What are the top 5 things you learned from your first build?

mine's usually a 327 with a 3/4 race cam

 

I'm not even close to being done and I've already learn tons of things. So far my top five would be;
1. Don't buy a car that you haven't seen in person or had an investigator take a look at the car.
2. Just because it took two months to get her running again will not have an effect on why she will break again tomorrow.
3. Just because they work at a parts store doesn't mean they weren't delivering pizzas the day before and has no idea that a 351 Windsor is different than a 302
4. Don't let your friend, "shade tree mechanic" tighten things without a torque wrench 5. Dad was right when he said don't slam the doors (did it when I was angry) now I have a broken window.

 

1) Even though you thought you knew everything you needed to know, you don't.
2) Guys that know how to do something make it look way more easy then it really is.
3) Keep the wife and kids happy.
4) There is a distinct difference between what you want and what you need. Find a compromise you can live with.
5) When your all done, its still just a car. Family and friends will always be worth more, don't trade them for a possession.

Bonus: Start with the very best body you can find. Body work is time consuming, difficult, and expensive, and if its not done right, you will get to do it again, and again, and again...... Gene

 

Glad you enjoyed it;I can laugh about it NOW! When it happened it wasn't all that humorous.The only smart thing I did was turn my head away when I dropped the flaming book of matches.I estimate it was about a 50 ft. high fireball and sounded a bit like a low yield nuclear device detonating.I got peppered with dirt and rocks and managed to take out two windows on the first floor of the house which was about 40 ft. away and slightly above "ground zero".

My grandfather came RUNNING out of the house(no mean feat for a man in his mid-70's)as did the neighbors on either side and a couple from down the block.The fire department responded VERY quickly.

The REAL down side was about the only it accomplished was to further piss off several hundred of them little yellow bastards and prevent me from getting anywhere near the car for almost a month.If anything positive came from it,it was the realization that there is an EXTREME amount of energy in a relatively small amount of flammable liquid;or rather the vapors from same.

 

whatever you think you got a good deal on,triple that price and thats what it will cost to fix it...

 

1.Mass will save your ass..... it always seems we have a tendency to under do it seen several undersized heim ends on steering linkage break.
2.Keep it simple
3.If its not broke dont fix it....
4.Big HP Big brakes...
5.Your everyday car cant be your street/race car.....

 

Don't obsess over having a car that is going to take you 20 years to obtain. Be realistic and get something together that you can enjoy NOW. I like to work on stuff and always have a long term project in the shop,but the fact is that sometimes it is better to have a car wwith good working stock brakes and regular sized tires then one with a tube chassis and funny car tires that you wont be able to finish for another 20 years. I would like to own Mike Edwards racing operation,but if I refused to race a car until I owned it,I would never go racing.

 

And one more thing. Build what floats YOUR boat. Years ago i got caught up in the whole fastest street car thing. It seemed that every time you turn around there are newer,cooler wheels,and bigger cowl induction hoods. If you looked at my computer both now and then you would find mostly pictures of old 70's era prostockers. Finally I decided that MY car was going to have Super Trick wheels and an L-88 scoop because thats what I wanted. Same thing with my street beater. I wanted a car that looked like my 73 Camaro looked like back when I was in high school. Who cares what everybody else thinks,there are rat rods and show cars and everything in between. If you dont like my car then dont look at it.

 

there really is only one.

have a plan and stick to it, what ever you do don;t change your mind.

every indecision adds a year !!

 

1. Money runs out faster than time.
2. STAY ON TARGET. (or you will never get it done)
3. Don't listen to the people that say, "You'll never finish that thing."
4. Get help often when you need it, and don't be afraid to ask for it.
5. Always have a steady supply of Beer, Bandaids, and Bros...they always come in handy when you need them.

 

I don't know why but the first thing I usually buy is the wheels. And then I change my mind a couple times during the build. Anyone want to buy some wheels?

 

1. It will cost at least 20% more than you think.
2. Get a whiteboard and make a list (add things and take them off while you remember).
3. Don't put a 67-1 on, it will double everything. A hemi will be cheaper.
4. Make sure its got a manual gearbox and a quickchange.
5. Measure twice, cut once then tack and check again.

 

i'm on my first build right now and learning as i go... whewww

 

1,2,3,4 Decide on a theme and KEEP IT,5. Cheap can end up expensive.

 

1. Everything costs more then you anticipated.
2. Everything takes at least three times longer to complete then you thought it would.
3. Despite all the good intentions of help from your friends, plan on doing most things by yourself. Can't tell you how many times I've asked my wife to provide a third hand.
4. When it comes to brakes, cooling and steering by the best. These are not areas to save money on.
5. Do things right the first time.

 

Build everything to come out easy!!!!

 

1. dont build it in a place you dont have full access to.
2. do it yourself with help. dont help someone else build it.
3. do it the way you want it.
4. if you dont have enough money wait untill you do.
5. encourage your wife to help out she might enjoy it.

 

This is my first effort in many years, more of a reserection than an outright build. I am learning some things however!

1-evrerything cost way more than I thought or remember.
2 everything takes much longer than I planned.
3 there are no more parts guys with real savy about what will fit what.
4 I must have been a contorshonist when I was young.
5 I still really like the satisfied feeling I get when something is finished or comes out as good or better than I thought it would!

 

Took alot longer than anticipated ,Im still not done ,But have three things to do before tearing down for paint ,Im not including final body work have some minor things to do and brakes and brake lines ,Ill flare and finish later......

 

1.righty tighty.lefty loosey.

2.free is not always better.

3.you can never have too many tools.

4.stick to your vision.

5.SAFETY FIRST.

 

It was so long ago i forgot!! :0