I just had to tell someone, after 27 years I started on my hot rod today!! In July of 1981 I bought a cab and frame for a 1932 Ford truck from a junk yard for $150. I had lots of ideas, but I moved away to start an apprenticeship, got married, had two kids, started a couple of businesses, and got bogged down with life in general. I never gave up on my rod though, I still planned and dreamed and picked up the odd part here and there, a second cab for $275 in 1986, a '59 ford nine inch rear in 1987, dropped axle and so forth. Now, after building it in my mind about 50 times over, I started on it today and what a great feeling it is!! I have picked up three different engines over the years ranging from a 1970 302 to a small block mopar to a '46 flathead, but now have settled on a 1951 8BA flathead from a 1951 Mercury Meteor. I got a smoking deal on the engine, as well as a set of Sharp heads, Edelbrock 3x2 manifold, Holley 94's, and air cleaners. I am planning to go for an early 1960's look, mild chop, channel, white wall bias plies, no fenders, and gold metalic paint. I just rebuilt the front frame horns that had been badly butchered for a weld-on front bumper at some point in the past, and am currently building a jig for the frame. I want everything to be straight and square! LIke I said at the beginning, after 27 years I had to tell someone!!
It is a great feeling to finally get started. I thank my wife quite often for encouraging me to keep going on my projects.
Stllrng, Hey better late then never! My dad and I spent 6 years scrounging parts and dreaming before we got started last month. Whats the rear leaf specs you used? We are still planning the rear leaf setup on his bobbed heavy truck frame. This would be a good thread for the box truck bastards group. Were all the 32 trucks found in the same field in the same condition? Looking forward to seeing more. Here is a link to our progress http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=473875&showall=1
Thanks for the encouragement! The back springs, and rear end all came from a '59 Ford station wagon. I had the main leafs shortened at a spring shop so that they would work with the Deuce frame dimensions. I also used the funky rear spring hangers I salvaged from the same '59. That was back in 1987!
Oh, and for what it's worth, I have moved on from the Flathead ; now I am using a Y-Block. Perhaps the flatty will be for the next project!
Your story echoes my own so close it's amazing. Only difference is I let the dream die for a while and sold a couple really neat projects that just never went anywhere. Just started on my 26 roadster pickup project a scant few months ago, after dreaming for almost 30 years. Have fun, I am.
Looks like it is going to be a great little truck when you hit the streets with it. Good going. Some things just can't be rushed if you expect them to turn out right in the end.