Amazon.com: How to Build a Traditional Ford Hot Rod, Revised Ed.: Mike Bishop, Vern Tardel, Steve Amos: Books

Review

Ol’ Skool Rodz, May 2007

“What makes the book so valuable is the way that Bishop and Tardel explain to the reader not only what they are doing, but the logic behind the decision to do each different aspect of the car a certain way. From picking an intake manifold to deciding on the proper brakes and even choosing the best Flathead block, Vern Tardel’s many years of experience in building Ford hot rods is free for the price of a softbound book … Thinking about building a hot rod? This book is a great resource.”

Product Description

Build your own flathead roadster just as it would have been built in the 1950s! Using a 1929 Ford Model A, this guide follows its construction from start to fantastic finish. Bishop begins with a wealth of expert advice on planning your project, finding traditional parts, and acquiring the tools, time, space, and services needed. From frame, front suspension and steering, to brakes, engine and transmission, Bishop's expert approach is fully illustrated with specially commissioned photos and line drawings.

Product Details

Paperback: 167 pages
Publisher: Motorbooks; First edition (October 1, 2000)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0760309000
ISBN-13: 978-0760309001
Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.2 x 0.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #82,433 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in these categories: (What's this?)
#14 in Books > Nonfiction > Automotive > Parts
#26 in Books > Nonfiction > Automotive > History
#29 in Books > Nonfiction > Automotive > Classic Cars

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
The most enduring image of a traditional hot rod is a flathead-powered highboy Ford roadster, fenderless, usually black or some other dark color, with a slight windshield chop, and Ford disc wheels with chrome hubcaps and stainless steel trim rings. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
retainer block, highboy roadster, sector shaft, traditional hot rod, pedal assembly, pitman arm, torque tube, street motor, axle housing, shock mounts, steering box, drag link, steering arm, frame rails, wheel cylinders, master cylinder, motor mounts, backing plate, bearing races, speed equipment

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Bishop-Tardel Highboy, Don Ferrara, Specialty Ford Parts, Speedway Motors, Bill Grainger, Dave Mitchell, Firestone Deluxe Champion, San Diego

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 2 books:

Rebuilding the Famous Ford Flathead (Insights) by Ron Bishop in Back Matter
The American Hot Rod by Dean Batchelor in Back Matter

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	77% buy the item featured on this page: How to Build a Traditional Ford Hot Rod, Revised Ed. 4.6 out of 5 stars (12) $17.13
	7% buy How to Build a Hot Rod 4.1 out of 5 stars (9) $14.93
	6% buy How To Build a Cheap Hot Rod (Motorbooks Workshop) 3.0 out of 5 stars (4) $17.13
	5% buy How to Build Hot Rod Chassis (Motorbooks Workshop) 3.2 out of 5 stars (4) $14.93

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Customer Reviews

12 Reviews

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

4.6 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of it's type, September 24, 2000

By	Jay Carnine (Visalia, CA USA) - See all my reviews

The Bishop/Tardel "How to Build a Traditional Hot Rod" is the very best book of this genre that I have seen.

It's chock full of good clear photos and captions that explain exactly what's going on.

As well as accurate measurements. Something not found in most other books.

It's apparent that Bishop and Tardel put a lot of extra effort into this book and you'll find it to be quite detailed.

Even if you're building a modern style roadster or coupe, there's a lot of valuable information in this book that can apply.

And at the least make you appreciate hot rod history in a manner not seen to date.

Bishop and Tardel are a couple of guys who have been there and done that and if this book doesn't make you want to start building a traditional hot rod I'd be surprised.

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Should be called "As Good As It Gets.", August 4, 2002

By	AJ Elias (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

I bought this book, then I bought a Model A. This is the only modern book I've read that can gives the reader a strait forward guide to building an real hot rod circa 1950. The correct wheel choices, banjo rear ends, Naugahyde! No Chevy 350s or billet here! Bishop & Tartel show you how the old timers did it, and then how to do it right.
I use it as a reference book and take everywhere. It's the basis for my A-V8, I couldn't build as good a period car without it. The pictures are captivating, the diagrams are totally right on. If I didn't feel as strongly about this book I wouldn't be writing this review.

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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Real Hot Rodders, March 19, 2006

By	Hot Rod Don (So Cal) - See all my reviews

This book is very well done. It is mainly a one style book of ideas and those opinions and style come from the Bay Area of California so they may not exactly jive with So Cal or East Coast or anywhere else, but the info is very useful and well written. Don't necessarily agree with things like the stock 32 center cross member (too hard to change trans) or statements about the strength of stock trans and rear axles (have broken both with 304" flatty). Overall highly reccomended for Real Hot Rodders, if you aren't sure of the difference, look in the trunk - if there are tools, it's a Real Hot Rod, if there are only lawn chairs, it's a Street Rod.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Period Correct magazine
I thouroughly enjoyed reading this book cover to cover. Although I was hoping for a broader "traditional hot rodder" approach to building a rod, this magazine gave great depth on... Read more

Published 20 days ago by Scott H. Peterson

4.0 out of 5 stars How to Build a Traditional Ford Hot Rod
I found this book to contain a lot of information on how to build hot rods as I built them in the 50's & 60's. Read more

Published 2 months ago by William Baker

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Ideas for Traditional Ford Hot Rod
Enjoyed the great tips on how to build a Hot Rod. This book helps you get more ideas than you already have. You will definately be informed.

Published 23 months ago by Michelle Masciarelli

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!
Very well written; one of the only books I could find on "traditional" hot rods.

Published on November 14, 2006 by K. Lusk

5.0 out of 5 stars Good for "Dummies" too...
As a mere hobbyist, this was the book that made me realize "Wow! I can do this!". I found the enthusiasm of the writer to be contagious, the directions relatively clear (despite... Read more

Published on June 20, 2006 by E. Jones

1.0 out of 5 stars Where is it!
As of Saturday, 25 Feb. I had not received the book. This was ordered priority mail. Is there a tracking number to check on this item?

Published on February 27, 2006 by Anthony J. Perno

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Information for traditional buffs
This book is filled with a lifetime of great information. I learned many thing from it I heartily recommend it to any one who is building any traditional Model A or any other car... Read more

Published on September 10, 2005 by J. Pruitt

5.0 out of 5 stars Authentic rodding
I was very pleased with this book which has helped me focus my Model A Hotrod build up and simplified things. Step by step guide to building your traditional A-V8. Read more

Published on December 28, 2003 by Edward Lloyd

5.0 out of 5 stars Motivational Therapy in Paper Back
This book has set me on fire! My late father Blair Reardon (an original Hot Rodder from the forties) planted the seed to build a Hot Rod in me when I was a child. Read more

Published on September 26, 2003 by Rick Reardon

› See all 12 customer reviews...

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