able to by the car back on Fathers Day 2012 and that was the first time I ever drove the car. HRP
Sure, who a**** us hasn't tugged on a string to operate the throttle, or sat on a cushion on the floor, or used a hand held spotlight for that first nightime trial run ? I've had to retrace my route more than once to retrieve parts or tools that fell off or out of the car. I don't know if anyone else ever noticed this, but if you work on a car, like putting in a new motor, it will run like **** until you wash the car. For some reason just cleaning it will make a whole new car out of it. Don
No wiring, so hot wire it? check No seat, so find a box or mik crate? check No gl***, no interior, maybe no doors? check No lights, no license plate? check No exhaust? check No fuel tank, so run off small gas can with hose? check Big smile on your face while going for the first drive? check I am guilty of all of the above.
How about with no body and the idle set high and balencing yourself on the framerail? <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oTMdWuFisgw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nrUEE5942ck" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
the project builded not so fast, it runs from time to time, so i can't say what is the first drive, cause it always changed but while a new engine is not ready an original engine stays under the hood maybe like this
In 1970 when I was 16 I bought a 56 Ford with a 272ci 2bbl for $100. It was a solid car and ran really good, but not good enough. My buddy and I found a 312ci 4bbl out of a wrecked Tbird and dropped it in. While my car was down with the engine transplant I decided to pull the front seat out to have a split seam repaired. We got the engine in before the seat was done and couldn't wait to try it out. In go the milk crates for a test drive. We took off down the street nice and easy at first and my told me to "get on it" as we were cruising down a somewhat desrted neighborhood street. I stopped on a stretch that was over a block long and with only a few parked cars on the sides of the street. Left foot on the brake, right on the gas, I power stalled until the rear tires just started to break loose and let off the brakes. The car shot forward with the tires squealing and both of us were thrown into the back seat. We both scrambled to get upright and ended up getting more entangled as the car was still rolling forward at a pretty good speed. I was finally able to get on my knees and grab the steering wheel just in time to swerve to miss one of the previously mentioned parked cars but could not hit the brake as
And now for the rest of the story-- I was still on my knees. As I yelled for my buddy to hit the brake he dove head first under the dash and tried to apply the brake with his hand. I failed to mention that at the end of this street were barricades to block cars from driving onto the Little League ball fields. Being a non power brake car hand pressure had little effect at stopping and we were finally able to grab the emergency brake and lock up the rear tires. We came to a screeching stop with me flying into the steering wheel and landing on my buddy that had been flung farther up under the dash. We were beat up and bruised but sat/laid there laughing and giggling like a couple of school girls at our narrow escape. Wouldn't have missed that escapade for the world as I look back now.
Here is my first drive after I replaced the flathead 6 with the 331 Chrysler. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=r7WaK38wvb8
Don, Mine was the same way it was about 11 at night, no doors, no gl***, no front clip, no lights, open headers and my dad was using a spotlight to see. But that is one of the many memories that will always stick with me and my dad. Sometimes I just sit and think of what my truck started as and how it turned into a running and driving truck and it instantly puts a smile on my face. I never get tired of driving my truck and probably never will. Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
I saw a episode of hotrod, where they were on the power tour. There was a guy driving down the highway with just a frame, a motor, and a lawn chair bolted to the frame. He also had a garbage bag over him due to it pouring down rain. Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
After a car club bet of me not having my Stude ready in 6 weeks for our annual drag races, I thrashed on the car EVERY night til 12 or later. 6 weeks included, engine/trans install, wiring, plumbing, steering, install front clip. Maiden voyage was 1/2 hour before I wanted to leave for the track. Took off down the highway forgetting to bolt down the seat and flew back, grabbed the wheel to stop and turned around and packed. Made it the 12 miles to the drags sans hood, exhaust, gl***, lights. But I made it. And it made my day. But I did take a pic to always remember!
My buddy and i came across an old dump truck out in his paps field, he told us that we could have his old 70's something ford f350, if we could get it running. It being summer time and we having nothing else to do we set to work. the thing sat out in a field for 8-9yrs i believe, but the motor turned over still. After sever trips back and forth from our local junkyard we were ready to start her up. stuck the key in, my buddy sprayed starter fluid down the cleaned out carb and i turned her over and gave her the gas...i heard a loud bang and looked out to see my buddy laying on the ground. He was laughin...that bang i heard was the sound of flames shooting out the carb and cathing his hair on fire. Next go around he stood a lil bit farther back, then she started up. the thing sounded mean. The exhaust had rotted off from it sitting so long, we didnt care tho we like loud stuff. Next thing we had to do was drive the thing from his paps to my house. Little did we now what we were in for. We made it out the driveway and down the road about a mile before the breaks quit working. We came prepared with several cans of brake fluid, i dumped it in an we were good to go. As smart as we were we just had to see how fast we could get the thing to go, he punched it and we were quickly doing 50, that was pretty scary. Next thing i new the hood flew up, we couldnt see anything, i put my head out the window and yelled out directions to him what way he had to go and told him to hit the brakes, well all our brake fluid had ran out and his foot was to the floor. Lucky for us there was a hill that stopped us and we coasted back to to the bottom me guiding him the hole way, i slammed the hood down this time. We made it to the house a little while after, using up all our brake fluid and having some difficulty with the steering. Unfortunately that was its last ride, the thing died and my buddy s****ped it, it was fun while it lasted tho. sorry no pics
That's awesome, driving a car that hasn't seen the road in that long Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
Was smiling for so long, was motivated even more to work as much as could on it. Ended up getting to drive it before the snow flyed up here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS0nep4UIys
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