Any old guys(65 +) still build not buy their hot rods??

Bought my 60 Comet wagon last Nov, I was 72. Converted to 5 lug mustang frt suspension and Maverick 8" rear end. Put a 302 Mustang and c4 trans. It runs and drives now.
Built my 50 F1 4 years ago ,was F7 Fire truck. Put cab on 52 F1 frame with 305 chevy and 350 turbo trans. Took it out for ride today.
Am now 73 and still out in the garage working!! Some days not to HARD !!

 

Just came in from the shop. Adjusting the hydraulic brakes and getting ready to bleed them for the first time. I am 73 and yes it is hard to get up off the floor. I do a little bit every day on my projects. These cars 34's 32's 35's 37's 28's 29's 57's I have had a long time and in no big hurry to finish them quickly then what. It keeps me busy and young have a very young wife that loves this stuff too. thank goodness. the 34 3W I am doing the brakes on is one I found in 1970, and doing it highboy style.

 

Ok, so I'm 44 years old and feel like I'm 30. I would love to be that "younger helper" for someone in my area. But, the problem is that all the old folks around think that just because you arent AARP member and remember Roosevelt, that you don't know squat...haha. Seriously, I would love to be the garage boy for some of the older guys and learn half of what they already forgot. So, anyone here in the Nashville, TN area that wants someone to turn the wrench and grind the welds or any other menial task, under their supervision...feel free to give me all the crap you want (but give me a call or PM)

 

im 62 1/2 been working on my car for 3 years im not a builder fabricator or much of a mech. but i enjoy what little i can do, hope to race it some in 2013, ive had a ton of help here on the hamb, got a guy gonna put a roll cage in it soon, its one step at a time , got a $24 dollar raise on s.s next year, what out parts stores

 

My father is 78 and is a member on here,has a model a coupe,48 ford f1 that are on the road, and is building a Hemi powered 39 ford,and a 500 inch caddy powered 36 ford pick up.

 

Move to Charlotte, North Carolina .

 

Damm Nashvegas99, wish you lived close to SC, I would welcome you to my shop, may have to clean out enough room for a second person to work though. I am approaching 68 and I figure that I will need to turn one project per year to get them all done by the time I am 80.

 

Geeeez Iwas told Iwas crazy Building a 1934 Studebaker Truck { told to big a Project} have an Arc welder, couple grinders and basic tool kit.am only 67 years young had 3 Heart attacks, Triple Bypass,and associated problems still,Specialist advised Selling Project,Told Him he wont get Ride if I giveup,then He said its great Therapy as long as I dont over do work,Have Daughter and 2 Apprentice Granddaughters 9 n 12 help out when they can.Cabin n Front section being built on Studebaker 6? Staionwagon chassis hoping to build as C cab pickup or Panel van,Guess Time will tell,Cheers Rebel Koolsville Down under. Never Too OLd

 

well i'll be 76 in feb. my project is a '28' model AA, flatbed. got the frame boxed, shortened, suspension all in, 364 nailhead w/700R4, s10 blazer rear end. working on the body, hope to be on the road come spring.

 

love that pic. shop is nice too.

 

where at in south cackalacki? Believe it or not, the place I want to move to when I retire is the Beaufort, Gardens Corner, area. Loved that area when I was down there at Beaufort Naval Hospital and Paris Island. I don't take up too much room.

 

I gotta say though...I've got nothin but respect for the elders that came before me. Plus, being from Kentucky and having a daddy that was a coal miner and a country loving man....i had better show some respect or that 66 year old man would beat my arse. I am know he could still do it......................

 

I'm 64. This week i changed oil pans on my Roadster. I took a 1/4 inch off the steering column drop. I realigned the rear end with the frame. I put in paneling in the trunk area.
Yeah I still work on my car that I have owned for 39 years.
I love working on them as well as driving them.

 

I'm 66 and love hot rods more and more every day. The passion for the sport only gets stronger with age, although the pain involved in doing things does interfere to some extent. My tudor project has been a 3 year collection of parts due to money issues, but I'm now about ready to start the build process. Once I start the actual build I'll get a thread going, and thanks to all out there that have helped with the parts and pieces!

 

I turned 63 on the 1st. O K , it aint 65. I'm still restoring, still modifying and keeping stuff running for the ole farts who run around sayin how much they spent on payin me to keep thie cars runnin!!!!!! scrubba

 

I am 68 and will be under my car tomorrow morning working on the clutch linkage. I am finishing up my car now and if possible will start something else when its done. I am low buck and do not buy "KITS" for everything as its more fun to make your own parts. Finishing a car is not to main goal, keeping busy is.

 

65-yikes!

 

I will be 66 shortly.I am building a T-bucket(not a kit) and working on a mild custom 71 chevy short bed and still enjoying the 39 Chevy that I built 40 years ago. I enjoy welding and fabricating,and also body and paint work.I didn't say I was good at it,I just said I enjoy doing it

 

Blew past 67 a while back and starting on my 5th hot rod. Four of them fenderless and three of them open cars. Currently, an old steel '34 Ford cabriolet. I like building this one as much or more than the previous ones. Yep, aches and pains but not letting that stuff slow me down. Great thread!! Tim

 

I have seen righteousness in this generation that you speak of and I fear that the young ones coming up now will not know what that is. Keep on trucking you 65 +..

 

Yeah, part of the problem with that is that "that generation" (mine I guess), has the mentality of everyone owes them something and everything should be given to them. there really isn't a work ethic. That may be the reason that the older guys are so reluctant to share with us. I don't have that attitude, but there certainly are others that do.

 

I'm 65 and recently took a welding course to be able to do my own bodywork this time...this is my 5th build.....

 

I'll be 68 in a couple of months. Would like to do a roadster, but haven't been able to find an affordable starter. Age ain't nothing but a number.

 

Beleve it or not. This is me over 50 years ago. My fist car a 1940 Sdude 2dr sedan. Then I go a real car, my 51 chevy. I have done over 20 cars over the last 50 years and I'm still doing poject cars. I have never purchased a older car done Check out my 40 Willys build.

 

On the happy side of 70 for a few more months. Started a 30 Model a gasser last month to recreate my 60's gasser. Be done for the first race in May I hope! No rest home for me! I'm going with my boots on!

 

Turned 75 last month, and my first car that I paid for @16 and could call my own was a '34 Ford 3wdw coupe, so I've been at it awhile!
There's been lots more over the years, and a few years on the dirt oval bullrings of the South to go with it. And all the while, I raised a family, but instead of hot rods, my son is into Harleys, OHHHH, the shame of it!!!!!!!!!!
Then, after family is gone their own way, back into hot rods, my first love!!!!!!!!!
About five years into finishing a '31 Ford Hiboy roadster. A few weeks ago, in an orgy of activity one Sat. afternoon by the notorius Sock Fucker brothers of mine, the hiboy made it's maiden voyage(s) well documented in pics by Toby Denham, 3dnSouth,Bad Brad,Carl, Dog Patch, Tudor, and others too numerous to mention. This shakedown afternoon uncovered some to be expected, "flys in the ointment".
Working on those now, but with a badly decreased rate of accomplishment lately.
Soon will come major back surgery, as I'm now almost immobilized on my feet, really slowing me down. Hopefully I'll get the hiboy back together before they start cutting.
The outcome of this surgery will have a big influence on where I go from here.

 

67 & only now how to build , not buy ! building is the fun part .............



i know every part by name ... damn bolts , SOB carb , etc .

 

My Dads roadster he is 69 retired welder, rebuilt the engine, body work and paint. He does it all in a little 20X20 garage.

 

Well Dam! We ALL are at least that age!!!! Kids don't do this stuff! I mean like WE USE TOO!
I am usually doing work for everybody else and no time to put my junk together!!!
Been rebuilding an old dilapidated building I bought about 9 yrs ago. Still ain't ready to build one of my cars yet! Building the paint room and sand blast building at this time. Still no heaters in the main shop. $$$$$. There are several cars that I started years ago. Still settin there waitin. The last ten years waitin for retirement from teaching. I taught 1100 miles away for 13 years, That's one way!! Heck of a drive to work!!
Taught both days and nights and worked on other's cars on the week ends. So when I retired I had the school shops to empty (my stuff), the hanger at Pilot Country to empty and my own shop that was stacked FULL of cars and parts when I did retire in 2003. Finding a place to put it all was not fun! So my wife told me to buy the old propane company and start my shop!
Then we found out that this town floods every 4-5 years!!! We had 10" of creek in the shop building and I was going to put my machines and cars in there? So I had to build a sea wall just like I did in Florida at one of my homes I built. 6' tall! BIG $$$$$ and a lot of trouble for a retired teacher!!!! Took me 4 years to get it all done. Both buildings had to have new roofs put on them! More $$$$. Now I am almost broke! Cars layin everywhere and everyone bothering me to buy them (CHEAP!). They really want to sell them on Craigslist!!! So I had to hide them from view. So in answer to this thread What are you building? Not a darned thing yet!!! JUST you wait though!
I usually never had time nor the extra $$ to take photos of my work. Customers did and those are the photos I have posted BUT digital camera is here and these new photos are cheap! So when I do work on my stuff I'll be sure to put em on here! Until then I'm just watchin you all as I have been when I have time for the last few years to log on. Today I took off and did nothing!!!! I wrote to my HAMB friends and wished them a Happy Holiday Season. Same to you guys out there!!!
Joe in Mo.

 

Built this dirt modified when i was 71 and still drivin it at 72.