Greg .... excellent choice of builders, went through Eric's shop at GG and drooled over most of the cars. If you need anything I'm minutes from the shop, not that you need help .... just in case.

Are you shizzillin' me man!! I got pocket money that says I just started my project and that I'm driving this POS before yours is in upholstery!


LOL


Eric just got the truck to his place.... and there's nothing going to happen to it until Phil finishes the chassis. I'll take some pics when I go there the end of September.








Thanks Chief!! Nothing going on at this point -- we're still in the planning stages.

Love that you're using an RS chassis for this thing GW. Will be neat to see a pure driver with their quality underpinnings. Definitely a cool concept for a sun valley cruiser.

Saw your old nomad at Barrett by the way...I know you've got skills and style but I was still impressed with how nice it was in person. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks!


The old Nomad was a bad ass yet totally reliable cruiser. I learned a LOT building and re-building that car many times. It was just "dated" (I owned it since 1999) and I was "done" and had mentally moved on. Hadn't driven it in 2 years and didn't miss it. So it was either a complete down to bare metal do over -- or move it out and do something else. We know that result.

I really should be building this truck in my new shed... but I'm running out of time and wouldn't have the support of friends to help as needed... and want to focus on making sure the house is right. If I waited until I really had the time - it would be another 2 years down the road. Having Eric build it gets it done in time to be enjoyed about the same time as the house is finished.


Here's the way I look at this -- parts is parts -- I can buy all the parts - that cost is static... motors / chassis / trans / wheels and tires etc all cost what they cost... so for me --- the only additional expense is the labor portion. And yes - the labor to build stuff is considerable - but my time is worth "something" - and I'd have costs for things as well. I'd be running parts to Boise - or shipping things somewhere to get them plated or whatever... Or I'd be spending a lot of time trying to source parts on line or via dealers I know. Since this '40 isn't going to be a whoop tee do custom with 100's of hours of fabrication - the labor shouldn't be huge. And, frankly, Pinkee's labor rate is extremely reasonable. There's all the "hidden" costs of building things yourself that people never factor in. HE found the truck and got it to his shop... I could have found similar -- and then spent a few days fetching it. Fuel - hotels - food - wear and tear... those are all costs we never add in to our building budgets. My guess is -- having Pinkee's build the truck will cost me about 50 grand "more" than if I'd built it myself. Pretty reasonable if you ask me. When it's done - I'll sell my F-150 and I can barely buy a new pick up for 50 grand. What will be missing is the "I built it myself" pride but I've built enough stuff that I'm kinda over that. I'm going to use my time over here to build relationships with other guys - all new friends -- helping them with their projects using my stuff and shed - and we can work on their stuff doing weekend or small projects and for me - that's way better than working alone on my own project. I've already had people coming over and then they know someone and bring them by and I'm already having fun. It'll take some time -- but in a few months or by next summer... I'll hopefully meet enough "car guys" here that I'd be comfortable starting a new project for me and doing it with friends.

I'd kinda like to see the "shed" turn into a gathering spot -- maybe every Friday night or Saturday morning -- coffee on - or beers in the afternoon - and having the car community know that there's always going to be a "place to go" where others will be... There isn't that kind of thing going on over here and it would be fun to start that. Teach a guy how to weld -- or bend some tubbing - or cut something for them.. or have them bead blast a part or Lift a body off. Whatever...

:grouphug:

GW, are there many car folk around your new digs? Seems like you said it was really small townish in the off season?

On the one hand that sounds freakin awesome, but on the other... like you, I enjoy a couple of car buddies stopping by on the weekends while I wrench on my heaps. I enjoy helping them and sometimes need them to help me. It would suck if no one around me spoke hot rod or cared about similar stuff.


Jeff-

I'm not taking that bet!!!:lmao:

Local project at the car show today.

http://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-f...-f4KCfJv-L.jpg

Good question Jeff! There's a bunch of cars around... but I haven't met many of them yet. The problem is that there are two kinds of folks here - those that live here -- and those that vacation here (maybe in their own homes or rentals)... But it definitely is a car culture here. It will take me some time to get to know the locals.

Then -- I've experienced this throughout my car life -- there are hot rodders and there are hot rodders... some are just waxers and car show people... some buy a hot rod and use it once in awhile -- and some of us are dyed in the wool gear heads. What I've found is that there's lots of levels of "SKILL" or lack thereof. Guys that talk a lot --- and then reach for a hammer when something doesn't fit. That guy gets his ass booted from my place within nanoseconds... There are "like minded" folks out there - that understand what it takes - and how to protect pieces from damage - and there are those that can only unbolt a carb and swap it out - and then over tighten everything....

I get a good belly laugh a lot of times when someone goes right into the stories about the "car they built".... which means they changed the radiator cap...

Some of the car folks I've met so far are in the "super rich" category - and have amazing stuff -- but they don't drive them or work on them... so while it's nice to look at their stuff (once)... They'll not likely be the guys I call to come hold a whatsit for me.

There's a guy that is my age that works across the street at the motorcycle / skidoo / quad shop... and I think we're going to be friends. He seems to be the kind of guy that gets it... and his shop area is neat and clean. And HE LOVES TOOLS.... and another guy that has stopped by twice now that rides a harley - drives the bus part time in the winter (which is when I met him) and seems pretty cool... So it's just a matter of time and sorting it all out.

I figure to meet some more people with being over here more than just part time -- it's too hard to be part time... but in September I'll be full time - and the shop is done and my stuff is here... and word will get out... and I'm pretty sure the people that will be building my house will be car people or know someone that is etc.