heavytlc
06-14-2005, 01:39 PM
I keep finding posts that I would like to speak up on, so I thought I would do an intro.
I have been building Toyota Landcruisers for the last 14years. It has always been about custom and performance. In 1999 I entered into the Exreme rock crawling comps. I had fun racing for five years, spent a small fortune, and on my 13th roll over in my last season, I crushed my left hand. It was time to find a new automotive hobby.
My wonderful girlfriend enrolled in the auto restoration program at the local CC. She enjoyed spending time with me in the shop, and as much as she enjoyed the rockcrawlers, and the restomod cruisers she wanted to try something different. It is amazing, she can place cleaner welds, and does killer panel work. She has alot to learn, but she is already better at what she does than most men that have been doing it for many years. She is the reason I am now building a large collection of Model A's, and slick old parts.
The first project we are working on is a 1930 4door A, converted to sedan delivery. I wanted to build my 1930 A truck at the same time, but I am having more fun helping her get the delivery going. The body just can home from the blaster, and is now getting a 4.5" channel, and a 3" chop. I am not sure what will power it, but we have a 500 caddy, 401 nailhead, built 327, and a flathead v8(but it needs a rebuild). I know I will feel more pride, and joy watching her drive her first hand made car, then I would driving my first hot rod, so I will give her the pick of my cool parts. I cannot describe how it feels to drive the first car that you built from scratch, it was the turning point in my life, from that day forward I knew I could do anything. Every frame off, scratch build after the first one has been fun, but nothing compares to the first one. I want her to have that experience.
We are working out of my 1500sqft shop. I hope to have the new 8000sqft shop built by the end of the year. It is amazing how much more work I got done in my shop before it was packed full of parts, and projects. I have yet to find a money tree in my yard, so it has been a slow process to build the new shop. I am willing to do what it takes, I would rather have a killer shop than a great house. Someday I may have both, but I have priorities.
I have found the people in the hotrod world are wonderful. Everyone has so far been very kind, and helpful. For me the coolest part has been some of the 60-80year old men, that stop by my shop looking for A parts. I had a gentleman stop by a few weeks ago, he parked in front of the shop, and when I walked out and asked if I could help him, he asked if he could look at the Model A's. He had to use a cane, and was in his early 80's. He had some great stories, and later in the day came back with one of his friends. I bought a set of A rails for $30 from an older black man that lived in the Ghetto (he has been building a 4dr A streetrod for 10years, not HAMB style but very cool). It was a very odd moment, talking to the guy about cars and life, while kids are dealing crack out on the street. I have never seen a auto related hobby that had so much diversity. I think I might even fit in.
The first person I have met from the HAMB was HotRodPrimer. Very cool guy, with some outstanding rods. I would castrate myself with a rusty spoon for his 4door. I went to his house to pick up some parts, and ended up talking for a couple of hours, he treated me like an old friend. I look forward to meeting more people from the board.
I have been building Toyota Landcruisers for the last 14years. It has always been about custom and performance. In 1999 I entered into the Exreme rock crawling comps. I had fun racing for five years, spent a small fortune, and on my 13th roll over in my last season, I crushed my left hand. It was time to find a new automotive hobby.
My wonderful girlfriend enrolled in the auto restoration program at the local CC. She enjoyed spending time with me in the shop, and as much as she enjoyed the rockcrawlers, and the restomod cruisers she wanted to try something different. It is amazing, she can place cleaner welds, and does killer panel work. She has alot to learn, but she is already better at what she does than most men that have been doing it for many years. She is the reason I am now building a large collection of Model A's, and slick old parts.
The first project we are working on is a 1930 4door A, converted to sedan delivery. I wanted to build my 1930 A truck at the same time, but I am having more fun helping her get the delivery going. The body just can home from the blaster, and is now getting a 4.5" channel, and a 3" chop. I am not sure what will power it, but we have a 500 caddy, 401 nailhead, built 327, and a flathead v8(but it needs a rebuild). I know I will feel more pride, and joy watching her drive her first hand made car, then I would driving my first hot rod, so I will give her the pick of my cool parts. I cannot describe how it feels to drive the first car that you built from scratch, it was the turning point in my life, from that day forward I knew I could do anything. Every frame off, scratch build after the first one has been fun, but nothing compares to the first one. I want her to have that experience.
We are working out of my 1500sqft shop. I hope to have the new 8000sqft shop built by the end of the year. It is amazing how much more work I got done in my shop before it was packed full of parts, and projects. I have yet to find a money tree in my yard, so it has been a slow process to build the new shop. I am willing to do what it takes, I would rather have a killer shop than a great house. Someday I may have both, but I have priorities.
I have found the people in the hotrod world are wonderful. Everyone has so far been very kind, and helpful. For me the coolest part has been some of the 60-80year old men, that stop by my shop looking for A parts. I had a gentleman stop by a few weeks ago, he parked in front of the shop, and when I walked out and asked if I could help him, he asked if he could look at the Model A's. He had to use a cane, and was in his early 80's. He had some great stories, and later in the day came back with one of his friends. I bought a set of A rails for $30 from an older black man that lived in the Ghetto (he has been building a 4dr A streetrod for 10years, not HAMB style but very cool). It was a very odd moment, talking to the guy about cars and life, while kids are dealing crack out on the street. I have never seen a auto related hobby that had so much diversity. I think I might even fit in.
The first person I have met from the HAMB was HotRodPrimer. Very cool guy, with some outstanding rods. I would castrate myself with a rusty spoon for his 4door. I went to his house to pick up some parts, and ended up talking for a couple of hours, he treated me like an old friend. I look forward to meeting more people from the board.