How To Build a Cheap Hot Rod (Motorbooks Workshop) (Paperback)

~ Dennis W. Parks (Author), Tom Prufer (Foreword)
Key Phrases: speed shop, fiberglass matte, budget hot rod, Speedway Motors, High Ridge Auto Parts, Sandy Parks (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The ever-escalating cost of building or buying a hot rod is leaving more and more would-be hot rodders behind. This book will get those hopefuls off the sidelines by showing how a hot rod can be built for less than the cost of, say, a new Hyundai.

Author Dennis Parks documents his own project--building a quintessentially cool Model T roadster from a "Track-T" kit--showing in step-by-step detail how to turn a pile of parts into a rockin hot rod. He provides a detailed, easy-to-follow guide for building a car of your own.

The advice and instructions cover every aspect of an affordable hot rod build, from establishing the target vehicle and budget, to finding parts, building the car, and fine tuning the finished vehicle on the road.

With Parks' money-saving tips and photo-supported how-to sequences, virtually anyone with minimal mechanical skills and the will to use them can be sure of building their hot rod right, and for the right price. The book also includes a full resource guide and recommendations for further reading.

Book Description

At a time of prohibitive costs, this book shows how a great hot rod can be built on a modest budget. The author documents his own building project--a "Track-T" kit roadster--showing in step-by-step detail how to turn a pile of parts into a quintessentially cool hot rod. This provides a detailed, easy-to-follow guide for building a car of your own. Parks’s advice and instructions cover every aspect of the affordable hot rod build, from establishing a target vehicle and budget to finding parts, building the car, and fine tuning the finished vehicle on the road. The book also includes a full resource guide.

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Product Details Paperback: 192 pages Publisher: Motorbooks; 1st edition (November 15, 2007) Language: English ISBN-10: 0760323488 ISBN-13: 978-0760323489 Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.1 x 0.6 inches Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #33,226 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in these categories: (What's this?) #12 in  Books > Nonfiction > Automotive > Customize #35 in  Books > Nonfiction > Automotive > Repair #49 in  Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Automotive

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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Inside This Book (learn more)

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
speed shop, fiberglass matte, budget hot rod, fuel level sender, components subtotal, hot rod project, wire cup brush, body aprons, hairpin radius, cowl support, brake pedal arm, horizontal hoop, rear axle housing, vertical hoop, proper drying time, pinion yoke, upholstery kit, mounting tabs, pinion angle, transmission crossmember, plastic body filler, wooden buck, third brake light, oil pressure sender, epoxy primer

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Speedway Motors, High Ridge Auto Parts, Sandy Parks, Donnie Karg, Street Rod Parts, Coker Tire, Karg's Hot Rod Service, Ford Model, Danny Miller's Rear Gears, Morfab Customs, Affordable Street Rods, Portell's Radiator Shop, Keith Moritz, Summit Racing Equipment, Chippewa Glass, Wiremaster Power Panel, Steve Gilmore, Vince Baker, Fine Line

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	54% buy the item featured on this page: How To Build a Cheap Hot Rod (Motorbooks Workshop) 2.8 out of 5 stars (6) $17.13
	18% buy How to Build a Traditional Ford Hot Rod, Revised Ed. 4.6 out of 5 stars (13) $17.13
	15% buy How to Build a Hot Rod 3.8 out of 5 stars (10) $14.93
	7% buy How to Build Hot Rod Chassis (Motorbooks Workshop) 3.2 out of 5 stars (4) $14.93

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Customer Reviews

6 Reviews 5 star:  (2) 4 star:  (1) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:  (3)           Average Customer Review 2.8 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 3 of 3 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars How to Build a Cheap Hot Rod, November 10, 2007 By  CashelByron (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews 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. 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful: 1.0 out of 5 stars Cheap hot rod built expensively, September 13, 2009 By  D. Jennings (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    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. 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars How to build a cheap hot rod, November 15, 2008 By  Torello F. Tacchi (Jacksonville, Fl) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    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.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 4.0 out of 5 stars Cheap Hot Rod 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. Read more Published 12 days ago by Don S. Gibbs 1.0 out of 5 stars Not so cheap... 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. Published 14 months ago by James Castner 1.0 out of 5 stars Great for Fiberglass Builders - "How to Build Cheap ?!?" "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. Read more Published 19 months ago by James Jordan Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks; 1st edition (November 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760323488
• ISBN-13: 978-0760323489
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #33,226 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #12 in	Books > Nonfiction > Automotive > Customize
  #35 in	Books > Nonfiction > Automotive > Repair
  #49 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Automotive

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to Build a Cheap Hot Rod, November 10, 2007

By	CashelByron (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Cheap hot rod built expensively, September 13, 2009

By	D. Jennings (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to build a cheap hot rod, November 15, 2008

By	Torello F. Tacchi (Jacksonville, Fl) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.