Giving Up Rodding

[Ohio Blue Tip]

This is why I should give up Rodding.  This year I didn't get my truck done (Old and Slow), so I decided to buy a summer ride to join the summer activities and visit old friends.  
Found a 32 Ford Sedan at the right price, so dragged it home from Indiana.  Took it for a test drive and it drove nice and every thing worked, mustang front with coil over's, S-10 rear with triangled 4 bar and coil over's, 11" front discs with rear drums, 350 Chevy, 700R4 Trans, heat & A\C, Rally wheels 15X5and 15X8.
Brakes were not to good, so started to give the car a once over.
Tires looked good but found the front's were 6 years old and the rear's were 18 years old.
Painted the wheels red and added 4 new tires.
Next the engine;  New plugs, belts, wires, oil & air filters, new PCV system, oil and antifreeze, distributor vacuum can was dead so replaced that and put it on the proper vacuum port. Valve cover gaskets, copper header gaskets, clean and paint.
Brakes; Under floor master cylinder with 7" vacuum canister, no fluid in half the M\C.  To the rear, drums are new, backing plates are bent up and the parking brake levers are missing, pulled the backing plates and fixed and painted, got new park levers from scrape pile, wheel cylinder leak and installed up side down, installed new cylinders and new shoes,  rear end cover leak (rusted through), replaced cove and found I had a 3.42 gear with 28 splines (info needed for future posi, rear. Car was plumbed with A/N flex lines and they had been pinched by frame and axel housing, installed all new brake lines, Master cylinder leaking, replaced with new and dual 7" canister, both check valves were bad, replaced check valves, proportiong valve was bad, replaced . Front calipers had leaks, replaced with new pads, one new caliper had a bent ear and after a day of frustration, found that problem and got another new one.  Brakes work great now.
Tried to restart, battery dead, Oh, battery box under the floor and welded in, cut out and replaced a 9 year old battery.
Took a test ride and Trans. won't stay in 4th, Trans. shop is a mile away, dropped off for a rebuild.  Older 700R4 Trans was questionable but we tried to save it, not a good plan, next week will put in another new Trams.
Mean while, had a squeal in the front, replaced the water pump.  Almost need to disassemble the car for that.
Parts acquired but not installed, running board rubber, windshield rubber, locking door handles, hood bumpers, front splash apron, bug screen.  
Parts wanted, new 32 dash and new gages, new wiring panel and wiring, bumpers, luggage rack, trailer hitch, spare tire mount, new paint, new upholstery, posi, reinstall cowl vent.
You all know how this goes, so I'm not giving up rodding.
I love this stuff and will continue as long as I'm able.  Then pry the 9/16's out of my cold dead hand.

Ken

[kb426]

Quite a story. I'm sure it's not uncommon. The welded in battery surprised me. ?

[WZ JUNK]

Do not give up.

Do not let the old man in.

When the plan comes together it will be so nice.

See you in August.

John

[enjenjo]

So it was nearly perfect, glad to hear that.

[416Ford]

Called you twice this week to see how the trip went down south but now I see why you have avoided my calls.....
All that fun/pain still beat buying a done car and not knowing where the fuse box even is.  

[purplepickup]

Holy cow Kenny. Makes me want to go buy a "done" car to drive while I'm working (old & slow) on the Rambler.

[sirstude]

I still think I hold the record for my build on the Olds, 24 years and counting, and still love building it.

[GPster]

I still think I hold the record for my build on the Olds, 24 years and counting, and still love building it.

I don't know about that. I bought the Jeepster in October of '93 and have been working on it since then. My expectation for it have slipped a bit. It moves under it's own power (trying to drive through garage doors) but it's "Look" will be more like something that clowns would drive in a rodeo arena to keep bulls from mauling a thrown rider. I've thought about buying a "Finished" car and I went to an auction last weekend to look at a '33 Plymouth coupe. It had a small block Chevy and an automatic transmission but the brakes were original with a "fruit jar" master cylinder and stock steering with a "tilt" column. There was at least 70 other people registered to buy it and somebody thought it was worth $15,000.00. If genetics holds true I may get to drive it before I die. My mother is 90 and she still drives. GPster

[Charlie Chops 1940]

And I thought my old and trusty '40 convert was being contrary. It has been off the road for 5 or 6 years for major lower body/flooring restoration and paint. Did new front coil over shocks, new exhaust, new battery, new dash, new instruments, moved the transmission cooler up front, new carb, electric fuel pump, another re-do of the battery and location, new windshield and door glass, new power window mechanisms, new headlight buckets, new running boards. Whew.

Now it's ready for paint. Was gonna base/clear it today and went to buy some hardener for the clear and the paint store was closed.

I live so close the Ken that his stuff is starting to mix with my stuff. But, I'm not planning on quitting anytime soon either. They, whoever "they" are will have to ory that 10mm socket out of old dead hand!

[papastoyss]

Wow, you guys are making me feel better about the 5 &1/2 yrs I've got in my '57 Chevy Handyman. It's in the trim shop now, hope to make the Trifive Nats in August. Haven't been here much lately, spent a lot of time on Trifive board. Still got my "40 Ford coupe, we went to NHRA Hot Rod Reunion this past weekend, weather was great & lots of nice cars.