New to the car scene, I need help!!

[jimmydeansgirl]

Hey everyone!
I am new to this whole car scene, I just bought a 55 chevy four door,bel air, I love it to death but working on it is soo expensive, and I am just learning everything I can about it right now. Its hard for me to fix up when I don't have anyone to help me with it.I just figured you guys could give me some pointers as I go. I haven't figured out how to post any pics of it up yet but as soon as I do, I will show you guys what I'm working with. Its a sad sight right now, but it has a lot of potential, needs new engine, new transmission, but I'm putting my all into my all original baby. Hope you guys can help, so my first question is, does owning an old car ever get any cheaper?!!

[LIL' AL]

NO! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[Donzie]

If you're good looking and single, post a pic of yourself, that should get you all the help you need. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
If yer really hot looking they might even donate all the parts you need. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Welcome to the funhouse.

[Mass Butcher]

No, it doesn't get cheaper, but at least what you spend will be worth it, because you'll be able to see progress.
there's alot of knowledge here so feel free to ask away.
Welcome, and if you have any pics of the chebby that would be cool as well.

[yorgatron]

1st off you should tell us whereabouts you are in CA,probably a hamber nearby that could help out.secondly,you say you need a new engine and trans.are you sure? or are they missing? owning an old car can be cheap,but usually only after you've owned it a good long time,like 30-40 years.one thing for sure,if there's a cheaper way to do it,a h.a.m.b.er has figured it out.

[LIL' AL]

OK,fun and games aside.what are you working with?6 or 8 ,auto or stick,body straight or rusted out.Give us something to work with girl!!AL http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Deyomatic]

Yes. It is a SHITLOAD cheaper when you know what you are doing and where to get what you are looking for. That word "original" might get you into trouble here, but if HAMB history is an indicator, you'll be customizing it before too long.
Just be glad it isn't an "Import" style car! You wanna talk about expensive parts.

[yorgatron]

BTW i know for a fact all these guys are happily married w/children.shame on you guys! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Farmer]

Jimmy dean won't help you?

[Bass]

He's too busy making sausage.

[McFly]

Do you eat Jimmy Dean's sausage?

[Samantha]

[ QUOTE ]
He's too busy making sausage.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's exactly what came to my mind as well! HAHAHAHA

[graverobber63]

my first car hawtrod was a 56 150 4 door sedan with a 235 blue flame- and let me tell you you can't kill the fucker!
I tried powershifting, brake stand... those cars are the best. I sold it to a friend of mine in the Poorboys C.C and it's now bullnosed, slammed and in primer.
I should have kept it!
I'm sure you'll get all the help you need on here.

http://www.autowonderland.ca/wednesday/adamo/56adamo.jpg

[Kustom55]

Not being an ass but im curious. Are you Jimmy Deans girl as in the sausage guy or in the depressed, handsome yet mis-understood teenage drama queen?

[klazurfer]

Make it RUN , And THEN you have made a "Buck", or maybe 1K .
OR .... Keep the FR... and have FUN !!!!
Klaz http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[RotHod]

Best thing to do is hang out where the cars are...or with the guys (or girls) that are working on their cars. Be where the action is!

[porknbeaner]

[ QUOTE ]
That word "original" might get you into trouble here, but if HAMB history is an indicator, you'll be customizing it before too long.


[/ QUOTE ]

Aw common Deyo you know that original is a relative term especially around here. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif besides it hasn't got me into tooo much trouble.

Owning a car is never cheap, but building on the other hand doesn't get a whole lot cheaper than a chebby.
welcome aboard, you've come to the right place for info and finding what ya need to build one.
The PknBner http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Hellfish]

[ QUOTE ]
does owning an old car ever get any cheaper?!!

[/ QUOTE ]

The more you work on it and the more you learn, the more you can do yourself and the cheaper it will get. Old cars are simple and have plenty of room under the hood, so they're easy to work on. First thing you should do is get a shop manual. You can get them brand new for $20. Next, find all the places online that sell stuff for your car. They are practically limitless. Realize that you don't HAVE to buy reproduction parts from tri5 Chevy places. Many parts can be bought at NAPA, AutoZone, etc for quite a bit less than the repro places because you cut out the middle man. Finally, find some friends who are knowledgeable, or who can read the manual and are willing to get dirty. guys LOVE to help girls with their cars... often just for beer

[bufordtjustice]

When you are done with your car, are you going to attend car shows, pop open the hood and trunk, and proceed to unfold a lifesize cardboard cutout of James Dean with sausage in hand?

[Bluesfella]

I have the exact same car, bought it two years ago as my first project. They are great cars to work on since so much is available for them...

Coming into this with little experience, I spent more money than I needed to, but I didn't have places like the HAMB to set me straight.

You are on the right track, just ask plenty of questions - the folks on here are really knowledgeable. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[zman]

I've figured it out a few times. Having my '59 Chevy truck as a daily the last year has been cheaper than having a new truck. A new truck would have cost me $1000 down and about $300 a month, for a total of $4600 for the year. I have about $3000 in my truck all said and done right now. So I've saved about $1600 not counting the cheaper insurance. Yeah I do all the work myself but you can get friends to help ya out. Hell most everything can be done with the help of a manual and basic hand tools. Post some pics of the car. Pics of yourself and this thing will go 15 pages wethere you're good looking or not...

[TheGoose]

i'll help you....hehehehehehehehe http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

no seriously, where do you live?

[Mike]

Your boyfreind did a good job in "Diamonds Are Forever". His sausages aren't bad either.

[jimmydeansgirl]

"Hey Mr.!! you got any car parts for an old 55?" My 55 has been sitting in a garage for 30+ years, untouched, I bought it out of my friends dirty noth hollywood place, so it is all original, (not that I want it to stay that way), has virtually no rust and was a great deal, its has the original engine but the block is cracked, and the transmission is falling apart, years of sitting in a big puddle of grease and dirt. Now its just sitting in another garage doing the same thing its been doing for the past few decades...collecting dust. So maybe you guys can help me out, the cars in North Hollywood still, same place, different garage.I live in Ventura County, (thousand oaks). I will post a pic when I can figure out how to get the ones of the car off my digital camera and on to the computer, its been being difficult lately, but I do have some pics of me, any of you guys want to help me out? I'm single too, I can bake u cookies, bring you beer, I just need to learn about my baby!And by the way jimmy dean is my pet name for my sexy man James Dean, sigh...not the sausage guy.

[Mass Butcher]

[ QUOTE ]
I just need to learn about my baby!

[/ QUOTE ]

Pick up an old assembly manual. You'll learn quite a bit from that.(won't cost you beer or cookies either!) http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[SlowandLow63]

if i only lived in cali or maybe you ould move to jersey?

[prime mover]

put up some want ads for a running small block chevy with a trans already attached, go to pomona for any little things and call me when you need a man-whore.

[tmj]

heck, ur in the right place at the right time, head down to the primer nats on the 23rd at the ventura fairgrounds and u'll meet a ton of good folks, hell i'll be down there. good luck.

[Django]

I love California.

[Gracie]

I thought that chevies were cheaper to work on than fords...

When you have a car to work on, you have to prioritize... new intake OR new outfit...

[Hellfish]

SBC and inline 6s are easy to find and pretty cheap... and easy to work on. another good place for advice is chevytalk.com for specific Chevy questions and more restoration advice

[crush1776]

Check out:

www.recycler.com. (http://www.recycler.com.) There are always running small block chevy's and tranny's there for sale in socal. You'll definitely need to get in with someone willing to spend a few weekends crawling around in a puddle of grease to get the swap done. Plus someone with a pickup and an engine hoist to do the lifting. Me= no time, no truck. And my girlfriend would probably get mad, you know, of the time factor, not because I'm the spitting image of JD himself and you'd be all over me http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif. Good luck. Also, you should have at least some cash to offer even someone willing to help you out. $75-$100 per day or something, you know?

[TheGoose]

hey is that you in the pic jimmydeans girl?

[jimmydeansgirl]

I would totally be willing to pay someone to do the work, but right now I am paying to keep it in a garage, and spent almost every dime I had just to buy it. :-( But I would like to even just help someone else on their hot rod project if I could,just to sit and learn from someone would be great for me right now. I need to get to know the parts the way things work, I am totally alone on this car venture thing right now, I have a few friends who have some classic cars, but all of them are pretty much fully running and restored. I'll do anything just to learn about cars right now. Then I can get some more experience and find a friend to help me do the heavy lifting later on my car. I bought the Chevy because I knew it was a good deal, I love old cars, and I wanted something of my own. I just need to get more knowledgable. Anyone got a car I can crawl under? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif oh and where can I pick up an old Chevy manual?

[jimmydeansgirl]

yep

[TheGoose]

GOD DAMN, ill be at your house in an hour...... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Nads]

The secret is to break shit. dig in and break shit.
The more you break, the more you'll learn.

[praisethelowered]

Seriously, aside from the crotch sniffing. Everyone on this board started out where you are but girls get different advice from guys. go figure. I'm maried, and my wife is hotter than you so I'll give you straight dope.

You bought the car. Ok. Now stick with it. Search and read all of the old tech posts that have the words 55 chevy or SBC in them. Buy any books on the same topics. Buy some tools and jump into it. You don't need a boyfriend to do it for you. You are smarter than your boyfriends anyway. Once you get started you will have actual questions, not vague wories. Ask them here and I'm sure they will be answered. I think most of the people on here believe in a little afirmative action to help women who are serious about learning this stuff.

More than learning how to fix cars you have to learn how to solve problems and find the info you need . . . its all out there somewhere. Cars are complicated and when they aren't we push the limits and make them that way. So you have to get used to stepping up and figuring out stuff you have never done before. . . that part of it never ends . . you have to learn to enjoy it.


It will take a while but you can do it. And when you are done you will be the fucking hot rod queen de Los Angeles and James Dean himself will probably rise from the dead to ask you out on a date.

[55olds88]

Easiest/cheapest way to get that puppy going will be to get hold of similar running gear to whats there, if its a 6 toss similar back in if its a V8 car then ditto, means no changing mounts etc ,same for the trans makes it easy stuff you can do with only a little help rather then a mission with lots of help, once its going you can look at the bigger picture.
Good luck, and at least you started with something easy to get parts for.

[Doug Evans]

Jimmy Dean got canned from the sasage gig.

[pigpen]

The good thing about old cars is no matter how expensive the parts get, you will almost always get your money back. Drive a new car off the lot and you just lost several thousand dollars. Buy a '55 Chevy (even a four door) from grandma, you'll never lose a dime.

pigpen


"Well, that's what my broker told me!" (Martha Stewart)

[Deyomatic]

[ QUOTE ]
The good thing about old cars is no matter how expensive the parts get, you will almost always get your money back. Drive a new car off the lot and you just lost several thousand dollars.

[/ QUOTE ]

No shit. I'm in the process of selling my later model car as we speak and I've had to reduce the price a couple thousand already just to get rid of it. I will NEVER buy a late model for modification purposes again.

[pigpen]

The only reason I ever buy a new car is to get the long term maintenance agreement so I don't have to work on the damn thing. Computers and cars DO NOT mix.

pigpen


"It's a FOOOOOOOOOORD" (Really old car commercial)

[prime mover]

Hook up with the goose and he'll bring the whole car club over to help you work on it.

[OldCarPilot]

[quote
No shit. I'm in the process of selling my later model car as we speak and I've had to reduce the price a couple thousand already just to get rid of it. I will NEVER buy a late model for modification purposes again.

[/ QUOTE ]

Now Deyo you know thats all relative! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif How much was that tranny?

[plan9]

books, get lots of books. specifically a shop manual for your car... you need tools too, dont buy junk tools from autozone/pepboys etc. step up and get a craftsman auto tool kit thing at Sears... swap meet is also a good place to shop for some good quality used items.

you also have to learn how to use the tool. stripping and breaking bolts is part of the game, its extremely frustrating while changing an old exhaust gasket and the bolt breaks off in the hole.

youll also probably bang up your knuckles.. maybe, get some mechanics gloves... got a pair a yr or so ago i should have gotten a pair yrs ago... most big name auto parts stores carry those.

[Rocky]

I'd suggest a course in Basic Automotive Mechanics at your community college. Anything further in depth will try to teach you about electonic fuel Imjection and stuff you don't need and can't use to repair your 55.
I gotta assume Jimmy doesn't mess with cars and has no interest in them?
Joining a car club where all the guys' primary purpose is not to get in your pants would help too, if you can find such a thing.

[Rocky]

Oh, BTW, If you take a course, ask the instructor if you can work on your car in class as your project. In my town, there's a local college that will do this thing....and they will allow you to store the car on their property between classes! I built a complete project 56 Pontiac on school property, using school equiptment in their school shop! They even had a school parts store on campus with a really healthy discount. This was the only way I could build a car at the time...I was living in an apartment complex at the time..

[crush1776]

Here's your new motor:

http://www.recycler.com/asp/AdDetails.asp?iID=86524&sBAC=714&bSQ=0&iC=150&iSC= 150

You need some dough, though. Any vintage stuff lying around that you can ebay? Consider your priorities.

[52Chief]

Tools are a must, a place to work on it is a must, the desire to work on it is good too. I assume you want to do the work, not have someone do it for you? If so....

I know my personal hurdle with doing stuff on my car is I'm not strong enough to break some bolts loose. A lot of the time I have to wait until my husband can loosen it for me. It sucks, the stuff in the can can help, (I use something called Twister I think), but with-out power tools, I need the assistance of a set of muscles.

Any easy project to tackle, and you don't need much know-how to do, is strip the interior, (if it needs it, and it sounds like it does). You'll get a sense of acomplishment, and it's pretty easy to fix up too. Some spray cans for the window trim, fabric for the door panels, covers for the seats, ect.

But taking an auto class is a good idea, it helps to have a knowledgable person show you the mechanics side of things. Books help, but practice makes perfect. And I wouldn't attempt any major body mods with-out someone who's got know-how. You don't want to cut it up and not be able to put it back. Good luck.

[Gas_Tires_Oil]

To learn about cars check this site out girl...
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/

[Bluesfella]

Go here (http://www.55-57chevys.com/coccc/index2.html) for an assembly manual. You'll still need to pick up a good shop manual, though. Check here (http://www.carsinc.com/), here (http://danchuk.com/), or here (http://www.eastcoastchevy.com/) for the shop manual. I highly recommend that last site, East Coast Chevy, they really know their stuff. Ask them for a catalog, it's got LOTS of helpful info in it regarding engine/tranny swaps, etc..

Start small, take one thing and tackle it. Don't be afraid to ask questions and seek advice. When the small thing is done, your confidence will get a boost. None of this stuff is rocket science, once you start getting in there and messing around with it, you will learn how it works.

By the way, don't get too worried about the prices in some of those specialty catalogs, the stuff can be found cheaper if you know where to look. Make some friends with car folks in your area, they can tell you where to pick up the good deals.

Good luck!