You know what they say, "If you build it, they will come." Well, today you're going to learn how to build your custom car. If your car is too boring for you and you're looking for a new project, then this article perfect is for you!
Building your custom car can be an exciting way to express yourself and give life back to that old clunker in the garage. Regardless of whether you're a gearhead or just looking for something to do on a rainy weekend, this project will satisfy your need for creativity and get your hands dirty. You don't need any experience or expensive equipment either!
This article has everything from planning your design to taking that sweet ride for a spin. So what are you waiting for? Scroll down and get started on making some noise with that beefy exhaust system!
Plan It
Before you get started building that hot rod, make sure to plan out your design. You can start by sketching an outline of the car you want on a piece of paper and then develop it from there. Add details like custom paint, wheels, and even custom body panels for added artistic expression! Make sure to take note of what you plan on using for your engine and any custom modifications. For example, you can always upgrade to a better motor or install a turbo to give it the extra oomph it needs to take off on the road. Make sure not to overlook all of this important information so that when it’s time to build, everything will be kept in mind and you won't end up having to make too many changes.
Planning out your design in detail also means drawing up a list of tools you'll need. Make sure to have a solid idea of what parts, equipment, and materials are needed for the job before buying anything because you don't want to be stuck with something you can't use due to a lack of planning.
Turning these basic outlines into real things is where the fun begin! If you don't have the tools to cut up a car, use whatever you've got around the house. Heck, if you want to get crazy with it, you can use a hacksaw and metal files to get started. Just make sure this doesn't end up taking too long; patience can be a virtue, but you don't want to take it too far.
What tools will you need?
This depends on the type of work you have planned for your car. For example, something like reskinning an old door or applying new decals may only require a paint gun and some paint supplies. On the other hand, modifications like cutting up frames and adding custom body panels will require more advanced tools. Some of the most common tools you'll need are hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, drills, and saws. If you've got these already lying around, then great! Just make sure to clean them all up before getting started! Additionally, if you plan on working with metals like steel or aluminum, you'll need a torch and a welder. If you want to paint your car, make sure to have some rollers, paintbrushes, and chemical gloves on hand because the fumes can be pretty intense!
Planning out how much money you'll need is another important part of this process. If you're looking for parts that require welding, make sure you have the funds to afford a welder and shop for materials. If not, you can always take your car to a customizer that will handle everything for you! But keep in mind that if this is what you plan to do, you'll have to invest money upfront because having something done by a professional isn't cheap. For example, a simple paint job you can do yourself might cost $500 if you use premium quality paints while a full transformation with custom pieces and everything might be upwards of $10,000! So, keep this in mind when planning out your design and how far you want to take it.
Planning all of these details may sound like a lot of work, but you'll be glad you did it because having a well-organized plan will make the rest of the process move quicker and with greater ease. If you're unsure about what colors or parts to add to your car, then this is when the whole "thinking" part comes into play. Think about what kind of car you want to build, the type that looks like a high-performance machine or something more unique and original? Is it going to be loud, fast, and flashy, or slow, sleek, and luxurious looking? The answers depend on how much money you're willing to spend.
Design It
After you've got your plan all laid out, start to develop that design further into a 3D model! You can either use the program SketchUp or any other 3D modeling software of your choice. They have many tutorial articles to guide you if you’re new to this, so don't be afraid. Start by creating your base shape, taking care not to make it too fat or wide because then you'll have a tougher time fitting the car onto whatever platform you plan to build it on. If you want body panels that are smaller than the regular ones, for example, make sure to use the scale tool to resize them. Once you've finished building your model, get ready for those sweet-looking renderings!
Renderings are great because they allow you to visualize what your car design will look like without building the actual thing. You can use any rendering software of your choice, but it's not required. If you want to create something unique for your car, an easy way is to use screenshot composites. They are a combination of images that you take and combine using any image editor. You can do this by taking the photo at different angles so that it isn't a single shot, then get your rendering software to combine them into an image that looks smooth and seamless. You can even use this method for making visualizations of your design in real life!
Build It!
It's time to build that sweet ride. This is the most fun part of the whole process and can be even more exciting if you're sharing this experience with your friends or family. Start by gathering all of the supplies you need before beginning to construct your car. You can either look up plans online in a PDF format or have them professionally drawn up by a shop. You can find plans for many different types of cars including muscle, sport compacts, choppers, and even home-built trucks! If you're not sure where to begin, ask around at your local auto parts store because they always have helpful staff who are ready to give you informed advice on what you need.
If the plans aren't exactly what you want, just change whatever parameters or features that don't fit your design! Some things to consider when making changes are the size and scale of everything as well as how it will affect performance. If you're planning on putting a lot of power in your car, you can even look into getting custom drivetrain parts because there are plenty of places that make them. You can also get a custom exhaust system, air intake manifold, and even turbochargers to give your car that extra kick it needs!
Finally, you're ready to begin the build process! Make sure that you have a wide-open space to work with so that you don't have to worry about damaging any of your stuff or injuring yourself. The best way to start is by building the main chassis, or the base structure on which everything else will be mounted. Depending on what kind of car you're making, this can either be an easy task or very difficult depending on its complexity. For home-built trucks, the basic chassis is a solid steel structure with some treads attached for off-roading. On the other hand, a sport compact car requires a body on frame structure which can be very complex. So make sure not to rush this step by taking as much time as you need!
If you're planning on racing your car, you can even go to the track and take it for a test run! If you want to do this, just make sure that there are no sharp turns or obstacles on the ground by first taking an inspection lap around your home track. And remember to bring along some friends with cameras so that they can get exciting photos of you and your car!
Expand your skills! Building cars is a great way to express yourself and learn important skills. If you enjoyed building the vehicle that you created, try experimenting with different designs so that you can build entirely new ones in the future. Remember the tips listed here when making changes because they all provide valuable information about how you should base your decisions. Also, don't be afraid to ask around if you have any questions!