Image by Thomas Rüdesheim from Pixabay
Building a hotrod is a beloved pastime for many people, boasting its own rich sub-culture. A common misconception that keeps some from pursuing their dream of designing and building a hotrod is that it requires an endless money supply.
While a bottomless wallet certainly does help with the hotrod building dream, it is possible to build one on a budget. You just have to think outside the box and be patient. Here are a few tips to help you achieve your hotrod building dreams even when money is tight:
1. Know Where to Get Parts and Equipment Cheap
There’s always going to be a better deal out there, so don’t be afraid to take your time in looking for the parts and equipment you need to build your hotrod. This is particularly true for high-performance parts. For example, you can buy specialized items like blow off valves, boost controllers and others for dirt-cheap if you know where to look. In some instances, stuff that’s usually out of your price range new can be obtained used and in good condition if you’re patient enough to wait and keep looking.
2. Learn Everything You Can
Building a hotrod is a learning process. If you can learn from someone else (there’s likely at least one hotrod enthusiast beside you in the neighborhood), you’ll learn more, faster. Each project is unique, so don’t rush the process and take the time to educate yourself as you go.
3. Take Over an Abandoned Project
This is probably the best way to save a buck or two, especially if you’re just beginning and need to learn more about hotrod design and building. If you are patient, you will likely find an abandoned project for sale that you can take over and make your own. These make great starter projects and stepping stones to bigger and better things.
4. Realize that Building a Hotrod Takes Time
Building a hotrod takes time – a lot of time. You’ll likely get frustrated at some point, bored with the project from time to time, and you might even walk away from it for a while. All of this is normal, so you have to be realistic in your estimates of how long it will take to complete the project. You’ll probably spend twice (if not thrice) what you think you’ll spend building your hotrod.
5. Set Realistic Expectations
Before you buy that ‘49 Mercury and begin entertaining visions of zipping down the highway, you must realize that that vehicle is over 70 years old. It’s likely got major problems and will require a fair amount of time and elbow grease to get her in tip-top shape. It’s possible her issues are such that you consider ditching the project before it even begins.
To help you through the rough times, start the car up every once in a while and just listen to her purr. Rev the engine gently and enjoy the rumble under your seat. For most hotrod lovers, just the sound of this classic car’s engine is enough to keep their head in the game and see the project through to the end.
Building a hotrod is definitely a project that’s going to require a lot of your time and a fair amount of funding no matter how you cut it. While the hobby can get expensive, you can still achieve your hotrod building dreams on a budget by being patient and creative. Know where to buy parts, have realistic expectations about the work and the time involved, and consider taking over someone else’s abandoned project to save yourself as much money as possible.
