BarnBuiltBeaters

I commented on your other post. A lot of people on reddit are assholes and probably also havent done any fab work yet see all the perfect welds on Instagram and think its easy to do. Its not, ive been welding for years now and can lay decently good stack of dimes when im in a perfect position. Slightly out of position, they start to suffer. Switch to a material i dont have as much experience in, they suffer. You get better by practicing. Do your welds need work, sure to some degree, so do mine... always strive to keep improving. Are your welds functional, probably. You made something custom, not a lot of people do, they buy off the shelf components. You did great but theres always room to improve. If your getting more into fabrication, I highly suggest a 3D printer. You can make jigs to keep left/right side the same, work holding improvement, heck I even printed some back purging plugs out of TPU. Your creativity is your limit. I was struggling to make a merge so instead I designed, checked fitment out of plastic, nd sent it off for metal 3D printing.

And my transmission mount for the same project. https://preview.redd.it/yjq87r2yp24h1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=abef40be201be755d5cd85f104d0917448dc6e84

They arent that hard. As others have said, mount the engine centered and have a slight rearwards tilt. Youll need to match driveline angles of your pinion to prevent vibration. I used CAD and a 3D printer to test before final fab where I then had the steel cut from SendCutSend and I then welded it up. If you don't have a 3D printer and are interested in fabrication, I highly recommend it. One of my favorite tools "in the shop". https://preview.redd.it/8qtzxssrp24h1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dafc94cad98df0a267fc39b26b8ce7c8f9b483e4

The Maverick is basically the only vehicle that checks nearly all the boxes. I wish I looked into these before I got my most recent vehicle... Personally id cough up the extra for a new one due to getting better rates vs used, no miles, and a warranty.

I was more so speaking in terms of the clutch. Floating gears is fairly easy but for a first timer it might be hard to do, didnt even think about that!

I was literally going to say this too. The BEST way to learn to drive stick. Nearly impossible to stall so you arent worried about it, rather focused on making it a smooth transition. Transfer directly to a car. A semi would be another good candidate but then your worried about the shear size of the vehicle lol

Metal work is always better, that being said there is absolutely nothing wrong with PROPER use of body filler. High end show cars use filler as a skim coat to get panels perfect. Filler should be used to fill in low sections, not to fill in large dents. Filler gets a bad wrap but in reality thats how 95% of projects, restorations, and regular body repairs are done.

Learning manual sucks honestly. You have to think about every shift, releasing the clutch/gas systematically, and worrying about rolling back on hills. Eventually it becomes natural. You'll know EXACTLY where the clutch starts to bite, you wont worry about hills, and you naturally shift just listening to the engine. Its a hassle at first but then becomes pretty satisfying. That being said, traffic still sucks regardless of how good you get!

It really depends on what you want as a project vehicle. Some people say their project is a running and driving vehicle they throw some bolts on onto. My project has been literally exploded in my garage for the last 5 years. Neither is right or wrong. If you want something to drive and mod, buy something with minimal rust and that runs well. Itll cost you more. If you want something that requires a bunch of tinkering with, it'll probably cost less. Personally I get more enjoyment out of fabricating and restoration than I do driving. Others might not.

Personally, I would never spend that type of money for something with that many miles. Not saying it wont go longer but for an additional 10g you can have a new one. Spend the 10g up front for a new truck with new everything and a warranty, or spend 10g on repairs, maintenance that hadn't been done, and higher interest rates. The nice thing, they hold their value well that means.

Hmmm i didnt see this in here. Trucks hold a special place in American culture. As a result i think people hold onto them and keep them running. They also hold their value a bit better making repairs more worthwhile than sedans.

A Ford Maverick checks your boxes except maybe the price. AWD, smaller box, optional 4k towing (if you need it) low 40s MPG, etc. Dont over buy a truck if you dont need to, as nice as trucks are they are expensive to own. You could look at new Mavericks which start in the higher 20s, obviously above your price range. However you typically get a much better interest rate vs buying used which might be closer than you would think.

I had an 2014 Audi A4 and loved that car. Everyone says its hard to work on but honestly it isnt besides the couple of extra tools you need. It was stupid reliable too....until it started consuming a quarter of oil every 400 miles. I supposedly bought the model that didnt have that issue, just at the time no one had enough miles on them yet. VAG lost my trust after that. Still miss the car though!

Learning fabrication is like any other skill. I started with my 78 F250. The body mounts I made work but they could be prettier. The next time, they will be. Sometimes its trying things and seeing what fails and what doesnt. Personally I like to model my project in CAD before starting. Every skill takes time to master

Althougu i agree that a cold air intake is overated, i think it is about the easiest "upgrade" to give your car a bit more character (noise). An exhaust can make a worls of difference in making the vehicle more fun to drive. One thats slept on is changing out your gearing in your differential. I went from 3.73 to 4.10 and it was a huge difference in torque. I couldn't imagine if the gearing was even further apart! Less performance oriented but a coat of wax can really make your vehicle's paint pop.

Rather than driving, get more into modifying your car. I havent driven my old truck in probably 6 years but love modifying it. I got into fabrication a while back and its been awesome. You can make your own exhaust, intake, roll cage, beauty panels, etc basically your mind is the limit. Personally I find this more enjoyable than actually driving the thing, though I do look forward to the day its "done"

I highly recommend getting a classic vehicle. They are incredibly simple to work on, manuals are very common, and as long as you pick something popular the parts are easy to find. I also wouldnt suggest driving your project vehicle in the winter months. I originally did this and all the stuff I fixed and made pretty started rusting fairly quickly.

From an engineering point of view its actually pretty impressive and pushes the boundaries. Though I agree...not the best looking thing on the road •48V architecture •Drive by wire system •Proportional steering •Stainless steel body, though already done before •Gigacastings

Elon has a lot of kids and a lot of money. My conspiracy theory is that he made the truck one of his kids drew come to life. I mean how cool would that be if you could do that for your kid.

Really you think. I think they are priced pretty fairly. Last I checked you can get an XLT them for around 30g ish? I think thats pretty good considering all the boxes they check?

I would say 80% of vehicles are reliable as long as you dont slack on maintenance. If anything a hybrid should be more reliable then a traditional ICE due to the engine not running under load as much. Less maintenance with a hybrid or atleast extended maintenance. Just my opinion is all about the Maverick. I bought a Mach-E but I wish I looked into a Mav im fairly certain I would have bought one.

They are smaller trucks but I felt like I had ample room. No F150 though

Honestly the Ford Maverick seems like a fantastic little truck. AWD, amazing MPGs, Hybrid, small bed, decently roomy interior, 4k towing. I think its the perfect home owner truck for someone that doesnt need a full sized truck

Great idea though maybe be best for friends/family. If you extend your services to true customers this is especially where you would want insurance. The job itself is pretty easy though in the off chance you didnt torque a wheel down orthey have some catastrophic failure that they blame your service for the outcomes can be pretty dramatic. In my opinion you'd be better off doing oil changes. Of you forgot to put oil in an engine is expensive, yes but if you forget to torque a wheel, you can crash a car, involve other motorists, or even worse.

Harbor freight is decent especially for the price. I personally love my Milwaukee hand tools. They seem to be a nice blend between reliability and cost. They also fit in my hand perfectly. Also like their power tools as well. I have some Snap-On tools and actually prefer Milwaukee over them due to comfort, though snap on does perform/last better typically.

Westlake are decent and cheao AF though they didnt last terribly long, maybe 25-30K miles. 

I just had a wrap done for my business, it was ~7g and lasts for 5ish years. Granted this was on a commercial van (think of a Fexex/UPS truck size) so the cost is obviously more due to size.  A paint job should last the life of the vehicle if properly applied and cared for. Not sure on cost though im sure its much more and deponds on the amount of prep needed to get panels back in shape with filler, what parts are being painted (stripped body vs completed vehicle) and also depends on if you want it sealed vs just primer/base.

Youll have to look up RPM vs speed. Personally I went from 3.73 to 4.10 in my 78 f250 and was shocked at how much of a difference it made. Though I had larger tires on it (32s?) But no overdrive. 

If you arent finding engine components, try regearing your differential. It makes a noticable difference!

You can also put oil into the cylinder, if your pressure rises, you need new rings. 

Buddy had a 66 F100. I dont remember being cramped, though i was the passenger.  Large steering wheel due to no power steering.  Seat brackets may be able to be modified (lowered)  You may be able to find other linkages that move their placement yet still work. I know 70s era trucks all used nearly the same components, a shifter out of a Chevy may work better.  In my opinion this is the "charm" that classics have, they arent perfect. 

Its honestly a pretty easy process but its a ton of work. Get sand paper from course to super fine and work your way up. Be sure to rinse between stages so you arent making deeper scratches your next finer paper is trying to remove. Once you get to 2000 or 3000 grit get the polish out and go to town.  It sucks. Honestly I might see what a local shop would charge to get these back looking good. 

Im an ameture to CAN but what do you mean be CAN wake? Is this the initialization phase to put nodes into operational modes?  You mentioned Holley only uses native CAN messages, do you mean CANopen? Or only mapped PDOs/SDOs?  For gauge clusters, are you talking about OE gaugeclusters or aftermarket? If aftermarket I would think these gauges would gove you the proper protocol to follow. Again, I have a small understanding of CAN so not trying to shoot holes through your idea. I think it sounds interesting but im not 100% sure where the purpose of it is. 

Badass car! Love the red! Very sinister

Start with a classic vehicle, id say 1980s or older give or take, much newer they Start to get more and more electronics. I Start with a 1978 F250. You can physically get to nearly every component without taking anything else apart, great for a beginner.  You can play with ignition timing (spark), engine timing (mechanical), and fuel/air ratios very easily and directly see a result.  Im not entirely sure what you Aussies have over there for vehicles but the only downside may be finding parts to fix your vehicle. My suggestion, find a vehicle you like and then look up parts (aftermarket and OE) to see how hard it is to find parts. If you cant find a lot of them, your project will be much more difficult.  The other perk of classics, most of them need love. It forces you to fix them, and work in most of the systems. Once you fix them, their value will go up slightly and it'll also drive better.  Start with simple tasks. Change spark plugs, ignition coil, spark plug wires, oil changes (engine, trans, diffs) change the carburetor, etc. Move to slightly more complex, brakes, brake fluid, suspension components. Then harder, maybe put on an intake manifold, replace your hubs, a quick shift kit (auto).  My suggestion, buy a torque wrench and torque every bolt starting out. IMO most bolts dont need to be torque except specific components, however this will train you on what is tight and what isnt tight enough, though torqueing is always recommended.  Automotive is a great hobby. Its gave me tons of confidence over the years. Its a talking point in interviews and even helped me land a couple of roles. There is a community around it or also cannot be done individually. You can be a car guy by buying a ready to drive cool car, just being knowledgeable about vehicles in general, throwing some "bolt on" mods, or more in depth of restoration/fabrication which is personally where I live.  Enjoy the hobby and let me know if you have questions. Australia is a great place to be a hot rodder from what I know!

If you like wrenching and want to learn more id highly recommend a classic. They are much more simple and what you repair, adds atleast some value. If you can do brakes, alternator, etc you can do much more!

Reading this, it sounds like you like vehicles but might not know a ton about them? No shame, I started there too.  Im my opinion, buy the vehicle that calls you the most. The look at the aftermarket. Is there support for it? If so, probably a good bet. If not, then its going to be harder to get your goals.  Personally I had a 2014 Audi A4 with a 6spd manual that was tuned. It had all the right sounds, decent power (though nothing crazy), and satisfaction from the manual gearbox.  Then Id climb in my 78 F250 which was an entirely different beast. Louder, smellier, rougher riding, yet I love that thing more....so much character.  Find a car your passionate about, tinker on it, and you'll get better where eventually you'll feel comfortable taking on an engine swap (2JZ)  I started from no where and now doing a chassis swap, cummins swap, custom turbo piping and much much more. Ive always stuck with the same project too.

Ive been in your spot and you absolutely dont need a fancy, expensive welder to get good welds. Please dont let anyone talk you into it. Your a hobbyist, not a professional. Ive had a Miller and though it was a good machine, i like my "cheap" Chinese one better honestly. I HIGHLY recommend YesWelder. Any of their machines are great.  If you go TIG id suggest paying more for a AC/DC machine. High Frequency start is well worth the money also, though i believe any strictly TIG machine they sell has this. I highly recommend learning TIG as it can be used for both thick (think motor mounts) and thin welding (turbo/exhaust piping) MIG is going to be much easier to learn though. If you plan on welding a lot, id probably invest in gas, if not just go flux core or buy a machine that does both and invest in gas later. I have been welding for years now and only know TIG. Though im sure I could pick up MIG fairly easy.  Its a great addition to automotive and im super happy I learned. Get at it!

How long have you sat on the decision? Don't make a quick impulse decision. I think most of us here understand what a car/truck/vehicle means to us, more than just a point a to point b "tool".  Im in a different position but similar. I just started a business which will take away most, if not all, of my time to fabricate/wrench. Its semi depressing but hoping in the long run it'll allow me more time/more budget to accomplish my build.  If you can, Id totally sit on the idea of selling it until you are sure of your decision

That looks to be a mole or mini mate-n-lock connector. They should have seals in the back where the wires go in.  I do think the same, they look terrible and cheap. I suppose it doesnt matter but for a project car a nicer plug would make me happy

Thanks for the insight! I know relationships are important. But thats an area I know I'll struggle with. I get along with everyone but im not the most extroverted, I somehow will have to force myself out of that bubble and be less awkward  ha! Where were you introducing yourself to people? Like parks? Outside regular businesses? How did you approach these people?

Congrats man thats awesome! Im starting a mobile tire service here in the coming weeks, currently still building the van out. One thing I keep wondering is the best way to get first clients. Do you have any insight?

What made you close your doors?

That's what I thought. Nice work looks great! I had a piece metal printed for my build too, just a custom merge, nothing as cool as this ha!

I cant tell, is the flange welded on or machined after printing? If machined, how is this done?

Probably not a popular opinion, but Edison Motor's builds seem a bit backyardish. Not saying they dont know what they are doing or hacks but theres just not the level of refinement I would expect from someone trying to disrupt the trucking industry.  Maybe I just dont understand the customer base though. That being said, pretty cool what they are doing. I check in from time to time. 

I drive an EV for my daily but I wouldnt want to do an EV swap for my project. Project vehicles, imo, are all about character - the sounds, the vibrations, the smells, etc. All of that is lacking with an EV.  If anything, I might be interested in hybrid assist. Something to get you up and going a bit quicker.  Another layer is the safety of such systems. Low voltage systems are 400V now, many around 800V. They may be even higher now too. You really need training if your going to be messing around with systems like this as one wrong move could be your last. Itd probably be a liability nightmare. 

I use a Husky HD model for home and a US General for work.  I cant see spending a ton of money for a box, tools on the other hand....  That being said, theres good boxes and bad boxes. I think HF boxes are pretty good for the money. Husky SD are terrible but the HD models are pretty decent.  I actually dont love Snap-On boxes to be honest but don't have a ton of experience with them.

My first project was my 1978 F250. I think it is a great platform to learn on. Parts are mainly easy to get and the truck itself is almost as simple as you can get.  This teaches you the basics of how an engine work by manually adjusting ignition timing and fuel trims and then seeing how it affects performance.  Aftermarket is pretty decent with these trucks as well to improve performance and looks.  That being said, I would love to dive into a Model A but I think I would have been overwhelmed if I started on it as most (that I have my eyes on) are in much worse shape!

Really interesting reading the comment section.  I think most people are too scared to even try their own repairs/renovations. Youtube/internet has tons of information how to do things on your own.  Most repairs on vehicles are honestly pretty easy but may seem scarey. Most house repairs and a lot of renovation is decently easy to make it look good.  Sure, you have may have to buy tools but then you have them for next time.  I think more people should be attempting to fix things themselves (within reason of course) chances are they are successful, and will save money. If not, you pay a professional with the money you saved from prior times.  Time is money, yes, but mostly of us come home and arent using our time to make more money. In my eyes, my time is free when im not working, though I also in the boat of never feeling like doing repairs/maintenance/renovations.  Labor costs way too much imo and I'll unhappily doing my own labor. I encourage everyone to try fixing something themselves, most is honestly pretty easy and this is coming from someone who taught themselves to fix things by using youtube/internet.