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Jerry Matthews (aka Willys33) [ View ] [ willys3377@msn.com ] [ Car Ads ] [ Blogs ] Alamogordo, New Mexico  Get off the trailer and drive

Nobody talkin' about power parking or trailer queens so I will see if I can twist the tail. Lets say you can buy a "quality" 32 Ford 'glass body for $6500. On the other hand you can buy one for $4000 that is not "quality". So I set the "cheap" one on my frame and add several layers of 'glass to the inside. Outside will require more work too but not $2500 worth. For a business time is money but for the build it yourself guy $100 worth of 'glass and resin goes a long way. Thin fenders? Flip 'em over and add several layes of 'glass to stiffen and prevent stars. Comments????

Comments

Posted by Streetrodder007  -  02/22/2007 07:28 AM I have always built steel cars, hung up on that for a long time. But I am changing my mind daily. Thats a good thought about the cheaper body. If you are making a Roadster, I think it might really work. I suppose it depends on what you are going after for a final product. I am sure you can make a nice car with your extra labor vs. cost of a premium body. But it depends on your skills and how much labor time and materials you would use. Time is money if your producing. Me personally, I dont put a cap on my time, I would rather have a nice car, with a good name attached to it. Streetrodder007 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Port Huron, Michigan Charter Member since April 2006   Posted by jimmothershead  -  02/22/2007 02:05 PM Jerry.......same old story......you get what you pay for. It is not just a matter of heavier mat or more resin. When a glass body manufacturer cuts corners in the glass, they will also cut in other areas. Wescott was the first to use a 1x1 steel tubing cage work...they are still in business. Tony Minotti did the first '34 Chev coupe for Bill Norris and Bob Davidson = Outlaw is still here. Outlaw set the pace for super gelcoat and fit upp thanx to Tony. Dwight Bond at Gibbon started the '34 Packard and '37 Ford cabriolet craze.....no steel, just some wood, bad fit up...out of business. Downs uses 1x1 tubing nice fit up...still here. Koorey and Fiberfab/Classic Motor Carriage/Street Beast.....well.....AI/Anderson first to make '34-5 Chevy boards and fenders but the '34 Ford running boards were wider where they mated to the front fenders...out of business even though they are they grand daddy of fiberglass rod stuff since 1960. That '33 Willys you have...if you ordered it from Jim Taylor at Superior Fiber Glass = neither door will open more tha a few inches because they hit the attached running boards....the rear door window is lopsided...the belt line reveal is way off thru the doors...garnish moulding are not made..... the floor will not mate with the frame... tubing is only 1/2" and is 1" from the glass with out mat wrap for support.... front fenders are one inch short of mating to the running boards ...and 17 other problems. Jim said it. Jim [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Huntingtown, Maryland   Posted by bigdude  -  02/22/2007 02:21 PM Jim is right ,if you have the time-know how-and the money to make it better- well thats a no brainer! You would be better off with a good body, seeing how you can afford to fix it up. I think the resale is better too! resident know it all [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Three Rivers, Michigan Charter Member since January 2004   Posted by PRRC  -  02/22/2007 02:37 PM I would agree a better foundation to start a better end product. as (bigdude) stated resale is a factor also. I have seen some of the cheaper bodies come to our shop with a very unhappy customer. We will not even try and repair them. with the lighter glass and resin along with the weak inner structure stress cracks appear in less than a year and fit and finish is a nightmare. Tim PRRC [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Indianapolis, Indiana   Posted by jimmothershead  -  02/22/2007 03:04 PM Hey, boys & girls.......this is getting too much for pen pals......please call me for 50 years worth of the "school of hard knocks" advice. Thanx, Jim Mothershead, 410 535 1933, 410 535 1932........but no one will call. Jim [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Huntingtown, Maryland   Posted by orphans2  -  02/22/2007 03:14 PM If you're going to spend $6500 for a nice glass body, might as well dig a little deeper and put down another $4K and get a Brooksville roadster. Nice ring to that steel stuff. :-) orphans2 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Stewartstown, Pennsylvannia Charter Member since November 2001   Posted by tlp1968  -  02/22/2007 03:32 PM The time you spend trying to fix up the cheap glass body from the inside and making the darn thing fit and getting it ready for pain....should look at Bear Fiberglass. Don uses them and so do so many others, there is a reason they don't buy the cheap stuff. StreetRodding.com Marketing Director [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Springfield,, Illinois Charter Member since August 2003   Posted by da34guy  -  02/22/2007 03:35 PM Nice ring, yeah, but have ya every done the body work to 1? There're ruffer than you think. Last brookville I did had over 75 hrs body work into it prior to paint prep. Don [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Prescott, Arizona Charter Member since October 2001   Posted by bigdude  -  02/22/2007 03:39 PM Ive heard that from other builders too! Its pretty bad when henrys were straighter. resident know it all [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Three Rivers, Michigan Charter Member since January 2004   Posted by da34guy  -  02/22/2007 04:20 PM Got a buddy of mine in Northern Calif ( Retired bodyman) doin a new 32 3 window (Dearborn Deuce) and he's got over 200 hrs in it and said he's not 2/3 done, and them puppys are in the 22-25K range. Good glass bodys are lookin better and better ain't they? Don [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Prescott, Arizona Charter Member since October 2001   Posted by iceburgh  -  02/22/2007 07:59 PM You get what you pay for ..... check out www,hbclassics.com Some of the best I found iceburgh [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] new bloomfield, Pennsylvannia   Posted by dixie  -  02/22/2007 09:48 PM IS DEARBORN DEUCE GLASS ARE STEELE? AN I SEEN WHERE DOWNS MAKES A DEARBORN ROADSTER IS THIS THE SAME?YOU ALL SAID IT A 1000 TIMES NO SUB. FOR QUALITY ===RIGHT WILLYS. jim grace [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] dade city, Florida Charter Member since January 2006   Posted by DavyJ  -  02/23/2007 12:22 AM its either money up front or money later. No matter what, the better you start with the better you finish with. The only substitute for money spent is time and talent. As long as you are prepared to accept a lesser finished value, by all means start withe the cheapo body. If you are building a car to have fun with and are not going to try and sell it to get rich a lower quality body will get you into the sport real fine, just don't expect it to get the same attention as a car that cost ten times more to build. Still driving the wife's car, cause I am slow. [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Niagara Falls, Canada Charter Member since February 2005   Posted by Rods & Customs by Leon  -  02/23/2007 03:10 AM In the overall cost of a project, 2 or 3 grand to get a quality body is nothing. Plus as mentioned The body Manufacturer can add a good or Bad stamp no matter how much work you do to it Rods & Customs by Leon [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Highlands, Texas Charter Member since May 2004   Posted by Willys33  -  02/23/2007 04:27 AM Soooo what you are saying is that you always buy high. Look around your shop and identify the things that, well maybe, you didn't get the top of the line because this one works just fine. What happens if someone does not want a AMBR but a driver. Does form follow function or the other way around? Get off the trailer and drive [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Alamogordo, New Mexico   Posted by Rods & Customs by Leon  -  02/23/2007 05:30 AM No, what Im saying is, Always look at you projects as an investment and your time can be more valuble than you think. All the extra time you spend in upgrading the quality of a sub-standard body can be more wisly used being more progressive in other areas. If you want to save money and also get a good quality body and you don't mind working on it, Some quality manufacturers will sell you the body unassembled, and you can fit it together yourself..... You can also buy a set of frame rails and setup your own frame. Theres no wrong way to build a Street Rod as long as its safe. I've seen some really "NICE" cars built with cheap bodies and I've seen some very poor cars built with fantastic bodies and when one goes up for sale the first thing that a buyer asks is, Who's Body is it. Rods & Customs by Leon [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Highlands, Texas Charter Member since May 2004   Posted by kingskid  -  02/23/2007 08:39 AM I,m looking for a 37 Ford tudor sedan .it needs to be complete panel wise and would be great if it was on wheels. I,m prepared to pay a resonable cost and dont expect a barn fresh mint body. any info on such an animal would be greatly appreciatrd. Mick in Australia kingskid [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] logan city, Australia   Posted by da34guy  -  02/23/2007 11:43 AM Man Leon---- Did U hit the nail on the head. I agree with ya 100%. 1 thing ya for got to mention is--- Some can have all the money in the world to buy all the pieces, but if ya don't have the vision to get the right theme of the car yer just throwin yer money and time away. Have seen ,as I know U have too many cars put together with good parts and quality workmanship that just don't look right. Example A 32 hiboy Roadster with Fat w/w on billett wheels and a "shiney paint job" with a velour interior. Butt Ugly. Don [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Prescott, Arizona Charter Member since October 2001   Posted by Rods & Customs by Leon  -  02/23/2007 01:29 PM Besides, If you want to save money and get a quality body, Some manufacturers will sell you the complete body in pieces and you can bond the panels together. Its easier to fit a nice bodie together than it is to repair a cheap one.. Rods & Customs by Leon [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Highlands, Texas Charter Member since May 2004   Posted by flagator79  -  02/23/2007 09:58 AM Lotta wisdom in this blog. Logic, economy and just plain common sense. Chicken poopy in, chicken poopy out - simple as that. If the world was fair, the worm would eat the bird half the time [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] West Monroe, Louisianna Charter Member since December 2005   Posted by Willys33  -  02/23/2007 10:48 AM Leon, exactly what I was driving at...some good cheap and some junk quality. You are in business and time is money and your product is a reflection on your workmanship therefor use the best. I, on the other hand, am retired. I could be working on a junk body tomake it better or I could be at the Dew Drop Inn getting drunk every day. Can't put a price on my time. Concider the extra hours working on a project as a hobby that I like. Like to go to the junkyard and find parts rather than buy billet. Aluminum trunk hinges or cut a slice off a 6" well casing. High dollar billet bango wheel or something unique from the junkyard. I got the time, I'll make it or go look for it. Get off the trailer and drive [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Alamogordo, New Mexico   Posted by Rods & Customs by Leon  -  02/23/2007 08:40 PM Thats exactly why I said, Theres No wrong way to build a streetrod, I really admire the guys who still can take the time to build them like that, About every 6 months I get the chance to cruise the wrecking yards, and I find all kinds of cool stuff, I end up with a lot of misc things that I never use. But my favorite thing to hunt for are Seats, yes you can defenantly save some money on good stuff Rods & Customs by Leon [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Highlands, Texas Charter Member since May 2004   Posted by Willys33  -  02/23/2007 09:23 PM Ah yes, junkyards. Quality time roaming the tin here in New Mexico. Found one 2 miles from the house with 30s, 40s, 50s cars with surface rust. I like to look for the little do-dads that can be used for my projects. Hood latch from a VW, window regulators from a Yugo (thin doors) and all kinds of hinges. Cup holders, lights, door handles, wiper motors just to name a few. How about a Oldmoblie Quad Four? Get off the trailer and drive [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Alamogordo, New Mexico   Posted by Blown34inAK  -  02/28/2007 02:43 PM I'm building a CMC '34 coupe. This body was purchased in 1987 and sat in a storage container. After buying it for $1300.00, I found this site and realized what I had. I dumped the hood, fenders, and running boards to lessen the nightmare of fitting. The fenders and running boards are part of the body and had to be cut off. I do alot of glass work and painting in my garage plus I used to work at a body shop so I wasn't too afraid to tackle this project. The one nice thing with my body is that the glass is thick. Here's the problems I've run into so far. The floor / firewall is seperate from the body and was made to go on their frame. The rocker panels / running boards sat on top of the flat floor. The trans tunnel and firewall were 2" off center and the trans tunnel wasn't semetrical. Since I was using a reproduction '34 frame, I threw away the CMC floor / firewall and made my own. This is no easy task! I took several pictures off the internet and made a mold to look more like the Outlaw. The dash was made to tuck behind the door jams so I had to trim the sides and glass in end caps for a slip in fit. The doors fit decent but they weren't reinforced on the inner panel for hinges. With the doors closed, the jams didn't match with the inner door panel. One side had to be ground down and the other had to have 1" added. The door striker posts were recessed in the jams and would have required a 2"+ bolt to work. I cut this out and glassed it in flush. This body used a home made trunk latch so I had to remove the whole bottom lip / tray that the latch hooks to and form up a new one set at the correct angle. The bonus parts that came with my body were a headliner, rear interior panel, and the panel that covers the wiper motor. There are days where I wish I had paid for a quality body and other days where I like the challenge. Since I'm in Alaska, the freight of a body would be a concideration. My frame is painted and the motor / trans , suspension, is all in. I'll have several more weeks in getting this body ready for paint. Hope my story brings some insight to you. Here's some pictures in no particular order . I couldn't do much till the frame arrived in Nov. Blown34inAK [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Sitka, Alaska   Posted by Crazyhorse Rod Shop  -  02/28/2007 04:34 PM aint no different that banging out a pos metal body it's all one song ! if it's got tires ............your gonna have trouble. dont poke the porchdog........he bites [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] BLUFF DALE, Texas Charter Member since March 2003   Posted by brianangus  -  02/28/2007 08:22 PM I am an old dog, and having made most of the mistakes and seen many of the pitfalls in rod building, let me speak.---wisely, I hope!!! When going into a project, from the front end, don't cheap out. Regardless of how many stories you will see posted on the internet about people building great hotrods for $7000, it simply doesn't happen on a ground up, total build. You are going to spend a minimum of $15,000, and more likely about $22-25,000 for a dependable, daily driven, show worthy hotrod. And, if you do all the work yourself, as I do, you will hate yourself for the extra work you create by trying to save that $2500 on a "cheap" fiberglass body. brianangus [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Barrie, Canada   Posted by Willys33  -  03/01/2007 12:26 AM I do most of my own work too and I just can't see ordering a stage III frame, complete body with doors hung etc and ordering a crate engine and ordering a seat and ordering a...etc. Bolt it all together, drag it to paint, interior, muffler and glass shops then tell everyone you built it...NOT. A lesser quality 'glass body should have nothing to do with dependability and if your aim is show quality then of course you will start with better stuff. As a matter of fact dependability and show worthy do not necessarly go hand in hand. Form and function thing. Get off the trailer and drive [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Alamogordo, New Mexico

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