Monday, May 16, 2011

Big Change At Rod Builders Inc - Resale Only Please

The time has come to change how we do business at Rod Builders Inc. Starting May 17, 2011 our services are available only to resellers in the vehicle restoration, fabrication and design trade.

This will be The skirt's last blog entry. Thanks for reading!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

He's Dead! Now Go Get the Rest!

Thank you and congratulations to the US Military!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Wash Day the Old Fashioned Way

Here is our latest vintage find, a 1920 Dexter Speedex washing machine. Bob made it work again and now this seafoam green beauty has found a new life as the hot rod shop washing machine. No better way to wash grungy shop rags than with a vintage wringer washer.

Bob actually has some prior experience loading a wringer as he used to help his grandmother do laundry on their dude ranch in Glacier National Park. She did eights sets of bed sheets every Sunday in a 1940's wringer washer. Here is an ad The skirt found for a Dexter washer in the same spring green color. It is a newer model, but has the same graceful curves. We found the Speedex at Triple R Auctions. Check them out.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Half-baked Ebay Find Now One Sweet Roll



Larry Turnbow found his dream car, a '48 Plymouth on EBay. If you knew Larry, a sensible, hard working guy, you would totally understand his preference for this style of vintage car. The former owner had a great idea to install a Hemi out of a Dodge truck into the car but then he ran out of steam or money. Larry brought it to Rod Builders to finish. We installed a Street & Performance wiring harness, a new fuel tank and tied together all the parts you have to when you transplant a new engine into an old car. Now Larry has this well-behaved looking car that goes like a raped aped! (The guys told The skirt to use that term)

Barn Find - '57 Ford Fairlane Hardtop


Larry Olson brought in this nice white and yellow '57 Ford. It was safely stored in a neighbor's barn since 1975 which was the last time the former owner had given it a bit of a makeover. Rod Builders Inc will install a new master cylinder, go over the brakes, and fuel lines and other stuff to make sure the car is safe to drive and then out she goes on the road to summer fun!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Paul Ryan's Path to Prosperity

Watch this! Do it!

05/14/11 Update: Charles Krauthammer on Obama's response to the Ryan plan


05/14/11 Another response to the president's speech

Paul Ryan's tweet 5/14/11: "It's no coincidence Obama launched his reelection campaign the same week we launched our effort to get the deficit under control; his deficit speech was a political broadside from our Campaigner in Chief"

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Vintage Clothes


Last weekend, with the anticipation of spring in the air, Kayla and I went in search of something vintage to wear with these. We stopped at several great Spokane vintage clothing stores, but it was at Carousel Vintage, 110 S Cedar, where Kayla scored big, finding several nice pieces to wear spring quarter. We were feeling lighthearted and silly. Was it the strong coffee and sugary breakfast we had at the Rocket Bakery? Was it the spring air? She decided to try on a beautiful formal dress, that looked like it would fit her small frame perfectly. It was all just in fun, you know. The skirt would love to show you how Kayla looked in this dress, but tradition dictates the groom shouldn't see his bride in her dress until the ceremony. He may stumble onto this blog. At least Kayla has a groom and a wedding date. Jenny, at Carousel Vintage, said she's sold wedding dresses to gals who haven't even met Mr. Right yet! Here's the groom. He is the one holding the piece of metal.

Kayla on first day of spring quarter 2011.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Rod Builders - The Fender Un-benders




How does something like thisor this, or even like THIS,


end up looking like this? You bring it to Rod Builders.

Glen Terry's 1935 Ford Pickup


We do fender repair. Bring your mangled metal to us.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Be Subversive - Drive a Car

Feel rebellious?
Hit the open road and and burn some gas.
Leave when you want and go where you want. (If you can afford it.)

Monday, February 21, 2011

Monday, February 14, 2011

Friday, February 11, 2011

All You Need Is an Open Road

Rod Builders restored this badass '70 chopper last year. The skirt had hoped to take a picture of the owner tooling around the parking lot, but that 's probably not going to happen anytime soon, so I decided to post the picture we have. I hope to spot him riding it this summer. Like some guy said, "The best alarm clock is sunshine on chrome."

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Custom Stainless Steel Curtain Rods - Order One For Yourself

This is The skirt's favorite kind of gift, something homemade out of stainless steel. Bob made me this stylish, custom curtain rod to hide the messy stuff in my laundry area. Notice its graceful curves and handsome fittings. He can bend one for you. Call us or stop by with your requirements. Custom made curtain rods, Custom made shower curtain rods, Spokane WA

Monday, January 24, 2011

Body Mods & Floors

Rod Builders does nice work. Check out these body mods to the hood and fenders of a '46 Chevy pickup. Before blending anything Eric put a lot of work into repairing the cracked and mangled metal..
RBI put in a whole new floor structure in this Camaro. This is the finished job. What you don't see is the hours of work cutting out and removing existing car parts to get to this point. As you can see it turned out great.
Call us. we can do this for you.

Paul's '29 Ford Roadster Pickup in April 2011 Issue of Rod & Custom

There is a very nice article about Paul Bos' roadster pickup in the April issue of Rod & Custom. Have you seen it yet? Click on the '29 roadster pickup label for full story on this build. Thank you Chris Shelton and Rod & Custom.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

We the People of The United States Do Ordain and Establish This Constitution

The House opened its session this morning by reading the Constitution.
It is NOT just for show. Have you read it? You'll be glad you did.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Wow - A Rare McCoy Sombrero Serve-All

We started the new year off by attending Triple-R Auctions' Annual Antique and Collectible Event. Friend and auctioneer Rich Butterfield and his wife Jonna put on a really fun show. That's Rich in the tux, he's three parts auctioneer, one part circus barker. There were some very nice items and a lively and friendly crowd of bidders, which was great since this was The skirt's first auction.I was a bit nervous to bid until I spied the nearly complete McCoy El Rancho Barbecue Service, at that instant, all inhibitions were gone. The set included the rare and way cute Sombrero Serve-all (see above) The skirt had second choice from the set. The winning bidder selected the Chuck Wagon Casserole, which was nice too, but I really wanted the sombrero! I also scored the serving bowl/tureen. Third place winner chose the ice tea dispenser. Everyone was happy. The picture above is from a book on McCoy pottery. Bob did a little bidding himself. See his winnings below. The top is identical to one from his childhood. The Volkswagen he gave to fabricator Greg. You see why. The Nylint 70's pickup truck is in very poor condition, so Bob went ahead and sandblasted off the black paint and stickers some kid had put on. Now, it's pretty cool, uh? Can't wait until next year's auction. Can't wait for an occasion to use the sombrero!

Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy New Year from RBI

To keep costs down this holiday season we had a small pizza party at the shop, just employees and spouses. Mrs. Petersen-to-be (seated) made these swell party hats. Everyone was such a good sport about wearing them The skirt had to share a photo. By the way, I'm the one in the black checked sleeveless. Happy New Year everyone. We are all just thrilled to still be in business. Love you all!!

PS The pizza delivery guy took the photo, if you're wondering.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Started the '46 Chevy Pickup Today

Everyone is VERY pleased with the results on the first start of Steve McConnell's Chevy 350. That hardly happens.
No one is pleased with this. Please, please stop. We don't want another Sno-maggedon.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Cold Cheeks by Gil Elvgren

Burr. And that's a good way to get chapped lips.
Merry Christmas from all of us at Rod Builders.

Posted by Bob