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Where do the Traditional crowd stand on Hand built glass rod

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by adzslick, Oct 23, 2004.

  1. adzslick
    Joined: Jun 7, 2004
    Posts: 12

    adzslick

    It may be slightly off topic, and i would like nothing like a traditional rod, dont get me wrong, but where do you stand on hand laid glass rods, in the tradition of Roth.... or even hand constructed steel bodies? totally original construction.....

    Please, no flames, just comments. if Ryan or his associates want it removed then let me know, or just do it ....

    that being said, what are your opinions?
     
  2. Sweats
    Joined: Oct 15, 2004
    Posts: 599

    Sweats
    Member

    Who cares what anybody thinks, Build what you can afford and can have the most fun with.
     
  3. Levis Classic
    Joined: Oct 7, 2003
    Posts: 4,066

    Levis Classic
    Member

    Anything hand made my an individual is alright in my eyes.

    It takes great skill and passion to build from scratch and thats what its all about!
     
  4. gofast62
    Joined: Jun 20, 2002
    Posts: 311

    gofast62
    Member

    home made glass is better than "i bought it allready built" a monkey can buy!
     

  5. Rathbone
    Joined: Oct 14, 2004
    Posts: 483

    Rathbone
    Member

    But if no one bought "already built" cars we would all be stuck with every car we ever had. There would be no one to buy ours when we finished with them. When it comes time to sell I think we're glad some guys buy them.
     
  6. Phil1934
    Joined: Jun 24, 2001
    Posts: 2,716

    Phil1934
    Member

    Do a search for posts by Moriarty. He restored some Roth vehicles and built a Roth inspired one that was featured in several mags with a blown 215 Olds with 8 97's. Be sure to set the time to search way back as he has been missed since he hasn't posted in a year or so. Unfortunately pics don't last long so you will probably just get red X's.
     
  7. Rusty
    Joined: Mar 4, 2004
    Posts: 9,473

    Rusty
    Member

    It don't matter to me. Yeah you would prefer steal, but they all look the same when there finished. And besides I don't care what poeple think. It is your car and if you like it that is all that matters. Just make sure you build one you can drive. If you can't drive it without being worried about something then it is not any fun. Good luck with what ever choice you decide.
     
  8. [ QUOTE ]
    home made glass is better than "i bought it allready built" a monkey can buy!


    [/ QUOTE ]

    So what do you gain when you buy a re-pro body?

    Answer; not as much bodywork as required by an original body.
    All the rest of it has to be built like any other hot rod.

    Here's a pic of my glass car.

    It's more fun than a barrel of . . . well . . . you know.... [​IMG]
     

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  9. Skate Fink
    Joined: Jul 31, 2001
    Posts: 3,472

    Skate Fink
    Member Emeritus

    ......Jay......what's that trailer in the background?? Pretty car needs to be driven so people can see her..... [​IMG]
     
  10. Dirty2
    Joined: Jun 13, 2004
    Posts: 8,903

    Dirty2
    Member

    I saw a glass 32 roadster one of the chupas traded for and [​IMG] made the comment "I dont care if it glass I would love to have it" Its all about what You like and what you can afford. Shure we all would like to have a boyd car so we could change it to be more the way we want it, could you just see the alumitub with a blown caddy with zoomies and mexican blanket seats. WOW
     
  11. [ QUOTE ]
    ......Jay......what's that trailer in the background?? Pretty car needs to be driven so people can see her.....

    [/ QUOTE ]

    Yeah . . . I hear you.
    Bought the trailer mainly to move the shop, but it was invaluable moving the 31 and 32 to North Las Vegas where I staged them for the move to Arizona.
    Had some shop equipment along with the roadsters as well.
    Last run I made with the trailer to Sunny California was to pick up daughters 78 Rabbit, all her apartment stuff and my 4 welding bottles.
    We got the Rabbit and welding bottles out, but right now the trailer is doing duty as a storage unit until she gets situated here.

    The trailers - this one and a flatbed - have been invaluable in making long trips.
    I like to drive the roadster, but Sweetie has a very bad back and clicking off long runs on the highway is tough on her. She can handle them riding in the truck so we have a nice compromise there.

    Right now, we're almost settled in - still setting up the shop - and looking forward to hitting some of the sights along Route 66 (it runs right through town and is about a half mile from my house) in the roadsters. Roadsters being my 32 and my friends 29. I've known him and his wife since high school and they moved here about a month after we did.

    Here's a pic of him at 17 years old.
    With trad car and all.... [​IMG]

    Well . . . I thought I had a pic of him, but can't find it on the new computer.
    Here's a recent one of him and his wife - taken at Mugu Rock south of Oxnard couple of years back when we were running PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) on a Saturday afternoon.

    You can see a small version of the pic I can't find by going here: http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0949398101.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
     

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  12. Boones
    Joined: Mar 4, 2001
    Posts: 9,691

    Boones
    Member
    from Kent, Wa
    1. Northwest HAMBers

    I think most here will tell you things built in the style of Roth is fine, maynot be like by all (hell I do not like everything Roth built). Glass is fine, not everyone has access to steel. It was the outcome is that counts. (example, glass roadster with sbc and big billet wheels will not work here... glass roadster with sbc and halibrands, solids or early Americans fit right in. Do not build a car to fit in here, build a car you want ot own, if it does not fit in here, then enjoy it, enjoy the board but do not expect others on this site to play along.. There are a lot of folks on here that have cars they do not show because they do not fit, but they still enjoy the board and others on here.
     
  13. Well said..............
     
  14. FRITZ
    Joined: Sep 6, 2001
    Posts: 1,209

    FRITZ
    BANNED

    Um?.......I'd be a fan of the home made glass body!
    thats why i built this.
    The "Roswell Rod"
    FRITZ

    <img src=http://members.aol.com/fritzfink/rothisgod>
     
  15. If it looks good,it is good.




    And if it's Ugly,it doesn't matter what it's made from.
     
  16. dutchtreat
    Joined: Jul 7, 2004
    Posts: 304

    dutchtreat
    Member

    I'm building a traditonal '28-'29 Roadster p/u and am using a Fiberglass body on a redone model a frame. The body is so poorly made that I will have a lot of work to get it done. So thats why I am looking for a Coupe body to drop on my frame.
    The fiberglass body has to have an all new bottom half of the firewall made and the whole body needs to be reinforsed as the builder didn't do any and reinforcing at all. Having worked with fiberglass and I have a few friends who have built boats and one who is building A 82% Corsair(ww2 fighter) in composit. He has shown me things that will make me be able to save this body. I will use a little wood (hard wood) for hanging the doors but the rest of the body will be reinforced with a ridged cell foam board that is supper strong by itself but when made into a coposit sandwich will be stronger than steel and very light weight. This foam is called Precision Board and I used a small sample to build a shift box out (1/4" thick pieces) then glassed both inside and out and it took my weight(250+lbs). So I'll have a lot of time in the p/u body to get it to be right. So it's not a "KIT CAR" body.
    By the way I'll have a '52 merc engine and a 4speed trans(were 4th is od)with a top shifer and a '46-'48 truck centersection banjo rearend. [​IMG]
     
  17. Id build one if I want to- its your deal -just do it up as good as you can and enjoy! [​IMG]
     
  18. hatch
    Joined: Nov 20, 2001
    Posts: 3,667

    hatch
    Member
    from house

    Cool is cool....who needs rules???
     
  19. Rocklock
    Joined: Aug 8, 2004
    Posts: 31

    Rocklock
    Member

    Better than rice. Understand the Roswell car and the like, but off the shelf kits w/ crate engines are just leggos to me.
     
  20. adzslick
    Joined: Jun 7, 2004
    Posts: 12

    adzslick

    Very similar responces to the ones i got fro mthe Australian board. By no means am i going to compromise what i want just to .... "fit in" but i like to know opinions, especially of those who i respect. im 17 and have learnt a shitload on this board,

    meanwhile, the concept i would love to build is similar to that of Scrape the lincoln zephyr rod or street rod or whatever your would want to call it, an example was a small pshop i did taking elements of the car and changing them.... opinions anyone?
     

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  21. [ QUOTE ]
    I'm building a traditonal '28-'29 Roadster p/u and am using a Fiberglass body on a redone model a frame. The body is so poorly made that I will have a lot of work to get it done. So thats why I am looking for a Coupe body to drop on my frame.
    The fiberglass body has to have an all new bottom half of the firewall made and the whole body needs to be reinforsed as the builder didn't do any and reinforcing at all. Having worked with fiberglass and I have a few friends who have built boats and one who is building A 82% Corsair(ww2 fighter) in composit. He has shown me things that will make me be able to save this body. I will use a little wood (hard wood) for hanging the doors but the rest of the body will be reinforced with a ridged cell foam board that is supper strong by itself but when made into a coposit sandwich will be stronger than steel and very light weight. This foam is called Precision Board and I used a small sample to build a shift box out (1/4" thick pieces) then glassed both inside and out and it took my weight(250+lbs). So I'll have a lot of time in the p/u body to get it to be right. So it's not a "KIT CAR" body.
    By the way I'll have a '52 merc engine and a 4speed trans(were 4th is od)with a top shifer and a '46-'48 truck centersection banjo rearend. [​IMG]

    [/ QUOTE ]

    here's someone "saving" a glass body, just like an original body that has been rotting away for years....gotta love it.
     
  22. Broman
    Joined: Jan 31, 2002
    Posts: 1,487

    Broman
    Member
    from an Island

    You're 17,

    If you build anything at all it will be cool in the eyes of any self respecting rod builder. Even if you buy every part for the damn thing it would be a difficult task to do for someone who hasn't built a car from scratch ever before. Hell, folks a lot older than you can't say that they've ever done it so if you did it at your age you'd be way ahead on the learning curve.

    And if you were planning on building one from scratch that you are going to "sculpt" yourself - it'd be nothing short of miraculous. Read this as a challenge...

    A few things you are going to need:

    A garage full of tools
    A garage full of parts
    A garage full of friends
    A wallet full of money
    A head full of knowledge


    Don't let me discourage you - I started young as well. But also don't fool yourself into thinking that you'll just be spinning wrenches and your car will be done, there's more to it than that.

    A car like Fritz's - I'll bet he spent 7 grand or more just to get to that stage (that's a low guess). If he spent less than that he's been very clever and frugal. A car like the one you're talking about sounds bad ass. You're going to spend at least that just for parts and materials.

    I'm hoping you don't think that fiberglass is easy and cheap. You need to talk to someone who can tell you more about how fiberglass shrinks when it dries and expands/contracts it heat/cold weather. And how/where it has stress points that need bracing/reinforcement. Then there is the bodywork.....

    After that you'll need glass for it. Well I shouldn't say "after" that I should say "during" that - glass won't bend to fit your body, the body should fit your glass...

    Anyone else want to give him a couple heads up? I feel like I might be bursting his bubble here...
     
  23. Greezy
    Joined: May 11, 2002
    Posts: 1,440

    Greezy
    Member

    First off I commend you for wanting to build your own body.

    With that being said here's a few questions you should ask yourself. Do I have the means to achieve this goal? Basic automotive knowledge, monetary, woodworking skills. You are going to have to make a wooden buck to form the body. How many cars have you worked on and or built in the past? Theres alot to building a car even with an existing body, but you already know that. Im not trying to discourage you at all. But this is quite an undertaking with lots of man hours and of course money involved. Just make sure you wont be getting in over your head and loosing interest in your project. If that happens all you will have achieved is wasting both. I might suggest if your funds and experiance is limited you might want to cut your teeth on a simpler project.
     
  24. Jimv
    Joined: Dec 5, 2001
    Posts: 2,924

    Jimv
    Member

    I'll be the first one to admit that the reason I built a fiberglass car is because i couldn't afford steel!!probably never will be able to!!
    Thats why i made it to look "New- stolgic". I like driving it &amp; everyone seems to like looking at it so i guess its OK
    JimV
     
  25. adzslick
    Joined: Jun 7, 2004
    Posts: 12

    adzslick

    I am coming from about 4 years of wrenching on VW's, i know not to mention that around here but thats a;; i will say.

    in the 4 years i have built one and maintained several VW's i have a plethora of tools both woodworking and metalworking, dads a plumber with an avid interest in wookwork and i have several friends with even more tools.

    the tub for the car will be a vw simply coz its cheap and nasty and available to me, another reason as i believe it is safer to use that than a glass tub especially with extra bracing. i can not afford a steel car allthough a early truk would be ideal.

    i have basic skills in glassing repairing surfboards and car kits for my ricer friends and am going to do alot of reasearch onto this before i begin. it may even be possible to modify parts and guards from other cars to produce what i want.....

    this was a basic post to guage acceptance, there is atleast another 6 months of ground work and planning before i jump into this project.

    thanks for the opinions and anything else you might be able to add just put it up.
     
  26. old beet
    Joined: Sep 25, 2002
    Posts: 5,750

    old beet
    Member

    Dee Wescott has done more for Hot Roddin than anyone else I can think of. He is building a steel sectioned 34 now,for himself. A REAL hotrodder!!!!!.......OLDBEET
     
  27. Dayzwalker
    Joined: Jun 10, 2004
    Posts: 11

    Dayzwalker
    Member
    from NorCal

    Alot of steel bodies are so far out of reach nowadays cause of the crazy prices people can fetch for them I say go the glass route if you can. If you have the drive and expertise to do so, then by all means go for it. One day there will be no stock steel bodies out there anymore and people will still piss and moan that glass isn't traditional, but glass will be their only option...unless they have the balls to fab a cab from scratch. And if your balls are THAT big, then you'll need to also build a trailer just to tote em around with you. [​IMG]

    Build it if you got it...go for it!!!
     
  28. LIL' AL
    Joined: Aug 25, 2004
    Posts: 280

    LIL' AL
    Member
    from RENO

    I've been helping a buddy that owns a '29 Ford replica,called a Shay.Fiberglass body w/ pinto drive train.(same as must.2)He is having a blast with this car now!Looks like a little rod now.Build what suits you!(and what you can afford!)AL [​IMG]
     
  29. 57JoeFoMoPar
    Joined: Sep 14, 2004
    Posts: 6,138

    57JoeFoMoPar
    Member

    I'm a young guy myself, but am schooled in the traditionalist ways...to me, for a car to be called what it is, some part of it needs to be from that year. A new frame, body, crate engine and all the suspension pieces raided from the So-Cal catalog would build not a '32 Ford, but an exact replica of a '32 Ford. Is it still cool? Hell yeah, but it's not a '32.

    For a young guy, steel cars cost too much. It's way cooler to get out there and enjoy a 'glass car than to look a steel body sitting in your garage with no motor because you ran out of money. You're young, build what you can now.

    Don't even worry about making your own body, buy a nice repop body, throw it on a set of old rails (which is cool that it's an original frame) and throw it together. Build it traditional and build it yourself. Put a cool engine in it. I'd much rather look at a 'glass deuce coupe with a caddy or a rocket olds, than a steel deuce with a 350/350 combo.

    Finally, to hell with what people think. if they're not turning your wrenches or writing your checks, they have no say
     
  30. brewsir
    Joined: Mar 4, 2001
    Posts: 3,278

    brewsir
    Member

    Big daddy didn't get into street rod runs with his homebuilt cars....but who gives a shit...I'd love to own any of his early...as most would. Screw it....build what ya want and screw what everybody else thinks! Tradition is just a bunch of people copying what was done years ago....
     

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