Kids First Car

[LT4]

For my 15 year old, I recently picked up a well used beat up not running GMC Sonoma. He was thrilled when I pulled into the driveway with his first truck on my trailer. The fact that its beat up on just about every corner, has a rusted replacement fender that was never painted and doesn't run didn't matter the least. I've been busy the last few weeks so there hasn't been much progress.

The engine has a blown head gasket so this should be a good project for him, and work for me. If we get it running with out too much money I'll think about straightening the body.

This project brings back memories of my first car. I found a beat up not running Dodge Dart that was absolutely ugly, but it was free. I talked my grandfather into towing it home. Thankfully, I had been car crazy for years and read every hot rod, road & track that I could get my hands on. Somehow I had gained a ton of knowledge about cars and fixing things. Much to everyone’s surprise I had it running in a weekend and drove it for two years. The hard part for me was that I really wasn't crazy about the four door Dodge Dart but it was free.

 

[autoclassicnut]

I think you have the right approach to a having a good kid... too many parents are driving a beat up hardly running vehicle, while the kids are driving the "better" one... I see it all of the time around here.
Makes me sick. They will learn to take care and cherish their 'own built" rigs if we make them... good start!

 

[CarCrafter]

Sweet... this is hands down the best way for someone to learn..... to work on something, and to appreciate... If your kid gets this thing fixed up, he'll probably have gained more knowledge than many of these tech school grads.

 

[lawfarm]

I hope it's a regular cab, 4 cylinder, stick shift. I keep telling my wife that when our daughter is old enough to drive, I'm going to buy her a used, regular cab, stick-shift, 4 cylinder pickup (Tacoma or Ranger). Pull out the bench seat and throw in a little internal roll cage...2 good seats...5 point harnesses. Throw some nice wheels and tires at it, a bedcover, and send her down the road.

'Course, she's only 2 now, so I have a while to worry about this...

 

[e-tek]

I hope it's a regular cab, 4 cylinder, stick shift. I keep telling my wife that when our daughter is old enough to drive, I'm going to buy her a used, regular cab, stick-shift, 4 cylinder pickup (Tacoma or Ranger). Pull out the bench seat and throw in a little internal roll cage...2 good seats...5 point harnesses. Throw some nice wheels and tires at it, a bedcover, and send her down the road.

'Course, she's only 2 now, so I have a while to worry about this...

I'm totally in agreement with the first comments - but think it mostly only applies to BOYS. If I had a girl I'd want to protect and coddle her - so I'd be sure she drove a decent car. The boys can fix something up (with my help), but a girl.......

 

[CarCrafter]

I'm totally in agreement with the first comments - but think it mostly only applies to BOYS. If I had a girl I'd want to protect and coddle her - so I'd be sure she drove a decent car. The boys can fix something up (with my help), but a girl.......

We have a three month old little girl... I'll coddle her now, but my wife fully expects me to show her the lay of the garage when she comes of age.... this kid is gonna wrench on cars, and shoot guns and hopefully can kick *** just the same... but you're probably right, dads will probably make sure their little girls have wheels that are reliable so they can run over the boys with..

 

[Kevin54]

Hey LT....Check out this site with your son http://www.s10forum.com/forum/ You'll find out about anything you need to know about the S10's and Jimmy's along with some great ideas.

 

[billspit]

I agree heartly with what you are doing. I think kids (well I guess boys) should know how a vehicle runs. And if they have invested sweat equity in getting the car on the road, they will be less prone to abusing it.

 

[JCQuick]

All 3 of my sons 1st cars were fixer upers I think it makes them learn to take care of them 1st and appreciate when they get a nicer ride

 

[Falcon67]

Our daughter got the drive the good vehicle while dad took the clunker to work. That lasted until grade issues surfaced, then dad got the good car and daughter got the car with the trashed head liner, minimal AC and no radio. Bring up those grades, get the car back kinda deal. She never got the car back LOL.

 

[vettezx-6]

Ahhh Memories... My first truck/car was an 85 S10 4cyl, 4 speed that my grandpa dragged home for me. I spent a lot of hours fixing up that truck in the garage... Good times... I loved that truck...

This will be a great learning experience for your son, and he will take better care of it than the kids at school whose parents just buy something nice and hand them the keys.

 

[mustangmccance]

I bought this car for 600.00 for my son when he was 14.

I was so excited I said hey I bought you a car today. I showed it to him and he wouldn't even look at it. I asked him what was wrong he said "it looks like too much work" . so last year he turned 16 and he had developed an interest in jeeps so I bought him a 93 cherokee with 190000 miles on it for 1500 dollars. repaired the rusty fender, my first ever panel replacement and it looks good. I installed a nice stereo in it and he is happy. but I decided to keep the mustang for my daughter who turns 12 this friday. she helped me install the new suspension and everything on it when I picked it up. It now looks like this. I think my son may be getting a bit jealous now.

 

[larry_g]

I'm totally in agreement with the first comments - but think it mostly only applies to BOYS. If I had a girl I'd want to protect and coddle her - so I'd be sure she drove a decent car. The boys can fix something up (with my help), but a girl.......

My daughter had a Ranger for a first car. She drove it 3 years till it broke a rod. She was a major part of the help in getting it going again. She is not afraid to jump into most anything. The picture shows her helping out on replacing the rollers on the crawler. She is probably 22yo in that picture.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[ratdoggy]

Bought this for my guy last Oct. He worked for the money himself. Clean old ladies car. He's starting to realize that this should hold him till he gets out of High School meanwhile we just might build a Monte or Rustang for him.

 

[thelews]

My son wanted his cousin's car, '91 BMW for his first when he was 16. I also helped his cousin buy the car. $3k and I bought it for him. Told him there's no collision insurance on the car, so any damage is his problem and if he ruins the car, that's it. Well, he took very good care of it and now has a 4 wheel drive, 170k mile Subaru for college in Co. I was going to sell it, but couldn't get much more than $3K for it, so I'm keeping it. He loves the car and there's something special about having your first car when you're older. Here's how it looks today after the high school years of both my son and his cousin (who also took great care of the car).

 

[TAftw]

I think what's important for kids is to know the LIMITS of your car. Some cars you can go fast, some you can't. Some you can go offroad, some you can't, etc. etc. I started out with a Jeep, and it taught me to go slow and turn easily due to the rollover rate.

Unfortunately, that Jeep blew a rod a week ago and now I am in search of a new car.

 

[930dreamer]

My 16 year old daughter wants a car. The first step was she had to have a job. She found a job that pays $8 an hour, five days a week. That brings a tear to my eye, she really can work. I have a 1999 Saab at my shop that needs a new turbo, body in perfect shape, all service records. We'll see how that goes. Any drinking / driving issues it all goes away.

 

[OldCarGuy]

When my daughter turned 14 she placed the winning bid on a 1964 1/ 2 Mustang at an auction. That she learned to drive on after we restored it. It may not be as safe as a brand new modern car. But it was surely as reliable....

 

[metal1313]

my first car was a bad idea for a 16y/o, but my second vehicle which was intended to be my real daily driver was great. i bought my self a mustang, which i totally redid into a car far to fast for a youth, but i also bought myself a 94 bronco, which ran great, but needed a little bit of work. i had my fun with it, i lifted it, put a big stero in it and generally beat the piss out of it. i still have it even though i havent driven it in a month and its forsale.

older is def better, smaller is better as well and its not hard to make an old car reliable.

 

[LT4]

lawfarm, You got it. Four banger, stick, regular cab. The one comment he made that was funny, "this must be old...there are handles to make the window go up and down." He was shocked when I told him it is newer than my Sunday driver.

 

[036.6turbo]

Here's the build thread from when we did my old truck, for my son.

It's time well spent, you will not regret it!

http://www.fullsizechevy.com/showthread.php?379729-94-ECSB-Overhaul-first-truck

 

[hoopty388]

I'm totally in agreement with the first comments - but think it mostly only applies to BOYS. If I had a girl I'd want to protect and coddle her - so I'd be sure she drove a decent car. The boys can fix something up (with my help), but a girl.......

I have to totally disagree with this. my daughter has been at my side while I wrench since she could walk. here is a pic of her a little more than two "helping" me on my chop. Granted she wasn't "really" doing anything but that's alot of interest in those eyes for a 2 yo girl.

she is now 5 and spends as much time in my garage as I do. she talks alot about building a motorcycle when she gets old enough and is starting soon on her first project: gocart. I figure I will hand her some sandpaper and let her go.

 

[Kevin54]

I bought this car for 600.00 for my son when he was 14.

I was so excited I said hey I bought you a car today. I showed it to him and he wouldn't even look at it. I asked him what was wrong he said "it looks like too much work" . so last year he turned 16 and he had developed an interest in jeeps so I bought him a 93 cherokee with 190000 miles on it for 1500 dollars. repaired the rusty fender, my first ever panel replacement and it looks good. I installed a nice stereo in it and he is happy. but I decided to keep the mustang for my daughter who turns 12 this friday. she helped me install the new suspension and everything on it when I picked it up. It now looks like this. I think my son may be getting a bit jealous now.

That will teach him to ever be "picky" again Very nice job on the restoration!! Any other pics?

 

[saabman]

Put my stepson in a Saab 900 Turbo (we live in New England, and they are kind of cool old cars here). Served him well, and when he went off to college my younger stepson got it. Short time later, younger stepson hit black ice, and slid at 55 MPH into the oncoming lane and T-Boned the bed of a Chevy 1500. Drove the rear axle completely out of the truck some 50 feet (bent the frame too). Saab did what is was desinged to do and he did not have a scratch (other driver was ok too). Doors opened normally

 

[msmith]

I think this is what I'm going to get my boy when he turns 16... you can buy them cheap, parts are cheap, it's built like a tank, it's not too fast and it has airbags and ABS.

 

[Bender78]

I think this is what I'm going to get my boy when he turns 16... you can buy them cheap, parts are cheap, it's built like a tank, it's not too fast and it has airbags and ABS.

THAT will make him really popular pulling into the back parking lot of the high school.

 

[mad57]

ok all wrong you have to go out and buy him a brand new camero....and once you get that sunk into your brain...adopt me as your son and buy me one too!! but the transam addition very cool super dad hell drive the hellout of that gmc.

 

[mustangmccance]

That will teach him to ever be "picky" again Very nice job on the restoration!! Any other pics?

No I don't have any other pics yet. I just got it out of the body shop last week. it is a shell right now. I have the engine ready to rebuild but it is going to take a few years to get all the parts assembled to complete it, but that should give her time to buy into it being her car. give her time to earn it. it will be only a part time car I think. the body is just too perfect to drive in an iowa winter so she may have to drive my old truck or something then. I guess we will have to see.

 

[onewaydave]

I'm totally in agreement with the first comments - but think it mostly only applies to BOYS. If I had a girl I'd want to protect and coddle her - so I'd be sure she drove a decent car. The boys can fix something up (with my help), but a girl.......

Couldn't agree more. Yeah some girls have the attraction to mechanicing some don't. My daughters didn't but still had to earn the car. Painted the barn. 3 weeks of 30 hours each in 100' weather. Got them th first $2000 they bought.

I have 2 daughters, my wife has 2 daughters, The daughters have daughters and my nephew has daughters. It's contagious!

My did brought home a 57 Cadilac fully restored and I turned my nose up at it. Went for the barely running hot rod Chevies, 57 then 55. Been regretting that since I was 50.

Dave.

 

[Lhorn]

I think this is what I'm going to get my boy when he turns 16... you can buy them cheap, parts are cheap, it's built like a tank, it's not too fast and it has airbags and ABS.

It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas.

 

[bazzateer]

It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas.

Does the cigarette lighter work?

Hit it!

 

[bazzateer]

This was bought 4 years ago when my boy was 2. Once my garage is built it'll be moved there and we will start to put it back together, it'll take a few years but should be done by the time he's 17 and can drive it here. His mother won't be happy though!

 

[Grumpy365]

I'm totally in agreement with the first comments - but think it mostly only applies to BOYS. If I had a girl I'd want to protect and coddle her - so I'd be sure she drove a decent car. The boys can fix something up (with my help), but a girl.......

You are missing the point. She can't Text (sext or talk on the cell phone) when you are driving a standard. A 4 cylinder keeps the speed down, and 2 seats and a roll bar keep it to uncomftorable to make out in the front seat and a cover keeps them out of the bed..

Trust me a 2 seater slow car with a standard is the way to go.

 

[mustangmccance]

You are missing the point. She can't Text (sext or talk on the cell phone) when you are driving a standard. A 4 cylinder keeps the speed down, and 2 seats and a roll bar keep it to uncomftorable to make out in the front seat and a cover keeps them out of the bed..

Trust me a 2 seater slow car with a standard is the way to go.

I guess i missed the point too. now that makes sense.

 

[R6 Racer]

What ever you decide to do, I think the one of the best ways to protect a teenage driver is to have a vehicle without a radio/stereo/entertainment system. According to my insurance agent they are the #1 cause of teenage accidents!
Distractions of any kind can effect new drivers who need to totally concentrate on the job at hand!
I do like the standard trans idea to keep them from the phone/text distraction problem.

Good luck, I found letting my kids go off driving themselves very stressful! I always worry about them... good kids but still kids!

Steve

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

My 16 year old daughter got her lisence last Thursday and she is very excited. I bought an $800 dollar Cavalier Z24 off my SIL, put tires, brakes, all fluids, exhaust, plugs etc. on it and she is in heaven.

The car is said to be for both my girls her younger sister is 14 1/2 hope it makes it through HS for them both.

It doesn't have enought power to get in too much trouble, she has driven by herself 3 times now, saves me an hour or two a day of running her around.

 

[robertlynk]

My oldest sons first car he bought with his own money from his grandpa. brought it home made him park it in the yard could not drive until he gave me 3 months worth of insurance payment and road side assistance before he was allowed to drive it. 1978 Seville converted to gas. First time it broken down and towed home he asked me to fix his car. I told him no you had to fix it but I will help you (note) I pointed and explained how to diagnose the problem and repair it. i never fixed his cars he had to do it himself best lesson ever taught.
My second oldest same thing his 4x4 needed auto trans rebuilt. Pointed finger again to remove and bench it pulled out the chilton auto trans manual showed him the section on his trans and said go for it. I did help with the hard stuff now he rebuild all his own and other peoples stuff.and works in a steel mill as a mechanic and welder.
My daughters first car 1974 super beetle taught how to change oil, brakes, and install distributor and points in the car. I felt they needed to learn these lessons so that they could hold their own in the real world. as a side note some times i was to much of a hard *** but in the long run all my kids a successful in their own right. My daught just returned from Afganistan as a combat medic

 

[PCO6]

I bought my first car when I was 15. It was a 1961 VW Bug that took me a while to get going but it was ready by the time I turned 16. I don't have any pictures of it but I do of the VW buggies I was building from scratch and racing by the time I was 19. My sons are 16 & 14 now and I've picked up a Jeep project in the hopes that they'll get interested in it. It's a different world now compared to then. Cars were a lot less complex and we thought nothing of ripping them apart and putting them back together. My kids will probably start by overhauling the computer system in the Jeep before they tackle the mechanicals.

 

[Fauj]

My step dad got me a 1973 Plymouth Fury for a $125. It came with a list of problems of all types, he said once I had it safely repaired, he would get it registered and insured. He was just an oil change type of guy, but he certainly gave me the motivation to learn how to learn how something works (or not) and repair it.

That car was **** ugly... dark green. Not a chick magnet.

I will take a similar route with my daughter, but will provide as much help as I can. My goal is that she not be dependent on someone else to tell her what is/isn't right with anything.

 

[e-tek]

You are missing the point. She can't Text (sext or talk on the cell phone) when you are driving a standard. A 4 cylinder keeps the speed down, and 2 seats and a roll bar keep it to uncomftorable to make out in the front seat and a cover keeps them out of the bed..

Trust me a 2 seater slow car with a standard is the way to go.

At the expense of upsetting your "hopeful" apple-cart......You are DREAMING sir!!! I had a 1970 Datsun 510 (standard 4 cyclinder) during high-school. My GF and I had *** in it nearly EVERY day (sometimes twice a day!!). Most often in the front seat, across the front seat, over the seats, in the back seat, on the hood, over the .....well, you get the idea. If they are so inclined, even a motorcycle won't stop them!!

PS - I've known kids that had *** under a tarp in the back of a truck box....