as Ive gained more experience, and Ive lost count years ago,of the number of engines Ive built and engine swaps Ive done over those years, it becomes more and more clear that the failure to think the process thru,CAREFULLY as to what you expect to accomplish and the results your likely to get, if you DON,T has a huge effect on the results.
first keep CLEARLY IN MIND HOTRODDING is A HOBBY that's SUPPOSED to be BOTH enjoyable and NOT your MAIN FOCUS IN LIFE! YOUR CAREER AND FAMILY are FAR MORE IMPORTANT
now Im sure most guys start off in this HOBBY with what they can afford in a car and slowly add performance parts to the existing car/combo/platform without much if any long term goals in mind other than " a vague, I'm,making the car faster" goal.
this commonly results in cars that look and/or sound good but leave a lot to be desired in performance.
most guys seem to use the (BAND AID APPROACH) I.E. once I install this (part, or modification) Ill see how it works and base the next mod on where I find myself at that point! or put another way, I fix the problems ONLY AFTER THEY BECOME ANNOYING ENOUGH. THIS approach wastes a HUGE amount of resources and time and MONEY
EXAMPLE
no thought is ever given to a larger radiator untill the car overheats
NOR is a or stronger trans, higher stall converter, and higher rear gear ratio, ever purchased untill the car runs like #$%$%^ without it, once the engine mods are made!
yeah, we ALMOST all started that way!! :grin: and in part its because most of us, have thin wallets and have only our transportation car to work with.
BUT there are other options, and while it takes disipline and planing it can be done and can result in less total money spent and a better combo! and a far more impressive car once your done! TAKE YOUR TIME!,SET YOUR GOAL!, and DRIVE SOMETHING that MAKES YOUR FRIENDS GREEN WITH ENVY ONCE you GET IT BUILT!
and yeah it HELPS to have a GARAGE,TOOLS,ETC. but IVE seen some VERY supprizing results from cars built mostly under tarps in back yards on VERY LIMITED BUDGETS over several YEARS. Ive got several friends that take GREAT PRIDE in buying parts cheaply at swap meets, and/or working small jobs to finance thier cars
first you need to seriously think about what you want as an END PRODUCT
putting a couple hundred dollars a month into building a rusted chevelle/camaro/nova, simply because thats what you currently own, if you would really rather own a CORVETTE,CUDA,COBRA,ETC. or building a 307,350, sbc if you want a 427,426,572,big block or turbo 377 sbc is wasted EFFORT
your first goal needs to be deciding on what you really want and the engine/trans combo it should have, and thats VERY DIFFICULT, because MOST of us set the goal higher than we can afford, or settle for far less car than we really want!
don,t settle! but be very realistic as to your goals,and take into account the tools, skills,and work area yoou AND YOUR friends are likely to have access too. and DON,T RUSH the process, if you have a limited BUDGET, THAT'S FINE (most of US DO!) that just means its likely to take longer! and DON,T forget you can usually swap the skills you aquire in this hobby and some spare time you have for parts and money along the way!EXAMPLE
lets assume your hearts desire is a 1969 camaro with a 572 bbc crate engine, and a manual trans
the ENGINE alone costs about $15,000, the car could be had for about another $5000,-$20,000 depending on condition,and it would be REASONABLE to expect another $4000,to $8000 in misc cost to get that dream car on the road
so lets say $40,000,..........that's a lot of money!!!
yet its not that expensive compared to a new Z06 corvette,and if you spread the expense out over YEARS VS months most guys can/could EVENTUALLY BUILD THAT DREAM CAR!
especially if they set THAT AS THEIR GOAL, and stick to it VS wasting money on several other projects over the next few years!
another OPTION,(not a SMART ONE IN MOST CASES)is to finance the car now and make payments for years,sure you get instant satisfaction, but your also likely to have times when making those payments is a P.I.T.A.
]THINK IT THRU, HAVE FUN! but DON,T FORGET this is NOT THE ONLY ASPECT TO YOUR LIFE!
BTW READ THIS
viewtopic.php?f=80&t=906&p=1473#p1473
http://www.enginefactory.com/Corvette_History.htm
first keep CLEARLY IN MIND HOTRODDING is A HOBBY that's SUPPOSED to be BOTH enjoyable and NOT your MAIN FOCUS IN LIFE! YOUR CAREER AND FAMILY are FAR MORE IMPORTANT
now Im sure most guys start off in this HOBBY with what they can afford in a car and slowly add performance parts to the existing car/combo/platform without much if any long term goals in mind other than " a vague, I'm,making the car faster" goal.
this commonly results in cars that look and/or sound good but leave a lot to be desired in performance.
most guys seem to use the (BAND AID APPROACH) I.E. once I install this (part, or modification) Ill see how it works and base the next mod on where I find myself at that point! or put another way, I fix the problems ONLY AFTER THEY BECOME ANNOYING ENOUGH. THIS approach wastes a HUGE amount of resources and time and MONEY
EXAMPLE
no thought is ever given to a larger radiator untill the car overheats
NOR is a or stronger trans, higher stall converter, and higher rear gear ratio, ever purchased untill the car runs like #$%$%^ without it, once the engine mods are made!
yeah, we ALMOST all started that way!! :grin: and in part its because most of us, have thin wallets and have only our transportation car to work with.
BUT there are other options, and while it takes disipline and planing it can be done and can result in less total money spent and a better combo! and a far more impressive car once your done! TAKE YOUR TIME!,SET YOUR GOAL!, and DRIVE SOMETHING that MAKES YOUR FRIENDS GREEN WITH ENVY ONCE you GET IT BUILT!
and yeah it HELPS to have a GARAGE,TOOLS,ETC. but IVE seen some VERY supprizing results from cars built mostly under tarps in back yards on VERY LIMITED BUDGETS over several YEARS. Ive got several friends that take GREAT PRIDE in buying parts cheaply at swap meets, and/or working small jobs to finance thier cars
first you need to seriously think about what you want as an END PRODUCT
putting a couple hundred dollars a month into building a rusted chevelle/camaro/nova, simply because thats what you currently own, if you would really rather own a CORVETTE,CUDA,COBRA,ETC. or building a 307,350, sbc if you want a 427,426,572,big block or turbo 377 sbc is wasted EFFORT
your first goal needs to be deciding on what you really want and the engine/trans combo it should have, and thats VERY DIFFICULT, because MOST of us set the goal higher than we can afford, or settle for far less car than we really want!
don,t settle! but be very realistic as to your goals,and take into account the tools, skills,and work area yoou AND YOUR friends are likely to have access too. and DON,T RUSH the process, if you have a limited BUDGET, THAT'S FINE (most of US DO!) that just means its likely to take longer! and DON,T forget you can usually swap the skills you aquire in this hobby and some spare time you have for parts and money along the way!EXAMPLE
lets assume your hearts desire is a 1969 camaro with a 572 bbc crate engine, and a manual trans
the ENGINE alone costs about $15,000, the car could be had for about another $5000,-$20,000 depending on condition,and it would be REASONABLE to expect another $4000,to $8000 in misc cost to get that dream car on the road
so lets say $40,000,..........that's a lot of money!!!
yet its not that expensive compared to a new Z06 corvette,and if you spread the expense out over YEARS VS months most guys can/could EVENTUALLY BUILD THAT DREAM CAR!
especially if they set THAT AS THEIR GOAL, and stick to it VS wasting money on several other projects over the next few years!
another OPTION,(not a SMART ONE IN MOST CASES)is to finance the car now and make payments for years,sure you get instant satisfaction, but your also likely to have times when making those payments is a P.I.T.A.
]THINK IT THRU, HAVE FUN! but DON,T FORGET this is NOT THE ONLY ASPECT TO YOUR LIFE!
BTW READ THIS
viewtopic.php?f=80&t=906&p=1473#p1473
http://www.enginefactory.com/Corvette_History.htm
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