Projects This car suffered a brake failure. Don't do this.

[badshifter]

Rarely do I say no. I made a new front frame and installed a new clip and sent it down the road. I said no. Not running with a signed release from the body shop and insurance company. Based on the fuel lines, I see a fire in the near future. All documented for the insurance company.

[dorf]

omg

[Roadsir]

That is some nasty work. It's interesting to study those pics and wonder what the hell someone was "trying" to think.
What do you think will go first the brakes or the fuel line

[Dynaflash_8]

holy crap

[Royalshifter]

What's all that dripping metal looking shit under the frame?

[Brad54]

At least he had the Wilwood prop valve resting comfortably on the exhaust pipe.

And it's not like he didn't bust out the grinder and dress some of those welds.

Come on... that's fine. You're just being a build-snob. They built 'em all just like that back in the day.

-Brad

[Mike Miller]

Good call, CYA.

[GaryB]

damn,thats nasty

[06 pitbull]

what do you wana bet the state inspected it & it passed.... dont drive it...

[no55mad]

Ask to see the welders certification for overhead welding!

[tfeverfred]

just.....WTF?

[SAM123]

file name say "37 woodie" ... talk about adding fuel to the fire ... wow!

[badshifter]

Originally Posted by Royalshifter

What's all that dripping metal looking shit under the frame?

It attaches to this piece of course, which was installed smashing the brake line.

[Master of None]

Wow that is scary. I'd just be worried that now that you have completed your work correctly; but knowingly allowed the other questionable work slide. It doesn't come back on you for not repairing it correctly. Insurance company's and lawyers love to play the "who touched it last" game.

[Second Amendment]

Originally Posted by no55mad

Ask to see the welders certification for overhead welding!

Brings back fond memories of welding with coat hangers.

[pumpman]

Man WTF! WTF, I see a major train wreck not in the future but really soon. Good call on Thank you but no thank you.

[Tman]

Please post a picture of this 37 abortion so we can know when to get out of the way! What a pile of shit. Is the right top picture part of an exhaust flange?!?!?!

[Harms Way]

Originally Posted by Royalshifter

What's all that dripping metal looking shit under the frame?

I think that is the formation of metal stalactites.

[Dane]

Amazing design and fabricating skills... My cat can weld better than that. Scary looking stuff.

[redlinetoys]

Wow.

[badshifter]

Originally Posted by Tman

Please post a picture of this 37 abortion so we can know when to get out of the way! What a pile of shit. Is the right top picture part of an exhaust flange?!?!?!

I think it is an exhaust flange. It won't run for a long while I'm sure. The fuel pump is scheduled to fall of due to a failure of the pinched hose........or something like that...if the center of the frame does not collapse first...

[cosmo]

With all due respect, I think I may have had to say 'No' to doing ANY work on that POS. If the owner did any of that 'craftsmanship', nothing good will ever come of trying to fix what he did, because he'll fuck something else up later.

If, however, it was bought that way, then I would insist on repairing the whole, or nothing.

Cosmo

[jhutch713]

Don't they say what you don't know won't hurt you? It must be true, "they" said it.

[charlieb66]

Glad that piece of crap is in California. Just think some of you may meet this car on the road, good luck.

[Royalshifter]

Even my grandson would know better than to hang a rearend on a hot exhaust by the rubber brakeline.....and he is never serious.

[tb33anda3rd]

any way you can keep that time bomb off the road?

[59KUSTOM]

YIKES! There was a meathead that used to show up at our cruise-night with a shitbox cobbled together like that. Everyone told him he was gonna kill himself. Turns out we were wrong. He only almost killed himself. Car came apart, he got ejected & got a nice helicopter ride to the hospital. Months out of work & he'll never be the same again physically. When every hot rodder you know tells you your car's a deathtrap, listen! Hope this guy figures it out before someone gets hurt.

[tjmercury]

Holy Molten Metal Batman!!! I bet drunken monkeys coulda done a better job with bubble gum and bamboo!

[studog51]

wow, thats some gnarly handy work.....

[studog51]

i wonder what make and model... ( so i can run when i spot it )

[patrick66]

The builder of that abortion exhibited no common sense, no talent, no skill, and no brains. Why would anyone even THINK of building something this bad? My Chihuahua can weld better welds. I can weld better using my feet...and blindfolded.

[Zerk]

The good work done by badshifter may at least give driver, passengers and pedestrians a fighting chance of surviving the inevitable flaming, brakelessly hurtling wreck.

Usually when I look at stuff like this I want to giggle. This thing is just too much.

[tnich123]

What a POS I would bet the owner bought it that way and is in the process of cleaning it up. He did have someone else redo the front end and by the looks of things just moving the exhaust may solve some of the problems. The guy I bought my old truck from got in a hurry doing some of his work (nothing like this) so I have had to redo some things on it. I guess it comes back to the age old question to build? or buy one built? Its an expensive hobby but some of the crap we see should be parked until it is truly road worthy.

[CRASHNBURNS]

You get what you pay for.

[Unkl Ian]

Sometimes, NO is the right answer.

[temper_mental]

WTF was this ass hole smoking when they did this!

[HamD]

Originally Posted by temper_mental

WTF was this ass hole smoking when they did this!

Probably of using an interior booster filter at the mouth end of his non-filtered KOOL.

[JohnEvans]

There is no way in hell I would have ever laid a wrench on that POS at any price. I would think releases or no you have opened yourself up to a liability issue just by doing any work on that.

[chopped51]

What a waste of good parts...........

[Hot Rods Ta Hell]

Originally Posted by OldsteelSteve

And everyone wonders why titles and plates are getting harder and harder and require full inspections in some states.

Exactly what I was thinking. A few idiots calling themselves "welders and fabricators" and causing a few deaths could have the Feds call for a DOT inspection of all "modified" builds like what is done in some other countries.

[Saxman]

Unbelievable! I wish I could say I have never seen anything like that before...but unfortunately I can't. What the hell are people thinking?

Originally Posted by chopped51

What a waste of good parts...........

Damn, that's what I was thinking too.

[Sheep Dip]

Part of the problem is the guy that did the welding thinks he is a super welder...I know a person that does the same quality of welding and if you ask him he invented welding...nobody can out weld him.

[Atwater Mike]

There were no less than 8 known 'hot rod' or 'specialty' shops around the San Jose area when I had my shop.

A number of their former repairs showed up at my place...revolting.
Customer fidelity was likened to obama fidelity. Blind faith.
One shop changed the pattern of Ford to Buick Skylark...missed the centerline by 1/4"!
The black '32 panel looked like a Laurel & Hardy clip. The owner, who carried the hubs/drums to this moron's shop denied any wrongdoing by his 'hero'.

This was only one...there were more.

[Unkl Ian]

Originally Posted by Sheep Dip

Part of the problem is the guy that did the welding thinks he is a super welder...I know a person that does the same quality of welding and if you ask him he invented welding...nobody can out weld him.

I know that guy.
Used to fix a lot of his crap.

To hear him tell it, he now owns
"a chassis shop" in his backyard.

[Unkl Ian]

Originally Posted by Atwater Mike

One shop changed the pattern of Ford to Buick Skylark...missed the centerline by 1/4"!
The black '32 panel looked like a Laurel & Hardy clip. The owner, who carried the hubs/drums to this moron's shop denied any wrongdoing by his 'hero'.

But he brought it to you, instead of the "hero" ??

Makes perfect sense.

[nanos1932]

Originally Posted by Harms Way

I think that is the formation of metal stalactites.

Is that latin for bird shit??

[gimpyshotrods]

Originally Posted by Atwater Mike

There were no less than 8 known 'hot rod' or 'specialty' shops around the San Jose area when I had my shop.

A number of their former repairs showed up at my place...revolting.
Customer fidelity was likened to obama fidelity. Blind faith.
One shop changed the pattern of Ford to Buick Skylark...missed the centerline by 1/4"!
The black '32 panel looked like a Laurel & Hardy clip. The owner, who carried the hubs/drums to this moron's shop denied any wrongdoing by his 'hero'.

This was only one...there were more.

This is no place for politics, Mike. You know the rules.

As for those shops, I know them well, too. We've got one of their cars in our shop now, getting "corrected". He's a popular "advertiser" on Craigslist. That's all I'm sayin'.

If this keeps up, someone's gonna' get killed.

[iammarvin]

Have any of you guys looked under your DD lately? Crappy computor controlled welds, super thin gauge metal holding trailing arms to front and rear axels. Went off roading to the Rubicon Trail, so the Jeep got a good going over.....factory shit looks alot like those pictures. Are you scared of a home built on the freeway? Watch out for the factory built POS's.

[Workdragon]

Thanks alot! Now I am scared and can't sleep at night

[graham_paige]

man, I am only just learing to weld and my welds look like tha, and I know thats shit. someone actually paid for welds that bad?

I might change professions

[Spoggie]

Weird. Looks like a fair bit of effort went into the fugliness.

[Rodhotz]

I will bet the moron that put that crap together has more work that he can handle! For some reason people like that get tons of work and the guys that do great work pretty much have to beg for work. Someone should string his ass up and whip him with a 2- welding cable!!

[striper]

Originally Posted by cosmo

With all due respect, I think I may have had to say 'No' to doing ANY work on that POS. If the owner did any of that 'craftsmanship', nothing good will ever come of trying to fix what he did, because he'll fuck something else up later.

If, however, it was bought that way, then I would insist on repairing the whole, or nothing.

Cosmo

Yep. I'd say, "Either I do all of it or none of it."

[Don's Hot Rods]

It's unbelievable that in 2012 a car is still being done like that. I know sometimes when a newby to the hobby says "I have never built a car, have very little knowledge, but I do have a 110 volt MIG, and I want to build a car from the ground up " I sometimes come across as rude when I suggest they start out with one that all done or almost done and then build one from the ground up as they get more experience. But THIS CAR is the kind of end product I envision when I read their posts.

Yes, we all had to start somewhere, but this isn't 1950 anymore when there were very few cars on the road and top speeds were 50 mph. The kind of crap you pictured can get you and others killed real quick. Very scarey.

Don

[ShortBus]

Holy shit! Wholly shit!

[docmike]

I've got a buddy that bought a '63 Chevy II wagon that was advertised out of state. Pictures of the car looked really nice and the add said the car was just finished and the seller decided to sell it to fund another project. After my buddy trailered it home, upon close inspection it was painfully obvious that the car was thrown together for a quick sale. There was nothing near as bad as the photos in the original post here just a lot of cut corners and cosmetic "fixes" that needed to be corrected. I just have to wonder if this is a similar case? Did the owner just purchase his dream hot rod without knowing what he was really getting?

Doc

Oh, and my buddy's '63, he has probably spent another $15,000 to make his car into a really nice street machine.

[farmer12]

Just WTF!!!! That car is just plain dangerous.

[zep058]

Stevie Wonders' building hot rods again?

[nailhead29A]

Man i wish I could weld that good

[mgtstumpy]

Thank goodness we have mandatory inspection processes down here, keeps death traps off the road.

[RATCAD]

as kids we built go carts with stick welders......., if i had of presented that sort of crap, i would have been banned from the shed!!!!, and thats at 14yrs old!!!!, wow wee, surely alarm bells would have been ringing in head??????

[onedge]

Sad they just didn't see what they where doing right in front them. Or worse didn't care. Someones in over their head! Run...

[wsdad]

If it seems like they'll listen, maybe someone could point out WHY those are bad welds. They probably honestly don't know. It looks like they went to a lot of trouble and work - so maybe they're not lazy. Maybe if someone talked to them without the, "You're stupid, I'm smart. Here's proof." attitude, they might listen.

You went to a lot of trouble to take these pictures. Maybe a quick welding lesson on some scrap steel would have been more effective at preventing future bad welds. Especially if you put their bad welds in a vice and showed them what happens when it's under stress. Then, after a quick lesson, put their good welds in the vice and do the same thing. Then it wouldn't just be your opinion vs. their's, they could see it with their own eyes.

However, if they are too proud to listen (like most of us), then don't throw your pearls of wisdom before the arrogant "swine". They'll only get mad, trample the pearls, and attack you. (Ancient Hebrew saying.)

[Von Rigg Fink]

maybe its been said..but just in case it hasent

what state is this abortion on the road in?

I just want to be sure My family and I are no where near it

Holly crap!

[bobscogin]

Originally Posted by OldsteelSteve

And everyone wonders why titles and plates are getting harder and harder and require full inspections in some states.

And posting examples of the dangerous crap some people build on the internet for millions to see doesn't help. Somewhere, a government bureaucrat is looking for reasons to stop us from building cars like the one in this thread. Hope he doesn't see this one. Short of government involvement, how do we as a group make sure cars like this don't make it on to the road?

Bob

[autobodyed]

looks like a chimpanzee welded that..................with his feet!

[badshifter]

Just to clarify a few things. The car came to me for front frame work after an accident. It was subleted by a body shop, via an insurance company. I had no direct contact with the owner. It was insured by a specialty insurance company familiar with old cars. Before I touched the car, I took pictures and submitted my findings in writing and photo to both. The insurance company will only pay for accident damage, not all the clear safety related stuff
So all I could do was good work in hopes that the owner could see the difference and value in professional work.

I talked to my insurance guy and was assured I was not liable for others, or previous work.
Turning the job down would only send it to the next guy, who may do more of the same.

[gerry miller]

Finally someone who welds look just like mine..Not..
The talent on here is often really intimidating.

[badshifter]

Originally Posted by bobscogin

And posting examples of the dangerous crap some people build on the internet for millions to see doesn't help. Somewhere, a government bureaucrat is looking for reasons to stop us from building cars like the one in this thread. Hope he doesn't see this one. Short of government involvement, how do we as a group make sure cars like this don't make it on to the road?

Bob

Hey Bob,
I'm quite comfortable that I'm not contributing to the downfall of hot rods with this post. You ask what can we do? I'm doing it. Calling out bad work.
Secrecy is not the key to improvement.

[Gator]

Originally Posted by Tman

What a pile of shit.

That sums it up pretty good - wow! I can't believe the guy's even able to insure that thing...

[thunderbirdesq]

Looks like fun. We had a similar issue a while back, the poorly engineered and installed split bones came apart at speed and came through the floor/running board of a local model T. Insurance would only cover the cost of the broken side even though the other side was barely hanging together and the rest of the car was an absolute deathtrap. Luckily we were able to convince the owner it was necessary and he stepped up and foot the bill for me redo the front and rear suspension, brakes, all the lines, some wiring, etc.

[Spoggie]

Originally Posted by zep058

Stevie Wonders' building hot rods again?

This is a different kind of blind..

[Hot Rods Ta Hell]

Originally Posted by badshifter

Just to clarify a few things. The car came to me for front frame work after an accident. It was subleted by a body shop, via an insurance company. I had no direct contact with the owner. It was insured by a specialty insurance company familiar with old cars. Before I touched the car, I took pictures and submitted my findings in writing and photo to both. The insurance company will only pay for accident damage, not all the clear safety related stuff
So all I could do was good work in hopes that the owner could see the difference and value in professional work.

I talked to my insurance guy and was assured I was not liable for others, or previous work.
Turning the job down would only send it to the next guy, who may do more of the same.

QUOTE Gator; That sums it up pretty good - wow! I can't believe the guy's even able to insure that thing...



If the insurance Co. were smart, they would pay for the accident damage, then cancel the policy and inform the owner that they need to correct all the wrongs in order to reinstate the policy.

I'm not an attorney, but now that you've informed the insurance Co. with photos and written "notice" of what's terribly wrong with the vehicle, I think they could be accused of gross negligence if they continue insuring the car and the car ends up killing someone while they "knowingly ignored your warnings".

[Muttley]

OlSkoollllllllRodzzzzzzzzzz called, they would like to contact the owner to set up a set of "How To" articles as well as a ten page feature and cover shoot.

[countrysquire]

WTF is the story with the two hose clamps in picture #9? Is that the fuel line that you're referring to? Wow, just wow.

[rustednutz]

Does the actual owner know how dangerous his car is or did he just buy it and does not really know much about cars. Some one needs to point out each individual area of concern. I wonder if the body shop that subleted the car to you informed him or just patched it up and collected their cash.

[pwschuh]

I love how everyone is focusing on the "quality" of the welding but there's an even more fundamental problem: whoever built this couldn't even figure out the proper/safe away to use zip ties. I mean, if you don't know how to use a zip tie in a way that doesn't create a safety hazard, you certainly should never even consider picking up a welder. Yikes.

[Carnuba]

Is it for sale? I'd like to give it to my ex girlfriend.

[Skeezix]

Originally Posted by Carnuba

Is it for sale? I'd like to give it to my ex girlfriend.

Hilarious

[ajmopar]

This is why everyone thinks a home garage built car is crap - and why on TV shows they say you "should always have this work done by a professional" which is total BS, I know of a lot of home builders who do exceptionally clean, detailed and SAFE work.

I think the "Overhaulin" thing of getting a car built in a week is making these shitty shops push out such unsafe garbage - people want to hear they can pick up the car in a month. As long as it's shiny and looks cool from 10 ft. away, people are happy to have their car back. Quick money for the shop, ignorantly happy customer.

I once fixed up an O/T car as my driver - mechanically redone top to bottom, super solid. I needed money so I put it up for sale - couldn't move it cuz the paint was faded and the headliner was falling down. I quickly glued up the headliner and threw a quick shiny paint job on it and sold it two days later for my asking price.

People see shiny and are happy to believe anything you tell them beyond that.

[Mike Britton]

Suddenly I feel better about my own build skills.....

[Carnuba]

So, THAT'S how ya fix those leaky brake lines. LOL

[oldgrezmonke]

That abomination is overwhelming . The more I look at the pictures , the more I see wrong . Just the ugliness of it all should have prompted someone to do something . I've worked on cars held together with duct tape , bailing wire , a bungee cord adjusting the alternator and nails for cotter pins . Compared to this , those were fine .

[propwash]

Gosh, I'm feeling lot better about some of the stuff I've done. This car was atrociously bad - not only from a workmanship standpoint, but absolutely not safe in any way. Amazing how folks that claim to be 'hotrodders' or 'builders' are perfectly happy sitting behind the wheel of something like this. Do they NEVER look at a well-built car?

[edsel.fi]

Originally Posted by Dane

Amazing design and fabricating skills... My cat can weld better than that. Scary looking stuff.

where is LIKE button :O)

[bryceaugustine]

So what is the problem?

in all seriousness though. good for you dad. now the fact that maybe they did not realize this work is bad is not real comforting either. but teaching, guiding is a great tool. i think i read a story somewhere about teaching a guy to fish or giving him a bass boat...or something like that.

Originally Posted by wsdad

If it seems like they'll listen, maybe someone could point out WHY those are bad welds. They probably honestly don't know. It looks like they went to a lot of trouble and work - so maybe they're not lazy. Maybe if someone talked to them without the, "You're stupid, I'm smart. Here's proof." attitude, they might listen.

You went to a lot of trouble to take these pictures. Maybe a quick welding lesson on some scrap steel would have been more effective at preventing future bad welds. Especially if you put their bad welds in a vice and showed them what happens when it's under stress. Then, after a quick lesson, put their good welds in the vice and do the same thing. Then it wouldn't just be your opinion vs. their's, they could see it with their own eyes.

However, if they are too proud to listen (like most of us), then don't throw your pearls of wisdom before the arrogant "swine". They'll only get mad, trample the pearls, and attack you. (Ancient Hebrew saying.)

Skeezix -- just so i understand. bad welds are not funny. but killing ex's isl...good times.

Originally Posted by Carnuba

Is it for sale? I'd like to give it to my ex girlfriend.

Originally Posted by Skeezix

Hilarious

[thepolecat]

I guess my standards of safety are just too high. I felt bad about some of the things I did on my A but they are nothing compared to that junk.

[nutajunka]

I bought a 40 ford deluxe 2 door sedan built like that once. I first noticed it sitting in a back yard behind a privacy fence. Found out who owned it and asked if it was for sale? He said yes, and I'm thinking here it come's an over priced pile. He looks at me and say's 200.00, whoa I just about fell over. Whipped out the 2 bills and started loading my truck with the spare parts. Ended up using the body parts as trade material, frame, running gear junk. Funny thing about it was about 2 years later I met the guy that built it. He bragged, "It only took me 1 week to build that car!" OK then.......

[young'n'poor]

I weld at work everyday and it always makes me cringe to see stud like that. We scrap non structural welds that look better than that. You should put a business card and a note in the car for the owner and offer to show him your safety concerns and how they could be fixed. I bet a little kindness and an offer of a friendly lesson would make this guy see the light.

[50flathead]

The one good thing about this economy is that the better builders prevail and the ones that put out this crap go away.

[bigalturk1]

Remember...Not all butchers work
at the DELI!

[Mjrdude]

If it was mine it would get stripped and redone from the ground up. Wow!

[50flathead]

Originally Posted by ajmopar

I once fixed up an O/T car as my driver - mechanically redone top to bottom, super solid. I needed money so I put it up for sale - couldn't move it cuz the paint was faded and the headliner was falling down. I quickly glued up the headliner and threw a quick shiny paint job on it and sold it two days later for my asking price.

People see shiny and are happy to believe anything you tell them beyond that.

Just like real estate, paints worth $10.00 in the bucket and $1000.00 on the wall.

[Gropos01]

Originally Posted by Royalshifter

What's all that dripping metal looking shit under the frame?

I believe he owned turkeys cause that is most definitely turkey s@#t on that there frame

[guthriesmith]

That is about as scary looking as I have seen! I guess I have a hard time understanding how someone could have done any of that and not seen the problems coming.

[Mr48chev]

I thought I saw some rough stuff when I hung around with guys who raced at Heart O Texas Speedway in the early 70's. That frame matches or beats their work.

The square tubing welded inside the frame to "strengthen" the frame and other indicators show 60's early 70's dirt track stock car technology. At least Central Texas style when you rolled over a Tri-5 Chevy to get the frame for your new race car.

From the looks of it I'd guess that the "builder" is one of those who still argues that you will never get the body realigned if you pull it off the frame to do the frame. We used to have a lot of guys who argued that one in the mid 70's.

What gets me most though is the guys who actually can't see what's wrong with it. Every where you look on every section something is done either wrong, crudely or without regard to the concept that it will break. Some things like the brake line wrapped around the exhaust pipe show a lack of paying attention. It's not just the scab welds but the lack of thought in mounting components or the placement of components.

[28 chevy]

I see some of the same products that I used in mine BUT man, what a mess. My '28 chevy is at the inspection station as I type for a PA Enhanced inspection by a really good shop. I don't care what I have to fix, I want it safe.
j

[RatRod65GMC]

Originally Posted by NUROADSIR

That is some nasty work. It's interesting to study those pics and wonder what the hell someone was "trying" to think.
What do you think will go first the brakes or the fuel line

Fuel line, then whole car will go....

[Gromit]

I'll be the forst to step up and say.. That welding is no worse than mine. Just sayin. Of course the only thing I weld is exaust and the odd non structural thingy for myself.

That's why I always say no when a customer asks me to weld something other than a garden ornament.

Pretty scary fab skills.

[jcapps]

There are literally thousands of hot rods out there that have work equal to this. I had a 50 merc, supposed high dollar car come into my shop. It was literally cut in half front to back and over the rear axle. It was not put back together well at all. The fuel line was rubbing against the tire. I can go on. Customer has no clue, I explained it to him, showed him, then sent him on his way. He is currently trying to sell it for 125k
He went back to his previous shop who did the work for his other cars because they were $20 an hour less then my rate. And my rate is great for socal

[patrick66]

This reminds me of a car my neighbor's nephew drove in from southwestern Missouri to central Oklahoma around 1988 or so. The kid was driving his '65 Barracuda to San Antonio, TX, where he had a new job awaiting him. It had a miss when he got to OKC, so my neighbor wanted me to take a look. This car looked great from 10 feet or so. This car was literally put together by the nephew with bailing wire and tape!

First, the '72 Mopaar 340 that was in it was just sitting on the pass side engine mount and not bolted down. The driver side was held in place with a small turnbuckle and two lengths of dog chain! Only two bolts held the transmission to the engine block. The tailshaft was held, barely, with two large worm clamps. The exhaust was lengths of exhaust pipe interspersed with Coke cans and hose clamps that held those lengths together. No mufflers at all. Four different sized tires on four different 14" wheels (two aluminum, two steel, no matches). The floor shifter was a pair of Vice-Grips attached to a length of steel bolted to the trans linkage. He had one windshield wiper. One taillight. Two headlights. No blinkers. Starting the car was a matter of a button hotwired up to the coil, starter solenoid and battery.

He had already driven this, on the TURNPIKE, over 225 miles! Fortunately, once I showed his handiwork to his Uncle (my neighbor), he bought the nephew a bus ticket to San Antonio and gave me the car.

I sold the Barracuda body, and kept the 340 and automatic, along with the 8-3/4" rear axle.

Plus, likely saved the kids' life!!!

[Carnuba]

Originally Posted by jcapps

And my rate is great for socal

Plus I've seen your work. It's spotless!

[Slag Kustom]

i have seen the same bad work done by many on here.


i have seen just as crappy welds cleaned up with a grinder and people say how great it came out.

[CurbFeeler]

Rat-welds ?

[nutajunka]

Originally Posted by curbfeeler

rat-welds ?

lol......

[ajmopar]

I looked at the pics again, - think this car tried to kill itself!

[tb33anda3rd]

i find it hard to believe that ANYBODY, after losing his brakes and wrecking his/her car, wouldn't listen to a experienced craftsman about the repairs needed to make sure it didn't happen again.

[Roadagent2]

Those welds are worst than mine...and I don't weld!

[RustyNCA]

Originally Posted by 06 pitbull

what do you wana bet the state inspected it & it passed.... dont drive it...

You are looking at a car here in California, we don't have required state inspections. At least as far as I know, I have never had to deal with one. I do have a 65 TBird with a CHP inspection on the windscreen, but that sticker has been there a long time, I bought the car from the orginal owner.

[czuch]

C'mon guys, the bigger the glob, the better the job. What stood out for me most was the booster bracket hogged out to be like a universal, then washered up to fit.
The line on the exaust was pretty spectacular too.
We're a funny bunch. I just finished an O/T and my wife was wondering about why I ran the front clip wires without even crossing them. I didnt even think about it, its just doing things right.
BTW, I have a friend who welds for me. I have the car trailer.

[ELpolacko]

Horrible,

So many guys out of work right now and starting "hot rod shops" that really have no business doing so. I have one such of these types of vehicles I am completely redoing.

The owner had this built, not a home build but a "professional shop" did this rat rod. I am trying to think if I have seen worse, but I can't. It is at least on par with badshifter's example.

Thumb through this album: 1932 Hudson Rat Rod

Keep your barf bag handy while you do so.

[Perrorojo]

Originally Posted by ELpolacko

Horrible,

So many guys out of work right now and starting "hot rod shops" that really have no business doing so. I have one such of these types of vehicles I am completely redoing.

The owner had this built, not a home build but a "professional shop" did this rat rod. I am trying to think if I have seen worse, but I can't. It is at least on par with badshifter's example.

Thumb through this album: 1932 Hudson Rat Rod

Keep your barf bag handy while you do so.

So your saying my welds shouldn't look like this? I would think that thing weighs 3 tons.

[STEPHEN FIELDS]

what the hell is up with that brake hose touching the exhaust pipe....why? I just dont get it

[ELpolacko]

Originally Posted by Perrorojo

So your saying my welds shouldn't look like this? I would think that thing weighs 3 tons.

The old frame was built from 2X4 .188" wall box tube. And a lot of it!

This is car was actually the work of two maybe three shops. None of which were remotely qualified to do this sort of thing.

A "glue gun" MIG and a chop saw does not make you a fabricator.

[Perrorojo]

Originally Posted by ELpolacko

The old frame was built from 2X4 .188" wall box tube. And a lot of it!

This is car was actually the work of two maybe three shops. None of which were remotely qualified to do this sort of thing.

A "glue gun" MIG and a chop saw does not make you a fabricator.

I am in the process of rebuilding one built in the 70's with about the same level of thought put into it. Mine had grade five bolts brazed to the tie rod ends on the front rack and pinion. The deeper you dig the scarier they get.

[ev88f]

Oh man... That Hudson rr thing, we all have scrap piles that we pick some good pieces out of to build cars. However, that does not mean use the whole pile

[zombiesnyc]

Originally Posted by ELpolacko

The old frame was built from 2X4 .188" wall box tube. And a lot of it!

This is car was actually the work of two maybe three shops. None of which were remotely qualified to do this sort of thing.

A "glue gun" MIG and a chop saw does not make you a fabricator.

Calling these cars ''pieces of shit'' is an insult to shit. I feel real sorry for unsuspecting owners paying good money for garbage work.

[ELpolacko]

I really wish each and every one of you guys could have been by my side as I completely dismantled this car. Everything in the OP was copied here. Load bearing brake lines and all.

This sort of stuff needs to be stamped out of existence by our own hands. The shops that built this stuff need to be called out...

[nailhead29A]

Originally Posted by ELpolacko

Horrible,

So many guys out of work right now and starting "hot rod shops" that really have no business doing so. I have one such of these types of vehicles I am completely redoing.

The owner had this built, not a home build but a "professional shop" did this rat rod. I am trying to think if I have seen worse, but I can't. It is at least on par with badshifter's example.

Thumb through this album: 1932 Hudson Rat Rod

Keep your barf bag handy while you do so.

looks ok at a distance, say 400 feet, but looking at the pics what a heap of shit, looks like the gave the apprentice his first build

[studearch]

Obviously, not an old ride out of Boyd Coddington's shop.....

[yetiskustoms]

Thats a hazzard for sure. Horrible hack work...

[Plung]

WOW, just WOW. very scary.

[dirt t]

Originally Posted by ELpolacko

I really wish each and every one of you guys could have been by my side as I completely dismantled this car. Everything in the OP was copied here. Load bearing brake lines and all.

This sort of stuff needs to be stamped out of existence by our own hands. The shops that built this stuff need to be called out...

I am glad the owner found you and is letting you build his hot rod.
I am not so worried about the owner as I am some Innocent person being hurt.
Thanks for posting.

[hotroddon]

Originally Posted by ELpolacko

Load bearing brake lines and all. ..

That has to be one of the best quotes ever!


I'm nor sure what is scarier though, the way these two heaps were built (the OP and the on from El Polacko's pics) or the fact that so many here have said their's are similar or it makes them feel good about thier work - kind of makes you wonder how much better their work really is?

[Model A Gomez]

I can't believe anyone would work on a car in that condition and send it out the door. I wouldn't touch it after I saw the condition it was in, looks like a deathtrap for the owner.

[Hot Rods Ta Hell]

Originally Posted by ELpolacko

Horrible,

So many guys out of work right now and starting "hot rod shops" that really have no business doing so. I have one such of these types of vehicles I am completely redoing.

The owner had this built, not a home build but a "professional shop" did this rat rod. I am trying to think if I have seen worse, but I can't. It is at least on par with badshifter's example.

Thumb through this album: 1932 Hudson Rat Rod

Keep your barf bag handy while you do so.

Looks like the builder was drunk during construction. Unbelieveable.

"Built by another shop in town, Chad had it for two days and dropped it off for us to fix".

Did the buyer have any idea just how bad this was constructed when he bought it, or did he get it so cheap (free?) that he built the rework into the equasion? There has to be many shop hours required to right all these wrongs=some serious bucks.

BTW, how does one aim the headlights-heat up the con rod mounts with a torch and bend them?

[big hugh ness]

Originally Posted by Mike Britton

Suddenly I feel better about my own build skills.....

Hell, yeah! Me too!
Gives encouragement to us mere mortals!

[voodoo]

Note to self. "Buy more rebar" sheeeeesh...

[ELpolacko]

Originally Posted by Hot Rods Ta Hell

BTW, how does one aim the headlights-heat up the con rod mounts with a torch and bend them?

The thin fence tabs the connecting rods were attached to were flimsy enough that aiming the headlights was futile.

From what I understand from the owner, this was the effort of about two years and about $17K. Just not all at one place. The last shop, Young Kustoms, said they were only responsible for the front suspension, aligning the rear, wiring and plumbing. None of which is what I would call reasonable or acceptable and the work I take the most exception to. However, as I can see on their website they had first crack at this, as there is an entirely different (stock) frame under the car in earlier pictures of the build.

[Lobucrod]

Looks like the work that was done on a 37 chevy pickup I went and looked at a while back. Guy wanted 15 grand for it. I told him I would give him five cause I would have to take it apart and fix it right to make it safe. Pissed him off. Guess it was his work.

[amphicar]

There would not be enough money for me to do ANYTHING to it. No matter how good your work is, when people see it (among the carnage from brake failure and fuel fire)that abortion will get pinned on you.

I would have refused to touch it untill everything was up to par. Just opens you up for an invite to the court sanctioned party. Even if you win in court, that will be something you will forever be connected with. RUN FOREST, RUN!

[diegochero]

It seems like at a certain point it takes more effort to do such a shitty job. The scary thing is the guy kept going without stopping to consider if there was a better way to do things, or figure out why he is getting bad results. By the way that looks he just didn't care, or was high. ....Yeah I figured it out it was the drugs.

[RayMiller]

Your being to harsh it's Ray Charles's first build. The next will only have half of that bad welding and poor line routing. ( because someone thinks I'm serious it's a joke, that is some scary looking stuff)

[rdemilt]

Scary, but I think I found my missing collector flange.

[theHIGHLANDER]

This whole thread makes my guts ache. What I see is a hurried pile of shit done without an ounce of pride or skill. This is the kind of stuff I end up seeing when some j'moke wants to show me his "Ridler" contender. This same knuckle dragger that gets as insulted when you critique his work (for his own good and because they asked) as if you called his daughter a whore. The same "Nobody ever sees that part of it anyway..." and the same "Well I build my cars to DRIVE!" nimrods.

This is very disrespectful to our chosen craft and hobbies. I really hope some innocent kid doesn't get run over at a car show when this shit suffers catastrophic failure. And WILL fail. Back in the 90s I'd see this type of shit show up at the annual chassis certification sessions. Some of the sanctimonious bullshit you'd hear when they were refused 9.99 certs was priceless. Even better when some of them were flagged as banned from racing at the track REGARDLESS of ET. My cynical side wants to view it all as "Natural Selection"...

[SquireDon]

Looking at this wreck, this question comes to mind:

"How did they die?"

[40FordGuy]

A prime example of a job to refuse ! Deep pockets would love this one.....

4TTRUK

[40FordGuy]

Definitely crusher material..... Much as I hate to use that word.........

4TTRUK

[photofink]

Both of these cars are fine and the build is good .... for demolition derby.

[1great40]

I think you guys are missing the consistancy that the builder applied to each aspect of the car, from the brakes to the fuel system to the general chassis fabrication. Everything is built to the same level of detail! It's not easy for one guy to be so even handed in every detail of the build.

Seriously, this kinda stuff is a black mark on builders everywhere whether a home garage or a shop that does things correctly. As has been mentioned, the govt. would just love to rid this country of menacing hot rodders and their machines. Examples like this are more than enough ammunition to move in that direction. I am an NSRA member and from what I have seen, their voluntary inspection program is a great way to flag workmanship like this.

[Zerk]

What gets me about the Hudson is that it's obvious nobody was scrimping on materials or time, except for the hunk of rebar. Everything was there to build a good car except for thought and talent.

Not long ago a thread here on the HAMB suggested that guys working in their home garages were the ones creating shoemaker jobs like this. I'll take this opportunity to suggest that the guy doing the work is a lot more important than amateur or pro, or where the build takes place.

[Mike Britton]

Originally Posted by big hugh ness

Hell, yeah! Me too!
Gives encouragement to us mere mortals!

Hey! The guy that built the Hudson used grade eight hardware!!
Seriously...I realized just how bad my build skills were when I started running around with guys that build sprint cars. And I started learning, every day.
I wonder if some of these guys that are just gluing shit together like these were model cars are never around someone with skills that eclipse theirs. They think they have a handle on what is a good build because they never have someone with practical knowledge point out to them the flaw in their logic. " My, aren't the emperor's new clothes marvelous?!". I saw what my racing buddies were doing and went home to notice stuff on my car that just wasn't right!
I could have had my car done long ago, except that not only am I now re-thinking the whole chassis, I'm practicing my welding, my wiring, my cutting, and every other aspect of the build. I want to put out a machine that makes no excuses to any craftsman.

[tommyd]

Thanks for posting this. I feel really GOOD about MY welding and fab skills now!

[Charlie Stephens]

deleted

[55 dude]

you never know when something will happen. last week i was working on my cousins 50' chevy coupe and yes it has a few non traditional items on it but its VINTAGE! seems like everyone has had brake issues as of late, here is one i had, SCARY STUFF!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj2TF...re=uploademail http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRBFI...uploademailess

[62rebel]

i've been on the verge of projectile vomiting for fifteen minutes. first, from the outright terror of seeing the car, and second, from the hilarious responses!
there's a couple of local candidates for this kind of work.... but i ain't naming names. there's not a car they can't (or WON'T) put an S10 frame under.

[bobss396]

Those pictures look like bad homemade porn.... hard to tell what's going on in some of the shots.

Bob

[dmikulec]

Originally Posted by badshifter

Rarely do I say no. I made a new front frame and installed a new clip and sent it down the road. I said no. Not running with a signed release from the body shop and insurance company. Based on the fuel lines, I see a fire in the near future. All documented for the insurance company.

I would have called the cops, because allowing this fucking piece of shit on the road is a crime. It'll be a damned miracle if nobody gets killed by this fucking thing.

[theHIGHLANDER]

"just paint it flat black so nobody sees it..."

[young'n'poor]

My area is ripe with mini trucks and clapped out g body "drag racers" with this quality of work on them. I can't believe I'm saying it but after seeing these I sometimes wish modified vehicles in minnesota needed some sort of inspection every once in awhile

[bobss396]

Originally Posted by Mike Britton

.... Seriously...I realized just how bad my build skills were when I started running around with guys that build sprint cars. And I started learning, every day....

True, with sprint and stock cars, you learn really fast that anything shoddily done can and will put you out of making the main or breaking in the main. Stuff that would work on the street is another animal with the contact sport of racing.

It becomes a discipline of having good welds, good material selection and sound engineering behind everything. Thank god for tech inspection, most tracks only do it at the beginning of the season though.

Bob

[bobss396]

Originally Posted by young'n'poor

My area is ripe with mini trucks and clapped out g body "drag racers" with this quality of work on them. I can't believe I'm saying it but after seeing these I sometimes wish modified vehicles in minnesota needed some sort of inspection every once in awhile

Most states have an annual inspection, at least safety if not emissions. But there are a zillion ways around that too, having a friend who owns a shop that is willing to put some unsafe piece of shit on the road... doing us all a favor... right.

Bob

[Probesport]

Wow. It's things like that which makes me more proud of my work - and I'm no expert!

[countrysquire]

Originally Posted by STEPHEN FIELDS

what the hell is up with that brake hose touching the exhaust pipe....why? I just dont get it

Any race car driver will tell you that the brakes don't work real good until they're warmed up!