Project Junkyard Dog

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by iraceitall

I have some reflecting to do before I build, maybe I am not cut out for this...I hope I didn't waste too much of anyones time with advice...

Round #2 of fatherly advice, you haven't wasted our time as we'd be talking about all of this stuff between ourselves anyway.
What you DO need to do is, while you're reflecting, pick ONE thing, ONE car that runs NOW. Get it to a racetrack and make it go up and down the track. Throw some Hot-Rod tricks at it and find out what it likes and dis-likes If that ONE car is your buddies Maverick then, fine. DON'T drag home a project that you know nothing about that doesn't run and try resurrecting it. Stock/SS racers are a very helpful bunch when it comes to others trying our combos but we're not going to come to your shop and put it together for you and we're not going to pay you to do it. You're still going to have a learning curve.
Dwight just gave you a very good,simple, easy to find combo if the Maverick isn't a runner. Realistically, ANY 2V 305 Chevy or 2V 302 Ford is a very simple combo to make run well BUT get one that already runs, take it to a track and drive it. Good things are worth waiting for.

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

What you DO need to do is, while you're reflecting, pick ONE thing, ONE car that runs NOW. Get it to a racetrack and make it go up and down the track. Throw some Hot-Rod tricks at it and find out what it likes and dis-likes

You're still going to have a learning curve.

BUT get one that already runs, take it to a track and drive it. Good things are worth waiting for.

Right here, is the most sage advice one can get. Usually, I'm long winded in my posts. The above simply says it all.

If I may, the only thing I would like to add, don't be afraid to try things.

[Joe Toller]

Great advice all of you, thanks.

If that Buick had been a complete runner it would have probably been racing by now. Painful mistake.

The Inline and V8 carb/dist. cars fortunately are plentiful here; being a rural-ish area with no salt and lots of 4x4s for winter rust is rarely a big issue, and as long as you don't mind a 4 door the cars are easy to come by.

I hauled two hulks off this afternoon and the yard will be hauling off the rest tomorrow. Then I am back at zero. After work tomorrow I will drag a battery and some fuel up and see about that Comet. If it starts, stops, and steers, it comes home. If not, I will wait until I find a car that does. I will keep only one car, and only parts for said car to avoid distractions, and will have to work really hard to stay focused.

[Dave Noll]

...

[Bob Shaw]

Joe,
Billy and Mark have given you excellent advice. I will add to their recommendations from my experience..
#1..Decide what class you want to run.
#2 Study the NHRA guides and Nitro Joe's stats and decide what car would be best for that class.
#3 Find that car and buy it.
#4 Change the cam, gears, and converter, maybe headers.
#5 Take it to the track and test it.
If it will run the index or close to it you can build it . If it won't run you can change it back to stock, sell it and start with something else.
I have built more than 20 stockers that I can remember and I never build an engine until I know the car is going to work.

[Joe Toller]

Good advice again. I kept starting with non-running projects, which, as I should know better, are impossible on a budget, they nickel and dime you to death, and if the missing parts are unique and/or rare, forget it.

This has been quite an education lol!

I am going to start from step one, using all of this advice.

Thank you all for your encouragement and advice!

[Paul Wong]

Originally Posted by Bob Shaw

Joe,
Billy and Mark have given you excellent advice. I will add to their recommendations from my experience..
#1..Decide what class you want to run.
#2 Study the NHRA guides and Nitro Joe's stats and decide what car would be best for that class.
#3 Find that car and buy it.
#4 Change the cam, gears, and converter, maybe headers.
#5 Take it to the track and test it.
If it will run the index or close to it you can build it . If it won't run you can change it back to stock, sell it and start with something else.
I have built more than 20 stockers that I can remember and I never build an engine until I know the car is going to work.

I can tell you one thing.....This is the best dime rocket advice your going to get. Your getting advice from some of the best mentors I've had in the "slow" class car circle.

[Joe Toller]

I am very fortunate for all the help, no doubt.

It would be a great idea to take all this advice and make one "sticky" thread...