Featured Art & Inspiration What project do you plan to get on the road in 2026?

I for one am looking forward to a better year, most of you guys know about me wrecking Brenda's Ranch Wagon in October 2024, I had a heart attack earlier and the doctor told me not to be driving for a few more months. I'm hard headed and didn't listen.

In 2025 I had some additional health problems and the car just sat, I had talked to several body & paint guys about doing the repairs, only to be put a waiting list and get put off time and time again.

New years day my pal Dave (he helped me build the wagon back in 2012) stopped by the house and informed me he had retired and told me he would like to help me get the wagon back on the road, I'm stoked! HRP

 

I have been able to find all the replacement parts and I removed the Walker radiator and had it recored along with the air conditioner condenser, I will update when I drop it off at Dave shop. HRP

 

Is that as in "which one"?

 

Denny, I ***ume you are talking about your projects, the roadster, the sububarn & the Nova. HRP

 

Danny it's good to hear the wagon is finally going to get back on the road, I know Brenda does, I'll be following along.

 

I plan to get this Coupe back on the road. I've owned it for 8 or so years and have had it set up a few different ways, most recently as a tail dragger, but for some reason, getting it completed has eluded me. A few months ago, I bought a really nicely put together ch***is with a built and dyno-tuned 8BA, Columbia two speed rear end and a ton of other goodies on it. That car was a hot rod with a nose-low rake. I swapped the body over to that ch***is yesterday and plan to run this thing as a hot rod for a while. I think the chop plays really well with the hot rod look, just as well as when it was a custom, if not better. I can't wait to get the fenders on and start ripping it around in 2026.

www.ironandsteele.com​

 

Man, that is a nice looking car, with or without fenders. HRP

 

Hopefully the merc

 

Hopefully 2026 will be a year of big changes (all good). Might not complete any vehicles but secure a place to try.

 

How about the boss ladys wagon? HRP

 

That’s after the merc

 

I'm working on an off topic (by two years) half ton 2wd GMC pickup. I had it 30+ years ago but sold it in 1999 to fund another car build. I re-aquired it two years ago without the 454 and turbo 400. I hope to be driving it this summer with a 350 and 700R4 while replacing the usual rotted rockers etc.

 

Would love to get this -

put in this and then running...

but who am I kidding. I'll be doing good to make enough room in my "shop" to get it in.

 

Get my first non model A started.



Gordy

 

As some of you know Clarence suffered a pretty severe case of road rash in October. It took almost three months but the insurance finally came through with repair money. So he's at a body shop now and today I went to the Kansas City 'burbs and brought home nearly all of the needed sheet metal parts from original F-1 trucks. The fenders will get ordered new repro as nearly all original F-1 front fenders are rusted beyond help. But I scored hood, upper valance, grill, lower valance, inner fenders, and a host of small pieces we'll need to restore Clarence to pre-crash condition. I'm hoping I get it back in February or March. It's registered for 2026 SK-500 and Sherry/I fully expect to be there.

I'd love to be doing the work myself but I'm smart enough to know that I REALLY **** at bodywork, so a talented guy is doing that.

Thank you @David Atkins! for having the parts I need and selling them to me at a VERY fair price.

pre-crash (at 2025 SK-500):



day of crash (in eastern Illinois on I-64):

 

Me.
Unable to drive since October due to cataracts and no surgery until my A1C numbers get low enough to have the operations.
Not complaining just explaining as I know there are those much worse off than me

 

Well, the plan is for my avatar '36 is to be on the road this coming June, baring any more surgeries or death. But then, my original plan called for me to be driving it by June of 2012...........

 

I know a lot of us old farts have health problems but I do hope you all are able to get the project done and enjoy the miles and smiles in the future. HRP

 

Hopefully get the Rancho back to the pavement this year. Got all I need for the warmed over 200-T-5 swap, early Mustang v-8 (not M-2) front suspension, Maverick rear, a little Patina Sauce here and there, and voila! It’s my daily. Now all I need is the energy and the time.

 

Love the old Falcon pickup trucks they male a perfect daily driver. HRP

 

Mike it sounds like Clarence will be as good as new within the next few months. HRP

 

Hopefully my new deuce roadster? Plans were to drive it from Nebraska to Pomona for the LARS but I fear my health problems with my new knee (6 months ago) may prevent the drive. Plus I have no idea what will be happening with my wife's health? My Silverado knows the way plus I can haul my handicapped scooter. Just have to see what time brings.

 

Really shooting on driving this around the block this year

 

Energy and time are at a premium at my age (nearly 77), but there's no alternative to kicking myself in the *** and doing what must be done. Last year it was wiring the '29AA and getting the engine to start. Thanks to all the help from so many HAMB brothers, the 351W now runs like a champ! Unfortunately, when I rebuilt the AOD a couple of years ago, I inadvertently forgot to replace the seal coming out of the pump. I'd already installed it in the truck before noticing the new one still sitting in the package. Took a chance, decided to try startup with the old one. It leaked. Now I must undo half of what I accomplished last year, drain the transmission fluid, remove the transmission, pull the converter, lift the 200 pounds onto my Workmate, unbolt the pump, pry out the old seal, install the new seal, hope I do it right and it doesn't leak when I re-install it and then start it up, adjust the TV cable and take it for a test drive.
Then it's onto gl***, exhaust, roof and upholstery. Fabricating the express bed might be a year (or two) away, but if I stay healthy and the crick don't rise, I'll grind through the ***ling, inspection, licensing and insuring gauntlet to where I might - JUST MIGHT! - drive it on the public roads after working on it since 1974.
So yeah, energy and time nails it for me, too, Joe.

 

My grandparents had a new 1960 (I was 9 years old at the time) and when the 61's came out they traded in the 60 for a 61. Oh how I wish I could have either of them.

 

That's the plan. How 'bout coming to Lloydfest IV and see it in person?

 

Plan is to turn this into a running ch***is by summer/fall. Probably going to take way more stuff than I can imagine, but the push is on.

https://youtube.com/shorts/JnSXUbfLPKo?si=WnbdAWJ7h6s9OyDy

 

I’m planning on getting into the rear axle install and front/rear suspension overhaul on my 64. It will get disk brakes on both ends and Caltracks on the rear updates to the front suspension in a few more areas to 65 parts. I’m going to install a byp*** fuel pressure regulator and new lines also.
This is probably a weeks worth of work in a shop but it will probably take me about six.