thoughts on Mr. Burroughs newest creation?

[AndrewBird]

The concept is cool, but the execution is pretty poor. The engine sticking way up like that completely kills the look of it. I feel like all he did was slap it in a body/frame and call it good, with no interest in how it actually looked.

[E30SPDFRK]

The engine sticks up so high compared to most hot rods because of how big it is. It can't go any lower without loosing the engine side covers.

[SpasticDwarf]

I know I don't post too often here anymore, but since there's a thread going, I figured why not. :) Thanks for everyone who showed support at Bimmerfest yesterday. It was a great way to unveil the truck. I would respond to everyone, but I picked out a few comments that I felt would cover all of the bases.

looks like shit. I love BMW and all but really? I have never liked anything he built. He's a wanna-be and talks the talk but doesn't walk the walk.

I know there's a huge crowd of people who dislike me and what I do, but I think to say I talk the talk and don't walk the walk is a pretty unfair statement. You may not like the style of anything I build, and you may not like me as a person, but at least I'm in my garage building something. That's walking the walk in my eyes, and I commend anyone who puts a wrench to a bolt. Cutting people down because you don't like what they do is silly, and it's gonna get the car scene nowhere.

He's built more wild shit than probably anyone else on this board. Most people wouldn't have a clue how to start a project like this, let alone finish it.

I'd say people who sit here and criticize others without being able to do better are "talking the talk" without "walking the walk."

Thank you, genuinely. I think you have the right atitude about criticizing others. We're all enjoying cars for the same reasons.

Rough crowd haha this car looked amazing in person and he was a pretty cool dude

Thank you. It seemed everyone who saw it yesterday had something positive to say, or in any case had a smile on their face. That's good enough for me. :)

Like it or not its cool he is building things. My opinion of him changed after meeting him. Hes a really nice kid

Hugely appreciated, Blunt. I feel like if a lot of you took the time to meet me and have a conversation with me you wouldn't have so much distaste for me :p

I love the rat rod look. The only thing I would have done is an M30B35 instead. Would have looked more unique with a big inline and six stacks off one side. The M3 would have been a more of a raw rod looking engine . I still love it though.

The original plan was a triple webber M30, but unfortunately, the engine I had my eyes on fell through. Money is tight, and the M60 was cheap. It was a V8 and a BMW power plant, both things that felt right at home in my hot rod, so it's what I went with. :)

The bodywork look to of been poorly done, I see lots of rust and dents on that car.

That's kind of the point. The body is almost 90 years old, and the finish (rust, dents, patina) are all exactly as I found the truck cab a year ago.

Looks so stupid. Il be impressed when he builds a period correct hot rod and not some rat rod for attention

Who's to say how you're supposed to build a car? The style dictates whether you're impressed? Aside from the engine and wheels, the car is pretty traditionally styled, unrestored. I wouldn't call it a rat rod. The chassis underneath, as well as the supension and whatnot is all clean, black, shiny, and new.

This.

A lot of people forget that Rusty was never intended to become what it did. Mike is actually a Bmw purist at heart(for instance, he doesn't like my engine swap), and has built some of the most beautiful cars.

Now, I'm not a huge fan of the guy myself, but you do have to give credit where credit is due.

I wouldn't say I don't like your swap - that's words getting twisted through the grape vine. Carb'd V8 swaps just rub me the wrong way, and there's nothing to say that's not a good thing! I think your car is quite awesome. It's just not what I would do. Which again, is a good thing.

The concept is cool, but the execution is pretty poor. The engine sticking way up like that completely kills the look of it. I feel like all he did was slap it in a body/frame and call it good, with no interest in how it actually looked.

See below:

The engine sticks up so high compared to most hot rods because of how big it is. It can't go any lower without loosing the engine side covers.

The engine is massive and the body is channeled over the frame. It has to sit that high to clear the body panels which I wanted to run, and the engine is massive in general. It may seem thrown together in your eyes, but it's quite the opposite. I spent a year building the truck from scratch, including the entire frame, the suspension, and building the body to meet my needs. The style of the truck is rough and tumble. I wanted something that felt a mix between farm truck and salt flat racer - pulled out of the yard and slammed to the grown and given more power than it needs.
I'm a BMW guy at heart, and so I went with the M60.

I think he did a decent job of it, but I don't think the M60 is any better than a chevy/ford small block. I see it as being different for the sake of being different... which isn't always good. The motor looks a little silly sticking so far up out of the engine bay.

I like the wheel choice though, kind of a nod to the wire spoke wheels from that era.

I didn't do it to be different for the sake of being different- there are better options for that and I've played that game already. I did an M60 because I wanted to find a way to mesh the two things that inspire me. BMWs, hot rods - V8 - where does that take you?

And I'm glad the wheels make sense. I know some people will see this as "RSs on a hot rod" and instantly cast it out as cliche, but the point is to show where the design came from, the evolution of the wire wheel, and how the modular wheel can be built in a similar fashion.

There's a good bit more to go on the truck, but for now, I'm having fun.

Again, thank you to everyone in here who has had something to say, positive or negative, as at the end of the day, I'm just excited to know that the truck incites emotion in some way. I'm stoked so many of you think it's cool. It's all in good fun and I don't think some of you should take it so seriously. The essence of a hot rod is important to remember. There's no right or wrong way! :D

[TYBG]

It's the disc brakes that made me butthurt. Throw some Buick fin drums on ;)

[10Toes]

That's kind of the point. The body is almost 90 years old, and the finish (rust, dents, patina) are all exactly as I found the truck cab a year ago.

I know, I was being sarcastic:p

[SpasticDwarf]

It's the disc brakes that made me butthurt. Throw some Buick fin drums on ;)

I would, but the stopping power is already too little. Safety takes a priority on brakes for me. :) Even with the discs, the stopping distance is on par with a 747. :o Granted, that's mostly due to tire.

[delatlanta1281]

It could evolve into something rad, right now I think there's good effort in it, but too many jerky lines. It looks broken up from front, to middle, to rear. Great effort though. I o agree that MBs "style" isn't fo everyone ( me included) bu at least he is trying things out.

[VinniE30]

Stuart, this is like an exact arch-nemesis to your e30!!!
You took a bmw that had a relatively modern i4 and swapped it out for an older ford V8.
He took an old ford and swapped it's old i4 out for a relatively modern bmw v8.

I love this - it's like the inverse of what a lot of people seem to be doing to bmws and other european cars by putting an american v8 in them. I bet it aggravates the american car purists just like it aggravates bmw purists when people swap in an american v8.

[ethrtyiS]

i don't understand why some think he's a huge douchebag, since i hear and read about it. he is a genuinely modest friendly guy who actually gets his hands dirty compared to most people who either gets their car from their daddy or pays someone to do the work.

[BenM]

Custom aluminum valve covers and Weber IDA downdrafts would make it x1000 more awesome. Otherwise the engine looks out of place, but I do understand being on a budget.

Cool project.

[frankenbeemer]

Needs smilies and a mini "is" lip.

[SpasticDwarf]

Custom aluminum valve covers and Weber IDA downdrafts would make it x1000 more awesome. Otherwise the engine looks out of place, but I do understand being on a budget.

Cool project.

After the M30 fell through, 4 weber downdrafts were part of the plan, but aside from the cost, I have a friend who is already underway with an identical project. It's only fair to let him have his space on it. :)

[DIIRTY-30]

So much nitpicking. He did something you wouldn't think of, perhaps for that reason. I think the execution is pretty on point considering the work process behind it all (seen and unseen). The M30 would have been great, but a truck + v8 only seems right. Its unique.

[SpasticDwarf]

So much nitpicking. He did something you wouldn't think of, perhaps for that reason. I think the execution is pretty on point considering the work process behind it all (seen and unseen). The M30 would have been great, but a truck + v8 only seems right. Its unique.

Thank you and I think you're spot on. Not to sound like a know-it-all or that I'm too good for criticism (believe me, I welcome it!) but I feel like there are a couple of comments that are nitpicking for the sake of doing so. She's definitely a work in progress, and I've only just got it running (thursday morning was the first drive down the street).

[Raxe]

Any specs or info on the wheel setup? Obviously they're some model of RS but I'd love to know more about the size and barrels!