Kiwi Kev's backyard Hot Rod Shop.

[Kiwi Kev]

Thank's guys! And Dan, I never finished off that roadster pickup. I got an offer I couldn't refuse and sold it less than a year after I built it. I enjoyed driving it for a while and it is still around looking raunchy. I think it would clean up pretty good.

 

[DEV0]

Kev I'm blown away, thank you for sharing. I love the wide angle first picture has sort of a calming effect to the soul.

 

[sam 8]

Just sitting here drooling, Kev.
I'm 51 and was raised by an old lakes racer from the '40's. He is gone, we lost him too early but the blood runs deep. I have his 40 Ford Sedan in my shop and my '56 F-100 is just going under for the full rebuild, mild Pro-Street but Long Haul capable.
I see you are a Willys Guy, perhpas you know of Bill Fitting up in Nor Cal, he is a good friend and the truck is going to him for the rear end work.
One of these days I am going to find a steel '33-34 3-Window to build as a tribute to Dad, someone out there has got one just waiting for a guy like me who can't afford the nuts money they want for Henry Steel....

Awesome place to live and work, you are livin' the rodders dream!

 

[Kerry67]

I myself don't think it is humanly possible to have a cooler place. Amazing.

 

[Call me the Breeze]

Kiwi Kev... you are a legend on the H.A.M.B., and this is why we admire your work. Your shop is amazing. Nothing like a working museum. -Breeze

 

[JeffreyJames]

Oh how I have to thank you KEV!!!! The Jalopy Journal has been boring all week and so I came over here for some inspiration and found this thread!!! Awesome!!!!

Are those Ansen Wheels I bought from you in any pics? I have been trying like hell to buy them back from the current owner of the '26 Roadster that I had. He's not letting up but I am going to keep trying !!!!!


Cool.

 

[Motown 454]

I love coming back and checking what else is in your shop. Sweet.

 

[Mr.Bungle]

Awesome backyard/ Garage!! I didn't go through all the pages on this thread but I wanted to ask if you go out to Primer Nationals since you're in Ventura? Your cars remind me of some of the awesomeness I saw the few times I went to Primer Nationals. Super cool stuff!

 

[TejasBimmer]

O.M.G.!!!!!

I love your shop!
Great builds there too!
Thanks for sharing.

 

[Kiwi Kev]

Jeffry....no pics with your wheels but I have been kicking myself since selling them to you, I sold them before realizing that I could have had a pair with street tires and a pair with slicks for my Willys. I just got back from the Fathers day Roadster show/swap meet and there was a pair there (15x10 Ansens) that I regret not buying. They were inexpensive but would have put me over my weekend buying budget.

Mr Bungle.....Yes I attend the Primer Nationals (now called the Ventura Nationals). I have a pig roast at my backyard on the Saturday afternoon. I love that show too. I want to drive my Willys to it this year.

 

[ARTEMIS1759]

This is the sicest garage I have ever seen. Rock on.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Kev, not trying to hijack but I have a question I hope you can answer. Maybe I should start a new thread: "Ask Kiwi Kev your Krazy Kuestions"!

My '46 Chevy truck has a '41 cab and that one year uses a pot metal ring to retain the rear window. The one I have is a bit wavy. I'm wondering if you have much experience with straightening out pot metal? Can this be done (gently) with a plastic or wood mallet?Should I heat it? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Kiwi Kev]

Dan, I have no experience straightening pot metal but I don't think you would use heat for that. Soft hammer sounds like a better plan. I'm sure a good chrome or polishing shop could handle that pretty easily, finding a good shop is the difficult part. Sorry I can't be any more help. It could be a simple job....or not. Hard to say without seeing it.

 

[William Payne]

That is a garage to aspire to.

 

[slim53]

Wow Kev, you've made it big time. You got pics of your garage on the "World's Most Beautiful Garages" thread. Congrats!

http://www.luxury4play.com/automoti...insane-garage-picture-thread-50-pics-189.html

There's actually a few GJ member's garages in there.

Slim

 

[shovel]

Wow Kev, you've made it big time. You got pics of your garage on the "World's Most Beautiful Garages" thread. Congrats!

http://www.luxury4play.com/automoti...insane-garage-picture-thread-50-pics-189.html

There's actually a few GJ member's garages in there.

Slim

Kiwi Kevs garage doen't belong there. Kevins garage is a blue collar hot rod paradise with the neatest hod rod artifacts assembled in one spot. Most of the "garages" in those threads are shrines to conspicuous consumption. One thing did make me laugh though. On page 178 there is a garage full of exotics with the cheap chinese toolbox!

 

[RAZORBACK]

Now we're talkin' G A R A G E !!!!!!!!!!

 

[Justanoldguy]

One thing did make me laugh though. On page 178 there is a garage full of exotics with the cheap chinese toolbox!

Maybe he has a "cheap chinese toolbox" Franchise and that is how he acquired all those exotics.
Pays not to assume too much in life..

 

[shovel]

I didn't assume anything. But I did have several thoughts. Like this may be what happens when redneck car guys have money. Like maybe those aren't even his cars. Or maybe he just doesn't have a clue. But I assumed nothing.
I will say this much. "I" would have a top of the line tool box before I ever had an exotic car. But thats why you cant let rednecks like me have money!

 

[ed_v]

Kev,

You are my hero!!! Great shop man. Words just can't describe how cool some of that old stuff is.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

I didn't assume anything. But I did have several thoughts. Like this may be what happens when redneck car guys have money. Like maybe those aren't even his cars. Or maybe he just doesn't have a clue. But I assumed nothing.
I will say this much. "I" would have a top of the line tool box before I ever had an exotic car. But thats why you cant let rednecks like me have money!

the toolbox always came first , but I built a few hot cars for myself and customers before the family bug built

 

[orf]

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

Kev, are you adopting?

 

[jake26]

I could spend days in your bathroom

 

[slim53]

Kiwi Kevs garage doen't belong there. Kevins garage is a blue collar hot rod paradise with the neatest hod rod artifacts assembled in one spot. Most of the "garages" in those threads are shrines to conspicuous consumption. One thing did make me laugh though. On page 178 there is a garage full of exotics with the cheap chinese toolbox!

I try not to judge because I'd probably purchase similar items to fill what we become my "shrine" (alongside a vast hot rod fleet). As far as the Chinese toolbox is concerned, maybe the guy is Chinese.

 

[Ronny]

Dan, I have no experience straightening pot metal but I don't think you would use heat for that. Soft hammer sounds like a better plan. I'm sure a good chrome or polishing shop could handle that pretty easily, finding a good shop is the difficult part. Sorry I can't be any more help. It could be a simple job....or not. Hard to say without seeing it.

Yo Kev man!! TV star now EH!??? You'll score plenty of roots now Bro!!.
You can't straighten pot metal easily but if you break it can be welded . i melt old pot metal things then pour it into molds to make sticks about the size of body solder sticks. Then i clean all the old chrome and stuff off the sticks and remelt them . After scraping off the slag I pour the metal into thinner molds to make a pure(ish) pot metal welding rod. No need for flux etc but a great need for care and patience. After welding,smoothing etc get the part polished then copper plated. Adjust the fit on the car by soldering silver solder onto the ends or sand the ends,sides etc to get it right. i use silver solder to fill pits after copper plating but you can melt potmetal into bigger pits.
Get the part replated with copper then polished,check the fit and if all is OK then get it chromed.
Cheers From Brissy!

 

[Kiwi Kev]

Hi Ron! I'm still waiting for the groupies to show up. Thank's for the pot metal lesson!

 

[naki kid]

Hi Kev, your back yard is a typical kiwi hotrodders back yard, I think you might know the person I work for The chief or Willy Roach.He said he has meet you at Squeaks I think.I have been into hotrodding since the 60s you might have heard my name Ray Inwood as a lot of custom paint jobs I have done in the past have been in the NZ Hotrod mag.I,m still hotrodding but a little bit slower at the moment due to building our barn If you look under the post Our dream.

 

[Kiwi Kev]

Yes Ray I have seen your work in NZHRM since I was a kid. I have also checked out your barn and I am very jealous! It is beautiful!

 

[mkirkpatrick]

Kev,
Thanks I just found your post from a post over at GG, your shop reminds me of what speed shops used to be. Thanks again. I will have to go back and read the post now instead of looking at the pics, They teach us to look at the pictures first and the words later in montana.

 

[Woogeroo]

I've seen snippets here and there over the years, but thanks for the big tour Kiwi Kev.

That was very neat to see.

-W

 

[Enloe]

i am glad I found this thread today Kev is my hero...

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Hey Kev, It's been a month and no love? What's happening in your backyard, I need a "fix"

 

[Kiwi Kev]

I have been very busy trying to get my Willys coupe on the road. I really want to drive it to the Ventura Nat's in a few weeks but as I write this I still dont have any brake lines, fuel system, wiring and bunch of other stuff I might need.

 

[willy3486]

I LOVE this shop!!! The only thing you need to change is the sign that says "willys service". You can send it to me and I can dispose of it, after all my name is Willy. Seriously all kidding aside you are not only a artist in metal but a true artist in displaying all your aquisitions. I wouldn't change a thing. I like you get what you can for your shop, I do that also for my shop, My tools in my shop are probably are a average of 50 years old. I love the old anvil that looks like a piece of railroad rail, I have been wanting to make one like that but can't find a piece here. I could spend hours looking at your pictures and find something new and cool every five minutes. I do have a few signs and after seeing the stuff here and the hamb site the bug has bitten me to get more. My shop is more for woodworking and electrical but I have a lot of auto stuff too. I need to get the boxes of old car mags from the 50s and 60s I have and display them as well. Your shop and Nimrods reminds me a lot of mine. I have a lot of the old delta and other tools but then my shop I made of salvaged buildings. I have a lot of old wood in mine like Nimrod. I am going to start looking for some old stuff at a local scrapyard I go to, I have passed by stuff there I could have put up on my walls. Anyway I wouldn't change a thing it is simply a masterpiece to me. It gives me some encouragement on fixing mine up.

 

[kilowatt]

Now thats a Hot Rod Shop!!!!!

 

[ol55]

I have been very busy trying to get my Willys coupe on the road. I really want to drive it to the Ventura Nat's in a few weeks but as I write this I still dont have any brake lines, fuel system, wiring and bunch of other stuff I might need.

You can do it Kevin!!

 

[timdhawk]

Sweet Jesus on all of it! Will you marry me?

 

[Kiwi Kev]

Here are some pic's from my pig roast a couple of weeks ago.....

 

[Kiwi Kev]

Candy Clark, the actress who played Debbie in American Graffiti was there and signed my American Graffiti cabinet....

 

[Justanoldguy]

Very Cool Kev.
Especially getting Candy there..