I been driving my GMC about 20 years I changed stuff till 10 years ago Now I'm thinking about changing it again. What would you change on your 20 year old driver?
I dig it Jim, leave it alone just keep spinning those rear wheels. but if you must, drop the front about 3 inch, the back about 2, and put some WWW, call it done. if you ditch the motor, call me. I have no idea how to get it over here from over there but I'll try....
I`ve had my old beater racer since 1979, dam 28 year`s Im glad I started young or I`d be old now ?.......Doh! It`s still evolving I change stuff around a little each year, Im not stuck in time!
I've been driving the same 38 chevy coupe for 33 years now. For about 10 years it was the only 4 wheeled vehicle I had. Ive made some major changes over the years. Now its got 4 wheel power disc brakes, tilt, cruise, ac, CD changer, elect seat, windows ect. Not too traditional but I like it IT gets about 22 mpg and I'm not afraid to drive it anywhere. We've been to Nashville, San Bernardino, Green Bay, Ruidoso N.M. several times, and if I can get off work it will be at the Hamb Drags. Its only been on a trailer one time, when I took it to the paint shop. Wife wasnt available to come get me or it wouldn't have been trailered that time. Longest non stop trip was from San Bernardino Ca to Lubbock, Tx. 1100 miles in 18 hours. No more changes planned since the last paint job.
I have had my roadster (see left) since '84 and my Vega since '79. Can't picture the vega here, but I first built it with a 302 GMC six and now have a 363 inch Packard V8 in it.
My old 38 was built by my grandfather in the late 50s, my father re built it in about 78 and I had it for about 10 years un changed since 78. Its now back in my fathers hands with only two changes (UGH!) he put an auto and an independent front in it.
I have been driving my '41 Ford Tudor Sedan since Aug of 1977. I also have been driving my '61 Ford Econoline pickup since May of 1984. Enjoying them both still ! 41 Dave
Is 17 and 15 years close enough? 62 Pontiac since 1990 and 51 Ford since 92......restoed them both at home. The truck has towed a 19 ft house trailer to Indy and also down to the east coast of Canada
Been driving my old Stude since I built it in 1977...that's 30 years...it's been thru a few changes paint/wheels/tires/windshield-wise...but the engine/trans is the same one I put in it (400" SBC and a Turbo 400)...has over 130,000 miles on it and it's still going strong...burns no oil and gets about 21 mpg at 70 mph... It will be at the HAMB drags again... R-
Well,,,Er,,,I have several cars I've Owned over 20 years. Most of them were taken apart for Up-Grades some time ago. Now I'm just trying to get them back to where they were before I Die. They were Kool then, would be outstanding now. Driveing Them, What a neet Consept. The Wizzard
Built my Vette 20 yrs ago. It was a barn find in Tehachapie Ca. Car had been crashed in 1971 and still had the original black plates. Sure wish it had A/C these days though. My ass is way too fat and these coupes are hot. Would like to have a 5 spd Tremec too. Hope this pic attachment works. I've never done it before. Sorry if the size is too large.
This is my 22nd year with mine (see "Son of Godzilla Update"). I do NOT recommend doing it "ship in a bottle" style, like I'm doing. Either tear it completely apart, or leave it alone, IMHO. The old GMC looks pretty good in photos - maybe just a few updates would keep you interested?
Been driveing a 32 5w since 61. Had a Caddy,steelies and whitewalls,1973went to halibrands and Perrelli,s and Firestone dirttracks,black paint,260 Ford.1998,red steel w/48 caps,fresh black paint, evans heads /intake.59a.If you have a car you like,keep changing as your taste and styles lead you. Also been driving a 34 roadster unchanged since 79.I think of changing it but am so far content to drive it as is. The best part about Hot Rods is there are no rules.
DANG! I think this one's gonna be hard to beat! Jangleguy, now your one guy doing it the RIGHT way! Bah, 'a little more work' the way you went but thats half the fun. Ordered a T the other day, cant wait for it to arrive! Doc
I built my 1962 Studebaker Hawk in 1977 when I was in my early 20's. I trailered a rusty Stude from Charleston SC to IL. behind my Jeep. I built a Stude 289-- heads ported with big Chevy valves, a Chevy T-10 and Lakewood Oldsmobile scattershield, fiberglassed the rusted out floors (GASP!), and used it as a family car for a few decades. The fiberglass floors are still solid. They outlasted the original metal floors by more than 2 to 1, and are still strong. Around 1989 or 1990 I took out the Stude engine and put in a Cadillac 472, and kept using it as a family travelling car. I give it a new paint job about every 10 - 12 years. I still have the car today. I am putting in a new interior, and hope to have it back in service before winter. http://www.steeltechsolutions.com/images/hwkcolo2.jpg
About 20 years ago I bought my Mallock. I reskinned it, put a engine in it and went through the suspension. Right now I'm talking to friends of mine that vintage race. To find out what I need to do to upgrade the safety equipment, so I can start racing it again... ( and I want more horsepower too... )
Got my 37 coupe in 78--got it done in 82--so that's 25 years. Got about 100,000 miles on it and I've beaten the crap out of it!
I bought my 55 Chev Cameo in 1968, and it has undergone many serious surgeries. I have changed engines 3 times, ( 235 to 283, 396 for 36 years, and now 454). I have run a Muncie 4 speed and now a TH 400 with overdrive. I have changed to 5 bolt, to 8 bolt, and am now running 76 Blazer 4x4 running gear. I am now changing back to a 6 bolt 2WD setup, but will still be running the TH400 with overdrive. I guess what I am trying to say, is that it has changed with what I thought would suit me for the moment. It will never be really finished. Bob
I have cars I've owned for 34 years and cars I've driven for 20 years and a couple project cars that have that have taken shop space for 14 and 11 years. but I'm on a roll now and things are getting done
My list: Power steering.... I think there is a Toyota box that fits thru the frame and you marry the drag link And Yes David, I'm going back to the 228 and Volvo O/D gearbox I can't really use the 302's power here. WHITE WALLS???!!! This is a truck it's used as a truck no white walls or dumpin' either end The 228 used about 1/2 the gas and the ratios in the Volvo are much closer..... The Ford box in the truck is unbustable! BUT the ratios suck Volvo is like a hot knife thru butter I killed three of them with the 302 Last straw was a blip in top passin a guy.....lost top and third without really standing on it hard We have only a few hundred kms of freeway. Most everything else is a high crown rough two lane road 302 makes it hop pretty good if you stand on it to pass I've found myself sideways a couple times. Truck's really light in the rear....bouncin'+power aren't a good thing and don't even think of haulin butt here if the roads are wet John..... I am working on the 40 and waiting for the blown Ardun my buddies are building for it. That will be ready to drive next year and completed in 2009 I think what's happened is after driving the 39 in many differing forms I liked the 228/volvo best AND I'm getting old enough that this will be the last change in set-up I still have many projects to finish. The GMC is an old friend, that has served me well, and shouldn't take a back seat to my other projects The 228 makes enough power to kick ass on anything local
I built my panel back in 81. It was all stock w/ 216 4:11 torque tube 3-speed stick. Now it's got a L82 corvette engine, 350TH, 3:73 posi. I built my 57 Harley FLH in 73 from 2 lower case halves (that's where Harley stamps the vin #'s) that were found by the cops in an abandoned barn, along with some other stolen items. That, was a ruff build, cause I had to find / make / build everything to build the bike. It was a Panhead for a while, then I put a Shovelhead top end on it.
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