Hey all, im looking for opinions as to what you all think the best first rod would be for me. Im a younger guy, 19 now (will be 20 when i actually get to start doin a rod), and my budget is somewhat limited. Ive got solid mechanical skills when it comes to basic engine stuff (and some not so basic stuff). And im okay with suspensions and brakes. Interior stuff is some of my best area, and body work would be done some by me and mostly by a couple a greaseballs i****ociate myself with . I would****ume its probably better for me to buy a running (or semi running) later model ride and do some custom stuff, instead or taking on a full blown rod. Is that a good idea or am i just to scared of taking on a larger project? This is my FIRST old car, so its a learning experience and by no means intends to be perfect, but id like a solid driving cruiser with some nice looks (and prefereably a SLAMMED ride). what yall think?
when you say "hot rod" do you mean like a fenderless model A or a slammed leadsled.... makes a difference... what are your resources (not $$$); place to work and tools?
sled for sure, get a running one, get it reliable.... i dont like em as much cause they are popular, i mean even i owned one once, but 49-54 chevys are cheap, reliable, and parts aer EVERYWHERE
I'll second this. These cars pretty much grow on trees (well, mine had a tree growing on it, but... ), and parts are definitely easy to find... both stock and "upgrades". The engine compartment is big enough to put pretty much any decent motor in without too awful much headaches. A basic T or A... if you can find a body & frame in your budget... are nice for their simplicity, and there are a lot of options open for suspension, drivetrain, etc. You'll probably spend more time looking for just the right parts, but some folks like the "hunt". (I'd rather be actually fitting the parts on my car than looking for them.) Let us know what you get, and show us pics!
As already mentioned something drivable or near to start with. You can learn alot and have fun with it at the same time. Later move on to bigger and more progressive projects, you'll have more experiance, possibly more money and know what you want in a car.
What do you like. if your going the full route on your first ride I don't think an old rod would be any harder than a later custom. its just nutz n bolts my friend. They used to say that the bucket t was the best entry level rod, but if I was more prone to cruise that be uncomfortable I'm probably lean toward an early to mid '50s car. Its just a matter of desire or taste or something like that. each type of ride has a learning curve.
what ever your pocket book let's you get away with... without putting you out or causing major debt. Patience plays a big roll as well for how much you want to spend and how long you want to take to get it on the road so many factors lay into this. I say go to more shows and swaps, get stoked on one particular car or look, then go from there... in the end, they are all pretty on the expensive side, especially if you have skills none so ever on building anything, like me I think the journey is where you'll get the most out of it, rather than the destination! CAB
A running, driving 49-51 Ford with a flatty. I'm 21, got my first project car (49 Ford 2dr) this spring. It's been a lot of work and a great learning experience, but I wish I could have been driving it by now
Get a 70s parts car with coils at all four corners. then air ride the thing, get it running good, find a useable (and same brand for aesthetics) 50s body and teach yourself to channel it over the frame. Its what i should have done, but was too stubborn to do. hind sight is 20/20
I've fallen in love with 7 cars this week. I'd say, don't limit yourself to one style, find your budget and start lookin. I never thought I'd like some models until I've seen what others can do with them. I never would have thought I'd find a 57 chevy pickup I'd like until I saw one with the right look and bought it. Now it's gone and I'm keepin my options open for anything. I'm with everyone else in getting something that already runs and drives. Work on it as you go and have a good time. Mootz
Lots of good advice posted above. One thing I'll mention, not that it would have to apply to you, but I've seen it happen many times. Getting a decent running car to work on as you drive it may be a good way to get into it. Many people start their 1st project as a full blown from the ground up project. Most of those never get finished for many reasons: loss of interest because the huge amount of work needed before its drivable, got in over head for first build, amount of $$ needed for even a "low-buck" project to be drivable etc. That said, getting something you can drive, and make improvements on as you enjoy it(and learn)may be a great way to get started. Then for your next project(and there WILL be a next one if you get hooked like most of us) you can apply all you learned to build your own whatever-you-want car. Either way, you're on the right track, hanging out here can help you out lots. I learn something here everyday. Good luck
A good starter rod should be a car that's: - Cheap - Relatively common - Complete or nearly so - fairly solid body, or at least straight if it needs a panel or two - easy to work on - either close to being a runner or ready for a running motor to drop in Virtually any 1947-1954 Big Three car short of Cadillac, some Lincolns and a handful of others (49-51 Merc coupes usually aren't cheap anymore) fall into this category. Chevy's are good, Pontiac has a few advantages over a Chevy (better rear springs, longer engine compartment) and uses a lot of the same tin; Fords are good and very common; Dodge/Plymouth are also very common (you might avoid a Fluid Drive model). They all have engines that will last a long time if maintained right, or can easily be upgraded to other motors. The Ford and Chevy you can get bolt in kits to change a lot of things on, the others need more fabrication. Oldsmobiles come with a V8 from 1949 on, too. If you're set on an earlier style rod, a Model A or T is probably the best bet. You can run similar frames with either one, they're relatively common yet and there's a lot of support. Heck, you can build an all-new T-bucket from a kit. But here, you can build a frame and hang about any body on it you want, if you want something a little different. It's more fabrication work. The rest is a matter of your personal taste and what you can find. Best to keep your options open, too, sometimes a car falls in your lap that is too sweet to pass up.. Thats how I ended up with a '50 Chevy for $200 that runs and moves. The bodywork in it is a mess, but what the heck, makes a good excuse to customize it.
Whatever you deside to buy be SURE you like the looks of it! You'll be looking at a project for a long while before you are driving it. If it starts to look ugly in a few months you'll never finish it. I got my first project when I turned 16 and kept upgrading projects until I had one finished 9 years later. Try and start with a car that is together, running is a big plus! Good luck!
I say find something you can afford. I picked up a pretty rare car for very little cash. You would be amazed at what you can still find out there. Just put the word out your looking for something. Yesteday a friend and I looked at a 28 Ford, frame and body. Actually had a lot of new metal. 1000 buys it. Just don't get in a rush. I did and my car is in 100 pieces now...
wow, my computer didnt work for a few days so i didnt know i got all these responses. Thanks so much everybody, thres alot of good advice. As to answer some questions people asked. I think for me ill want a sled. I like actuall rods' ie model t's and a's, but for my first project should be a sled. As for model and year, im doin my homework right now. Looking to seee what i like in what models. Most of you are right, looking for a decent runner with ok tin for a starter is probably a solid idea. I do like cadillacs, but parts and cost of the project may be too high, so i will prolly stick to chevy/pontiac/dodge. Maybe ford but im usually not a ford guy. Any models i should really stay away from? or are to much of a headache? thanks
I guess if I was you I would try to get the most bang for the buck. Find something you like in the price range you like & go for it! Gary 4T950 Chevy Guy P.S. Did I mention you should consider a 4T9 or 50 Chevy?
I gotta agree with CAB cuz I been on a long hard adventure with my first project! Even though my***** is gonna be tight! And I will be extremely happy, if I were to do it again, I'd get a runner and work on it on the weekends w/ my boys. Find a car you like, then scour the countryside for a GREAT DEAL! Save your dough too!
http://www.autohobbypage.com/ heres a good place to look at different rides for ideas as to what you'd want. Youd be suprised at how many cars you think are ugly can easily turned into sweet rides. On y block fords isnt true that you can drop in a 302 as is. Just another idea if what I heard was correct.
pick something no one else has and make a cool sled out of it. You learn something and have a unique ride in the end.
I would go for a truck there cheap, tough easy to work on,can be way cool, can be raked lowered, bagged, any thing your heart desires to do. I havent outgrown mine, have had over 50, still have 4. Have fun!
The good thing about Chevys and shoebox Fords (49-51) are that there's so many people out there that have done so much to them, that it's easy to learn from what they've done (both the good and the bad!). It's easier to find out what it takes to get nearly any motor in them, what kind of brakes upgrades work, etc. When you get to the Pontiacs (and other GMs) or Mopars, the knowledge is a little tougher to come by... so plan on figuring out more stuff on your own. But then you'll be a lot less likely to pass yourself on the hiway. Good luck on your search. There was a 54 Buick in the HAMB classifieds recently. Not running, but reasonably complete, and way cool. And it has a****LE!
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