Somewhat off topic but I think it will resonate with us older folks.

My Dad was my biggest Hot-Rod influence on me but sometimes you meet others who have an enormous impact on your building-life. I suspect others in this Forum have had the same experience.

In '85 I bought this '49F1 from a guy in my neighborhood. The Body and Paint was awesome and I had a drivetrain in my garage that would make it run real hard.

We became good friends and I was soon amazed at his productivity. He was cranking out show quality F1s and Model A's in his 2 stall garage. I'm talking 5 cars a year while working full-time. He does all the work. Body, Paint, Upolstry, Engines, Frame, Welding, Wiring etc...... So this is a well qualified F1/F100 Master builder.

I was a pretty good wrench when we met but I shut-up and learned some skills and how not to be a fool at swap meets. He is a Master.

So he tells me he's building a '47 Chrysler "Town and Country" Woodie..... I hate Woodies.... I was raised in Southern California in the 50s/60s and I surfed, but I don't like Woodies. He told me this car took 3 years to build.... Are you kidding ? He could spin a frame-up in 3 months !

The results are amazing. Some guys/gals bench race, others are the real deal. I suspect you folks have Teachers as well. I'd like to hear about them..... because you'd like to brag about them.....

 

the obvious ones first , my dad , my great granpa max zellers ,my grandpa sager , my uncle butch . then there was tony zucksworth didnt get to be around him much but when i was i listened and learned . lastly my shop teacher in high school john dykstra. always listened to my crazy wild hair up my backside ideas and done his best to keep me in the right direction , but never told me it couldn't be done or discouraged mefrom trying something off the wall . just a general confirmation that i had tried and next time squirrell you'll get it done and what did we learn from it ? .

 

My Dad, when I was growing up, he could fix anything I'd break! Which was good, as I broke alot of stuff!! He always told me when I went to work on anything, ask yourself what's the worst thing that can happen? So I learned to do body work, paint, weld, do upholstery.My dad has been in the auot upholstery business for 45 years!! I work with my dad everyday, and I feel very blessed cause of that! My dad has taught me alot over the years, but it is the attitude that he has taught me more than anything. My dad is always easy goin, and in a good mood! Our shop motto is on my signature: If it's worth doin, it's worth over doin!! When we get done with a job, everyone in the shop has to OK it before it goes out the door. If were satisfied with it, then the customer will be too! Hey Eman, that's one fine lookin Woody. I like them!


Later

 

I was raised watching my dad and my grandpa "just fix things". We didn't have alot of money, when something broke, you fixed it. I've always figured that the only difference between myself and the professionals is experience (and the right tools). I'm fairly capable and figure that I can do it. Whats the worst that can happen? you might have to do it again, or, worst case scenario, have to pay someone to fix it for you.

E-dawg.....Great looking Chrysler! I adapted a set of those tailights to the rear fenders of my F1. Of course I had to modify them slightly, I replaced the upper reflectors with blue dots!

Bobby

 

My Buddy Vic is a retired FOMOCO mechanic. He even taught classes to other mechanics in trannys and engine repair. He has taught me a lot and continues to be invaluable at solving problems. I've even sent him a few FTE posts of particiullary difficult problems. He came over to the house almost every night while we were building Teddy. Jag

 

Without a doubt, My father! My dad was a Master tool and die maker who basically built the entire assembly line for Price Pfister faucets. He was a genius when it came to building things and enjoyed making things out of stainless steel. (Built to last forever) He taught me to always do it right the first time, or don't do it at all. He taught me fabrication work and the right way to use power tools and other tools, even how to make your own tools. My dad has passed away and isn't around anymore to help me on my projects or show me how to do things. I'm sure he's looking down and proud of what he taught me. I miss him helping me, hanging out with me in the garage on the weekends, and making those special brackets and parts that worked so well. It's very tough when I finish a project on my truck and wish he was there to see the final result. I think about dad and wonder if he knows what I did using the tools we both used so often. On a few occasions my wifes caught me looking at my truck and breaking down in tears, wishing he was here to see what I accomplished with the tools he left me to use. Time goes quick. Now I have the responsibility of teaching my boys what my dad taught me.
My other teacher was my Metal shop teacher Mr. Matthews. What a guy. Taught me how to use a welder without burning the shop down or making everyone inhale the black soot in the air. Sure wish that shop was still around...
Other teachers in my life were all my hotrod buddies in high school and college who kept me away from drugs and getting into trouble. We were a tight group of Ford nuts that constantly work on cars to improve them and squeeze that extra horsepower out. All of us had Mustangs, all of us raced them hard every weekend at the local In n Out Burger. My buddy Albert was probably the one who taught me the most about cars and racing. His dad, a long time Ford guy, had tons of Ford parts that we bought or traded for. He supplied us with all trick racing stuff and taught us all the tricks of having an edge at the street races. Thanks Chuck!

 

Majority have said there Dad. My Dad worked all the time and non-stop til he retired. He gave me my values,morals, and grounding aided at times when deemed necessary by a belt to emphasize his point. My teacher as F100's go would have to be the Gentleman pictured here.

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2352...02161653jXGdyB

He's put in quite a few FOMOCO front suspension clips along with quite a few 56 BW sections even before Goodmark started making. Matter of fact the 56 BW he is building now for a gentleman has a BW section that was taken from a donor cab and put in a F750 cab. See the pictures here.

http://rides.webshots.com/album/560801529tNmsEe.

The 47 coupe on page 2. He built it as well it runs a 351W/AOD out of a 95 F150. He let me drive it about 5 miles last Sunday when I stopped by his place on my way to the beach. Man talk about a blast.

 

I realy appreciate all the great post about your Dads, Beleive Me, Life goes by fast. I too have the 53 f-100 pick-up that I am trying to rebuild and his 1993 Chevy 2500 6.5 diesel. My dad passed a way 6 years ago at 70, He was a great dad. i have his tools and the things that we worked with together from childhood to him passing away. Remembering back, the two of us working on the old 53 together and the little things, it still brings tears to my eyes, and a lot of times I say Dad I wish You were here to talk to. time passes fast, enyoy all the time that You possibly can with Your Dads.

 

I taught myself everything I know about these old trucks. Thats why I still don,t know anything.

 

My dad gave me a B&S lawnmower engine to fool with for my 5th birthday. I took that thing apart so many times the threads were sloppy. He was a great do-it-yourself'er, which was very common among the Boomer generation (WWII vets), and was a mechanical engineer, but absolutely hated working on cars. To him they were just an appliance. He'd fix them only when they really needed it, not a minute before. On the other hand, like Tacson's dad, he worked about 70 - 80 hours a week (self-employed) so I can understand that. He tried a restoration when he retired but he just couldn't get interested in it.

I also took Shop in HS. My teacher was a great guy. He bet me $10 once that he could turn my TBird's engine over by hand using the fan, for setting the points. He didn't know the 'Bird had a thermal-clutch fan!!

 

ha ha teacher's don't know everything either ! damn thats funny ! mine always got even with us when we got him . shop class was fun , we learned and had fun at the same time >