Anyone else faced with this delimma?

[bishir]

Old vs. New?

I've always like older cars. (I'm 33) Though lately the complexities of life have led me to ponder the possibility of having a modern day hot rod. For me its the new GT-500, a cts-V, or a used z06. In your case perhaps its another newer car that has your fancy.
Since my budget would require the sale of my two current toys, I'd almost feel like I "sold out." Though every time I see one I think, "Golly, that would be nice to have."

With all the modern muscle out there right now are you being lured away?

So, talk me off the cliff or push me over it. I'm sort of in limbo here. I'd love to build a protouring GNX that has the best of both worlds, but with three youngins I'm afraid of starting a serious project like that at the moment.

Oops spelled dilemma wrong in the original thread title, but now I can't edit it. :(

[squirrel]

Sort of...but for my wife, not for me. I still like dealing with old stuff. My wife got a new truck a while ago, then got a Prowler because I never did build any of the old mopar hot rod projects for her.

Joe succumbed. so did Bryan.

[bishir]

My wife will drive anything as long as it has a 3rd row seat and power sliding doors. Yup, here's the current mom mobile... You can't really beat it on trips though...

http://carspeeds.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-2012-Chrysler-Town-Country-Side-View-610x450.jpg

[groucho]

Quick answer? There's no ticking clock on the value of older cars. Newer stuff....if you're quiet, you can hear it depreciating every minute...tick tock. There's far too much HEEB in this Italian to let that happen. I do have an inexpensive late model "driver" (not hot rod) and the $$ it saves me in gas out weighs the bad

[milner351]

Modern driver to not have to hassle with or worry about? Sure, if you have any kind of commute to work it's nearly necessity.

Modern muscle over an old hotrod toy vehicle? Nope - I can't swallow that one. If life is getting too hectic, maybe it's time to sell ONE, but not BOTH.

For similar reasons, I'm not putting the ski boat in the water this year, got to concentrate on building the falcon.

[SuperBuickGuy]

did you put a bumpsticker on it that said "I traded my sweet hot rod for this"

I got tired of the all-nighter to fix my DD to get to work. Of course, sometimes I make a great warning; if I had it to do again, I'd buy a CTS-V long before I'd buy another GTO or even Z06 since those are more likely to be hammered on then a -V

[Thumpin455]

From 1994 to 2004 I drove the 70 GTO daily, and had a 76 C10 for pulling things around. The C10 wouldnt make it to Charleston from Nebraska when I went back to the AF, so I drove the GTO. 1500 miles and no problems, even got low 20s for mileage. In 04 I needed something that got better mileage than low 20s and was reliable for very long drives. 1500 to 3000 miles at a time. So I got a 98 Formula, and have been daily driving it.

I dont get the same attention with the Formy as I did in the GTO, but its a nice ride with AC and decent power. I can still fix anything that goes wrong with it, and its a bit more expensive for tires, but the reliability has been nice. The wife likes the new car better than the GTO, because the goat has a ratty interior, no AC, is loud, and just isnt nice. I wont ever sell the GTO, its is the absolute last car I would sell. Yeah a 98 is the newest car I own, dont plan on buying anything newer unless its a winter beater.

Went from this:

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z278/AuCinaoaMie/Cars%20and%20trucks/Pontiacs/70%20GTO/YllwGTO.jpg

To this:

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z278/AuCinaoaMie/Cars%20and%20trucks/Pontiacs/98%20Formula/98onSuperior.jpg


Driving the Formula is different from the GTO, its more like an appliance, it has some style, a bit of cool factor, but its still lacking much soul. It does great on gas, usually 26-27 mixed slower than 62 here, and gets 29-31 when I can set the cruise at 75-80 like when I am rolling through Nebraska or Iowa. Its not selling out, its providing me with the time and another ride while I get the GTO working the way I want it. Get a beater for reliability, keep the old stuff for fun.

[Gary 351C]

No real dilemma for me, the Crown Vic is the newest "muscle" I can afford:). Take a new Mustang, Camaro, Challenger and park them next to old ones and I'll pick the old ones every time even with half the power and handling like a greased brick, but that's just me. New cars are fine but they have no soul like cars that have been around for 40 years.

[squirrel]

Its not selling out

yeah, right....


:cool:

[HoosierL98GTA]

No real temptation......Oh , I think about a new camaro.........just cannot afford it. I'll probably always be 10 years behind the curve. I haven't had a car payment in 20 years though.

[Joe Grippo]

I'd put my Mustang back on the street if I could financially swing a new Cobra Jet!
And that ain't happening....

[Beagle]

I drive an appliance to work, they're not tolerant of "my old p.o.s. that I won't get rid of because I love it broke down in traffic"

warranty
air conditioning that works, heater that works, everything does what it's supposed to
could care less if some idiot jackass totals it for me

If they total my old p.o.s. that I'm in love with, I will be PISSED. I don't know if that helps you with your decision.

[tedly]

Old vs. New?
With all the modern muscle out there right now are you being lured away?
:(

Lured away? From what? I love old cars, but there is nothing wrong with the new stuff. Cars today are quicker, faster, safer, more powerful, more fuel efficient, better handling... I got no problem with this. :)

[peewee]

Lured away? From what? I love old cars, but there is nothing wrong with the new stuff. Cars today are quicker, faster, safer, more powerful, more fuel efficient, better handling... I got no problem with this. :)

From my vantage point of "nowhere," I wonder if wrenching is not a lifestyle choice and an activity unto itself. But I don't know, because I don't know how to do it.

And around Labor Day last year we traded our 06 Fusion for a 12. My logic was, if I live long enough to retire in about 6 years, I don't want our newest-best ride to be 12 years old at the time.

Then in the next breath, in November I bought Red the 06 Mustang because he was sitting under a tree up the street from our house.

Different purposes. Appliance here, fun there. ... Grocery getter.....fun machine. And as suggested by one of you guys here, the extent to which I have upgraded Red is to install new tanks of gas. Well, and speed-rated tires.

I don't reckon you could do only that with a much older car if you intend to get around in it.

[Thumpin455]

yeah, right....


:cool:

Its not when I still have around 30 vehicles from before 1979 to get to, and the GTO is going to see some miles this year, unless the electrical system sends me packin. I have been busting my ass to get two GTOs on the road again, so having the newer beaters has allowed me to do more than just keep something running. Its not like I prefer to drive the 98, its just that it has fewer issues right now. Soon, it will need some quality time in the shop, man that is going to get expensive fast too.

[oldsman71]

I got a newer DD, not a big performer, an 07 G6 "mommy car" according to spidey Jim. I had DD v-8 powered stuff since
I was 15, but after my last DD 87 cutlass was totaled by a crappy driver, I couldnt find another car to put together quickly.
I wasnt gonna sacrifice the blue cutlass to another crash. the newre stuff has its advantages and with full coverage the G6
is just relieable transpertation :)

[JOES66FURY]

i got rid of my DD Ram for the Mustang. Love the Mustang, miss my truck terribly but it was starting to nickle and dime me to death.

If I had the garage space and time to fix up my 66 I would. I would drive it every day. I did for a while anyway but it gets to be a bitch with no a/c out here. I wanted something fast, something that had style and something I did not have to wrench o nevery day. The Mustang fit the bill. It is not what I needed to do, but wanted. I wanted a new Mustang ever since I joined the USAF and had to pass up a number of them over the years becasue of finances and so on. Selling out, meh...if you have a car you like, its fast, customizable and its a joy to drive...some would call it selling out...not me. Especially if you dont have the time or money to build the classic you desire...comprimise maybe...yeah...call it comprimise.

[mlcraven]

From my vantage point of "nowhere," I wonder if wrenching is not a lifestyle choice and an activity unto itself. But I don't know, because I don't know how to do it.

And around Labor Day last year we traded our 06 Fusion for a 12. My logic was, if I live long enough to retire in about 6 years, I don't want our newest-best ride to be 12 years old at the time.

Then in the next breath, in November I bought Red the 06 Mustang because he was sitting under a tree up the street from our house.

Different purposes. Appliance here, fun there. ... Grocery getter.....fun machine. And as suggested by one of you guys here, the extent to which I have upgraded Red is to install new tanks of gas. Well, and speed-rated tires.

I don't reckon you could do only that with a much older car if you intend to get around in it.

Pdub gets to the heart of the matter here: setting budgetary matters aside what is it that gives you the most pleasure from your automotve interest? Driving? Washing/waxing/showing? Wrenching? etc.

New muscle lets you do the first two and pretty much ignore the latter.

Something classic guarantees you'll probably be doing more of the latter at the expense of the former.

Of course, nothing stops you from tearing into something new to make it even better, but what's the point if you're invalidating warranty?

My only advice is to remember: generally you only get to sell something once. Think about that before getting rid of ALL your old toys to finance something shiny and new which (as Groucho points out) will immediately start depreciating.

[skullbucket]

A year and a half ago all I drove was a 70 Coronet or a 77 Chevy 4X4 with 37X13.50X16 with about 15 inches of lift everyday.
I feel that people who buy new Musclecars do it to try and be included in the hotrod crowd.
Alot of them seem to think bolting on a cold air tube is similar to changing out a factory cast iron intake and junk quardrajet for a aluminum hi rise and a 750 Holley, but A real hotrodder is born into it natural not bought into it.

[boxer3main]

this question does not seem too difficult.

if I had no time, it would be because of working...newer it would be and drive.
all kinds of time..one could do anyhting with the past..surpass todays gas mileage if you want, do anything.

time and money answers it.

[JOES66FURY]

yeah, that must be it...or it is the expence and time involved. may of us have full time jobs, kids, bills and no garage/storage for the gobs of parts one needs to build our dream cars, so the next best thing is to buy something we can tweek on a bit and still get the pleasure of driving something fast and powerful...to say that all people who by new muscle or even classic muscle and dont build it themselves is just ignorant and short sighted. Maybe your life allows you the opportunity to build and wrenech all the time. Mine and many others dont. Becasue people dont or cant build doesnt mean they dont love cars...the lines of a classic, the sound of a rumbling V8, blower wine, the smell of race gas...

and if bolting on a cold air tube and hooking up a tuner to a new engine nets me the smae power gains as an itake and carb swap...how are they different? enlighten me.

I guess I will go on living my pathetic, uncool, wannabe hot rodder life...I am a poor excuse for a human being..forgive me.

[Deaf Bob]

A year and a half ago all I drove was a 70 Coronet or a 77 Chevy 4X4 with 37X13.50X16 with about 15 inches of lift everyday.
I feel that people who buy new Musclecars do it to try and be included in the hotrod crowd.
Alot of them seem to think bolting on a cold air tube is similar to changing out a factory cast iron intake and junk quardrajet for a aluminum hi rise and a 750 Holley, but A real hotrodder is born into it natural not bought into it.

Peewee's a hot rodder thru and thru...
He has a record..do you?
Might not be simular mechanical abilities to add a cold air tube vs intake/750 Holley... But gains are simular.. Not hot rodding?
True.. Some buy into it for the wrong reasons... Much like the true Harley riders vs tourers from the office... both are motorcyclists..

[CDMBill]

I bought my F-150 Harley four door pick-up as a DD, sorta hot rod, engine transport, tow vehicle, people hauler etc. as I have no room for a fleet of projects. Its ten years old now and I have upgraded the brakes and shocks and I have a cold air kit and larger lower super charger pulley I never seem to have time to install. I ran it in NMCA True Street two weeks ago when the Mustang quit. It only runs 15's full of junk but its enough to put a smile on my face when I dust a ricer. A compromise yes but I like it as a number two vehicle.

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh238/CDMBill/Harley%20Truck/20fa1ba5.jpg

[peewee]

Peewee's a hot rodder thru and thru...
He has a record..do you?



Thanks so much Bob, but be careful....I don't think he was talking about me directly, but if he was, I'm nodding "yes."

The truth is, I bought it because I don't know how to build it. That's why I in a way envy a whole lot or all of you guys.

But it sure is fun to crank it, nonetheless.

[bulletproof]

my newest thing is a 98 chevy truck its a daily driver,,,as much as i hate it im gonna have to break down and buy a newer truck...as for the hot rod ,,,i dont like they way the newer cars ride and drive...my mom had a new firebird and then a new mustang,,they where both decent cars both ran good for what they where...but i cant see me driving and working on them....to each his/her own..but for me building an old car that might not have been very fast and making it go fast and look good is more my thing..

[squirrel]

.... for me building an old car that might not have been very fast and making it go fast and look good is more my thing..

There's something about the satisfaction of doing that which you just cant get from a late model, I think. But it comes at a steep price.

And there's nothing wrong with selling out, if you admit you're selling out :wink:

[Deaf Bob]

Thanks so much Bob, but be careful....I don't think he was talking about me directly, but if he was, I'm nodding "yes."

The truth is, I bought it because I don't know how to build it. That's why I in a way envy a whole lot or all of you guys.

But it sure is fun to crank it, nonetheless.

My "win" record as a driver ain't much .
As a driver, I hit hard.. Was told I hit too hard (it's a demo derby fer krissakes)
I'm mostly known now as the guy who helps build kick ass pink winners
Both kids alone have more "wins" than I... Those mean as much to me as my own..
Am I a hot rodder? Or just a car builder's helper?
What is a name, label? Any derby in OR and WA, ask if Deaf Bob's there.. Most will know if I am or not..
My screen name is me.. Ain't hiding behind a screen name...

[Thumpin455]

Is George Poteet a real rodder/car guy? Compare him to Jay Leno. Who is more real car guy?

Building a car yourself takes a huge amount of time, especially when its from a rusty cowl and a piece of roof. I think almost anyone can learn the skills needed to build a car, but having the time and place to do it is what usually separates builders from buyers.

I got the red car because I was living in an apartment, and had to work on stuff at a storage unit without power. Keeping the GTO going under those conditions was killing me and making me not want to mess with it. To fix the transportation problem I bought a 6 year old car for $7500 and have put 90k on it since 2004, mostly going to USAF things. The GTO is finally about ready to go, and its very close to what I have wanted to do with it since I got it. Without the red car, I would never have been able to get the GTO where it is now.

Keep in mind that I had to rebuild the 4L60E back in 08, it has Hooker headers and the rest of the exhaust system, an SLP lid, and a custom tune. Its a nice economy car that moves pretty good, and makes the 850 mile trip to Nebraska long and boring instead of an exercise of anxiety around "will it make it?"

Later this year, the 70 GTO is making that trip. It will do it while running E85 in an engine that cannot run on pump gas at all. So consider that adventure, finding stations that carry the fuel and are open when I go by. Sell out? Yeah right.

[Deaf Bob]

There's something about the satisfaction of doing that which you just cant get from a late model, I think. But it comes at a steep price.

And there's nothing wrong with selling out, if you admit you're selling out :wink:

Ok I'm selling out.. Lol
In the process of rewiring the 57 with a painless kit and disc brakes up front
With derby cars. (building 3 and 4 now for the year) it is just easier to drive the 'burb
Doesn't daily driving the sedan delivery 15 ishy years count?
The thing about working on stuff is other stuff gets broke while fixing something.. Like the bar that slid over hitting a block that went spinning into the pass. Door glass!
The 57 is a much better riding car, looks cooler, better mpg.. Just started to do a few things then they snowballed.

[squirrel]

Later this year, the 70 GTO is making that trip. It will do it while running E85 in an engine that cannot run on pump gas at all. So consider that adventure, finding stations that carry the fuel and are open when I go by. Sell out? Yeah right.

After you sell out, you can buy back in. Nice!

[TheSilverBuick]

I don't mind getting a good looking daily driver that has oomph to back it up. Kind of like Bill's truck but in car form. But you won't find me selling one of my old cars to get there, nor would it be anywhere near top of my list to attend an event in. I rather run 15's in my Thunderbird or Centurion than 12's in a late-model Corvette or 13-14's in a Camaro or Mustang.

[skullbucket]

yeah, that must be it...or it is the expence and time involved. may of us have full time jobs, kids, bills and no garage/storage for the gobs of parts one needs to build our dream cars, so the next best thing is to buy something we can tweek on a bit and still get the pleasure of driving something fast and powerful... That sounds more like someone who doesn't need a hotrod in the first place,

to say that all people who by new muscle or even classic muscle and dont build it themselves is just ignorant and short sighted. No one at all said anything about buying an old car, did they???



and if bolting on a cold air tube and hooking up a tuner to a new engine nets me the same power gains as an intake and carb swap...how are they different? enlighten me. Really, If you can't separate those two projects I can't tell ya either?


I guess I will go on living my pathetic, uncool, wannabe hot rodder life...I am a poor excuse for a human being..forgive me. What ever your the one who said it not me. Keep crying in your pillow I guess??...

[cantvalve16]

When it comes down to it, we do what we gotta do. The right car for the right time is about the logistics of it. If you have money and no time for a long time, a newer car makes sense. If you got a little cash, a little time, and the "want to" to put something together for fun.. go for it. To quote Gary Busey in Gumball Rally, ".. this whole thing is rigged fer fun". When it ceases to be fun, do something to make it fun. If that means more driving and less wrenching, then so be it.

Just make sure to look for your own boot behind you before you do something drastic. Sucks to be kicking yourself.

[Schtauffer]

I would like to have a newer car, and my wife specifically would like to have a Challenger.

[Monk]

It's just not my DNA........I can echo Groucho's remarks somewhat as well.
I can see where you're coming from though......being in your age bracket.

I've been wrenching and building cars since a young age and like
the challenge and results.

My dilemma right now is what do I (if anything) after building the shoebox.
To me......it was the ultimate build.........stab a 409 into a '55 Chevy.

I'm itching to do another vehicle.....bad.

[peewee]

"When it ceases to be fun, do something to make it fun."

Amen Brother, amen. Ain't that the dadgum screaming truth. I mean overall, the bigger, BIGGEST picture. I wish I had written that song. But I fell asleep at the wheel, and just didn't do it. A-freaking absolutely AMEN. How many thumbs do I have to point UP? Not enough of them.

There it is, the truth we should all be chasing, right there. Am I overly-enthusiastic about that? No, I don't think so.

[Scott Liggett]

I dont get it. Whats all this thinking that an old car cant drive cross country just because its old? Cruising down a highway is the easiest thing on your car. Around town driving is much harder on your car than road trips. If your old car cant drive 500 miles in one day, then there is something that needs fixing. So fix it. Want proof? My totally rusted out POS $50 69 impala with 180k miles made it to Cali from Nebraska with no problem. I drive my Impala all over the southwest. Its not anything that great. The wiring is all patched together, but cruises right along no problem.

Personally, I despise new cars. I hate you have to pay for a bunch of crap you dont want. I hate all the nanny crap in new cars.

[squirrel]

YOu get to drive new cars all day at work Scott, so you probably have a little bit different take on it.

My 55 is not quite so fun in LA traffic, as it is driving everywhere else.

[Monk]

YOu get to drive new cars all day at work Scott, so you probably have a little bit different take on it.

My 55 is not quite so fun in LA traffic, as it is driving everywhere else.

Your suburban is a kick ass vehicle...........and seems pretty reliable.

[cantvalve16]

Scott, I am with you, Groucho, and Monk at my core. But from the hill I am standing on, I can see the valley that Bishir finds himself in. Early married life and children throw life dynamics into the mix that move our tire frying, exhaust sniffing, ear ringing, gas sucking selves further down the totem pole. With the demands of family, a man longs to have some re- energizing connection to his inner rodder that requires nothing more than a monthly check to your favorite mass car builder. That way he gets to have some fun even though his large blocks of focused hot rod time have become scattered into many snipets and sprinkled throughout the child rearing years.

[Thumpin455]

Spot on cantvalve, he isnt selling out to buy a new performance car. Selling out is buyin a minivan or a Kiayotaonda.

[skullbucket]

So what everybody is sayin is: If you can't be on the pro football team just buy the uniform and wear it and that will make you included as a team member?
What im sayin is: I melted an electric fan so I had to pull the $500 aluminum radiator, both fans and wiring, it will take almost 2 weeks to get the parts and and with no instructions piece it back together just in time for the big cruise, yet the guy with the new Camaro has been furiously clay bar and waxing it, and that special night on Main street he is going to stand next to me and feel he is in the same category as me? I think not!

[Scott Liggett]

YOu get to drive new cars all day at work Scott, so you probably have a little bit different take on it.

My 55 is not quite so fun in LA traffic, as it is driving everywhere else.

No car is fun in LA traffic. AC and a comfortable interior makes a new car nicer, but that is surely possible in any old car.

If I were commuting the car a ton, my priorities would be different than they are now. I have driven this car in 115* temps, in the rain (it leaked since I bought it), it makes more wind noise than engine noise above 75 mph, it usually hotter in the car than out (black will not my next choice for color),

[tedly]

So what everybody is sayin is: If you can't be on the pro football team just buy the uniform and wear it and that will make you included as a team member?
What im sayin is: I melted an electric fan so I had to pull the $500 aluminum radiator, both fans and wiring, it will take almost 2 weeks to get the parts and and with no instructions piece it back together just in time for the big cruise, yet the guy with the new Camaro has been furiously clay bar and waxing it, and that special night on Main street he is going to stand next to me and feel he is in the same category as me? I think not!

I love wrenching on cars, a born grease monkey. Even keeping my old rusted out, beat to hell Cavalier running well and reliably gave me a lot of satisfaction. It wasn't my dream car by any stretch, but I was the one who did all the work on it. I am completely psyched about tearing into the TBird, not even about driving it when it's done yet, but about building a car the way I want it again. Tearing it apart, fixing what's wrong with it, strengthening the weak points, making the strong points stronger, making it better than it ever was, learning the whole car top to bottom, and doing as much as I possibly can myself, I love it.

But I will never, ever, understand the attitude that it somehow makes me better than someone else. It's just something I enjoy and have the time and money to do.

[Joe Grippo]

....yet the guy with the new Camaro has been furiously clay bar and waxing it, and that special night on Main street he is going to stand next to me and feel he is in the same category as me? I think not!

I think he might be. He's guy who loves his car as much as you do and is out and about showing it off with some like minded folks at a cruise night. He chose a new performance car, you chose a mid-70's Vette. If you don't care about his car don't look at it and move on to the next one at the show. As for categories? No thanks.

[Turbo Regal]

I'm currently building my Chevy II (327/M20) because after driving a bank vault-like Silverado for hours all week, I would like the feel, sounds and smells that an old car delivers.

Shifting a manual tranning into the gear you want, feeling the road, and reading the vital signs on gauge needles is what loving cars is all about.

[Matt Cramer]

I think he might be. He's guy who loves his car as much as you do and is out and about showing it off with some like minded folks at a cruise night. He chose a new performance car, you chose a mid-70's Vette. If you don't care about his car don't look at it and move on to the next one at the show. As for categories? No thanks.

He's probably not going to draw as much of a crowd, but Camaro Guy is still out to have fun with his car and do what he can. And not all the new Camaro owners are just show and shine - I've seen one guy show up at Atlanta Dragway with a new Camaro with dealer tags showing he bought it just a few weeks ago, and a centrifugal blower under the hood.

I've got a really long commute - my daily driver gets a couple hundred miles on it every week. And this cuts into my available wrenching time, too. So I've chosen a new-ish car that doesn't take too much maintenance for commuting duty... a 15 year old BMW with 182,000 miles on the clock so far. http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-basic/biggrin.gif I can always take the C10 to work if I want something loud and spartan (I use that one often enough; it's a working truck.) There's some newer cars I wouldn't mind owning if I had the money. Enough interesting stuff out there that I try to keep something of everything in the fleet.

[JOES66FURY]

So what everybody is sayin is: If you can't be on the pro football team just buy the uniform and wear it and that will make you included as a team member?
What im sayin is: I melted an electric fan so I had to pull the $500 aluminum radiator, both fans and wiring, it will take almost 2 weeks to get the parts and and with no instructions piece it back together just in time for the big cruise, yet the guy with the new Camaro has been furiously clay bar and waxing it, and that special night on Main street he is going to stand next to me and feel he is in the same category as me? I think not!

This cracks me up, its opinionated asshats like this that make the shows and cruises here in Tucson shitty. I get snubbed in my beat Fury, I get snubbed in my Mustang, I got snubbed in my lifted 4X4...unless my car is pretty and I sit in a lawn chair with my panama hat I cant be cool

Yeah man, youre better than me...I wrench for a living, I have been wrenching since I was 12. I can build anything I put my mind to and if I dont know I figure it out by asking questions and learning...I've earned my stripes I just chose a different path.

Youre like the proverbial Harley rider...if it's not a Harley its not a motorcycle..

Whatever dude, keep on thinking youre a bad ass becasue you "built" your car and others did not...guys like you will be the downfall of our hobby.

[SuperBuickGuy]

So what everybody is sayin is: If you can't be on the pro football team just buy the uniform and wear it and that will make you included as a team member?
What im sayin is: I melted an electric fan so I had to pull the $500 aluminum radiator, both fans and wiring, it will take almost 2 weeks to get the parts and and with no instructions piece it back together just in time for the big cruise, yet the guy with the new Camaro has been furiously clay bar and waxing it, and that special night on Main street he is going to stand next to me and feel he is in the same category as me? I think not!

So you're comparing your fairground racer to a DD? that's funny

[Thumpin455]

So what everybody is sayin is: If you can't be on the pro football team just buy the uniform and wear it and that will make you included as a team member?
What im sayin is: I melted an electric fan so I had to pull the $500 aluminum radiator, both fans and wiring, it will take almost 2 weeks to get the parts and and with no instructions piece it back together just in time for the big cruise, yet the guy with the new Camaro has been furiously clay bar and waxing it, and that special night on Main street he is going to stand next to me and feel he is in the same category as me? I think not!

I used to feel that way, but then I realized there are very few people who can do what I can do. Then there are people who can do so much more than I can, and do it far better and faster than I can. So where does it stop? Is the guy who builds Riddler winners the car guy and we are all wannabes playing with our toys? Is Jerry Haas the real builder and we are all just goofing around? Was Mickey Thompson the only gearhead capable of really building something?

I built an 11 second car for $5k that weighed 3700lbs empty and ran the number on the motor. I thought that was impressive. Then a new friend of mine ran within 3/10 of my car with a 99 Z28 that had headers, Lid, under drive pulleys, a 4200 lock up stall, and 2.73 gears. His orange 4th gen also got 30mpg on the highway, had AC and was comfortable to drive. Sure he had $13k in it because he paid $10k for the car, but the thing moved and he did the work rather than taking it to a shop. Now it has a 383 and runs mid tens. I would surmise he is a car guy too, he just does it with a different car.

If I wanted to be elitist then to earn my respect everyone would have to be capable of building everything on the car, doing all the body and paint, massive rust repair, scratch build chassis, engines, transmissions, electrical, glass, alignments, building carbs, tuning EFI, and even the machine work on the engines. I can do all of that, but its stupid and arrogant to expect everyone to do that to measure up.

[CaminoKid]

Bottom line is this.Dont matter what we think cause we are not in your shoes.Money always ends up being the most often deciding factor in what we do.You do what makes you happy and damn the rest of us.

[BBR]

If I bought a newer car for a hot rod, I'm afraid I would just get bored with it. Partly because new car go-fast parts are so expensive and partly because tearing into a new car just seems wrong unless it is broken! haha My DD is a 98 Durango and it does what it's supposed to 99.9999 percent of the time. It reliable, it's comfy and it's boring. The Mustang on the other hand, is what a hot rod is supposed to be to me. Noisy, rattly, brash, scary and a little on the unpredictable side. It is far from boring and is the total opposite of my DD. That's what makes it so fun and exciting.

[JOES66FURY]

If I bought a newer car for a hot rod, I'm afraid I would just get bored with it. Partly because new car go-fast parts are so expensive and partly because tearing into a new car just seems wrong unless it is broken! haha My DD is a 98 Durango and it does what it's supposed to 99.9999 percent of the time. It reliable, it's comfy and it's boring. The Mustang on the other hand, is what a hot rod is supposed to be to me. Noisy, rattly, brash, scary and a little on the unpredictable side. It is far from boring and is the total opposite of my DD. That's what makes it so fun and exciting.

Yeah, but it is newer, I wonder.... is it up to skullbuckets standards...whats his cut off for what can be considered cool...I mean, it is just a fox body with a just a big block...*pfffft* LMAO!!! (need a sarcasm font...really)

What about Ethyl the nasty blown GTO in the projects..is he a hot rodder? Not according to guru skullbucket...
And Warshreiks poncho...he isnt either...

LMAO...whatever.

[mrocketscience]

Interesting subject. Personally I like driving an old car. Something thats been around the block a few times, has some history behind it. My Mustang was my DD car for nearly 20 years with the original 6 banger under the hood. After my 1st wife and I separated in 1996, that and a pretty beat 65 Ranchero were my ONLY cars for about 6 years. Admittedly partially because I was broke after the divorce ;) But, I could have sold both and gotten a newer daily. I didn't because I loved those cars. Nowdays my current wife and I have a newer DD (Jeep Commander) that we rely on for getting to work and making trips in, and since we carpool we can get away with that. But I'll always have the old cars around for wrenching fun, and driving pleasure.

[TC]

IMO there are three different types of Car guys...... First there are the guys that buy a car and rebuild it, poring their sweat, blood and hard earned cash into building it the way they want, it is these guys that are the true HotRodders. Second are the guys that go and buy a car that is already done, whether that be a new car or a car that has been completely restored, these guys are the Checkbook HotRodders, that normally act standoffish because they really don't know anything about their car other than it looks nice....... And then there are the guys that don't own either, they have no desire to build or buy a HotRod, but what they do do, is work for companies that work on or build hotrods and even though they change the oil or tie rod ends or swapped the tires or rebuild the carb or tune the motor, they feel they are a HotRodder even though they have no clue in what it takes to actually build a car of their own....... But in the end the truth of the matter is they are all CAR GUYS.......

[chevy3100truck]

IMO there are three different types of Car guys...... First there are the guys that buy a car and rebuild it, poring their sweat, blood and hard earned cash into building it the way they want, it is these guys that are the true HotRodders. Second are the guys that go and buy a car that is already done, whether that be a new car or a car that has been completely restored, these guys are the Checkbook HotRodders, that normally act standoffish because they really don't know anything about their car other than it looks nice....... And then there are the guys that don't own either, they have no desire to build or buy a HotRod, but what they do do, is work for companies that work on or build hotrods and even though they change the oil or tie rod ends or swapped the tires or rebuild the carb or tune the motor, they feel they are a HotRodder even though they have no clue in what it takes to actually build a car of their own....... But in the end the truth of the matter is they are all CAR GUYS.......

so the car guy that never completes anything is a "true hot rodder" but someone who realizes they don't have the time to complete a full blown project and buys a completed car has no clue? I guess racers that have their cars built by a good chassis builder and the engine built by a good engine builder only know that their car looks nice right?

(BTW - I've done the full car build up thing, and I've done the "checkbook rodder" thing, I could care less how people get to the finished point)

[dieselgeek]

IMO there are three different types of Car guys...... First there are the guys that buy a car and rebuild it, poring their sweat, blood and hard earned cash into building it the way they want, it is these guys that are the true HotRodders. Second are the guys that go and buy a car that is already done, whether that be a new car or a car that has been completely restored, these guys are the Checkbook HotRodders, that normally act standoffish because they really don't know anything about their car other than it looks nice....... And then there are the guys that don't own either, they have no desire to build or buy a HotRod, but what they do do, is work for companies that work on or build hotrods and even though they change the oil or tie rod ends or swapped the tires or rebuild the carb or tune the motor, they feel they are a HotRodder even though they have no clue in what it takes to actually build a car of their own....... But in the end the truth of the matter is they are all CAR GUYS.......


Didn't you write a check to get your GMC done?


And which type of hotrodder are you? I don't see you listing a category for "Guy who buys a bunch of parts and never, ever EVER finishes a project"

Meanwhile, that non-finisher guy somehow thinks he's qualified to tell everyone else how to do their project, or what's smart, etc.

And I love how your third type is your best attempt to describe me. Newsflash Alex - in no way would i ever want to be some lame ass that works on projects that aren't ever finished, and that won't be impressive even if they are. I'd much rather work on cars that do something, and have real knowledge to share, then be "that guy" on the internet forums who feels he knows EVERYTHING about building a hotrod, even though he's never once completed anything, or built anything worth a crap.

[dieselgeek]

The HotRod world according to TC

John Force: not a hotrodder
Austin Coil: not a hotrodder
TubbedCamaro: HOTRODDER
dieselgeek: not a hotrodder


now that's hilarious

[Bucky67]

Well, here's my take:

I've built Jade from the ground up with the help of 3 other people. Every single thing, from the paint, prep, engine, final assembly, and break-in was done by either myself or one of the 3 gentleman that helped me. I made a LOT of mistakes, learned from them, and redid things that didn't work the first go round. The build took over 3 years to complete from top to bottom and I invested a TON of money in Jade. Hell, I even worked on her during both 2010 and 2011 Power Tours. She completed both Long Hauls, been to Canada, and driven to Missouri several times from Alabama. Is she perfect? Nope..... Will she ever be perfect?!? Ha, she's not even finished or completed yet.....

But, I don't regret one thing building her. With all that being said, it wouldn't bother me nor would I lose one ounce of sleep if I traded her for a brand new ZL1 Camaro. Why? Simple really..... Reliability, Durability, Maintainability, and the shear fact life is too short to spend every waking minute turning wrenches. I, personally, would rather spend that time with my kiddos at a cruise in or car show, spending time with my Loved One relaxing, having an ice cold beverage, hanging out at the Lake, or just driving.

I agree that if you take a new modern muscle car, whether it be a Camaro, Mustang, or Challenger and sit it next to its predecessor, there is no comparison. However, Jade will never get 25 MPG like the new ZL1 Camaro, nor will she ever turn a lap at the Nurburgring as fast as the ZL1, nor will she ever be as comfortable as a new ZL1 Camaro. For the 55K MSRP, you can't beat new modern muscle....

[Bucky67]

Last thing that I want to say is this; if someone goes out and purchases a brand new ZL1 Camaro and parks it right next to Jade at a car show, does that make them less of a "Hot Rodder" than myself?!?

Absolutely NOT!! Those of you that truly believe that and think like that are completely ignorant and bliss. If I were to purchase a brand new ZL1 Camaro, I would probably have to work harder, save more money, and sacrifice more than I did building Jade. Just because you choose to spend your money differently, doesn't make you more or less of an enthusiast. Hard earned money is hard earned money!!!

[TC]

Didn't you write a check to get your GMC done?


And which type of hotrodder are you? I don't see you listing a category for "Guy who buys a bunch of parts and never, ever EVER finishes a project"


Wrote a check to get the GMC done?? the GMC is not done, talking out your ass again I see.......

Also I don't see you with any projects, I have 4 now with the addition of the Monte, not to mention I was building cars before you ever thought about getting into the industry...... You started doing this stuff about 7 years ago, I started doing this stuff 26 years ago.. In that time I've built a few cars/trucks before I ever met you, so your lies are just that Lies of someone you have no clue about....... Only your made up fantasies........

Also I find it funny that my '99 Z28 doesn't seem to count...... That car is a finished Project!!!!!..... So right there your wrong about me not finishing a project........

Fact is YOU HAVE NEVER "BUILT" A HOTROD, RACE CAR OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT WAS PERFORMANCE ORIENTATED, the reality of it is you are a Tuner and Tune EFI systems, that is where you experience is, not in anything else you talk about, because you don't have any HAND ON experience doing any of that stuff, only what others have TOLD YOU or what you have read......... So when it comes to efi tuning and running cars on dynos, I tend to believe what your saying, other than that you have no hands on experience and have never build a car, so why would I take what you say about those subjects seriously.........

I find it funny that the guys that say you can't believe everything on the internet are actually the guys writing stuff on the internet......

[TC]

The HotRod world according to TC

John Force: not a hotrodder
Austin Coil: not a hotrodder
TubbedCamaro: HOTRODDER
dieselgeek: not a hotrodder


now that's hilarious

Well 3 out of 4 of those guys actually have built cars at sometime in their lives....... The last guy on the list not so much........

[squirrel]

Last thing that I want to say is this; if someone goes out and purchases a brand new ZL1 Camaro and parks it right next to Jade at a car show, does that make them less of a "Hot Rodder" than myself?!?

Absolutely NOT

I disagree....

Working hard and saving your money to buy neat toys means you're successful, it doesn't mean you are someone who modifies cars for increased performance.

Not that it matters.

[SuperBuickGuy]

....said, it wouldn't bother me nor would I lose one ounce of sleep if I traded her for a brand new ZL1 Camaro. Why? Simple really..... Reliability, Durability, Maintainability, and the shear fact life is too short to spend every waking minute turning wrenches. I, personally, would rather spend that time with my kiddos at a cruise in or car show, spending time with my Loved One relaxing, having an ice cold beverage, hanging out at the Lake, or just driving.

I agree that if you take a new modern muscle car, whether it be a Camaro, Mustang, or Challenger and sit it next to its predecessor, there is no comparison. However, Jade will never get 25 MPG like the new ZL1 Camaro, nor will she ever turn a lap at the Nurburgring as fast as the ZL1, nor will she ever be as comfortable as a new ZL1 Camaro. For the 55K MSRP, you can't beat new modern muscle....

hear hear - anyone who enjoys a car for its attributes is a car guy; old, new doesn't matter. That said, I completely agree there is far more to life then just cars.

I figure that anyone who buys a car for something (or multiple somethings) other then transportation is a car guy (or gal).

[dieselgeek]

Sure you have built cars and finished them. I totally believe that. A $2500 4th gen POS camaro with MSD coilpacks - a DOWNGRADE - doesn't count as a finished project any more than my POS daily driver with Air Conditioning upgrades.

[SuperBuickGuy]

I disagree....

Working hard and saving your money to buy neat toys means you're successful, it doesn't mean you are someone who modifies cars for increased performance.

Not that it matters.

okay squirrel - that's true so, of course, you'd agree that the Edelbrock family are not hot rodders. But all of that begs the question - how does this post answer the original poster's question?

[squirrel]

okay squirrel - that's true so, of course, you'd agree that the Edelbrock family are not hot rodders. But all of that begs the question - how does this post answer the original poster's question?

It probably doesn't. But I wasn't addressing the OP's question in that post.

The forum police are in the room...I better go back to the garage.

[dieselgeek]

It probably doesn't. But I wasn't addressing the OP's question in that post.

The forum police are in the room...I better go back to the garage.

Take it from me, you don't want to get on SBGs bad side. He'll bring you up in all his "woe is me, I can't figure out how to work a GM dealership, or a machine shop, or a bicycle" posts for months

[SuperBuickGuy]

It probably doesn't. But I wasn't addressing the OP's question in that post.

The forum police are in the room...I better go back to the garage.

not police, but wondering if I missed something

[SuperBuickGuy]

Take it from me, you don't want to get on SBGs bad side. He'll bring you up in all his "woe is me, I can't figure out how to work a GM dealership, or a machine shop, or a bicycle" posts for months

nice to know you care enough to check up on my woes, thanks DG, you really do have a sensitive side

[dieselgeek]

nice to know you care enough to check up on my woes, thanks DG, you really do have a sensitive side

I wouldn't call it "caring" just warning Jim what happens when someone presents an idea that counters the almighty SBG's.

[SuperBuickGuy]

I wouldn't call it "caring" just warning Jim what happens when someone presents an idea that counters the almighty SBG's.

now now, don't ruin the moment by 'talking' Scott

[dieselgeek]

now now, don't ruin the moment by 'talking' Scott

They don't call you Drama Mama on here for just any old reason. LOL

[skullbucket]

This cracks me up, its opinionated asshats like this that make the shows and cruises here in Tucson shitty. Thats for the low IQ name calling that DOES put you in a category.
I get snubbed in my beat Fury, I get snubbed in my Mustang, I got snubbed in my lifted 4X4...unless my car is pretty and I sit in a lawn chair with my panama hat I cant be cool, Well thats sweet and all but it must be you because Saturday I pulled up to a car show and they wanted me to put my car in the show so bad the judges paid my entry fee to draw in more people, go figure!

Yeah man, youre better than me...I wrench for a living, I have been wrenching since I was 12. I can build anything I put my mind to and if I dont know I figure it out by asking questions and learning...I've earned my stripes I just chose a different path. So your a mechanic and not a hotrodder?

Youre like the proverbial Harley rider...if it's not a Harley its not a motorcycle.. I'll give ya that one.

Whatever dude, keep on thinking youre a bad ass becasue you "built" your car and others did not...guys like you will be the downfall of our hobby. How long has this hobby been going on?
You think a guy who starts with a shell and completes a car out of it and a guy who shells out $38000 is in the same category?
And I know everybody and their brother had their first car at age 10 and was doing side work at age 12 BLAH, BLAH, BLAH ETC, but its what became of the experience is what matters, you are a mechanic and I have owned 83 cars and trucks.

[TC]

Sure you have built cars and finished them. I totally believe that. A $2500 4th gen POS camaro with MSD coilpacks - a DOWNGRADE - doesn't count as a finished project any more than my POS daily driver with Air Conditioning upgrades.

You really have no clue do you............

[moparmaniac07]

I'd like to point out that there's a difference between "car guy" and "hotrodder". People often use the terms interchangeably, but are they really? Hotrodders hotrod things, not just cars. Pulling tractors/trucks are hotrodded. Racing mowers are hotrodded. A 2004 Jeep Wrangler with a blower is hotrodded. Just because it's new doesn't mean it can't be hotrodded.
A car guy has cars/trucks for more than just basic transportation. "checkbook hotrodders" and new "factory hotrod" buyers can be labeled car guys (unless they're buying it for an "investment"). Anyone making something faster or more powerful is "hotrodding" it, thus making them a "hotrodder". Not that either is better than the other, and the territory overlaps often, but they are not the same. Just how I see it.

[BluLightning]

Yay, I"m a hotrodder!:ha:

Oh and James, knowing you, I know you're not really going to let anyone on here's bullshit opinion sway you. Do what makes YOU happy.

[TC]

You think a guy who starts with a shell and completes a car out of it and a guy who shells out $38000 is in the same category?
And I know everybody and their brother had their first car at age 10 and was doing side work at age 12 BLAH, BLAH, BLAH ETC, but its what became of the experience is what matters, you are a mechanic and I have owned 83 cars and trucks.

That's why I keep my '71 Camaro, I could have said F'it a long time ago and just sold it and dumped the money into my '99 Camaro and had a bad ass LS Motor installed........ Instead I keep it and will finish it and enjoy it....... There is a love and devotion that you get when you build a car and no amount of money can buy that..........

[bnjny]

Just buy what you want and enjoy it. Don't worry about what other people think, values or any other go with the flow crap.

If you can afford it and you want it, go get it... Selling out is doing as others so you can be part of the crowd. :)

[TC]

I'd like to point out that there's a difference between "car guy" and "hotrodder". People often use the terms interchangeably, but are they really? Hotrodders hotrod things, not just cars. Pulling tractors/trucks are hotrodded. Racing mowers are hotrodded. A 2004 Jeep Wrangler with a blower is hotrodded. Just because it's new doesn't mean it can't be hotrodded.
A car guy has cars/trucks for more than just basic transportation. "checkbook hotrodders" and new "factory hotrod" buyers can be labeled car guys (unless they're buying it for an "investment"). Anyone making something faster or more powerful is "hotrodding" it, thus making them a "hotrodder". Not that either is better than the other, and the territory overlaps often, but they are not the same. Just how I see it.

I'm not arguing, actually agree with you, but in other words a guy that buys a hot rod and does not modify it to be faster is just a car guy??....... As in the checkbook hot rodder that just drives the car.........

[peewee]

I'm not arguing, actually agree with you, but in other words a guy that buys a hot rod and does not modify it to be faster is just a car guy??....... As in the checkbook hot rodder that just drives the car.........


Hey, I resemble that remark.

[TC]

And wasn't it DF or someone in one of the mags say you have to have done at least 5 modifications to the car for it to be considered a hot rod??

[TC]

Hey, I resemble that remark.

Ya but I like you PeeWee........ You get the TC get out jail free card........:wink::ha::ha:

[peewee]

Ya but I like you PeeWee........ You get the TC get out jail free card........:wink::ha::ha:

Thanks TC! That's good to know ahead of time, when I need to cash it in. No telling how or when I'll end up in the White Room with black curtains. Yeah, I appreciate that for sure. Got one in the wallet! Cool beans!

[HoosierL98GTA]

As for as selling out goes, remember hot rods didn't used to have windows, doors, fenders. Those guys back in the day would call peop;e buying factory muscle be it 60s,70s,80 ect sellouts. So , I'm probably a sell out with my25 year old T/A. I'd sell the least loved and hope into a 05 mustang,or a first year re-introduction camaro ss/challenger. I really like the LOOK of old muscle cars but I will not buy anything older than 96 from here on out. I've just gotten spoiled with how much better newer cars are put together fit and finish door gaps ect. and the suspensions ability to handle. It's not that you can't fix one to have all these atributes, it's just going to cost 4 times as much and take 4 times as long. You'll still be one of us which ever way you go Bishir.

[Bucky67]

James, I agree with Bob, do what makes YOU happy!!! Me personally, there's no comparison.... I could sell Jade and wouldn't blink an eye. And I've owned her for 12 years, managed to keep her through FIVE deployments and the Big D. You just can't compete with today's technology. I could sell out tomorrow and could care less what people on here think of me. I've had new and old..... Love em all!!!

[peewee]

What a great discussion! I'll go back to the point that you guys are going to turn wrenches on stuff because you love to do that. And a new ride pretty takes that part out of it.

And again and again and over and over....yes, I bought a ride ready to go because I sure enough in this world don't know how to build one. If that makes me enjoy driving it any less, I'm going to hotrod hell when I check out. It's just so much fun to drive it. Where does that play into the equation, really?

I didn't need that car to go along with our brand new grocery getter sedan and the plain white pickup truck. Didn't need it like a frog doesn't need being put into a microwave oven.

I bought it, and I'm enjoying it to no end. Is that so bad? That seems to be the flow and course of this dialogue.

No, daggumit, I did NOT build it! I would have, but ....no, I bought it. There it was at the end of the street. The street that led to all the fun I've had with it. And through that, meeting the people who do it the other way, the RIGHT way I guess. Build it and drive it.

What do I say....the airplane pilot in most cases in the world didn't build the airplane. But they fly it.

[nesabo]

These thoughts come from walking around the parking lot at work today, where my 1990 cougar was the oldest car there by far, to many civics, suvs, and other soulless 4 wheel appliances . So I am not around "car guys" all day.

I have less then 10% of the talent/knowledge of most here. Not sure where I fit in the car guy/non car guy status. Don't really care. Nothing hold my interest outside my family more than cars. I try to work on my cars, drag race my cars when I can, hang out with others who enjoy their cars. Others can only talk about cars, some only work on other peoples cars, but I am fine with both, they have passed on knowledge I can only hope to absorb.

Peewee I think you are a good example of someone that has found the fun we have with our cars whether you have wrenched on it or not. You do not need a free pass in my book, you have earned your stripes.

[peewee]

Neal Sabo, thank you for your words Sir. I'm basically insecure that way as you and everybody else here knows. Our conversation at the Party, and your post here, thank you Sir.

I'll keep getting out of tune again. Always need a bump, on that and only that one thing in my whole life. Thanks man.

[1trickpony]

I am a self proclaimed hot rodder. And the village idiot.
I paid $1500 for my 1984 mustang and drove it for a year while tuning it up. The motor started to go terminal last fall so I decided to buy an efi motor from one of my dads friends. I have have spent virtually every weekend in the junkyard scrounging for parts and even some go fast parts. During this process I have asked a lot of dumb questions to my dad and his friends but I have too. How else am I going to answer them for my son.
As to the original question you said buy a gt500 or the likes. I really don't see a problem with it if it's what you wanna do. But I think you answered your own question. You said you want to build a bada$$ gnx and that you had 2 cars . If you cut one of those out to fund your new project you a.) won't be without a car and b.) will build your dream car. :twocents:

Village idiot signing out

[Brian Lohnes]

In the really old days -

"That guy sucks because he can't weave his own buggy whip and he bought an automobile!"

In the old days -

"That guy sucks because he bought a '55 Chevy that's faster from the factory than my 'full house' flathead powered dragster!"

In the kinda old days -

"That guy sucks because he bought a 1964 GTO that can beat the ass off of my worked over '55 Chevy!"

In the 1980s -

"That guy sucks because he bolted a blower to his 5.0L Mustang and it kills my Chevelle!"

Today -

"That guy sucks because his new ZL1 Camaro can wipe the floor with my home built muscle car!"


I was at a cruise night yesterday and it is put on by the local Corvette club, so the deal is crawling with late model Corvettes. In my mind, I am Mr. Jaded Car Guy and am thinking, "ungh...look at this". Then my boys pipe up and get all excited because, "WOAH...DAD..LOOK AT ALL THE CORVETTES!" I then felt like a DB for my state of mind and had a nice night.

Bottom line is that this hobby needs every single freaking person we can have in it. From the import guys to the dudes who rub their new Corvette with a diaper. Our strength is in our numbers. Nobody has to love everything or everyone, but you have to have some basic respect for people who enjoy the same stuff as you do...cars!

If the dudes with the Corvettes would let in some weirdo with a junky old wrecker, they're not half bad...right?

The so-called "check book" hot rodders keep guys like my friends Dennis, John, Dana, Jon, Joe, Tom, and about 50 other guys I know really well in business. I am thankful that the great gearhead apocalypse that was predicted (by people like me) never came all the way to the fruition like we thought it would. Know why? Some guys still have cashola to buy stuff thankfully.

I could go on forever, but I am stopping now. :)

[Monk]

'rub their new Corvette with a diaper'
:)

Yep........when all is said.........we're all car guys.
One size doesn't fit all.

[Thumpin455]

PeeDub is ok in my book too, even if he doesnt know how to fix his ride. If he wants to learn he can ask questions and take the time to do so, just like everyone else.

About the only thing that bothers me about checkbook guys is when they claim its home built and it was shipped from shop to shop and maybe a couple pieces put on at home. Thats more a thing with the pre war crowd though. Dont claim you built it if you didnt, give the shops credit for it because they have earned it.

I used to make enough money to support my car habit by fixing stuff for other people, building transmissions, engines, doing gear swaps, trading parts, and things like that. Not everyone can do that, and if we draw arbitrary lines as to what constitutes a gearhead, then we might miss a good friend due to our own arrogance.

[Thumpin455]

Lots of us are builders here, it doesnt make us any more special than anyone else. It just makes us greasy, dusty, and the aroma of automotive nirvana emanates from us. I guess if you are so insecure to have to say you are better than someone else because they drive a different car, or that they cant work on it, well you are missing the point.

That isnt to say we builders havent put in the time and effort, gone the distance to learn the right or multiple ways of doing the job, nor does that mean we havent sacrificed to build our toys. That earns you a different kind of respect from like minded people, but we shouldnt use that as criteria for looking down on others who cant fix their car. I honestly dont know anyone else personally who can do the things I can do to a car, if I limited myself to people at my skill level, I wouldnt have any car friends.

How do you know the guy in the new ZL1 doesnt salivate at the thought of owning your car that you built. Whos to say he doesnt want desperately to have the skills you have, but has no way to learn them. You can see the guys who defeat themselves driving around in minivans. They are easy to spot because while they are looking at us driving our toys. They have a look on their faces of defeated men, like someone ran over their puppy, because they cant own or drive a car like we have.

I have empathy for them, because from November to May I am stuck in a winter beater, and people look down on me for driving a rusted out heap. They have no idea that there are multiple GTOs, a 700hp Firebird, and other cars in my yard, yet they look at me like I am some kind of loser for driving a heap instead of a nice shiny new car in the salt. Why be like those people?

[bishir]

Maybe I'm just having a mid-life crisis. Which would really suck because that means I'd only live until 66... Hmm better spend my retirement... :ha:

Thanks a bunch for y'alls :twocents:! I'm humbled whenever someone takes the time to respond honestly even if I judge it to be misguided a little but. I'd proudly sit and have a beer with any of ya. :)

[skullbucket]

Lots of us are builders here, it doesnt make us any more special than anyone else. It just makes us greasy, dusty, and the aroma of automotive nirvana emanates from us. I guess if you are so insecure to have to say you are better than someone else because they drive a different car, or that they cant work on it, well you are missing the point.
I disagree, because most who buy a new Hotrod think "they" are the real deal.
Case in point: a few weeks ago I pull into a gas station and a guy in a new Corvette,(yellow with yellow seats, blue trim in and out, and he was dressed the same with the "beret" hat and all the garb is sitting by the gas pump but in a triangle situation which took up 3 pump spots.
I drove by as close as I could and real slow and he looked at my older vette like I was the inferior one and I shouted at him" Hey if you would learn how to drive that thing people might not use it as a guard rail!" I revved the engine slipped the clutch and barked at him just a little and drove off laughing loudly so he would hear me!
He no more knew I was driving a Corvette than I knew he WAS a snot assed senior showing off his money situation!
I guarantee he couldn't open the hood of that car if it was on fire!!!

[TC]

Some guys still have cashola to buy stuff thankfully.


It's nice that I help people like that out, not so much on the labor, but on the parts that I buy, some people think I'm just collecting parts, but me collecting parts is helping people like that stay in business......

[dieselgeek]

It's nice that I help people like that out, not so much on the labor, but on the parts that I buy, some people think I'm just collecting parts, but me collecting parts is helping people like that stay in business......

collecting parts is great! calling yourself a top dog hot rodder because you have a pile of parts is not.

[BigBlockMopar]

Brian, is the diaper also new, or 'used'?

[Thumpin455]

I disagree, because most who buy a new Hotrod think "they" are the real deal.
Case in point: a few weeks ago I pull into a gas station and a guy in a new Corvette,(yellow with yellow seats, blue trim in and out, and he was dressed the same with the "beret" hat and all the garb is sitting by the gas pump but in a triangle situation which took up 3 pump spots.
I drove by as close as I could and real slow and he looked at my older vette like I was the inferior one and I shouted at him" Hey if you would learn how to drive that thing people might not use it as a guard rail!" I revved the engine slipped the clutch and barked at him just a little and drove off laughing loudly so he would hear me!
He no more knew I was driving a Corvette than I knew he WAS a snot assed senior showing off his money situation!
I guarantee he couldn't open the hood of that car if it was on fire!!!

Well I have to agree with you about certain Vette owners. They know nothing about the car they are driving nor its capabilities. Its a case of more money than brains/driving skill. Have to deal with those types up here all the time. They have a ZO6 and its going 45 in a 55 where most of us locals do 60-62. They are like the kid who was posting videos to youtube about his 'Camaro restoration' and showing off his mad welding skills. Lets just say some people need supervision as adults, but on a bell curve they are an outlier, not the meat of the curve. Well, except for Vette owners, because everyone sees that car as a status symbol and a sign of being rich or simply better than you. Its fun beating them at the dragstrip with a $5k car.

The guy who lives next door to my father in law is one of those Vette owners. He thinks it is the be all end all but is more worried about resale and wax than what it can do. He is a lawyer so he knows jack about @#&* when it comes to anything in it, other than it has an LS engine in it. The thing is, he knows he doesnt know shit about it, and he knows I do know lots more than he does, but I cant represent someone in court. We just learned different things, and he really likes Vettes.

The guy you are talking about is a jackass no matter what he is driving, its just that he finally found something in his pitiful life of making money that allows him to feel superior to others. We could write an entire book on that type of guy. Telling big stories at car shows about his 454 Hemi that pulled the front tires and ran 8s on the street in his 63 Falcon, or the kid that says he is going to take his 99 Gran Prix and turn it into a rear wheel drive car so it will handle better in the rain. Nothing will get to those idiots, so I dont really include them. They could be driving a Kia minivan and they would still be an idiot, the fact that they have a vette or something else is largely irrelevant, but it is very annoying to other drivers.

[Matt Cramer]

Maybe I'm just having a mid-life crisis. Which would really suck because that means I'd only live until 66... Hmm better spend my retirement... :ha:

I'm a year older than you, and so far I've owned at one point or another a Dodge Dart, a C4 Corvette, a 40 year old pickup, a BMW convertible, two motorcycles, a Triumph Spitfire, and two turbocharged sports coupes. There have been a couple other more boring things in there, but I've never had a 4 door sedan that was less than 30 years old, a minivan, or anything of that sort.

What am I supposed to do for a midlife crisis?

[TC]

collecting parts is great! calling yourself a top dog hot rodder because you have a pile of parts is not.

You show me one post were I say I'm a "top dog hot rodder"......... Those are your fantasy words that you bestow upon me so that you can justify giving me a hard time........ And look at yourself, going around talking like you know everything, when you've never built a car in your life..... I think that is the pot calling the kettle black......... Basically your the same as me when you try to talk about stuff that isn't EFI related..... Your just talking about stuff you have no experience with.......

At least I worked 10 years as an Auto Tech, which is something you can't say.....

[Chassisman]

I'm an OLD CAR guy.... but for some reason...this thing puts a perma grin on my face.....and CHAD loves to go for rides in it....the words HOLY SHIT MAN ! just rolled right out of his mouth. Older ZO6's are getting cheaper....and the "HOT ROD" possibilities are unlimited(Unless you live in a smog controled NAZI tree hunger state like California). When I first fired it up for CHAD he drooled like a fat kid waiting for birthday cake. Life is short...ENJOY IT !!!!
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k319/centralvalleychoppers/PhonepicsAugust2011617.jpg

[peewee]

I'm an OLD CAR guy.... but for some reason...this thing puts a perma grin on my face.....and CHAD loves to go for rides in it....the words HOLY SHIT MAN ! just rolled right out of his mouth. Older ZO6's are getting cheaper....and the "HOT ROD" possibilities are unlimited(Unless you live in a smog controled NAZI tree hunger state like California). When I first fired it up for CHAD he drooled like a fat kid waiting for birthday cake. Life is short...ENJOY IT !!!!
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k319/centralvalleychoppers/PhonepicsAugust2011617.jpg


For a bit of levity, and here's a chance to poke and prod and make fun of ME, which I love to do...

How many folks online tonight have followed the plot on BS long enough to remember a thread I started where I was so absolutely appalled at my middle aged neighbor with three rug rats....when he brought home a red Corvette? To the point that I made a photo out of our front window of it, of them gathered around it, the photo that gave Brian the creeps so bad I removed it - spying on the neighbors with a camera?

That was me who did that. At least that was my body. Ohhhhh my, how some time can change a mindset. Now we've got a Red thing, too.

[BKBridges]

[QUOTE=Chassisman;659800]I'm an OLD CAR guy.... but for some reason...this thing puts a perma grin on my face.....and CHAD loves to go for rides in it....the words HOLY SHIT MAN ! just rolled right out of his mouth. Older ZO6's are getting cheaper....and the "HOT ROD" possibilities are unlimited(Unless you live in a smog controled NAZI tree hunger state like California). When I first fired it up for CHAD he drooled like a fat kid waiting for birthday cake. Life is short...ENJOY IT !!!!
QUOTE]
Isnt Chowchilla in the "smog on change of ownership only" CARB plan? Been looking for a good PO box in one of those zones...

[BKBridges]

It bums me out that new (2012) performance these days comes with a lot of crud that I dont need... Nav systems, touch screens, plastic freaking body panels, surround sound air bags etc. etc. BUT, as a non recovering street rodding addict I dont wish this sickness on anyone (other than my customers), but if treatment = write a check to the aftermarket (yes!) or get under/into the 65 to fix the handling issues (me) or beat on it at the track every weekend (others), Im happy to stand side by side with them at any event and discuss the disease, its symptoms and "the cure" and I hope they arent thinking Im a fail 'cause my spark plug wire color doesnt match my injector tops...

[Chassisman]

[QUOTE=Chassisman;659800]I'm an OLD CAR guy.... but for some reason...this thing puts a perma grin on my face.....and CHAD loves to go for rides in it....the words HOLY SHIT MAN ! just rolled right out of his mouth. Older ZO6's are getting cheaper....and the "HOT ROD" possibilities are unlimited(Unless you live in a smog controled NAZI tree hunger state like California). When I first fired it up for CHAD he drooled like a fat kid waiting for birthday cake. Life is short...ENJOY IT !!!!
QUOTE]
Isnt Chowchilla in the "smog on change of ownership only" CARB plan? Been looking for a good PO box in one of those zones......NOPE...change of ownership and every 2 years....thats why the ZO6 sports dealer plates when we take it out....and it's going to West Virginia(Trading it for a 53' Vintage Living Quarters trailer)....California HATES my ZO6....LOL