Thread: ’32 3W Coupe roller package advise/opinions wanted

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My gut feel is that N&N gives more bang for the buck, and it looks like the chassis he uses is virtually identical to a P&J unit.

Bob's right about the cost. First timers think they have the bulk of the project paid for when they bring home a body on a rolling chassis. Tain't so. You'll be lucky if that covers half.

The best advice is to plan out every detail. Have a mental image (or even a sketch or a cutout from a magazine) of what you want the final product to be.

Take an inventory of the tools you have, and determine how much work you can do yourself. You can spend 10% or more of the cost of the car on tools if you don't have a really well equipped shop.

If you can weld and paint, you're ahead of the game. But if you have to farm out painting, exhaust, etc., your price will go up rapidly. Painting is especially expensive.

Do you have enough room to work, and enough space to store all the parts? If it's tight, think about organizing things so all your "stuff" doesn't get beat up or lost. If not . . . can I use your garage?

Mock-up is critical. Make sure you build up the entire car (less wiring, paint and upholstery) to make sure everything fits, then tear it all back down before paint, etc.

Think about buying Tex Smith's book on How to Build a Basic Hot Rod, and do a LOT of thinking and planning before you turn the first wrench.

Never built either one ... of those,
But I like a 3W with a windshield frame. Not the typical glass body glue in windshield.



To me, the coupe with the chrome windshield frame looks more 1932 than the glass 32 sitting next to it with a glue in windshield.
( disclaimer ... the one on the left is my 3W )



It is real easy ( and common ) to have 10, 15 or 20 thousand dollars in a pretty chassis. Parts and pieces add up quickly. A decent radiator is over 5 hundred ... more with A/C ... Wheels and tires cost money. A 700R4 automatic can easily cost a grand or more.

I believe I would buy a chassis and then built it ... to suit your taste and pocket book. Then buy a body. Just my nickel ...

Mike,
You have been given some great advise by guy's that have been threw this. I hope you aren't discouraged by there advise. The rewards are tremendously rewarding.
My advise is take your time really think things threw, mistakes are costly, don't worry about redundant questions, you are with a very special group of people on this site.
Ken

Mike,
You and I are at about the same spot - never a ground up build, always wanted to do it and wondering which way to go. I picked up the Sept issue of Street Rod Builder and they have two articles that are relevant - one on a low budget build of a '34 3 window, and another on a sweet '36 where the guy bought a buddy's car built in the 70's and used that as his platform. On the ground up build they are using a N&N Roller, and their budget is set at $35k - an eye opener for me, and on target with what the guys hear are telling you (and by coincidence, me) - plan on lots more time and money than the cost of the roller.
I am torn right now between the N&N Roller and buying an existing car in the area - think the already built car is the smart way to go, but concerned that whereever I go it's always, "OK, you bought Joe's car.", or "You have really changed Joe's car - liked it better before...." From what I have heard unless you go out of the area to buy the original builder's ID is firmly engrained in people's minds, which makes the ground up build attractive (for me). If you build start a scrapbook to record your source for everything from the roller with factory certificate of origin to receipts and notes for every component that might be thought to be stolen parts. Get references to salvage title numbers on any used parts from wrecking yards, like engine & tranny. Your state may be more lenient, but many (KS seems to be one of the worst) are getting really tough to register a new build, and then it is a 2008 Home Built, not a 1932 Ford.
Good luck in your decision process. If you decide to build take lots of pictures as you go and keep us in the loop!
Roger

Gonna run fenders?
You can save alot by losing the fenders. Also know ahead of time exhaust layout. Chassis builders will change a bracket or move it to accomodate, exhaust, brakes(power), headlamp mounts, transmission choices, etc. You can get some good deals such as lower cost plating and additional components by negotiating will the chassis builder. Buy in bulk to save, right? Oh and if you decide to pinch the frame keep in mine it will give you some trouble with the transmission hump just an FYI
Good luck

Originally Posted by rspears

I am torn right now between the N&N Roller and buying an existing car in the area - think the already built car is the smart way to go, but concerned that whereever I go it's always, "OK, you bought Joe's car.", or "You have really changed Joe's car - liked it better before...." From what I have heard unless you go out of the area to buy the original builder's ID is firmly engrained in people's minds, [

In your case rspears ...

I would consider buying someone else's car. In respears situation ... just go to one of the bigger events ( the NSRA Nationals, Shades of the Past in Pigeon Forge or a event similar ) and look at, drive and then " bargain shop " a little. At the Shades of the Past event

http://www.shadesofthepast.com/

They have a separate show on Saturday for the 1932 Fords. There are usually 125 to 150 Deuces in one area. As a general rule, many have for sale signs in them. They come from all over to be in this event.

Some folks just like building them and then sell them. Others, after getting one, decides that the little 32's do not ride like they want, or they just want something else. Sometimes, for some folks ... the thrill is in the chase and once they have the 32 ... they are ready for a Corvette or their next " dream car ". This creates a lot of the 32's being there for sale. You can buy one, take it back to your area and then it is not " so and so's old car "
This also allows you to be riding ... 2 or 3 years sooner. After you get your new 32 back home and had it for awhile, you may decide that 32's are not for you. Or you may decide this is what you really, really want ... and then decide to build your own version. Either way, you can come out ahead.

If you the type fellow who has been into a lot of different hobbies in the past 10 years or so ... I strongly suggest you buy a car ... to figure out if this is what you really want. You know you can buy a 32 ... a LOT cheaper than building one ...

Deuce

You know you can buy a 32 ... a LOT cheaper than building one ...

Man, have you got that right . . .

Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

Man, have you got that right . . .

Iceburgh has over 52 in his ... and a bunch of time.
I imagine you are upside down too ... in yours.
I KNOW ... I am way upside down in mine

I have a guy I know who is at 70 grand with a fiberglass 32 Vicky and he still needs wiring and upholstery. It's nice but nowhere near worth the $$$ invested. He has a good bit of paid labor rate in his Vicky so he has that added expense.

If you look around, especially closer to the end of the rod season ... you can buy a decent fiberglass hiboy 32 roadster or 3W for less than 30 grand. And then you are riding ... not spending money on a long term project.



Reproduction plastic body, no $ 500 windshield frame, Not much chrome, painted rims with hub caps , no fenders or expensive 32 pieces ... just a real ... fun ... little coupe