Thread: Hot Rod on a Budget?

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Hi all, new here. I'm wondering if it's possible to build a hot rod on a small budget - say, a few grand, give or take. I built a '68 camaro a couple of years ago, but I'd like to try my hand at something earlier - 1920's or early 30's would be ideal.

I'm not looking to build a show car or a big block powerhouse, just a fun ride that I can enjoy building and driving. I hate the term "rat rod", but that's the philosophy I'm going for - simple and to the point, with minimal monetary investment and maximum blood, sweat and tears. It doesnt have to be pretty, I just want a fun project that I can work on for however long it takes (months or years) to piece together into a running rod that I can have fun in. "Budget" is the key word here

Any thoughts or recommendations?

Thanks alot, good to be here,
Aaron

Plenty tough, unless you really get lucky and find a project car someone is trying to unload..... Best thing you can do is get the word out what you are looking for, and see what turns up. I'm not saying it can't be done.......but it would really take some shopping. IMO, for a decent and driveable car, should plan on 10K as an absolute minimum.....good luck searching. Might want to start with ebay "parts cars", then start chasing leads.. Be patient and shop smart....

Hey thanks for the response. I don't have a problem going to swap meets and Ebay for a couple of years to get most of the parts, was kinda hoping it wouldn't add up to that much though

My other project is to pick the car I want to build and then learn as much as I possibly can about it, so that when I am ready to stat building it I know exactly what to look out for and how to go about constructing it. I'm 21 but I've been a mechanic in a private shop since I was 16, so I'm mechanically inclined, just not very well educated in the real old hot rods . Any suggestons on some good books or websites I can read to really get some good education?

Thanks again!
Aaron

Aaron, its very possible to do in my opinion. Just make sure most of the budget money goes for the saftey parts. Brakes steering and all that.
I bought my 49 plymouth for $100, So far with I have maybe $1200 into it and thats with having to buy a few tools I didn't have anymore after a few moves. Right now I got all the body work done. Only thing left to do it the brakes, steering and putting the engine and tranny in. And finding a rear window. My car would never be considered a show car. I would call it a daily driver. White trash daily driver LOL, Just kidding, All you need to do is shop around for the parts you are looking for. I got alot free from people wanting to get rid of them, Others I haggled the price down. As far as brakes go, I found a guy on Ebay I bought a Mustang MC from that is also willing to send me the front discs from a mustang for cost of shipping, 10" rotors, along with the calipers pads and all that.
So go for it, just find a cheap car to start with you can always finish it, sell it and get a better one.

Lots of good books on all the different topics, engine, suspension, body work, etc. as well as books that cover the basics of all areas of building Hot Rods.

Just decide on the car you want to build and start planning the cost. Ask questions here and all the hot rodders you meet, Find some of the local gearheads driving the type of cars you like and hang out. A little free help on a guys car can often times gain you a good education and a lot of leads on parts. If you have any Hot Rod Clubs in the area, find one you like the looks of an join it. Go to all the car shows and cruises you can get too. Take a camera and talk to people, heck if your memory is like mine, take notes!!!!

The more you learn in advance of starting the actual build, the better off you'll be. The more you study and learn, the more you will be able to save.

Hang out at CHR and read all the posts and ask questions. There are no dumb questions, we all learned the same way. If you're too shy or embarressed to ask what you think could be a dumb question then PM some of the members and ask them.

And finally, welcome to the world of Hot Rods but be warned it is more addictive then heroin!!! Once you're hooked, it's really tough to quit!!! But then, why the heck would you want to?????

Thanks alot for the motivation! Now I'm even more inspired to get my project rolling (pun?). I'm definately going to go to a bunch of swap meets this summer to see what's around - I haven't been to one since I was a little kid, used to go to them with my father. Until then I'm also going to read as much as I can find on building hot rods, and the history and evolution of them as well, that'll hopefully give me a better idea of what I want, and I'll know what the hell I'm doing when it comes down to looking for parts. I have half a dozen service manuals from the 1910s-1920s that I've been reading alot over the past year or so, I figure I'd better know how the original cars were put together before I start to build a modified one, so that's also been extremely helpful. Now I'll also try to find some books on specifically hot rod building to help me with that aspect.

Again, thanks alot for the kind words, this will be a fun project.

Aaron

I've always loved the look of roadsters, they always got my blood flowing more than any other kind of rod. Might seem funny, but I've always liked the "ratty" unfinished look too, just looks like more fun to drive haha

I did some google searching and came up with a picture of the general look I'm going for. With a radiator obviously, but I love the "dropped" look, its almost like sex on wheels

Anyway, here's what I'm going for:

As part of your education process, see if you can find a car like that and beg the owner to let you sit in it, try the pedal fit, and think about what it would be like to drive one more than 5 miles to the local burger stand. If you're 5'2" it might work out fine, if you're closer to 6' you may learn some things.

That's a good point, didn't think of that

Back in tech school we built a 'glass T-Bucket and that was fairly comfortable, but you're right, better make sure I can fit in there before I start.

I had a rather wealthy friend in high school who's father had a hot rod shop build him some high dollar porche race car, only to find out $200k later that he was too tall to fit in it Lesson learned.

Like a lot of the guys on here, I have been around this hobby for a long time......48 years, since I got "hooked"! :-) Because of my chosen profession, I hear a lot about the money that is spent on projects. I have also built many of my own, and bought and sold special interest cars for profit.

This rule is always true: It will always take longer, cost more, and have more problems, to finish than you think. If you don't believe it, ask other "experienced" builders, who have done this many times.

Here is my best advise:

All of the little stuff, that seems so simple, will cost a lot when it's over.

You are very young (from my point of view) and probably don't have all of the skills and experience, yet, to build it all yourself. When you start hiring it done, the cost goes WAY up!

Parts from the '20s and '30s are scarce, and can be expensive, for the desireable pieces.

Cars from the '20s and '30s are not really roadworthy today, so they need many, many upgrades.

My very best advise is to buy a car that is complete and almost driveable, but rough and needs the final work to make it useable. Consider anything from the '20s to the '50s. This will make it more likely you can find a good project, and those cars can be way-cool, too, if you do something unusual with them. Pay a little more than you planned, if you find the RIGHT CAR. If you take on major fabrication, reengineering, major installation, or starting from scratch, you will not only be several years from completion, but you may even run out of money, or ambition before it is ever done.

Make your first project one that requires only mechanical knowledge, minimal cost, and rudimentary work to complete. This will help you to hone your skills, ensure your success, and it will still end up being tougher than you think.

Later you can upgrade the car, or try a little more difficult project.

Don't expect to build a dream car on the first attempt. You will get better each time, and you will find that no matter how old you get, you always have more to learn. Make the first one something you are proud of, and enjoy the experience.

Originally posted by HOTRODPAINT

You are very young (from my point of view) and probably don't have all of the skills and experience, yet, to build it all yourself. When you start hiring it done, the cost goes WAY up!

Hey!Hey! Im 22 years old and built my car! Ive done some things twice but im getting better and better every time =) It runs and drives, just doing odds and ends to get it finished so i can paint and assemble.

Oh and your right about the price, it adds up SUPER fast. I dont even wanna mention how much i have in my car and its not even finished. Building one for a few grand is possible but you would have to get the project car for free basicly.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Uptown83
[B]Hey!Hey! Im 22 years old and built my car! Ive done some things twice but im getting better and better every time =) It runs and drives, just doing odds and ends to get it finished so i can paint and assemble.

I didn't say it can't be done. A friend and I built our first rod at about 18-21 years old. We were growing up in a farm community, so you learn to do things for yourself. He could weld, we both had done engine rebuilds, Carb work, brake work, put clutches in, and I had done a little painting.

Still, they say it takes twenty years to become really good at anything. It's not that you can't do it, but I have found this to be true, when you are talking about the "really good" part. Of course you are also learning other new skills as you go along, too.

My point was that if he keeps the necessary skills at a reasonable level, that he can do himself, it will most certainly help the price....a lot.

He does mechanical work. With engine rebuilds at about $2500, If he didn't have those mechanical skills, that alone is most of his budget!

I'm pretty capable, I've had alot of experience working as a mechanic and building a couple of camaros on my own over the past few years (also have an automotive tech degree, not that that means much lol). Dont get me wrong, I know I can always learn more, just saying I have the mechanical ability to build another car - I just don't have the experience with cars from that era, so that's what I'm attempting to learn about before I start this particular project. What I don't know, I'll take the time to learn whatever it is I need, then do it myself, it's the way I've learned most of what I know...it takes alot longer, but I can't stand paying someone to do something I can learn to do myself. HRP, that is alot of good advice, regardless of my ability - finding an almost complete car would definately be easier than piecing a car together, especially since I don't have the experience with 20's or 30's cars yet. At least if it's together to start, I'll be able to tear it down and know exactly how it went together, rather than trying to put together a car from parts that I'm not familiar with... though I'm sure that would increase the budget substantially...

Hope I don't come across as arrogant or anything, I'm just a little stubborn and determined

Thanks again for all the encouragement, I really appreciate it.
Aaron

PS - HRP, are you a member on ClubChopper too? I think I recognize your username

PPS - Uptown, that's a sweet car! That's definately inspiring to me to see someone else my age building hotrods.

(QUOTE)
Hope I don't come across as arrogant or anything, I'm just a little stubborn and determined

Thanks again for all the encouragement, I really appreciate it.
Aaron

PS - HRP, are you a member on ClubChopper too? I think I recognize your username

Confidence is the difference between a guy who says "I'll find out how it's done", and the guy who says "I can't". My dad taught it to me, by never hesitating to try to do things himself.

Yes, I belong to ClubChopper. My problem is that, if it has wheels, and you can customize it, or drag race it, I like it!....ooops! I like drag boats too, so I guess wheels aren't necessary. :-)~

I'm not sure its as much confidence as it is a big ego (is there a difference? ) , but either way, once I set my mind on something I don't stop until I finish it, even if people think it'll never get done...sometimes that even pushes me harder, just to have the satisfaction of going against the odds. Anyway, I'm rambling when I should be doing my hot rod research!