Round 2: Deloreans and Flux Capacitors.

I am building a time machine. There I said it. While I plan to go way faster than 88 miles an hour and have no use for a flux capacitor or Doc Brown. This is still a time machine in essence. What I want is for this car to be an experience to drive. I want everything about it to be mechanical, Yet have a nice aesthetic marrying of form and function. There will be nothing that is not needed. Pure functionality. Yet it's function will be beautiful in action and execution.

Except for a few minor modern upgrades this car will be built from all vintage parts. Scrounged by me throughout the country. I am going to keep all parts of this car to a manufacturing range of around 1925 to 1950, though it could end up being "dated" a few years earlier. Here are some of the parts I have managed to acquire over the last couple weeks.

First I got this frame. It is a 1931 Model A Ford frame. It is a very nice original piece. You can still read the original VIN stamped on the frame. I got it from a really cool guy named Bob. He lives a ways south from me in Littlerock, Washington. Bob is restoring a Model A roadster. I will have to modify this at a later date with a x-crossmember from a 1942-1947 ford F-100 pickup. This is to help with stiffening the frame. Here is the frame.




One of the other things I have been on the look out for is a set of wheel. I really wanted a set of 16inch wires, But would have settled for a set of steel solids. Unfortunately these wheels are really sought after and getting pretty rare and expensive. I lucked out and found a set of 5 rims with junk tires. They were located out on the Olympic peninsula in a nice little town called Port Orchard. I got these from a really cool older fellow name Roger. He has been into Model A's for 30 years. He has a really nice roadster and a Model A pickup. We chatted for about an hour, before Him and I removed the wheels from a car he was parting. It was great meeting him, he was a wealth of knowledge and he gave me a really great price on the wheels. I will be going back to see him, I'll try and grab picture of his collection.




Another thing that I grabbed the other day was a set of headlights. I'm not sure what they are from. They are coming from Minnesota. They should be here in a few days. I got them online. I'll get some more pictures when they get here.



so the treasure hunt continues for more parts to finish this thing. I'll keep y'all updated.

First post: How to Build A Hot Rod for Dummies

Well, here it goes. I'll be the first to admit it. I have no clue what I am doing. I mean, I'm a mechanic, I'm not a trained auto technician, not a fabricator, a mechanic. What I know, I've either learned from the older guys I've worked with or learned the hard way. Whether it be dumb luck or my own stubborn perseverance. I 've managed to survive numerous dealer transistions/closures. I knew early on there was no future for me working for someone else. More on that later...

I've been into classic cars since before I can remember. My personal cars vary, They include a 1972 K5 Blazer, a 1967 Pontiac GTO, and My grandfathers recently handed down 1979 Ford f250 Supercab. Yes, they are old. but they each have an intended purpose in my stable and I strive to update these things to make them perform well. Whether that be performance, mileage, or both. I believe we, as in America as a mass culture treat automobiles as disposable. I, a hot rodder and mechanic see beauty in what others consider junk. Hot rodders are the original recyclers.

They have all out lived their expected life span countless times. If these cars could talk...
Recently I have rebuilt the engine in my Ford. It now get's 14 mpg verses 10 with the old engine. It has more power and better mileage. 4 mpg may not seem like a lot, but that's a 40% increase! and a huge gain for a 5,600 pound truck. Vehicles 30 years newer aren't getting much better.

But into the subject at hand....

This is going to be my economy car.

I bought it on Wednesday 2/11/10 at 8:00 am. It's a late 1931 Ford Model A Coupe. It has a 3 inch top chop....A custom body modification for those not in the know.


I'll be detailing my adventures here. For all to see. Tune in if you are interested.