My 26T Coupe build thread

[roadster32]

funny enough i just got an email from someone on the hamb asking if i could make him a pair of mirrors like mine, Of course i declined but i don't think he would want to pay the cost anyways, I have 16 hours in each mirror !!!
Its ok making stuff for yourself as its only time but to make for others is expensive.

One more reason it's fun to work on your own sometimes....you don't have to justify all the hours to a customer!!!! Most of them just don't seem to understand.....

[Dave Severson]

funny enough i just got an email from someone on the hamb asking if i could make him a pair of mirrors like mine, Of course i declined but i don't think he would want to pay the cost anyways, I have 16 hours in each mirror !!!
Its ok making stuff for yourself as its nly time but to make for others is expensive.

At a reasonable labor rate, your mirrors would cost about $2,000.00 a pair---I can understand that!!! Doubt the guy would want to pay that for them. The hours really mount up when you design and build. Takes dedication to wrap up that kind of time into a Hot Rod, but it sure is worth it. Then folks just have to pick on you cuz you're so slow at building a car--Don't suppose that same thing happens on your side of the pond????

I am really enjoying your build thread!!! Really great to watch someone willing to put in all the necessary time to assure the fit, finish, and detail on the car is first rate all the way through the build and not just a bunch of bolt ons that may or may not fit the theme of the project!!! Thanks for letting us all share in your build!!!

[Ken Thurm]

Don gave me the link to your thread, some how I missed this. Great workmanship! I really appreciate thinking outside the box. I always think there is another way to do everything and you sure are proving that!
Ken

[Itoldyouso]

We talk all the time while building our own stuff about how we are amazed that professionals, like you are Steve, can charge enough to turn a profit, and yet not so much that a customer won't pay for it. We all know that sometimes the smallest bracket will take 5 hours to build, and even at $ 40 an hour (which I bet is low in this business), would a customer pay $ 200 for that part?

When that Jimmy Shine show was on TV he made a statement I will never forget. He was telling an apprentice builder, who was working very hard to produce some perfect bracket, "You have to decide what parts will be a 10 and what parts will be ok at a 2."

Every so often, like at a car show, someone will approach us and ask if we could build them a car. We always have to laugh it off saying " Even if we paid ourselves a dollar an hour, I don't think you would want to pay the bill!" My hat is off to you guys who can do it and still make a living.

BTW, that square hole thing is a perfect example of how a little thinking and the most common parts can turn out as something people are in awe of. Nice job.

Don

[roadster32]

Don i charge £20 per hour, thats $30 per hour

We talk all the time while building our own stuff about how we are amazed that professionals, like you are Steve, can charge enough to turn a profit, and yet not so much that a customer won't pay for it. We all know that sometimes the smallest bracket will take 5 hours to build, and even at $ 40 an hour (which I bet is low in this business), would a customer pay $ 200 for that part?

When that Jimmy Shine show was on TV he made a statement I will never forget. He was telling an apprentice builder, who was working very hard to produce some perfect bracket, "You have to decide what parts will be a 10 and what parts will be ok at a 2."

Every so often, like at a car show, someone will approach us and ask if we could build them a car. We always have to laugh it off saying " Even if we paid ourselves a dollar an hour, I don't think you would want to pay the bill!" My hat is off to you guys who can do it and still make a living.

BTW, that square hole thing is a perfect example of how a little thinking and the most common parts can turn out as something people are in awe of. Nice job.

Don

[roadster32]

Ken coming from a fellow builder i take that as a big compliment, thank you.

I must look you up next time we are in SoCal, I think we may get along

I guess living in Orange you know my old mate John Reid ???

Also do you know Jimmy White, he does great work and we became friends a few years ago when he showed me around his shop.

Don gave me the link to your thread, some how I missed this. Great workmanship! I really appreciate thinking outside the box. I always think there is another way to do everything and you sure are proving that!
Ken

[Ken Thurm]

Ken coming from a fellow builder i take that as a big compliment, thank you.

I must look you up next time we are in SoCal, I think we may get along

I guess living in Orange you know my old mate John Reid ???

Also do you know Jimmy White, he does great work and we became friends a few years ago when he showed me around his shop.

Yes, I have done a lot of business with John and will be doing more with my new project.
I haven't met Jimmy White, I know of him. His shop was a few doors down from a friend of mine but I never went there, I'm shy
Please do give me a call the next time you are here. Would enjoy meeting you.
Ken

[Whiplash23T]

Heck Steve you are just a cheap whore at 20 pounds (my key board doesn't have the pound thingy either). I would be happy paying you more like 50 pounds per hour for your workmanship and skill level. Most of the pro builders down here charge between $50.00 and $100.00 per hour for there work and most have a waiting list a year long or more.
I also believe if one can not do the a job correctly and one has to pay someone to do it,be prepared to pay for the job to be done once and to a satisfactory standard by both parties.

[1gary]

For a car that is already done,I am thinking you don't want to hear what I am about to post,but what the heck.No matter what rear end you choose,make very sure you don't choose a rear end ratio that would over rev your engine combo.

Given what you say you want to do,I think if you had a Ford 9' built for your rod,it would be the easiest to have both rear end gear ratios.One center carrier spooled for the strip and another posti for the street.Of course the one for the strip would be geared for that and the one for the street for highway cruising.They are very easy to swap and certainly are a stronger rear end than the 10 bolt.

[roadster32]

Your probably right Whip but i'm content with what i get.

Heck Steve you are just a cheap whore at 20 pounds (my key board doesn't have the pound thingy either). I would be happy paying you more like 50 pounds per hour for your workmanship and skill level. Most of the pro builders down here charge between $50.00 and $100.00 per hour for there work and most have a waiting list a year long or more.
I also believe if one can not do the a job correctly and one has to pay someone to do it,be prepared to pay for the job to be done once and to a satisfactory standard by both parties.

[roadster32]

Jimmys a real friendly guy Ken, I'm sure you will like him and his work.

Yes, I have done a lot of business with John and will be doing more with my new project.
I haven't met Jimmy White, I know of him. His shop was a few doors down from a friend of mine but I never went there, I'm shy
Please do give me a call the next time you are here. Would enjoy meeting you.
Ken

[roadster32]

Appreciate the comments Dave, thanks.

Unfortunately over here also there ae many idiots who can't wait to find fault with my cars and work, I'm a big supporter of the UK NSRA and I spend a lot of time giving advice and helping people because i like doing it, when i started rodding in the early 70's there was nobody to ask and obviously no internet so it was tough and we made mistakes, these days its fairly easy to build a rod as there a multitude of forums and magazines etc to help.

My point is that the idiots that slag me off behind my back think i'm being big headed and self promoting myself, they couldn't be more wrong, I'm lucky to have full order books for at least 2 years so don't need the extra work i would get from self promotion.
I think they mistake my help and advice when its really about passion for the hobby, by the way most of these people i've never met or wish too.

At a reasonable labor rate, your mirrors would cost about $2,000.00 a pair---I can understand that!!! Doubt the guy would want to pay that for them. The hours really mount up when you design and build. Takes dedication to wrap up that kind of time into a Hot Rod, but it sure is worth it. Then folks just have to pick on you cuz you're so slow at building a car--Don't suppose that same thing happens on your side of the pond????

I am really enjoying your build thread!!! Really great to watch someone willing to put in all the necessary time to assure the fit, finish, and detail on the car is first rate all the way through the build and not just a bunch of bolt ons that may or may not fit the theme of the project!!! Thanks for letting us all share in your build!!!