Thread: yet another new guy

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My name is Matt in real life and I normally drive a 1989 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL, but i recently started thinking about taking the old 1963 1/2 Ford Galaxie 500 that my uncle left for like 17 years in my backyard... once i get the title from him i want to start completely refurbishing it. came here because im really new to cars, really didnt get interested in them till i started driving. Now i want to learn as much as i can about cars and hopefully turn my ford galaxie into a dragster. like i said im new so have mercy on my poor lingo of cars and my knowledge of them.

Hi Matt, welcome. '63 and a half Fords are really sharp cars and are cool looking even in stock form. As for making it a "dragster", not so sure about that though. While it can be made to perform really well with engine mods, it is a pretty heavy, large car, more suited to becoming a great old car to drive around in. Don't get me wrong, some of these were made into very potent racers in the past, but the word "dragster" just doesn't fit. Super Stock maybe.

Since this is your first rodeo, I would suggest to you what I always suggest to someone doing it for the first time...........take it easy and do little things. Clean it up, fix the mechanicals like brakes, shocks, steering, engine and driveline, then enjoy driving it for a while. You can contemplate your next move while gaining experience.

If you don't do it this way there is a high mortality rate of people who get frustrated and throw in the towel. Most of us who have stuck with this hobby for 10-20-30 or more years did it in baby steps, and didn't build our ultimate car right out of the gate. It takes years to work up to that point.

In the meantime, evaluate what you have inherited, and maybe have some knowledgable friend help you plan your moves. Go to lots of shows and read lots of magazines and forum threads. If you do it that way you stand a very good chance of actually reaching your goals with this car. You have taken a very important first step by admitting your weaknesses and asking questions.

Don

welcome aboard matt, itoldyouso said it perfectly about the car build, get it safely driveable and cruize around and make your plans from there. and also remember we all love pictures of progress!

thanks for the advice guys but i already had that in mind actually, wanted to get it in shape first, get all the interior back in, all the mechanical crap worked out and drive it around while im saving up money for the big stuff i wanna put it in later. Keep the good advice comin tho, im lookin for good ideas as for the kind of engine i should put it in and where i should look to buy it at.