Thread: Everybody that is currently building a car...

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Brings back a lot of memories. My first car was a 48 chevy coupe, 51 olds engine and 3 speed on the floor. That was 48 years ago and a lot of cars in between. My retirement project is another 48.

Originally Posted by hotrod1943

Brings back a lot of memories. My first car was a 48 chevy coupe, 51 olds engine and 3 speed on the floor. That was 48 years ago and a lot of cars in between. My retirement project is another 48.

I'm not old enough to remember the old hot rods but I grew up drooling over Hotrod, Super Chevy, and Streetrodder magazines in the early 80's when I was a teen. Then got married, kiddos, job, and a mortgage. So when I joined up I felt the same way. It was like stepping back in time. I love this site. So many wonderful folks here. Glad you joined!

Sometimes I wish I grew up in the 50's....but dad says "No you dont!" Still....I think I'd of enjoyed fixing up the old jalopy's and cruising the strip. I feel left out when dad and his brothers talk about the old drive-in theaters....soda shops....jukeboxes....hops.....neon signs.....and those perty car hops with roller skates. I think I was born in the wrong era.

Dave G

Dave G. I know what you mean. I think the McCarthyism thing might have been pretty scary, but the cars and cruising were very cool, probably why American Grafetti is still so popular( which for all of you comcast cable people, it's free on demand this month!).
I wish I lived during a generation where we knew all of our neighbors and the family unit stuck together, and the worst someone did to you was honk a horn, not flip you off as they cut you off on the highway! (yet there are many good things today...the new dodge challenger, internet for places like this, and the advent of the bikini!

Originally Posted by hotrod1943

Brings back a lot of memories. My first car was a 48 chevy coupe, 51 olds engine and 3 speed on the floor. That was 48 years ago and a lot of cars in between. My retirement project is another 48.

My first car was a 48 Chevy Fleetmaster Coupe also back in the early 80's was givin to me by a guy I worked with . Very clean 2 small rust holes in each fender wish I had never sold it . Still have the fender badges and the rear view mirrow in the garage .


Dave S sure its warm its all in the thinking

Guys, I'm old enough - and the glorious nifty fifties weren't!!!

Let's start with a few simple things:
- No TV beyond your local 1 to 4 channels(well that isn't really something I'd miss now)
- No decent highways - Interstates were just being built at the end of the '50s
- No a/c in your homes or cars
- Telephone service beyond your town was poor
- Much of America was still going through rural electrification.
- The military draft - Korean War(60,000 dead, 100,000 wounded)
- Civil Rights movement - nasty
- McCarthyism and a commie under every rock
- Schools had the "duck and cover" drills against the Russian Menace/atom bomb
- Cuba and Castro's regime
- There really weren't many 'hot rods' contrary to popular belief
- Drive-in restaurants
- Dad had 2 weeks vacation and 2 or 3 holidays.
- Pay, $1 to $3/ hour. $3000 a year was a lot
- Air travel - it took 2 days coast to coast or to Europe.
- Cars started rotting out in 6 to 12 months (i.e. the Tri Five Chevies and Fords)

And there were some positives - Elvis and some good music, movies were pretty good - not the violence seen now, family life still existed without both mom and dad needing to work to pay for their mini mansion, two cars and keeping the kids in expensive toys, drug use was still not rampant, the police could really do their job, and people still cared.

But I need to put my soap box away and go help some folks with a project

Getting some of the little stuff made right on Tom's coupe. Still working on those nasty old fenders, today I had to add a piece to the left rear so it would match the right rear... Still some trimming and shaping to make them the same, but you get the idea.

When Tom came over he brought this really kewl dash. It had the usual dings in it. Had to do a bit of the old ding and ping and some trimming to make it fit. The dash sure was a great find!!! Way nicer then most of the one's I've seen. Now that it fits I'll do a bit of sandblasting and some smoothing on it, then primer.

Lookin' good Dave.
I did a little work on a dash myself today. First work I've done on the "Z" in awhile.
Got the glove box door pulled out of the mold, cleaned up a little & trimmed to fit over the intercooler. I've been lookin' at different ways to finish off the intercooler protruding through the dash and decided to make it look like the glove box door is partially open, with the intercooler stuffed inside. Got the skin done, now I've got to make the inner door panel so it can be glassed to the dash

Wow Pro. Thats cool!. I'm fixin to get my fill of fiberglass....have to widen my rear fenders. Also thinking about making my own one piece hood. Glad to see you got back to your project. I was starting to worry.

Dave G

That's going to be very nice, Pro! Anxious to see the system all plumbed, should look awesome what with all the tubes, hoses, clamps, and shiny stuffs!!!!!

Worked a bit on Tom's coupe today, the rear fenders are finally starting to resemble rear fenders!!!!! Also did a bit more on reinforcing the top sill and tieing things together up there. Hey Tom, did you want square or round tubes for your cross bows??? I think we discussed it, but you forgot to have me write it down in my notes!!!!!

Then went out in the "little garage" and cut out part of the rear floor on the Bronco II so it's easier to get some measurements and do some figuring and calculation for the new frame and cage.

Thanks Dave & Dave...

I had to go out to the shop & tape it in place, just to see what it'll look liike. . It will look somethin' like this, but not exactly like this.

[QUOTE=Dave Severson]
Worked a bit on Tom's coupe today, the rear fenders are finally starting to resemble rear fenders!!!!! Also did a bit more on reinforcing the top sill and tieing things together up there. Hey Tom, did you want square or round tubes for your cross bows??? I think we discussed it, but you forgot to have me write it down in my notes!!!!!

Square tubes.
As long as your E-mail isn't working I going to give you some measurements on here. Paul a guy I met at "Back to the 50s" several years ago has a 27 T Tudor with a Buick V6, 4" dropped axle, 4 bar, and a stock T frame, and full fendered.... I liked everything about his car. I asked him how he got his "Rake" and how the tires fit so good in the front fenders.
He has 195/70R14 in the front and 255/70R15 in the back, from the highest point on the bottom edge of front fender to the ground is 25 1/2 inch, this was measured at the top of the curve in the wheel well. The lowest point of the front of the fender to the ground is 17 3/4 inches. From the bottom of the radiator bottom cover to the ground is 9 3/4 inches.
I attched a couple of pictures of his car which doesn't show much but he's sending me more pictures in the mail, hopefully they make it here some time this week so I can show them to you when I stop my this coming Sunday afternoon.

That'll be kewl, Pro....and with chebbie power, the tape should hold it in place just fine!!!!!~!

Where are you at on the weight now, Pro??? I've forgotten, is your frame and cage moly or DOM?????

It's a MS chassis. I think it's gonna' end up on the heavy side by the time I get everything hung on it. I'm at about 1750 or so now. Hoping to stay under 3g. But if it gets a little heavy I'm not worried cuz' it is Chevy powered

[QUOTE=Dave Severson]That'll be kewl, Pro....and with chebbie power, the tape should hold it in place just fine!!!!!~!

You guys can always put a smile on my face and it feels good . I'll never be at the level i was before daughters mishap but you lift my spirits with this comradery .

[QUOTE=bluestang67]

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

That'll be kewl, Pro....and with chebbie power, the tape should hold it in place just fine!!!!!~!

You guys can always put a smile on my face and it feels good . I'll never be at the level i was before daughters mishap but you lift my spirits with this comradery .

I couldnt agree more! I love the humor and teasing on this site. It reminds me of every morning with my co-workers. Heck....we're always here at work an hour before....just for the comradery and laughs....and usually hang around for a half an hour after work. Does that make us nutz?
Just hang out with any lineman crew whether it be electic or telco. Sure to get some laughs every day. This place reminds me a lot of my buds at work.

Dave G