Are these good father and son projects?

[cobramonzy]

Like it says above

[NicksPapaw]

I don't know about father son projects, but Grandfather / Grandson projects I do know. You will make memeories that will last forever. You will build confidence in your son that he never thought he had. Most importantly, you will spend time with him that you will never get back. Be very aware. They grow up way too soon. Get on it now! One more thing..... Document the whole process. Take thousands of pictures. You won't regret a single one of them. :)

[Rich Drake]

Do bears *&^% in the woods?
Personally, I could never have come up with a better father son project. One son (now an engineer) loved the mechanical and electrical systems, the other (now a financial analyst) all the chrome and finishing. All three of us learned something in the process and it was all good.

[ram_g]

When I attended the Build School in 2008, there were 14 students in the class, fully 10 of them being 1 part of a father-son pair. Ages ranged from 13 (my son) at the low end to a guy that was my age (mid forties) and his elderly father.

My boy and I had a blast at the school and for some time subsequently, but then he lost interest and these days rarely comes out to help me. I don't want to force him out. Meanwhile my daughter (2 years younger than him) has developed quite an interest and often comes to the garage to help or just stand around while I'm working on something. So shame on me for assuming this was a father-son thing instead of a father-daughter thing!

So yes, these can make great family projects, but don't assume from the start that your family member(s) will have the same passion for it as you do. If they do, great!

[MPTech]

How old is your son?

DO IT!

I started my build the year after my son graduated from college and moved out-of-state for his new job. I regret that he couldn't be here to help me and that I didn't have the opportunity to start it when he was in grade school.
He likes the build but isn't home enough to help much, I did schedule my engine install when he was home for Christmas this year.

I did invite my 77 year old father over last weekend to help me finish my brake install and bleed the brakes. We worked about 8 hours in garage and I really enjoyed the time together. It would have been a good time even if I didn't accomplish anything, just working together and talking cars all day with my dad was great!

I even got my wife and daughter involved once!

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a78/MPTech/P1190008.jpg

[cobramonzy]

He is 18 and loves mechanical everything. I am more of a software engineer.

[Hazelwwp]

Absolutely a great father son project. My son and I just built a 33 hotrod. We attended the build school together and had a fabulous time building the car. We built a beautiful car (you can see it on the POM thread) and we enjoy showing it at local cruise-ins. We are both novices - I am a retired electrical engineer and my son was a high school freshman at the time. I have no "car guy" background at all but the Factory Five kits are well engineered and the support from FFR and the community is excellent such that even my son and I produced excellent results (I hired a professional for the body prep and painting).

We had so much fun on that project, we are eagerly waiting the release of the 818 so that we can build a car for my son. He will get his drivers license early next year and plans to be the only kid in his class that built his own "ride". Years ago I had told him I would not buy him a car but I would help him build one. He thought I was nuts until we built the Hot Rod together. Now he is a believer -- He can hardly wait to get started on his car.

It is a great learning experience and a lot of fun.

[cobramonzy]

Absolutely a great father son project. My son and I just built a 33 hotrod. We attended the build school together and had a fabulous time building the car. We built a beautiful car (you can see it on the POM thread) and we enjoy showing it at local cruise-ins. We are both novices - I am a retired electrical engineer and my son was a high school freshman at the time. I have no "car guy" background at all but the Factory Five kits are well engineered and the support from FFR and the community is excellent such that even my son and I produced excellent results (I hired a professional for the body prep and painting).

We had so much fun on that project, we are eagerly waiting the release of the 818 so that we can build a car for my son. He will get his drivers license early next year and plans to be the only kid in his class that built his own "ride". Years ago I had told him I would not buy him a car but I would help him build one. He thought I was nuts until we built the Hot Rod together. Now he is a believer -- He can hardly wait to get started on his car.

It is a great learning experience and a lot of fun.

Here is the problem, I am a software engineer who does not like to get my hands dirty, but my son likes cars very much. Would you say you could be a complete moron about cars ( and my son knows alot about them) and still build them. Is it worth the money for him to build one.

[Hazelwwp]

Here is the problem, I am a software engineer who does not like to get my hands dirty, but my son likes cars very much. Would you say you could be a complete moron about cars ( and my son knows alot about them) and still build them. Is it worth the money for him to build one.

Yes; and it will be worth it. It wouldn't hurt to sign up for a class at the local Vocational Technical School so you have local access to the instructors to get advice. That is what I did. Turned out I made some friends and really had some fun as the resident "old man" in the class. I'm still taking classes.

The kit instructions are pretty good. If you can follow the instruction to put together a swing set from Sears, you can build one of these kits, but part of the fun is customizing it and trying your own thing. Leave the body prep and paint to a professional though.

[riptide motorsport]

AbsoFr&^*nglutly!!!!:cool:

[NicksPapaw]

I don't even change my own oil in my regular car. I had absolutely NO experience working with cars before I started with this. My wife says that I spent 1 hour in the garage and 3 hours on the forum while building this thing. You will get all the answers and support you could ever hope for if you take your time and aren't afraid to ask. As for my grandson, well, he wasn't old enough to know everything about cars yet either, but, we sure had a blast with the build.
12559

[68GT500MAN]

They are excellent projects for your whole family; father/son. father/daughter, etc. If you are actualy worried about your hands, there are many brands/types of gloves available today. Go for it!
Doug

[Movieman]

As to the dirty hands part I always figured that if you didn't have to spend an hour with a bar of Lava soap, some Boraxo, and some carbolic acid to get your hands clean you didn't have a productive day.:D

[Gumball]

I'm mid-40s and my dad is early 80s. Never were very close, but he now stops by every weekend to check out the progress. Wish I did this a long time ago as he really seems to enjoy visiting with me and offering his 2-cents. I guess it's never too late.

[Movieman]

I'm mid-40s and my dad is early 80s. Never were very close, but he now stops by every weekend to check out the progress. Wish I did this a long time ago as he really seems to enjoy visiting with me and offering his 2-cents. I guess it's never too late.

I lost my Dad when he was 73. Cherish these days you have with him.
I take care of my Mother who is 82 and although the toughest job I ever had in many ways, one I wouldn't trade for anything.