This is my first post on this board so I'll start with a howdy. I'm a college student in California and I don't have a car to brag about, but I'd like to. I work on my car (a 1984 Oldsmobile Firenza Cruiser LX...its a wagon) so I have a small amount of car knowledge.

Now for the questions! I want to start my first hot rod project so I have a bunch of questions that I am sure will only grow. First, what do you guys recomend as a good first project? I'd like to keep it pre 50's and I'm thinking along the rat rod lines for two reasons. I am in college so I'm really poor and I want to build a rod that a college age kid would have had back in the day. What advice do all of you have for a newbie begginer? Recommend any good books? Can someone(s) make a list of the steps for a beginner to follow? Where did all of you start? Thanks for the help in advance! Feel free to message me or email me.