Dumb Question - Were do I start

[63CadGuy]

Ok, so I want to build an old hot rod, but being a guy that has always been into 60's musclecars I don't have a clue were to begin. I know cars, I'm even starting to get familiar with the older stuff, but mostly I know my way around 60's musclecars. This is one of the reasons I join the HAMB. I'd like to build a reasonably priced car or truck, and I would like to to do most of the work myself or have friends help to save money, but I don't know were to go to get the info I need to get going. I'd like to put together a mid 30's coupe, sedan or truck. I'd like it chopped and channelled and as low as I can without scraping the bottom on every little bump in the road. Is there a resource that you can recommend that would help get me started? What kind of frame to use, what kind of rearend, frontend, steering, radiator, etc. I want something that is reliable and somewhat reanably priced. I'm looking to get the bigger main questions answered so I can start looking for parts. I know that when I get the bigger questions answered that there will be a bunch of smaller things that I'll need answered, but I need to start someplace and I'm not sure were that is. Any help would be greatly appreciated. And if I'm asking to much or this is just to vague a question let me know. Thanks.

Here are a couple of pictures of what I was thinking I'd like to do.

[63CadGuy]

or this

[Chopped50Ford]

Ill start this off...

Look at a few projects/rods out there at your local shows to start getting your ideas. Find out what car/truck/rpu you want to build...From there then;

Check out the Model A, 32, 34 frames...suspension, rear ends, motors and such.

Dont be afraid to ask questions to everyone of those guys at the shows or even here at that.

Keep them in the back of your mind or write down ideas...Hell toss them our way...

then buy the stuff and build away...

good luck..and keep us posted.

[Berdoo John]

Buy this:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0760309000/qid=1091945526/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/103-3921265-9148610?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

[Chopped50Ford]

That is a good one for traditional rods/roadsters...not "rat rod" type...lots of info though and the do's and don'ts

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[crewcutkid]

Yap- all I can say is just try not to turn a Ford into a super bee! I can't stand when the original design of a pretty car is spoiled by a "rodder" who wants to be lower to the ground/wilder than the next guy/build a krazy kustom. These cars aint renewable. Chopping, channeling, okay. Welding a chevy to a ford-no.
-Crew

[Greezy]

Reasonably priced....Id go with the Model A.

Frame...Model A can be picked up cheap.

Reliable...Im gonna get a bunch of groans on this but you cant beat the little Chevy motor. It also falls into the reasonbly priced bracket too. Im not saying the Chevy is any more reliable than the other makes out there but for parts availabilty you cant beat them.

Front end... I beam of course, or tube, definatly no IFS its just wrong.

Transmission...everyone knows real hot rods have 3 pedals. They make adapters for everything so its your choice.

Rearend...early GM, Ford 9in or the Mopar 8 3/4, Those 3 mainly for parts availabilty. The early Pontiac and Olds rears are really beefy units though.

This probably didnt help at all. In the end you gotta build what turns your crank...umm so too speak.

Im also building my first rod and man has it been a learning experiance.

This is what I started with 2 yrs ago.

[Greezy]

Resently

[34 GAZ]

Well starting from scratch you could take half a year just trying to find half of what you need.Plus maybe you,ve
wasted a few days going after deals that were also time wasting. There,s nothing wrong with buying someone else,s
project. It sure gives you a head start.There,s allways something for sale right here.

[63CadGuy]

Thanks for all of the great info so far. I'm going to pickup the book you guys recommended.
Greezy, the rod looks great, alot like what I'm looking to build.
If I was to go with the Model A, 32 or 34 frame which rearend is the easiest to install? Do I have to narrow a rearend or are there certain ones that will have the correct width. I'm thinking that I'll start with a sbc, but plans down the road would be a nailhead or flathead.
One other question, here is a picture of some wheels I picked up attached to a utility trailer and I was wondering how common the bolt pattern is on these wheels and could I swap out some white wall slicks on Torque Thrusts or do these have too unique a bolt pattern for that?

[willowbilly3]

Those wheels will fit all 28-48 Ford cars and 1/2 ton Ford pickups to 96.
Spend the 25 bucks and get Tardell and Bishops book on how to build a traditional hotrod. It is full of great stuff and even tho you may not build a flatty it is a great resource on getting the right look.
I don't really have anything against 350/350 cheb set ups except they just don't have any panache imo. Now a 3 deuce 283 is a different story. I mean you are going to all the trouble to build a cool ride, so why cop out on a measly couple hundred bucks you can save by running a 350, well unless you need maximum wfo for the least amount of money. I wouldn't rub anything but sbc in a dirt car.
Small Ford motors can be found just as cheap. I have a good 289 short block, heads and a bell housing I'd dam near give you if you came got it.

[Paul]

you start just like starting anything,

form a picture in your mind,

isolate what the main ingredients are and gather them,

use your available time to put it together.

Paul

[stealthcruiser]

how tall are ya'?

[stangzilla]

stangs rule

[tommy]

Many of the decisions you need to make will be made for you. While those 35 wires have the same bolt pattern as later Ford truck, they won't fit without huge spacers and long studs. If you like those wheels you are pretty much limited to 48 and down banjo rears and front brakes. Figure out what your mental car must have..wheels, engine, type of trans etc. etc. and your choices will become more evident.

For your first hot rod I'd recomend the "keep it simple stupid" method. To keep the cost down find a good running donor car for a motor, trans and maybe rear end that doesn't need a bucket full of money to get it rebuilt and running. Buicks, early Olds and Hemi's are great but they will cost ya some of your limited bucks that could be used to get the first one on the road.

Go to the shows and ask the guy that has something you like. Most guys love to talk about their rides.
+
Last but not least read all the posts on the HAMB. You may change your mind as you go along. Woman and hot rodders never make up their minds for very long.

[63CadGuy]

6' 2", so I'm kind of leaning towards a sedan.

[63CadGuy]

[ QUOTE ]
While those 35 wires have the same bolt pattern as later Ford truck, they won't fit without huge spacers and long studs. If you like those wheels you are pretty much limited to 48 and down banjo rears and front brakes.

[/ QUOTE ]

I really like the look of these wheels, but I like the cheater slick/torque thrust look or plain steel wheel with whitewall slicks a little better. If I was to go with these wheels I heard that the banjo rearends aren't all that strong, is that true?

[63CadGuy]

[ QUOTE ]
Buy this:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0760309000/qid=1091945526/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/103-3921265-9148610?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

[/ QUOTE ]

I did pick up the book today, it looks like it has a ton of good info, but I just started reading it.

[JOECOOL]

Hey Cad Guy , I am going thru the same deal,I built race cars for a bunch of years and now am trying to get this thing started right. It's funny I have one of the expert Guru's right here in the shop (Rocky) and every time I see him I ask a bunch of questions . He sometimes runs me off ,he says things like "leave me alone, can't you see I'm trying to poop". I know he really like's me though.
Any way what I did was attempt to gather parts all summer and plan to hit it hard this winter. I ended up with peices of about three model A's and two frames. I just bought a Sunbird with a tired Iron duke and a 4 speed.This last weekend I went to buy an Aluminum power glide and the guy had a old homemade trailer with an early Mopar tube axle under it. I bought them both.
Best of luck with your project.

[63CadGuy]

Joecool, I think I'm going to spend a little time putting things together too. I have a guy in our car club that should be a pretty good resource for parts and info that I'm going to start bugging. I want to do this thing right and put together a nice traditional hot rod so I'm going to take my time.