Customer Reviews

How To Build a Cheap Hot Rod (Motorbooks Workshop)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

When I read the title of this book I thought it meant How to build Hot Rods cheaply. I was wrong, the title is correct How to Build a Cheap Hot Rod. The author buys the cheapest fiberglass T body and chassis, uses a V-6 Ford engine and spends over $16,000 to build just what he started with - the cheapest hot rod kit available. I thought it interesting that he spent $300 on an engine and tranny, but $1100 on a 9 inch rear end. I think he'd have been happier in the long run spending a touch more on the engine and using a less expensive differential. He had to have someone else do his welding (if you want to build a hot rod, spend the time to learn to weld).

There are no money saving tips here, he buys all his parts off the shelf for real money.
When all is said and done, he has spent $16,000 on an unpainted (even though he bought the paint), fiberglass T, with an ugly $300 engine/tranny. He'd be lucky to sell it for $8000. You can do better without his help.

I bought the book to learn in detail how to build the Speedway Motors 27 T kit. I was disappointed that half the narrative is generic. There is a lot of discussion of how to select the right car for your build etc. Much of the detail I was anticipating was glossed over. And the worst part, the book ended with the car still under construction. Like so many hot rod projects, it is incomplete.

How To Build a Cheap Hot Rod.
Just recieved my copy, and indeed it is a cheap build. By today's standards, even the cost of raw materials "ain't cheap". It is an excellent basis for building a "copy" rod or even modifying a "real" antique. Today, modifying an antique is short of blaspahmy, but to each his own. Hot rodding is not only modifying, but also includes building. This book give an excellent insight on the subject of building and assembling for both old and new.

The book was good, however I would like to have seen him complete it, and talk about how it drove. It did help me realize that this kit may not be for me and now looking at other kits.

I have always enjoyed old cars and working on cars and the idea of building a hot rod has been in the back of my mind. Because the ones that get the big press--vehicles by Boyd Coddington and Chip Foose--tend to cost six figures or more, it did not occur to me that a hot rod was something that could be built on the cheap. The last pages of this book show the complete budget, demonstrating that the V6 Track T on its pages cost under $16,000. And it's a cool looking car.

For anyone thinking about a hot rod project who wants to proceed at a very reasonable cost, this book is the logical starting point. It's a doable project for anyone with basic mechanical skills--there's always someone with more skill you can bring in as necessary. The author had a hand on numerous components, so that price can be less if you're an ace with tools and especially if you have a car to start with. My hot rod lies a few years down the road, but this is still a good read and a way to get the ball rolling.

This book does not go into great detail on building hot rods. It has some nice bright color pictures, but not very many close ups of the kinds of fabrication needed to piece together even a kit based car. The fact that the book was published about an uncompleted project is particularly distracting. I have not found any hot rod books that are really complete, but most cover something well. This book is too general to cover anything well. I do not recommend it.

"How To Build a Cheap Hot Rod" caught my attention. The true statement regarding Chip and Boyd(RIP) inflating the hot rod market really grabbed my attention. So I ordered the book. I expected to see methods and places for scavenging for or acquiring original parts, and use of old parts you can wire brush or mod etc. I was surprised that the book revolved around a Fiberglass Body with all brand new components. Hmmmm. Well, GREAT BOOK if you are a glass rod guy. Not my cup of tea.

This book is about how to buy and bolt together aftermarket parts to assemble yourself a $25,000 hot rod. It is NOT about how to build a low budget hot rod yourself.