Hot Rods And Custom Cars
For those looking to build a car that's unique, with more style and power than a standard production model, there is the wide-open field of hot rods and custom cars.
Hot Rods are time machines. Built right, they never go out of style.
Custom cars and trucks bring out the individuality of the builder.
Building Skills
If you have the time and are mechanically inclined, skills to build a custom car can be learned easily. You may not have the skills today, but once you learn them you'll always have them.
Swapping An Engine For Performance
Some might say that physical size is the only obstacle when engine swapping.
But that's only true if you need to contain the motor under a hood.
"If You Can Think It You Can Build It"
- Steve Scott, builder of the Uncertain T
***************************
Best Engine For Hot Rod Build ?
For the last 75 years, the two most common motors for custom and hot rod builds are the flathead Ford and the small-block Chevy. No other motors have the history, racing heritage and aftermarket parts availability of these two engines.
Go Fast Cheap
There are plenty of other motors out there for the street rod project you're brewing up. A first-gen Chrysler Hemi, or a small-block Ford come to mind, and Buick Nailheads were once a popular choice as well. But--they don't have the "go fast cheap" that the flatties used to have and small-block Chevy's still have.
***************************
Flathead Ford
Produced from 1932 until 1953, the Ford Flathead V8 was placed in over 25 million cars and trucks. The engine's 21-year production is on "Ward's List of the Ten Best engines of the 20th century".
Read: Ford Flathead V8 Identification and Specs
Although offered in several displacements, the block remained the pretty much the same throughout it's production. Any parts needed, including replacement blocks, are still available!
Read: Flathead Ford Performance Upgrades
Chevy Small-Block
Debuting in 1955, the small-block Chevy V8 immediately starting beating Ford flatheads on the street and on the track. It's capacity for displacement increases helped keep it the engine to beat.
Read: Old School Small-Block Chevy Build
Since the 1970s, the small-block Chevy V8 has been a common sight between many a hot rod's frame rails. If you're thinking of building a small-block Chevy for your hot rod, there's a lot out there to choose from.
Read: Best Heads For Gen-1 Small-Block Chevy
***************************
Build A T-Bucket
To build a T-bucket fifty years ago, you'd have to have been a mechanic, welder, and painter, and also know how to lay fiberglass and do upholstery. Today, it's a whole lot easier.
Read: Build A T-Bucket
***************************
Registering A Hot Rod/Custom Car
One of the hardest parts of building a hot rod or custom car is getting it registered. Here's a helpful article by Roadkill Customs:
Read: How To Appraise, Title, Register, and Insure Your Hot Rod or Custom Car
***************************
One-Wire Alternator
The one-wire alternators you see for sale today are clones of the original GM unit. So for you die-hard Ford and Mopar guys, there's no GM parts in these aftermarket units!
Read: Install A One-Wire Alternator
***************************
Related Articles: