Hot Rods FORD 32´ pedal car scratch build

Hi folks, my name is Billy, and this is my daughter's built from scratch Ford 32' pedal car.
We're living in a little country called Uruguay, located in South America and is virtually impossible to get any complete pedal car or parts for one, so I have to build EVERYTHING. Working in an office pushing papers, with no training in metal works, no shop or garage and self taught welder.
This is how it goes....

Found this old gas heater, and saw a Ford bucket...

Then came the frame out of this:

Turn into a frame:



Then I had to fabricate the wheels... can´t get anything similar here



Hubcaps:

not that bad for a stove part, right?

Building the hood...




No steering wheel nice enough and in the right size locally, so I built one:

Metal Plate, marking the holes...


Holes done... grinder time...



Dash:


The result so far:

Salt and pepper shakers, turned around and some paper speedo and gauges glued there.

 

Grill made out foam and fiberglass:

some bondo...


Grill almost done...


Drive train and rear end:




Bending that rod without heating it was the most difficult thing I've done working with metal...
So, does she fit??

Grill on the "car"


Mockup with the wheels on...

Seat...




And first test drive with most major parts bolted in place...


Everything works, and she love's it!!




Next is bondo, sanding (I hate sanding!!) and paint. After that details.
Let me know what you guys think!
And stay tuned cause this baby we'll be ready very soon!!!

THANKS FOR WATCHING!!!

 

Good job , looks like she loves it.

 

the look on your daughter's face should make you a proud parent.

 

You did a great job on that pedal car. It's cool and I am sure that your daughter will enjoy it. Welcome to the Hamb. Uruguay is a beautiful country and there are still a lot of old American cars down there.

 

Awesome, better than anything bought! Reno.

 

Thank you so much for the words of appreciation guys!

wingedexpress: She sure loves it, I had to live it in the living room and she watches cartoons sitting on it!

nickthebandit: She does every day!

elgringo71: Thanks man! Luckily we still have many American cars in good condition to be restored. Most 50's trucks, Ford Chevy and Dodge are well taken care of and still in use to work every day. Hopefully I'll get one soon and turn it into a nice hot rod, just waiting for my baby to grow enough to make it a father and daughter project.

54reno: Sometimes I wish I could buy some parts, right now I have to rebuild the steering wheel because the one in the pics broke yesterday but hey, building your own parts has a special taste, you learn a lot in the process and the result is unique...

 

I once made a wood rimmed steering wheel, also. Had to glue up 4 pieces edge to edge with tongue and groove joints to keep from having too much end grain..
Looks like you have the wood lathe part under control.
I'm at the stage in my life that I can do stuff like this with and for my grandkids. Second time around is even better.
Nice work, you have the vision!

 

Thanks for your nice words Gearhead!
Love working with wood, and a friend of mine lets me mess around in his father's shop, he's semi-retired and don't mind me using he's facilities from time to time. You have extra satisfaction when the things you do are for someone that values what you do for them, and in this case there´s no bigger satisfaction than seeing the face of my baby seating in her car. It's just price less.

 

This car will mean more to her than anything store bought, something she will never forget.
Nice job.

 

Awesome!

 

It will be great to work on a project with your daughter when she gets older. There are lots of Truck builds on here. It's never to early to start getting ideas together for the build style for when the time comes.

 

e1956v: Thanks!! I just hope she has lot's of fun with it, and to give it an overhaul if my grandkids ever want to use it.

pwschuh: Thanks!!!

elgringo71: Yes this site is amazing!! For trucks I love the classic look, inclined to original patina, and original wheels with white walls and fat tires are what I like the most. That's the direction I see myself taking when the time comes.
If I score the right pre war Ford A, I'd love classic 50's hot rod (like Edelbrock's black '32 Roadster), and if the body is in bad shape and not too many original parts on it, well rat rod for sure cause I'm ok with some rust too.
As you can see, if I had some big cash flowing, time and the right space I would end up with a quite big collection... but most of us would right?

 

The new owner looks very happy!
Great work, very cool!!!

 

That's cool! HRP

 

Thanks guys!!!
Coming from all of you I feel really houred!

 

Love it! Truly ingenuity in action.

 

Very cool! I bet she will have hours of fun with it.

 

Outstanding Sir.She will have many years of enjoyment from that.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

 

I have had and restored many pedal cars but you cannot ever put a price on that one. Keep it for your grandchildren some day. It will come fast believe me. How long before you will have to put a motor in it?

 

You have proved the old saying....."I have learned to do so much, with so little, for so long, that I am now capable of doing almost anything, with nothing!"
You are a wonderful Dad! Your daughter is one lucky Gal!
KK

 

Personally built from hand with love...

One of the best " built not bought cars ever"

Would dunking the wood in some of the fiberglass resin hold it together better?

 

A little bigger and maybe Dad can go for a ride!! Awesome work!

 

Very cool project.

 

Wow!! thank you so much for the cool feedback guys!!
Truth is, she's such a wonderful girl I would build her the world... every time I finish a part I think of all the fun she'll have with it and it makes me trully happy.
Can't wait to finish and see her playing with it.

 

...she's a real cutie, she deserves that deuce!

 

You did a lot with a little but for someone as beautiful as her the best would be none too good!

 

Wow--It doesn't get much better than that!

 

Job well done indeed! Her smile says the same

 

You planted the seed!! That little cutie is on her way!! AAA+++ Pete