I have been talking about a 33' 3 Window for a couple years now and I am finally to the point where I can afford to do it, and have been shopping finished cars, seems like $50k (Like thie 34 below) is where its at for what I want, but there are several things I would do different of course on every car I have found, and would wind of changing interior or driveline down the road. Ballpark, what will it cost me to build using all new parts, body from Steve Frisbie, mild flathead with a C-4, basic IFS, QC rear, and everything else stock, nothing fancy, more stock than not. I am capable of doing all the work short of paint. I think I can build exactly what I want for the same money? Thanks for your help and opinions, this will be my first car, been waiting for it since I was twelve!
Boy, ain't that the truth!!!! And all I've got is some ole 32 five window coupe. But if you do "Buy" a driver and do some wrenching on it, we won't call you a CHAINER HellRaiser
What are ya, 14???? Sounds like you have a fairly good skill set and a pretty tight vision. Price out everything to can possibly think of that goes into building your dream rod. The standard answer from there is to double or triple it, but let's say you are a smart guy and have everything including the chrome valve stems on the wheels priced out. I bet it will be more than any of the cars you can find, without your labor. This will also give you a frim grip on what each complete car you look at will cost to change into your dream....
It is a WELL KNOWN fact ... You can buy a rod a lot cheaper than building one If you find one CLOSE to what you want ... BUY IT. You will be LOTS of money ahead ... plus you have INSTANT satisfaction ... not a lot of parts chasing, cussing and being frustated.
Buy something close to what you want and make it your's. I'd buy something as solid as you can afford to start with. Why do you want a flathead? You can go a lot faster and cheaper, with less headaches, with a little more modern motor, and still keep the "traditional" vibe. I know a lot of guys will cuss me, but it's true.
Another quip. In this day and age, you'd be hard pressed to find a "Barn Find Original" anymore to build a hot rod from scratch. A good majority of cars you now see, have been made over and changed hands more than once. So it's no big deal to buy someone elses ride, and make it over your way. On the plus side, you could be driving, (for the most part) while you're re-doing it. HellRaiser
Do what you want no matter what anyone else thinks.You are the one that has to be happy with your efforts in the end.Even if it costs more to go one direction or the other,I doubt that you are building a hotrod for resale purposes.As you said,you have been making money for a long time now to be able to afford the car you envision. This is not the time to think about cost .Its the time to put that money you earned to work for your own enjoyment,not someone elses.Just decide and GO FOR IT !!!!
$100k plus to build one from a SAR body and it's still a fake. Go for a real one, be HAMB compliant and save a bundle... Sent you a PM.
Unless you really get lucky finding an original body that doesn't need 20K in sheet metal repairs you're money ahead buying a complete car, either a hot rod or restored. If you can find something for 50K go for it. I've built cars many ways and the most expensive was collecting parts to assemble a complete car. Little things, like garnish moldings and trim pieces are getting harder to find and starting with a complete car, as others have said, will cost less and get you on the road quicker.
If that's a safe, running, reliable, steel car in the photo...... its probably worth more than $50k. At least around here it would be.
A flathead ... a C-4 and a IFS ... do not really belong together in the same sentence ... IMHO. All are good parts and pieces but they do not blend well together ... as a good unit. It is like panckes, french fries and cottage cheese.
You guys make some good points and I'll take your advice. Got an email from a member with a nicely updated stock job the I can update and drive at the same time. Did I say IFS & C4, I meant SFS & T5, but the flattie stays!
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