how to build a reasonably priced 1932 high boy?

i really want a 32 high boy, probably with a glass body.
just simple like the the old hotrods just i would like to put a big block in it. i would like to build it for a reasonable price. but i know the bodies are expensive. ive seen coupes and such on ebay for $3500
without reinforcement.

please tell me the components of a decent 32 high boy please. you know axels, rearends, and other things in the rolling chassis

 

what do you call reasonable ? A '32 is not going to be all that cheap to build.

 

I checked out your profile,,,,,so you are 15 years old and want a 32 Ford hiboy,,,,really no different than a thousand other young guys back in the 40's,50's and 60's,,,even to this very day,,but,,,,

The only problem is the cars ,,like 32's just can't be built on a shoe string budget any more they cost many thousands,,,even glass ones.

It took me many,many years to get my hand on a 32 hiboy roadster and a lot of hard earned dollars.

Might I suggest,,,don't forget about the 32 hiboy but for now start out with a model A,,,,or whatever you can afford an start fixing it up and learning as you go,,,,

This is the way a lot of us got our dream car if you will,,,,,by building one,,, selling it,,and re-investing in another and another car until you have a good job with extra income to get that deuce.

Time is on your side,,,, your still young,,,,,I know it seem like it will take forever but you will get there if you stay focused. HRP



Good luck

 

I would find a car already built, then change it to your liking. A new build will nickel and dime you to death. If you still want a new build, I would check with Hellbound Hot Rods in Lancaster, Ca or Limeworks in Whittier. They do some nice work for a reasonable price.

Look at GROUCHO's post on his 32' 5 window coupe. Very cool car for a very good price. 389" Pontiac with a 4 speed. Limegreen metal flake. If I had the money, I would buy it. I saw a for sale sign on it at the Roam'n Relics show. $38.5K

 

ha-ha-haaaaaah! good one.

 

"crescentwrencher",
it's really great to see a youngman interested in getting involved in the hobby and setting a goal of building and owning your own 32. You've chosen without a doubt one of the most desirable hotrods of all time. I finally finished mine this summer.
I've got to say though I'm in total agreement with "hotrodprimer" he's given you some really great advice. To build a Deuce correctly and that can be driven safely is not an inexpensive thing to attempt. The most important thing is don't give up the idea of your dream 32
roadster. There is nothing wrong with learning those building and selling skills on another type of ride until you can afford to build the 32 you want.
Good luck and keep your dream alive.

 

I agree with all you guys.It took me years and years to have the car I have now.I just repowered it this year and rebuilt the front end rotor to rotor.All the nickle and dime stuff will kill you.I would also rec a car that may run and drive for the first one.That way feet will aready be wet for the next one and all the others to follow.

 

does it have to be a ford?

 

Hey, crescentwrencher! Some of the other guys have given good advice, but I'd look into the Revell brand if I were you. They sell a complete set-up (body, chassis, interior) with all the right parts. I built one back when I was your age, and it was a good first project. Depending on what you choose for paint, you should be able to do it for less than the $3,500 you're seeing on Ebay. Good luck, and welcome to the H.A.M.B.!

 

N & N Fiberglass has a premium roller for $13k. Add another $6k for the motor, and a mexican blanket, and you can probably squeeze it all under $20k.

 

hey good luck homey! you are getting some real good advise start out small work hard show respect it will come in time I started with a 61 4 door caddy now I have 50 merc and a27 t both on the road dont ever give up you will find your 32

 

Crescent Wrencher

Some facts:

1.Any original '32 Ford parts aren't cheap, especially if they're in good condition.
2.Most original '32 Ford parts aren't easy to find, especially if they're in good condition.
3.Most Hot Rodders aggressively seek to buy good '32 parts making them highly desirable and expensive.

A good Hot Rodder won't let 1-3 stop them buildin' that '32 High Boy.

Any Hot Rod takes time/skills/money/building resources (tools, garage, good Buddies to help out etc.)/a source of useable parts.

Time, you got. I assume.

Skills, you learn by making friends with other Hot Rodders, by taking classes in machining or welding/fabrication etc. and by askin' questions. Even dumb questions. HAMB is probably the best start point to ask questions and your underway there. Also, get to know what parts exactly you'll be needing. Having some experience at engine building and generally taking apart old and very rusty parts helps. As does putting them back together correctly!

Money. Your on your own here! We all are. Earn as much as you can. Obviously! Also, get to know the going rates for original '32 parts. Try HAMB Classifieds, swap meets, parts dealers (locally/nationally/internationally/offa the web), Ebay. Junkyards are highly unlikely source for original '32 stuff!

Building Resources. You'll probably want to do as much as you can to save money. You'll need a good place to build/store the car/parts during build-up. As local to your own home is better. Your own/family garage, probably best. You'll need power and lights. You'll need the right tools for the job. Again money and good Buddies help with tools. Hiring big/expensive tools is an option, but you'll need to know how to use them before hiring because hire costs can sore.

Useable Parts. You'll need safe, quality parts to build a reliable car. Knowing what's worth your dollar and what's pure trash is a skill to be learnt. That takes experience/money/and a slapped ego! We've all made bad buys. Without exception. But we learn. Asking those that know what's worth restoring (your original '32 pieces) is always a good idea.

So do you build a totally authentic '32 Ford High Boy Roadster/Coupe/Truck, or something that goes a long way towards looking like one? Probably the latter option. Few, particularly aged as young as yourself, would go for the first and succeed. You might consider relatively easier/cheaper options such as a Model A or T Ford Rod. These are easier to find and relatively cheaper to build.

Finally consider this. Back in the middle 1980s a bunch of young Guys and Gals in England (U.K.) wanted old style Hot Rods real bad. They had young folks wages, stacks of old Hot Rod magazines for reference (Hop Up/Rod & Custom/Hot Rod '40s/'50s/'60s copies), the sense to use cheap Glass-fibre bodies that kinda looked like original Ford pieces, ingenuity to use parts off other vehicles that gave the look at a easily affordable price (i.e. junkyard/swap meet/later Model Ford parts), enthusiasm in buckets and each other for encouragement. They were called the Low Flyers. They named themselves after an original American Hot Rod Club from the early days of Rodding. Back then in England, many considered Rodding an expensive pursuit and original cars almost unobtainable for young folks to Hot Rod. The Low Flyers did otherwise. I believe The Low Flyers helped put the 'Hot' back into 'Hot Rodding'.

Go build YOUR '32 High Boy.

 

like hot rod primer said....try going into something else cheaper...resell that when its done...then build a 32!
its what i did

thanks to some parts actually from hotrodprimer i now have almost every part i need to assemble a correct late 30's style 32 roadster with all 32 parts and a new brookville body...all with technically zero dollars out of my pocket

good luck...its a great goal to shoot for
Zach

 

watch ebay, I heard there was a roadster that went for a thousand dollars.

 

I know you want a 32 ,I'm 62 years old and have been at this stuff for 47 years and I also want a reasonable hiboy. My advice is if you really are in this for your lifetime,start with a t -bucket. I think they are well within a young ,inexperienced persons skill range. Use a running donor car and don't get hung up on rebuilding everything or trying to build performance in it. Wheel & tires can be purchased used as can lot of the items.
Learn on this car and then another each time reselling and plowing all the $ back into the next one.
Who knows maybe the market will go to hell and you can buy one for 10G's running.

 

I wouldn't waste my time buying & selling a bunch of shit I didn't really want. I can't afford to waste my little time or $$ on something I don't really want. You want a Deuce highboy? Build one. You can't learn anything on a T or an A that you can't learn on a '32. We're here to help also.

With 5K you can take your pick from several 'glass bodies or buy a steel Fordor or truck cab. With another 5K you can build a nice chassis. Run a Mustang radiator, 'glass shell, make your own insert.... In the last two months I've spent a grand total of $100 on a 350, 283, & a Turbo 350 trans - all out of running vehicles.

What you want can be done for 15K. Don't let anyone tell you it can't. Admittedly, you will have to want it BAD to make it happen though.

People laughed at me when I was in high school & wanted a '32 Ford. Mine was on the road just after graduation. People laughed at Kennedy when he was 16 years old & told them what he was building.... & he's a damn ROCK STAR now.

JH

 

Instead of a 32, why not build a 30-31 on the 32 chassis?

Bodies new or used are considerably cheaper and to my eye the 31 on 32 rails roadster makes a better looking car than the 32 roadster.

 

man if that is what really want find a way to make it happen stay focused on that dream.dont quit dont let anyone talk you out of it.negativity is a mind killer.if a deauce is what you want get a job buy a body and put he f@#$ car together

 

I think I've got less than 4 grand into my all steel 32. right now it sits ready to blow it apart do the bodywork and put it back together. bought the body and frame for $500 when I was 14. (granted this was 1994)

 

there might not be any better time to build the car you want.. I had a friend in highschool who worked hard saved all his money for a few years and bought the car he wanted.. it's not too hard to save money when you don't have many expenses. If you really want to do it, figure out what it's really going to cost and make a budget and save.. good luck!

 

A "Reasonablly priced highboy" ... you just added another oxymoron to my mental list ... hell, that's better than "Military Intelligence" and "Jumbo Shrimp" combined!

 

Build what you want! Have freinds help you build it and look for the parts you need. Start hitting the show and swaps ( early bird get the worm late folk get the scraps ) On a budget it will take longer to build the 32. In the last year or so I have seen two 32 glass bodies forsale in your budget. One was at 2000 was at 3K but was chewed to 2k. It was a gibbons body with all the fenders ,hood ,grill shell,insert,dash and was painted shiny black with flames. It was a take off a chassie so it was nice. The other is a glass body that is a older race body . It's kinda thin and needs glass work because it's a race body but at 600 to 900 bucks that buys a bunch of materials to build it stronger.. For a chassie or frame one on the bay right now front and rear crossmembers original rails for Buy it Now 600 bucks. Well them parts make a cheap hotrod or a good start.
Boneyard motor and trans running SBC (cheapest and the easiest to find parts and aftermarket goodies to doll her up) under 1K if not half of that. The rearend would be 66-77 bronco ( pretty cheap 500 bucks should get the whole thing but might need some rebuilding).. The frontend I would get a Chassie Eng. Axle and get the rest from a good supplier like Riley Automotive ,SoCal Speed shop,Speedway motors. Don't cut cost on the brakes or frontend. Heck yea you can do it!! and don't let anyone tell you can't!!
Good luck and hope to see your build start soon..

 

Work and save, and stay focused. I was drawing roadsters on my notebook in junior high. But college, marriage, kids, and mortgages pushed my plans back, started mine in 2001 and didnt get to drive it until this year, and i'm 44. Better late than never though.

 

I feel your pain ...

I wanted a Deuce since before I was old enough to drive ...
I was in my late 20's when I got my 32 roadster ... and even older when I got the 32 coupe.
Lot of good advice has been given ...

Just keep on trying ...And it can be made to happen.

 

The expensive part will be the frame and body-everything else can be found reasonable if you are creative. Swap meets will give you the front end parts you need(spring, axle,spindles, brakes). Buy a wreck or a beater that runs good for the engine, trans, and rear end. Abandon vehicle sales, craigslist, etc. will land you some cheap running gear. Everything doesn't have to be new-hot rods were created out of junkyards. You will learn a lot by doing this yourself, but be sure there is someone available that can watch for the important stuff-welds, the right bolts in the right places, etc. Never skimp on brakes or steering because it will kill you and others. Do your chassis first and look for the body along the way. It can be done and it will be great to drive.

 

If you're in high school, can your shop class work on your project car? If so, consider building a T-bucket or a Model A...your shop class could build a frame out of steel tubing real cheap (these frames are basically straight and easy to scratchbuild...you can't easily make a 32 frame without buying real rails)....
Then find a body for your T & A..either a real steel one your class can work on or a fibreglass one (these are ALOT cheaper than '32's)....
For motor and drivetrain, find a decent donor that you can take lots of stuff off of....(I'm helping a kid build his first rod, and we got a '76 Mustang II with a 302H.O for $200 that he can use the motor, tranny, diff, driveshaft, maybe the rad, etc. from)

You'll be driving something soon and having fun...then you can slowly start building a big motor, etc for it, but at keast you'll have something to drive right away.

 

If you really want a 32 roadster don't settle for anything else. Stay focused on that goal and work toward it. The vast majority of car guys don't own their dream car because they settled for something that was easier to obtain. Nothing worth having is cheap and easy.

I can understand guys settling for something other that a 71 hemi 'cuda convertible or '29 Deusenberg J because those are in very short supply but, thanks to the aftermarket and plethora of old Ford parts for sale, a deuce roadster is a very attainable goal.

You may think that being young and short of funds makes this a tough goal but the fact is you are in one of the best times of your life to pursue this. At your age you probably don't have a lot of the distractions that us older guys have. If you stay focused on the goal and work toward it, you can make it happen.

1. Hang out here and ask questions. There are hundreds of people here who know lots about building 32 roadsters and are happy to share info with you.
2. Get a job if you don't already have one, do odd jobs for people and save all you can to fund the project.
3. Hit the swap meets & hamb classifieds. There are lots of old Ford parts out there for sale. ebay is probably going to be on the expensive side so, I'd stay out of there for all but the hardest to find parts.
4. Learn as you go. A big part of the fun is all the new skills that you'll learn along the way. Again the hamb is a great source of knowledge to help you learn.
5. Put together a plan. This should include the sequence of building the car as well as an estimate of how much each project on the car will cost and how long it's going to take. This will help you maintain a realistic perspective on the whole project. Post it here for feedback to make sure it's a realistic plan. If more people did this step there would be a lot fewer unfinished projects out there.

I think if you're highly motivated, network with other hot rodders, scrounge parts, and do most of the work yourself and with friends, a 'glass 32 roadster with a big block (cad, olds, buick) could be built for under $12k.

 

http://24.123.120.90/contact.html

1. Graduate HS.
2. Graduate college, tech school, military, etc.
3. Borrow $49,000.00 and get your car!

Good luck to you. I bet you can do it.

 

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/p/4014,,_Lo-Boy-Instruction-Manual.html

This might help you out too.

 

This is true, but it's not always a bad thing. My dream car was a 66 chevelle. Couldn't afford one, and got into the import thing as a result. Got out of that and went looking for a performance oriented vehicle. Thank you barret jackson, most of the muscle car stuff I wanted was made of unobtanium to a guy on a college budge. I almost bought a Nissan 300ZX, but thankfully ran across my 62 Galaxie about 2 days before I went after the Z. I bought the boat the next day and haven't looked back.

It's not a chevelle, and historically I wasn't a ford guy at all. After buying it, i'm not only a ford guy, but a rabid FE fan as well. I no longer care so much for camaros and chevelles, as everybody's got one, and i'll be going faster than they are before long. Being different/doing your own thing has its advantages. Look around at as much different stuff as you can, especially on this board. These guys build quality stuff. After hanging around here, i'm not so much of a muscle car fan at all. This pre-65 stuff is addictive!!!

All I'm saying is that you may find (intentionally or inadvertantly) something else you end up liking better. If not, you haven't picked a bad car to build in the first place, so go for it! Just don't do what I did years ago and settle for a damn honda cause your friends think they're fast!