Street Rod Jim's 33 Hot Rod V2 #1143 Build - The Journey Begins
Hi Everyone. I have been waiting a long time to build a car and I have officially purchased a 33 Hot Rod V2. This is my first build, but I am going to try to keep the build quality as high as possible (within reason) while building mostly on my own….but with the help of you guys and some friends when needed... in my own garage. I plan on doing most of the body work and possibly final paint, but we will see. I know when to farm it out if needed. However, I would really like to learn that side of it.
The car I am building consist of a Coupe Top, Extra Clearance Hood & Sides, Bike Fenders, Rear Exhaust, Chrome Steering Wheel, A/C Heat, Leather Bench Seat, 4 link Moser, Power Steering, 4L65e Trans and an LS Engine which I have already rebuilt.
The kicker in all this is that I am vlogging the whole thing on my Street Rod Jim YouTube channel. Unlike other channels, I will be going through the whole process as much as possible, so people get a real idea of what it takes to do any of these FFR builds. I am also posting a lot of research, cost analysis, the engine build, how to find an engine, my experience at the factory five build school etc… I will update build cost and such as I go since it will be an ongoing weekly vlog. I hope this vlog/build brings much information to the community and onlookers wanting to get into the community in a different format than normal. I am a visual person myself, so I know there are others that will benefit from this type of format.
I have already posted all my research and such. (Even some C5 corvette videos which will interest the GTM followers) Now that I am actually ready to build the 33 Hot Rod, I am finally starting my official build thread. I am super excited and know that I will bang my head against the wall a few times. But whatever happens, it will be caught on camera. LOL!
Good luck. It’s crazy fun with the right attitude.
There is more to this thought than you can imagine. I've messed around with cars all my life, but this takes it to a whole new level. It's a blast, but I have no schedule or expectation. Sometimes I just sit out there and look at it. The forums are great, and getting the right tools makes a huge difference. You'll find the instructions are a guideline, with lots of room for variation. Remember, everytime you ask a question, it helps us to think it through as well.
- Peterh226 #1134
'33 Hot Rod 2nd Gen. Blueprint 383 Sniper TKO Delivered 4/14/2019
Full Fenders, Top, 3-Link, Wilwoods
YOKOHAMA ADVAN NEOVA AD08 R | Fr 245/45 R17 | Rr 295/30 R18
AR605 Torq-Thrust M Chrome | Fr 17x8 | Rr 18x10
Peter is exactly right. There’s plenty of times where I just stare at it and try and figure out how to solve whatever the problem is. I strongly urge you to consider doing the bodywork first. I thought everybody was nuts for suggesting it and I ignored it. I was wrong.
33 Hot Rod #1133. LS/TKO600
Delivered 6-17-19. Started work 7-3-19. First start 9-6-19. First drive 9-24-19
Titled 2-28-20
Saw one of your latest videos regarding paint. For the miscellaneous (and numerous) raw metal parts included in the kit, highly recommend getting a relatively inexpensive powder coating setup like that available from Eastwood. Powder coat is a lot more durable than rattle can and a lot more convenient than mixing and spraying a 2 part. The powder is available from a few different sources, is cheap, and in a huge array of colour/finish. Prismatic powders silk satin black matches the powder coated chassis perfectly.
Gen 1 '33 Hot Rod #1104
347 with Holley Sniper & Hyperspark, TKO600, IRS, 245/40R18 & 315/30R18, DRL, Digital Guard Dog keyless Ignition
Peter is exactly right. There’s plenty of times where I just stare at it and try and figure out how to solve whatever the problem is. I strongly urge you to consider doing the bodywork first. I thought everybody was nuts for suggesting it and I ignored it. I was wrong.
Thanks for the comment here and on youtube!
33 Hot Rod V2 Coupe, Extra Clearance Hood, Bike Fenders, Rear Exhaust, LS Engine
Saw one of your latest videos regarding paint. For the miscellaneous (and numerous) raw metal parts included in the kit, highly recommend getting a relatively inexpensive powder coating setup like that available from Eastwood. Powder coat is a lot more durable than rattle can and a lot more convenient than mixing and spraying a 2 part. The powder is available from a few different sources, is cheap, and in a huge array of colour/finish. Prismatic powders silk satin black matches the powder coated chassis perfectly.
Unfortunately the biggest issue with this is the size of parts. You can buy a used full size oven cheap, but I have nowhere to store that and no 220V besides my laundry room. Not interested in using the oven I cook with. Otherwise I agree totally.
33 Hot Rod V2 Coupe, Extra Clearance Hood, Bike Fenders, Rear Exhaust, LS Engine
I make mention emphatically because I wish someone had done that for me. To have the doors trunk and body ready to rock ‘n’ roll would’ve made this process a lot more enjoyable than trying to not damage stuff.
33 Hot Rod #1133. LS/TKO600
Delivered 6-17-19. Started work 7-3-19. First start 9-6-19. First drive 9-24-19
Titled 2-28-20
Color selection by far the hardest for me to envision. For whatever reason, I have to see it before I can fully take it in. Being a big part of the build, I spent some time and finally picked my colors out.
Well, the manual mentions that there is a few parts to paint, but in really there is a load of parts that need something on them. I will be prepping to try to spray at home.
Great build thread! I'm getting close to buying a 33 kit. I've found your videos very useful. The LS versus Coyote video helped me decide on the on LS. Why did you decide to go with an auto tranny? I'm leaning towards a stick, but I'm worried about foot box room. I'm 6'1' and have had a few back surgeries so leg room is important for me.
Great build thread! I'm getting close to buying a 33 kit. I've found your videos very useful. The LS versus Coyote video helped me decide on the on LS. Why did you decide to go with an auto tranny? I'm leaning towards a stick, but I'm worried about foot box room. I'm 6'1' and have had a few back surgeries so leg room is important for me.
thanks,
Andy
Gen2 has added leg room so your height shouldn't be an issue. The footbox is crowded with the clutch pedal added so if you have size 15s that is more the issue. Read some of the other build threads (e.g. Peterh and seth) that have used Chev engines - you need to get creative with the engine mounts and the mating up with the exhaust.
Steve
Gen 1 '33 Hot Rod #1104
347 with Holley Sniper & Hyperspark, TKO600, IRS, 245/40R18 & 315/30R18, DRL, Digital Guard Dog keyless Ignition
Great build thread! I'm getting close to buying a 33 kit. I've found your videos very useful. The LS versus Coyote video helped me decide on the on LS. Why did you decide to go with an auto tranny? I'm leaning towards a stick, but I'm worried about foot box room. I'm 6'1' and have had a few back surgeries so leg room is important for me.
thanks,
Andy
Andy, There is not a lot of room in the pedal area. I can post a picture when I get a chance. But I also have neck issues and pushing a pedal in every 5 seconds is no fun for me. I was going to add a paddle shifter but it was $1500 to do so I took it off the build. I also bought a 2003 C5 Corvette with LS and 4l65e (same combo I am building) and it was a pleasure to drive. A preview if you will. The 33 will have about 200 more HP than the vette and 1500 lbs lighter. Hopefully it will be streetable. Yikes!
33 Hot Rod V2 Coupe, Extra Clearance Hood, Bike Fenders, Rear Exhaust, LS Engine
Great build thread! I'm getting close to buying a 33 kit. I've found your videos very useful. The LS versus Coyote video helped me decide on the on LS. Why did you decide to go with an auto tranny? I'm leaning towards a stick, but I'm worried about foot box room. I'm 6'1' and have had a few back surgeries so leg room is important for me.
thanks,
Andy
Andy, here is pictures of the pedal area. Not much room on the left for the clutch and depending on how wide your transmission is, the gas pedal gets pushed to the left. My trans is really wide. (4l65e). Hopefully this helps. Jim 2019-11-23 08.08.53.jpg2019-11-23 08.09.24.jpg
33 Hot Rod V2 Coupe, Extra Clearance Hood, Bike Fenders, Rear Exhaust, LS Engine
Understanding your paint woes, I would suggest that you go out and get a simple, cheap white car shelter, you can close each end, hang from the frame and you don't care if you get paint on it. I used one for lawn equipment that was 8' wide by 12' long, it worked great easy to setup and take down. I added a couple of 24" fans on one end and some cheaper furnace filters on the other to mimic a cross draft booth. for small parts and the aluminum panels that will get lizard skinned etc... it'll help ALOT!
Here's a pic of the smaller one I used. 20190824_120155.jpg20190824_120201.jpg
PS. When priming the small parts I held the hanger such that I could spin it in my fingers to ensure better coverage and I didn't have to spin around it. Then I could hang them up out of the way. Have fun!!
Black & Copper #1028 ("The Mistress" according to my wife! )
Brought home: Nov. 2017, GoKart: May 2018, will be Plated & on the Road April 2020
Andreas
Andy, here is pictures of the pedal area. Not much room on the left for the clutch and depending on how wide your transmission is, the gas pedal gets pushed to the left. My trans is really wide. (4l65e). Hopefully this helps. Jim 2019-11-23 08.08.53.jpg2019-11-23 08.09.24.jpg
Thanks for the pictures, those pics helped a lot to understand the room in the foot box.
I had to use rack limiters on mine. You will likely run into issues with the inbound side of the bike fenders hitting the control arms at full turn...you may want to relieve them prior to paint.
33' Hot Rod Coupe/Roadster (GEN 1), Fendered, Ford 302, 350hp, EFI, AOD, 4-Link, Double Adjustable Koni Coilovers, Split Rear Exhaust, Electric Power Steering, AC/Heat/Defrost, Moser 8.8"-3.55, Willwood Front/Rear Brakes, 18" x 8" Fronts/20" x 10" Rears, Ordered: 1.26.17, Arrived: 3.29.17, First Start: 7.2.18, Go Cart: 11.4.18 Paint/Body: 2.23.19, Back Home: 11.24.19, Completed: NEVER!; View More Pics @ https://starmobileone.com/