Moral dilemma: Changing a loved one's hot rod after they pass

Keep it and make it yours. You & your dad built it "his way"... and he knew in the back of his mind you would get to make it "your way" after he passed. Any color you decide on, any tires you choose, and any time you spend with it will always be because of him. YOU are his hotrod, his automotive legacy... and any decisions you make in life are because of the life you had because he was your dad.

Keep the truck, but make it for yourself. Hopefully, one day you'll have a son to pass it to, and he'll probably change it to suit him a bit better - all so he can enjoy it the way you did, and your father too.

 

Hi Chris, it's Rob in Tacoma. Sorry to here about your Father. My condolences go out to you and your whole family at this time. I think give it a while and you'll feel right with what you may or may not want to do. I really think your Father would want you to enjoy the truck, and have fun. Again sorry to here about Father, thoughts & prayers my friend !

 

hey... I remember that car at Pleasanton way back when... I have a couple of pictures of it in one of my albums. me and my buddy were trying to figure out what kind of motor that was and you and your pop came over and started talking to us.

my friend ended up moving to Portland and ran into you guys a few times up there at shows. he would always report back that he ran into the guys with the cool volvo powered pickup

you know where the car was headed as far as changes. I see no problem with continuing in that direction.

 

My sincere condolences...but he's right there, next to you. I know you can't see him, but he's there; all around you, all the time. He's just happy to be around you, and he wants to continue to see you. If you want to change some parts, it doesn't matter to him, so go ahead.

At least that's how it is with my dad.

 

That truck looks awesome, I like it. My dad passed away this year also. Take time and don't do anything.Think about what you want to do and think about what your dad would want to do. If you were as close as my dad and I were you will feel like shit every morning you wake up. The first thing that pops into my mind is my dad is gone.I have to keep going....

 

I just think its completely immoral and your moral obligation to rid that nice hot hot of that VOLVO mill and stick a flathead, nailhead, hemi, something else in there that would be worthy of the gospel preached here........

just my .02

sorry your father passed, way too young

 

My Dad has been gone for 25 years now, his '31 Roadster has had the oil changed, thats all.

 

Change will come when it's ready.

I saw the truck at the races a few years ago, what a great job the two of you did.

 

you obviously have shit for brains and have never seen the HOT ROD in question. I hope this was your feeble attempt at humor.

 

Mans thats a hard one ,

I think I would leave it alone for awhile,

drive it some and let some time pass,

I think over time you'll find that its perfect just like it is ,after all you said you guys drove the wheels off it,as it sits........

Later if you want ,maybe then!

Sorry for your lost,my DAD passed in 94..still miss him like it was yesterday.....

I kown for me ,it would be just to hard ta change!

 

It's only been 2 weeks, leave it alone for now, there's plenty of time to decide later. Personally, I think I'd never change it.

 

GREAT Vision you both had on the build.
No need to rush anything- if you can , keep as is & start on another build. I've saved all my Dads letters when I use to hit him up for money in College..I love looking at his signature.. Yep he was on this earth..
Each nut, bolt, whatever was a tighter bond you had. I sure Your Dad was the envy of all his buddies - 'passing the torch'. I'd leave it..

on a different note... would you mind sharing the mfg & size( backspace) of those gorgeous wheels ? I'm having a tough time finding 2 1/2 " backspace,
Regardless , hope ya don't mind - these are for you.
RIP..

 

Memories will never change. Thats what you are afraid of changing...
Its obvious your dad loved to tinker build and change. I am pushing 60 pretty hard lately, built cars with my sons over the years. I sure hope they change the vehicles to their liking when I'm gone. They have my permission to do whatever they want as long as they DO IT THEMSELVES. Thats my only requirement.
I am sorry for your loss. But your pop wants you to be happy. Be happy man! be happy. Build em... your pop is right there with you.

 

I was in the same boat as you with the 55 sunliner I got from my dad,he bought it new and was a driver untill 68 when he bought a wagon and just let it sit in the gaarge since they only offered him 50 dollars for a trade in,he did buy parts for it while it just sat and rusted more and I did some work on it trying to get him to drive it but it just sat. He died in the summer of 98 and I did nothing with iit untill the summer of 99 when I put tags and insurance on it and drove it that summer but I got tired of looking at the rust and tore it apart that winter to start the restoration,I was going to keep it original but I decided to lower it and upgrade the drivetrain and brakes but did not do anything that cant be put back if i ever want to. I would do some little things to it to make it how you want it and just drive it. Jeff

 

Great looking Truck, I have My Dad,s old hotrod. In 1953 he got a 1933 ford pickup and he chopped it 4 inches, channeled it 5 inches and put a flathead in it. It got put in the garage in 1964 and it did not come back out until 2001. I got it and brought it home and although it was Dad's truck I did make some changes to make it to where I could use it. I unchanneled it and put a smallblock ford in it as the old flathead did not run. I look at it and it is still MY DAD'S TRUCK. It is a little different than he had it but the memories will NEVER CHANGE.....I think YOUR DAD would approve as you also helped build the truck......Just remember why you built it and the drive the hell out of it........

 

Chris, sorry to hear about your dad. He was a really nice guy.

Regarding the truck. I think he would have wanted you to continue on and do what hotrodders do. continue to improve upon it. most of the things you mention are just bolt on changes.. (if you are worried about it, keep what you take off, in ten years you can always "restore it" to dad's look.

As for paint, even you said he everntually wanted to, just could not decided. Go for it, just dont let it turn into one of those projects that does not get completed. it does not need to stay off the road for another 3 or 4 yrs. The truck is bitching and I have loved the look since the first time I seen it. Its one I compare others to but you have a great eye for style.. so once you are ready move on and make the changes.

 

Sorry for your loss. 60 is young.

I think you shoudl change the wheels, seating, tires and exhaust as you see fit. As far as painting goes, waiting a while to reflect on things seems prudent. But trying to paint it the color you think he would have liked is, forgive me, kinda silly. Painting it a color you like is not selfish or self serving. The whole truck sounds like it was a combined effort build and it was said a lot of it was built in his vision. Sadly he has passed and you are now the carrier of the torch. Put your choice of color on it and make the build complete as a true mix of your talents and choices for design.

 

Sorry for your loss..60 is young

listen for him...he will guide you in your choices, as he always has. His Phisical Being has moved on, but his sprit still remains, beside you for the remainder of your life.
You will know when he is working with you.
Color? ask him, it would have been a comprimise or an agreed upon color between you two anyways, this was a Father Son effort. And a very nice one at that.
Im sure he trust you to do the right thing, he was your Father after all.

 

Sorry to here about your dad. I have seen that truck for years. I think it is very neat looking just the way it is but also think with the right vision it could look even better. Paint sure why not if that is what you want. But paint it a solid color you can never go wrong with black. Again neat pickup and sorry to hear about your pops.

 

change what ya want
you said it was unfinished
he's still helpin ya even he ain't in the room ..

your keepin on driven/ workin / changin ... is what the two of you would have done together ..

your lucky and un lucky at the same time .. yer even up

 

Chris.
So sorry to hear about your dad, he was a heck of a nice guy. He will be missed. As so many others have said, in time you'll figure out what to do.
Call me sometime if ya feel like it.
Bruce

 

I found our 38 Dodge pu on craigslist last year. Had the dough to buy it. Dad and I built that truck from a stone solid original. It was kool. It was a daily driver. I was excited to find it, except it had been bastardized to a Dakota frame and never finished. The original frame was scrapped and that's where all the soul and engineering was in that truck. Had it been more intact I'd have grabbed it up. I had visions of new colors and interior, maybe back to a Caddy motor like it was at 1st. But sadly, not enough to make me want it back. Maybe that helps. I lost Dad in Sept 07, but in reality he's not lost after all. Hang in there, bro.

 

I'm over 60.....when I go I'd want my boys to hang on to my hot rod, I don't care if they want to make changes or not.

I really don't want it sold except for ONE reason....if the money was needed to help my grandkids....off it!!

 

Well said!!, my perspective exactly....IMHO your dad would want you to remember the good times and enjoy the truck, even if you make a few changes.. BTW I'm 59, and have a son who will inherit my stuff. Sorry for your loss.

 

I agree with most , your dad would want you to make it right for you.

 

I AGREE....
When the time is right, you'll know what to do...
Just remember the times you spent together everytime you get in it.

 

R.I.P.

That truck is real nice as is, all I'd change is the motor, and maybe put some hairpins on the back to match the front. Paint it your favorite color, he'd have probably wanted that.

 

Although it doesn't feel like enough, all I can say is thank you, again. You have all really helped me put this into perspective. It was especially interesting to hear from the dads who plan to pass their own vehicles down.

To all of the guys who knew my dad, your right, he was a heck of a nice guy. Smart, funny and able too. Thanks for the incredibly kind words. He will be missed!

Now let's all go build and drive, huh????

 

Sorry you lost your dad. 60 is way young. I'd suggest that you don't do anything to the truck for one year. It's not going anywhere and you'll be thinking a lot clearer then.

Terry