Planning Your Hot Rod Project

Planning your first hot rod project is both an exciting and daunting experience, especially if you are only somewhat familiar with the automotive industry. Vehicles, whether they were built last year or last century, have a lot of moving components that must be in outstanding condition for the vehicle to operate safely. When you take on a restoration project, the goal is to get the vehicle in smooth operating condition. But for a hot rod project, good operation needs to be superior operation, as hot rods are all about performance capabilities. This means a lot is at stake, and getting that dream performance vehicle requires forethought. The following quick guide can help ease your way into your exciting restoration project:

Quick Guide to Planning Your Hot Rod Project

Step 1: Resist Impulses. We know how it feels to fall in love with a vehicle and want to start tearing it up and rebuilding on day one. However, before you drive home your new hot rod or order your first replacement part, map out exactly what kind of vehicle you want and sleep on any major decisions. Consider talking with someone experienced in hot rod building. Go to a car show, get involved with a local restoration club, or check out some of the latest hot rod magazines to see what others are doing and get an idea of how much your hot rod project could cost and how long it will take. Such preparation will likely inspire you to do something bigger and better (and at a more cost-effective price) than you might have initially planned.

Step 2: Be Honest with Your Strengths & Limitations. This is your hot rod project and you absolutely should have an active part of its rebuild. That said, it's good to be honest with yourself about what type of work you can do and where you should hire professionals. Even at our shop, we have limitations, with certain staff members who excel in one area while others find success in another. Big jobs like engine assembly and safety-oriented tasks like plumbing the brake lines can be done more quickly and affordably by professionals.

Step 3: Work From the Foundation Up. Finally, in drafting your hot rod project calendar, plan on starting first with the vehicle's foundation and then working up. In other words: chassis before engine. Getting your suspension, wheels, and tires set perfectly gives you a better foundation on which to build. Plus, if you find any signs of rust or body rot, focusing first on the chassis will save you a lot of pain later on.

Get Started Today with CHRA

Have a vehicle in mind? Want help deciding on what type of model to pick for your first (or next) hot rod project? Contact us at CHRA. We know of some great vehicles ready for restoration and are always eager to help!