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New build thread - My son's first car All this recent talk of youngsters in the hobby got me to thinking that I should start a build thread for my 12 year old son Daniel's new summer project. He worked with my Dad and I in our restoration shop all last summer helping with whatever small projects we could find for him, but he told me a few months ago that he really wanted a project of his own for this summer.
After kicking around a few different ideas we all decided that a Model T speedster would make a great first project because they're fairly inexpensive and parts are plentiful, so we started looking. We checked out several leads but couldn't find anything in our price range until a strange twist of fate had me on the phone one evening talking Model A's with fellow FordBarner Racur96. During the course of conversation he mentioned that he had a 26 chassis that he wanted to sell, and it just so happened that the price was right and he was fairly close! Daniel spent his Spring Break working around the shop to earn money and we sold his dirt bike on Craigslist, so before the week was up he'd managed to earn enough to buy the chassis. (The SMOKIN' deal that Racur96 made us certainly helped! Thanks Adrian!) I had to laugh because he had a can of PB Blaster soaking down everything on the chassis before we even got it off the trailer! :D I'll try to post periodic updates and make this a build thread of sorts, so here's the first couple photos. Deron https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-q...0/DSC03052.JPG https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Y...0/DSC03055.JPG |
Re: New build thread - My son's first car Way to go kid. Sure glad you picked a T. Everything else is just a Ford. But a T is something pretty special. By the time you get done with your speedster you'll know a lot of stuff that'll make you realize Henry Ford was a genius. And you'll also realize the guy wasn't hooked up right. JK Glad to see you're starting with pictures. That'll give you a written journal by the time your done and something to share all your life. And we can all rejoice your from Alabama and not Wisconsin. Not that Wisconsin is a real bad place it's just that there's some shady characters from over there that are just kind of, how should I say it, different. Well ok let's get to the point. It's not all of Wisconsin. It's just the guys on here that are from Two Rivers, Wisconsin. Good Luck Daniel.
Mike |
Re: New build thread - My son's first car A great, complete chassis. What a learning experience. It's a grand thing when a Son takes an interest that leads to the family business. Got your work cut out for you but so many have started with so much less. Good Luck.
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Re: New build thread - My son's first car Excellent, and one lucky kid. My family was non-mechanical so I didn't get that experience. :)
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Re: New build thread - My son's first car Hey Steve... I may be out of place, but Id like to welcome you here! Without going into semantics, its wayyy more user freindly! ws
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Re: New build thread - My son's first car You're in place, Bill. Thanx...:)
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Re: New build thread - My son's first car Now that school's out for the summer Daniel is starting to make a little progress on his speedster, so I thought I should post an update (being that I did title it a build thread...) We dug out an old frame that I had stashed away for another project and he's using that to dummy up the body out of cheap pine. This way he's learning a lot of valuable skills such as laying out patterns, keeping things symmetrical and most importantly keeping his workspace clean! So far I've been very proud of his progress because we showed him how to make the first bulkhead pattern and he's been off and running by himself from there. He just informed me that tomorrow he's planning to finish the next bulkhead (or station) which will serve as the door latch posts. Once he gets all the stations erected we'll rip some thin pieces of wood and string them front to rear along the body to see how well everything flows, and then make whatever adjustments are necessary. So far his eye for that kind of stuff seems to be pretty good, but time will tell. He does have some funky ideas floating around in that little head of his... Once he's got all that like he wants it then we'll go back and build the body structure out of ash, but he'll need help with that since I'm not yet comfortable letting him use anything but the band saw.
So far I think the proportions look pretty good with the exception of lowering the steering column. I told him that I'd help him dummy up a seat tomorrow so that we could figure out just what needs to be done with the steering column. Stay tuned! https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-b...0/DSC03435.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G...0/DSC03438.JPG https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-g...0/DSC03439.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8...0/DSC03442.JPG |
Re: New build thread - My son's first car Nice shop lucky kid to have you and a shop like that to start his first project.
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Re: New build thread - My son's first car The look of pride on his face says it all. Way to go!
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Re: New build thread - My son's first car Putting padding on the running board braces is cheating. Everyone needs to skin there shins on them at least once or twice before you learn to cover them. That is why it is called the UHK or University of Hard Knocks.
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Re: New build thread - My son's first car My son's only four, but part of my interest in my building a T truck is that my son and I can not just build a truck for me but a future 'first car' for him. - It's great to see someone else' child doing the same. - He's doing a great job!
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Re: New build thread - My son's first car Help/question from/about second pic where he's posing in blue shirt during the day and it's a angle view of the passenger side...... as I look at the pic, it looks that the straight stick of the frame is about 2"by about 4"under where the cab will be and at about the firewall and behind body the frame tapers to about 2"x3"??? Do I see on the side of the passenger side of the frame by the fire wall a distinct line on the frame as if it is bolted together??? I dont want to build a box tubing generi-stick frame like the custom t-bucket and cant find a frame so I am trying to find how to build one.
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Re: New build thread - My son's first car Thanks guys,
He's having a blast and seems to be learning a lot in the process, so I'm thrilled. There has been a lot of discussion lately (and not all good) about the younger generation and their interest in the hobby so I thought some of you guys might like to know that there really are young people out there who have a genuine interest in this old scrap iron. Heck, he's already asking about whether or not he can take his driving test in this thing 3 1/2 years from now! And Andy, those rags wrapped around the running board brackets were one of the first things we did when that frame came into the shop. We're doing a 32 Plymouth for a customer right now and I can't tell you how many times I whacked my shin on those, so I figured I'd just save everybody the hassle and cover 'em up. He's almost finished with that coil box you sent too, and I'll be sure to post photos when he is. I had to laugh the other day because I showed him how to fill small rust pits with glazing putty and he worked on that thing nearly all day. You'd have thought it was the Mona Lisa the way he was working on it.... :D Near the end of the day he went outside to paint it and came back in almost in tears. When I asked what had happened he explained that something must be wrong with the paint because it had run really bad! All I could do was laugh and try to explain that those things happen when you try to put too much paint on something too fast, and that he'd better put his big girl panties on because it wouldn't be the last time it would happen. I don't think he understood what I was trying to say, but he'll get it eventually..... :cool: Some lessons we just gotta learn the hard way... Thanks again guys, Deron |
Re: New build thread - My son's first car Thats great,looks like fun!:D Best of times;)
I just finished Dec. of 2011 one with my son too,we built a 1923 hot rod Ford roadster w/v8 350 SBC,he's having a ball going to the car shows with it.:cool: |
Re: New build thread - My son's first car Deron
What a fabulous set of pictures and wonderful project. My son built a 30 Ford speedster and it was a great project. High quality time and it kept him busy. Good grades and he is now and engineer. Enjoy it because they do grow up. He is acquiring a skill set and knowledge and memories that will last a lifetime. |
Re: New build thread - My son's first car great thread,i to will be building a 1927 Ford T pickup with my 11 year old boy when i finish my 33 coupe,keep us posted,
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Re: New build thread - My son's first car Great job! Way to get 'em hands on!
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Re: New build thread - My son's first car It is soo refreshing to see a young fellow into something besides heavy metal music & body piercing & tattoos. looks like you are doing a fine job Deron. Keep us updated I like these kinds of posts.
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Re: New build thread - My son's first car Cool pics.....cool project......cool kid! Congrats all around!
Jim |
Re: New build thread - My son's first car Great project keep it up I wish dad would have been more saportive when I bought my ModelA at 19 . He did warm up to it later.
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Re: New build thread - My son's first car I would love to work on a model t but i got me a 49 ford, and i love her! this is a really fun business to go into. and the guys on here will help you out! keep on keepin on with the T. I love seeing kids in my generation getting into the classic restoration business. i never see kids these days working on and restoring old vintage cars! keep us updated!
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Re: New build thread - My son's first car Keep up the good work Daniel! It looks great so far!
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Re: New build thread - My son's first car Good job Daniel! The smile says it all......
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Re: New build thread - My son's first car Thanks for the words of encouragement guys. So far he's enjoying it, and I have to say that he's been a really good sport to be able to work with two generations of stubborn old guys on the project, but I'm sure there have been times he wanted to clobber us both. :o It's amazing how much more enthusiasm (and energy) he has compared to me or Dad! Ahhh, youth....
Today we took a break from body building (Model T body, that is...) to fiddle with the engine a bit. We had the local speed shop surface the head and picked it up yesterday, so today he cleaned the deck surface of the block and learned how to lap valves. The valve stems are severely worn so I don't expect miracles, but if it'll get us to next summer without a rebuild then great. I really didn't budget for an engine rebuild this summer, but I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it... :rolleyes: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-d...0/DSC03443.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-a...0/DSC03445.jpg |
Re: New build thread - My son's first car Looking Good! When do you think you'll have her running by?
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Re: New build thread - My son's first car Running, or running well? :D
Hopefully he can get the head back on this week, and then the misc. other parts that he's removed. I think the only big item that hasn't been addressed is having the radiator checked for leaks which we should be able to get done this week. Hopefully next week we'll know if it's going to run well enough to get him by until next summer. Deron |
Re: New build thread - My son's first car Awesome project!
My 9 year old son and I are working on a model A chassis. I am sure he will get a kick out of this thread this evening. Subscribed and looking forward to the progress. |
Re: New build thread - My son's first car I'd love to see a movie of it once you get her started! He looks likes he's having a blast!
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Re: New build thread - My son's first car Thats utterly fantastic. Lapping valves brought back a lot of memories!! I just know that as he learns this youre explaining what the valves do plus timing etc. Sometimes that may not make sense to a beginner, but thats where we all learned from. Best to you and the boy! ws
http://i49.tinypic.com/okbhpd.jpg Me and dad in 1968 ( I was 13 and pops was 46) before a 1000 mile tour around lake Michigan from Chicago to the Soo to Door County and home. |
Re: New build thread - My son's first car This brings back many memories - my dad bought me my Model A pickup when I was 14
He'll learn skills that no one teaches in schools anymore (ask your local auto 'tech' about valve lapping - and see what kind of look you get) |
Re: New build thread - My son's first car First the tech gas to don the blue nitril epidermis protection, if he's NOT latex allergic, then plug in the anylizer after he puts down a seat protector to keep his white shirt looking crisp! ws
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Re: New build thread - My son's first car The presence of a water pump suggests that the radiator may not be up to snuff. It could be that decades of vibration have separated the fins from the tubes so it won't cool. That would call for replacement. Or if you're lucky it may just need a good cleaning.
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Re: New build thread - My son's first car We dropped the radiator off this morning to be cleaned and checked, so we should know in a couple days. It's an old honeycomb radiator, so no danger of the fins seperating from the tubes but the downside is there's no way to rod it out. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I can see that water pump ending up in my box full of other water pumps.... :cool:
Deron |
Re: New build thread - My son's first car Well, the last couple days have been busy with other craziness and Daniel hasn't had much time to work on his speedster but tomorrow should be a bit more productive. The three of us decided that in order to locate the next bulkhead in the body, the seat position needed to be figured out a little better than the makeshift cardboard one already onboard so Dad showed Daniel how to measure for it and allow for the thickness of the body sills (which are yet to be made). They got their dimensions figured out and roughed in a plywood seat, and tomorrow we're going to put it on the chassis to figure out where it needs to be relative to the pedals. Once that's determined he can clamp it down on the frame that's being used to build the body and figure out where the next bulkhead needs to go. Hopefully this weekend we'll make some good progress!
Sanding seat parts (without the ventillation fan running...:rolleyes:): https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-L...0/DSC03456.jpg Oh, and a preview of the planned paint scheme :D. War Eagle!!!!!! https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N...0/DSC03448.jpg Deron |
Re: New build thread - My son's first car Excellent choice of color! GET SOME SAFETY GLASSES TO MATCH, PLEASE!! ws
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Re: New build thread - My son's first car Dang! You're doing a great job there buddy. I can see that and man-o-man I hope my son; he's four; takes to the older cars as you are. Yer doin a great job.
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Re: New build thread - My son's first car I seriously wish i had as much work space as you guys have!
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Re: New build thread - My son's first car That is an AWESOME build. It is great to see younger guys getting into classic cars. It helps so much when you have family that fosters the passion!
Good luck! |
Re: New build thread - My son's first car Quote:
Cody :D:D:D |
Re: New build thread - My son's first car I am thinking about a "t" myself or an "a". I love em.
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