How much of your current ride, did you build?

FED 387 · 03-03-2010, 11:46 AM

2 things I learned over the years can be summed up by these 2 sayings that I heard many years ago

"any asshole with a checkbook can buy a racecar it's what he does with it that counts"
AND
"you don't know anything about your race car until you know everything about your race car"
I keep remembering that over & over again---Helps me ---I enjoy putzing around fabricating and coming up with better ways of doing things- On my dragster I built everything except the frame/chassis and the cylinder head otherwise my partner, my wife and I did it all --Comp387

Chris "drooze" Wertman · 03-03-2010, 01:38 PM

I couldnt agree more....even the things I didnt do have been through (except trans)

Bikes are very very much the same except more dangerous, and Im not puttin my *** on anything I havent had my hand in everything.

With the exception of 1 accident every one was a mechanical failure. Of those 1/2 were known issues I decided to run anyway, none were anyones fault but mine, I like the fact I can never have any one to blame but me

Makes life easy...I dont have to carry around animosity

Quote:

Originally Posted by FED 387

"you don't know anything about your race car until you know everything about your race car"

chris3racing · 03-03-2010, 02:50 PM

I build everything on our car. Been doing it for a long time no reason to change now. The roll cage was installed by someone else only because he had time and equipment. He did a good job. Since I have been in the structural engineering busness for 40 years, I know the frame is welded and braced properly. Every piece of the car I look at either every week or every two weeks. Not only do I drive the car but my son drives it. Don't believe he would be doing that unless I have looked at everything.

Mark Yacavone · 03-03-2010, 03:08 PM

Let's see , The engine , carb, converter, trans ,rear end , sub frame connectors,suspension and alignment, wiring, body work , and paint.

Of course , the machine work was done by Rick Watters Ent / Tibor Kadar,
but I had to buy my own torque plate for a 2300, which they now have in their possession.

Same deal on the Omega before this one, including the headers, too.

I like being in control of the situation, as you can tell , but the main reason is , this is the only way I could afford to play in this arena.

danny waters sr · 03-03-2010, 04:01 PM

Started from scratch 3 years ago on a 66 nova 4-door 283 stocker. My son and i did everything but roll bar, engine & ,trans. this was a parts car a guy had and was keeping for the front clip. Was way cheaper than a two door and is diff and gets a lot of looks. I took before pics and after pics. As i said 3 years and still working while running it. It will be my last one that i build ,the next one will be already done ( if there is a next one ).

03-03-2010, 11:46 AM	#1
FED 387 VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,425 Likes: 550 Liked 334 Times in 181 Posts	Re: How much of your current ride, did you build? 2 things I learned over the years can be summed up by these 2 sayings that I heard many years ago "any asshole with a checkbook can buy a racecar it's what he does with it that counts" AND "you don't know anything about your race car until you know everything about your race car" I keep remembering that over & over again---Helps me ---I enjoy putzing around fabricating and coming up with better ways of doing things- On my dragster I built everything except the frame/chassis and the cylinder head otherwise my partner, my wife and I did it all --Comp387

03-03-2010, 02:50 PM	#3
chris3racing Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 528 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: How much of your current ride, did you build? I build everything on our car. Been doing it for a long time no reason to change now. The roll cage was installed by someone else only because he had time and equipment. He did a good job. Since I have been in the structural engineering busness for 40 years, I know the frame is welded and braced properly. Every piece of the car I look at either every week or every two weeks. Not only do I drive the car but my son drives it. Don't believe he would be doing that unless I have looked at everything.

03-03-2010, 03:08 PM	#4
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,833 Likes: 2,928 Liked 5,146 Times in 1,964 Posts	Re: How much of your current ride, did you build? Let's see , The engine , carb, converter, trans ,rear end , sub frame connectors,suspension and alignment, wiring, body work , and paint. Of course , the machine work was done by Rick Watters Ent / Tibor Kadar, but I had to buy my own torque plate for a 2300, which they now have in their possession. Same deal on the Omega before this one, including the headers, too. I like being in control of the situation, as you can tell , but the main reason is , this is the only way I could afford to play in this arena. __________________ "We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for." Will Rogers

03-03-2010, 04:01 PM	#5
danny waters sr VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: lagrange,nc Posts: 2,224 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: How much of your current ride, did you build? Started from scratch 3 years ago on a 66 nova 4-door 283 stocker. My son and i did everything but roll bar, engine & ,trans. this was a parts car a guy had and was keeping for the front clip. Was way cheaper than a two door and is diff and gets a lot of looks. I took before pics and after pics. As i said 3 years and still working while running it. It will be my last one that i build ,the next one will be already done ( if there is a next one ). __________________ Danny Waters, Sr / 73 Duster "340"