It all depends on what you want & your skill leval. I build this for under 6 grand. I did most of theheavy lifting on my own but I did have help from my friends
Abomination, I was wrong. I found the issue - it's the last page, "Finish Line - A Day at the Lake", of the May 1987 Issue of HRM. It's a roadster pu w/slotted mags. I'd scan it and put it on here, but the scanner ain't working.
I'd agree..to some degree. But I know many who have grown up with no tools or ability to build there own cars...heck, even change thier own oil, but always wanted something cool..bought something they liked, began tinkering...bought a 99 dollar set of Craftsmen wrenches...next thing you know...building a shop, buying a welder, yadda...yadda I just mention this because basically, you're telling every apartment dwelling person without a tool kit, isn't a real car guy...a man/woman has to start somewhere...seems to me the OP want's to get into the HotRodding/old car scene and needs direction on where to go!
"...seems to me the OP want's to get into the HotRodding/old car scene and needs direction on where to go! " If that's the case, then fine. I'm just going by what he wrote and how he wrote it. See, I know some mini-truckers, who after wandering into a car show, thought they'd become hotrodders. Not for the love of hotrods, but for the attention hotrods get. That's what he sounded like when I read his post. His post sounded, in a round about way, that he was trying to get into cars for the ******** reason. The attention. If I read into it wrong, then appologies sent.<!-- / message -->
tfeverfred - Thank you for your opinion, and I'll think on it. Dad had a '59 Ford Galaxie 2-dr, 390 w/406 heads, 427 intake, solid-lift cam, 4-speed, 4.11's, so that's where I got it. My first car was a beater '68 Cougar XR-7 390 GT for $750 - earned the money raising tobacco and hired out cutting it for others. Since then, I bought another '68 Cougar, and I drive a lifted '78 Ford 4WD quite a bit. Built and worked on all of them - still working on them. I also have a thing for Farmall letter series tractors - I work on those, too. You're a REAL car guy - you know what I'm saying. My uncle has a '78 Low Rider H-D Shovelhead, had it since I was little, so I've been around H-D's my whole life, too...always wanted one, ever since I can remember, so the H-D isn't to ease pain - it's to ride - man, I can't explain it...but if you've ever done it, there is nothing better...except your children's hug's and seeing their face light up when you get home...so that's where I'm at. I love the bike - driven a lot of cars, been in a lot more, and nothing touches the bike, but people get wiped out regularly on bikes, and I don't want to do that to the boys. Also, I want others to experience as close as possible how that bike makes me feel, and the closest that I can get to that is an old roadster with a V-8 and a manual transmission...Now before you get mad, go out and ride a basic Harley or Indian - if you hadn't already - for a few hours and just eat some two lanes, then tell me that four wheels feel as good as two. The only way that they can for me is to get someone in a roadster with me that's never experienced it before. You see, a "REAL car guy" - or a real guy, period - wants to share the hobby with others. That's why we're all on here. Now I won't argue with you that I need to find out who I am - been trying to do that all of my life, it seems. Dime store biker...I don't really know what that is, don't care. Hot rodder - not really into labels, I guess. "This ain't a game." No, it's not - bad choice of words on my part. For some, it's a livelihood, others - a way of life, and to others - a hobby, an escape, or the only thing that keeps us sane. I get it...but for most of us, it takes money, and quite a bit of it when we're trying to take care of our families and pay the bills. ...naw, man. The bike doesn't have a note...worked and saved, then bought it.
It sounds like you need to keep the bike. It's hard to have two hobbies like cars and bikes at the same time. It seems that the way you talk you really like bikes. Why not sell the bike and buy an older bike like a 45 or something.the thing you have to remember about building a car on a budget. Is staying with the budget. That's if you are wanting to build one. Just remember if you want to build one. Just count on there being at least a year without driving. Unless you have a ton of time on your hands. Make sure you know what you want to do. Or you will end up with a project sitting for years if you loose interest.
Yeah, it's fun...and frustrating, so I live thru you all. falconwagon62, you came outta nowhere w/that '62 Falcon Wagon and get my award...worth less than you paid for it...for baddest car of the night. Man, that's nice. Bart78, kinda what I'm thinkin' - really, I would like to build a older bike - a bobber with a Shovelhead and 4-sp, but bikes are as $$$ as cars. I don't know, guess I'll focus on one of the '68 Cougars for now and try to keep the '78 4WD going...oh yeah, I've got my wife's '65 Mustang torn down, too. ...and falconwagon62, smart ***es are alright as long as they like old cars and will help you out while they're running their mouths. Gotta stand for something.
No offense but... Some guys think since their dad / uncle / grampy ever owned/ drove / saw an "old car" it's in their blood - makes them a dyed in the wool honest to God " car guy" my old man never was a 'car guy' - nobody in my family was really... I've had the p***ion since I was old enough to roll Hot Wheels around. Again, no offense - and this is just MY opinion... anyone who considers old cars a 'hobby' isn't a "REAL car guy" - to me anyway. Stamp collecting is a hobby... Old cars (to me at least) are a p***ion.... A way of life. But hey, welcome aboard...
I sold my last hot rod car in the mid 70's (67 Must 427) & got into motorcycles for the next 30 yrs. The bug finally bit me again a few years ago after going to car shows I had deliberately avoided over the years. Having a blast with my 57 Ford but I still have my Harleys for stress relief.
Well in the 12th hour you announce that you still want to build a bobber bike, have 68 Cougars and the Wife's Mustang... Here's my advise; If you REALLY want a Hot Rod, sell the bike along with anything else that is collecting dust in the garage, house, (collections, etc). Take the money and buy the best open T or A body you can find with the $$$. Don't buy a rusty hulk or panels and fool yourself into thinking you'll bang out a cherry body. Forget 32-34's as a first rod, unless your bike is worth 25k+. Buy/build a model A type frame, then start scrounging for suspension parts, etc. A $100 worth of welding, grinding supplies will keep you busy for awhile. Work a second job to feed the habit, or at least cut back on expenses- no more going out for meals (brown bag your lunch) and to party. You'll be too tired anyway to go out after working all day in the garage Saturday. Its all about sweat equity and sacrifices to build a rod.
Thats what was going through my mind when I read this. Buy a harley, 5.5 on the "look at me" meter, rat rod, 7.8. Could be wrong, but... Ok, I'll suspend my sceptism for a moment. I'll probably get roasted alive for this, but have you considered a gl*** car? Good way to get your feet wet and see if its really for you without having to commit to a ten year project, and spend big $$ on tools and skills that most of us have spent a lifetime ac***ulating? I know if you had to go out and buy all the tools and equipment that I have ac***ulated over the years, just that will cost alot more than you paid for your bike.
I dug myself a pretty big hole. ...just trying to weigh my options with my time and funds. falcongeorge, your comment made me smile...bc I don't want to register on the "look at me" meter. Couldn't tell it by this thread, but I'm uncomfortable with attention, prefer the dark corner rather than the spotlight. I ride alone most of the time, and don't like the attention when I'm leathered up and have to stop somewhere. I just want to do my thing loudly but unnoticed. ...and no, I don't want a 'gl*** car - nothing against them for someone else - we all know what we want, though, and I've made the mistake of trying to convince myself that I'd like something once it got it when I never wanted it in the first place. Between Dad, my uncle, and I, plus car and bike friends, we should be good on tools. Gator, I'm in West TN now, but I'm a Robertson Co. boy, so at least we have Middle TN in common. Tired of allowing myself to defend my stance on old cars, Harleys, tractors,...I'm starting to sound like Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, and Eric Church, trying to convince everyone who I am. Nah, I'm good with where I'm at, and the people who know me know. After this thread, I'm good w/o falling under the "REAL car guy" ***le. Old cars were a p***ion to me in hs, college, and I still love them, but after the boys came along, they became my p***ion and old cars were relegated to an escape, time machines back to simplicity, and a way to keep me sane. I'm ok with someone who views 'em as a p***ion, and I'm ok with someone who views 'em as a hobby...guess I'm not a "REAL car guy", and again, that's ok.
Thank you, 57Custom300. Enjoying the bike now - rode in this morning - and enjoying watching the boys learn on the Cougar. Hopefully, there's an old Ford down the road to share w/family and friends.
To be clear here, doing an old steel car is going to require more than a full set of wrenches, sockets and breaker bars, unless you start with a really nice body. Just trying to make sure you are on the right track.
I understand, and I think that we have a good foundation here, but there are some things that I don't understand about these old steel A's. I've been reading and looking, and I've noticed that you all are tacking steel tubing inside the car, and I'm unclear on this - is it to maintain the integrity of the car, the right shape, prevent distortion to the body when doing major work to it? Also, I'm completely new to the wood in these cars, so I've got to read all about this. I have a ton of questions, but I'll do as much research as I can and try not to tie you all up too much.
If you want to build older bikes like a shovel head (those are late model to some of us) you should consider building a fat bob or a chopper a bobber is a chick or sometimes a dude if you are locked down (but you should never admit that). Shovel heads pan heads knucks they are all made of expensium these days. Hell even a flathead 45 can cost you more than I am willing to shell out and don't even look for a UL or a ULH they bring stupid cash. If your blockhead is paid for I would suggest that you keep it and start collecting parts to build a car. Upkeep on a late model scoot is not like keeping a dynosaur alive and running. Jyst take your time, you got a few good years left no doubt and you can build a car just like you build anything else one piece at a time.
Probably going to go this route for now anyway. I'll update down the road, and ask questions in between.
An 06 Super Glide is FAR from primitive, and if you are shooting for building something that fits this description, you are aiming way too low.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=781446 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=759518
badshifter, you're right - any late-model bike is not primitive, but it has a primitive feel in terms of lack of amenities and protection...a long ride with the wind and exhaust noise is the****utic, I suspect like a long ride in a roadster. I'm looking for therapy, and by this thread, you can probably tell that I'm in need of it. 97, that '28 is what I'm after. Thank you. He says that it's not for sale, but I'll message him anyway. Seems underpriced compared to others that I've looked at - would you agree?
All of the weight is down low, so you don't feel it much at a stop. Besides that, your feet belong on the pegs, not the ground
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