Projects Stalled or slow builds: What made you work on it the last time?

HA!........I hate summers. I work way better, faster and think better in colder weather. I did notice that as I get older the heat affects me more. But last winter (which was short) I did flake off a lot more. I guess that ball is still rolling slowly, as I'm online more but it's searching for and buying parts (and asking questions).

 

Work schedule and life are killing my Vicky but no complaints, happy to be working with a healthy family. I worked on her a little this past month, but I would trade for a driver in a minute.

 

That's a beautiful car, R&B.

 

I'm glad I found this post today. I have been in a stall for about 2 1/2 months on my car. I was chugging along at a fast pace up to that point, but then life pulled the rug out from under me and I've been trying to just get my legs back under me since then. I just don't have the heart to put into MY car still; at the pace I was going, I would probably have a running and driving car by now.

BUT, even in the dim place I'm at now, I've managed to get a tiny bit of momentum and interest back up. It's been hard. I started by trying to look at the HAMB a little, maybe skim some posts or look at pictures. Then, it occurred to me that I had an extra project taking up space in the driveway and it's gotta be gone by winter so it's out of the way. I also probably need money. I also have WAY too much stuff that I bought when I could see a future ahead of me and still had the motivation to go to swap meets. So now, I'm working on this little T project, doing a minimally invasive built out and dropping one of the 5 engines I've got along with one of the 10 transmissions, 6 axles, and 4 rears I don't need and should liquidate the way things are looking.



It has gotten me back into my shop. That's a first step. I have had to clear spiderwebs off of things to use them again. My car has a layer of dust on it. All my tools were where I had laid them down the last time. Some of them still sit where I left them but I'm moving around in there again. I'm doing something.

It all starts by picking up JUST ONE TOOL and doing JUST ONE THING. Some days it's harder than others; it's still very hard for me where once I couldn't wait to get to work, but once I force myself to pick something up, I get going, and that's what's going to get me back on track.

 

Hey Bob,
Working in a resto shop you obviously have the skills, so I would guess you are just burned out from the work or the project you have just isnt exciting enough. Major reason I never tried doing this stuff for a job is I want to do it on my schedule and not get burned out from it.
I must be diseased, as soon as I get close to finishing one car I am already dreaming up the next one. I get so excited about doing a build that most of it gets done in a few months, then things slow up after the just plain old "work" tasks of the build hit. If it doesn't get me wound up to build it then it will not even be started.
I agree on using a list of tasks, I break up each build into smaller projects, I will say it is motivating to see the list get smaller.

 

The thing that is slowing me down on my 1964 Dodge Polara is the problem of finding parts that are not outrageously priced. I have found exterior trim recently, and still am on the lookout for interior window trim. I was told recently that the interior trim could be used on my Polara from a 1963 Plymouth. Does anyone know if this is true? Is there a better thread that I can post this message on?

 

At 73 I have time now to build cars and the finances as well. I only build one car at a time and all similar (40 Fords) so I know the drill. Discounting time in paint (3 mo) and time in uph (5 weeks) it usually takes me 3-4 months from start to finish. With only one project it is easy to stay focused for me. Sometimes if I do too much I have to take a day for back,etc to recover. The time line can obviously be disrupted/extended for vacations, home projects or fishing!

 

At one stage I was going to procrastinate professionally but I somehow never got round to it.

That said, my problems are finance and the fact that the garage which houses my projects, such as they are, is 14 miles from my home, which also boils down to finance. I bought that property with a view to a major revamp - i.e. the house is a project in its own right, perhaps bigger than the cars put together - but money ran out after I'd built the garage. That was the first phase, as it allowed me to get a lot of stuff out of storage, which was costing me money. Now I rent about half the garage space to my wife's boss for storage, so getting to the Morris means climbing over salvaged building materials and archive boxes. I've got a tenant in the house itself.

On top of that, 2005 was a very bad year for me, and I still haven't quite got over the exhaustion, even after getting married in 2010. Spending time with my wife means a lot to me, but not being able to get to all the other things I want to do, be it because of circumstance or exhaustion, is extremely frustrating. I haven't even been drawing much, and the board is right there at home.

 

I pulled mine in to the shop in the late fall to do some suspension work and clean up the underside and it wound up on the rotisserie. this spring when the insurance bill appeared I was defiantly inspired to get it finished. At on point I was going to take it off the road but figured it would stall out. I then purchased a 31 roadster project and I'm chomping at the bit to start working on that. And Big Duce is on the money


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to build a hot rod it takes 5 things: time , tools , talent , money and space to work on it

if you have all 5 your project will get done quick , if you are short on any one of them it will take a lot longer . i just built my `30 coupe in 6 months

 

Realizing no one else gives a hoot about your car until it's done (and they can be jealous of the cool ride you're driving), and even people you PAY will half-ass it really make me want to try to make time to get things done.

Everyone says "just do a little bit every day," but they don't even know how to work on cars!

 

I’m glad someone started this thread. I retired some time ago and spent the last 8 years on a RPU project finishing it in time for the 2016 GNRS. This is not my first rodeo I have completed several frame off cars over the last 25 years, normally taking 1-1/2 to 2 years, while working a full time job. I was much younger and took the easy way out using mostly catalog parts.

This time I wanted to build something a little different which required making many one off parts or altering original parts. If it was necessary to buy an off the shelf item I often modified them to fit my needs. During this project I learned several things:
• Take time and evaluate what you want, make drawings, take pictures, refer to articles. Avoid the latest fads, changing your mind mid-way will cost time and money.
• I worked from a “To-Do” list trying to complete things in an orderly manner.
• Stay focused, if you jump from one project to another nothing gets done.
• Don’t be afraid to throw away a part, even if you spent hours in making it. If you don’t like it today you are not going to like to tomorrow, in the trash and start over.
• Call upon knowledgeable friends or peers for advice, this may save you time and money.
• Tack weld, avoid final welds until everything has been fitted.
• If you are short on cash there is always something that can be done.
In the beginning: Final product:

 

...and motivation.

 

that seems to be the most difficult one for me. I've had projects sit for a long time because I didn't feel like working on them. I have all the other ingredients, I guess I'm lucky, I can build whatever I want to....the hard part is figuring out what it is I really really want to build. It happens occasionally.

 

I haven't really touched my 34 Ford pickup since it came back to the garage in November of 2014...
One of my best friends and a fellow hotrodder passed away in October of 2014, and it pretty much took the wind out of my sails. I threw a blanket over the 34 and didn't even go into the garage for the better part of a year. Missed all the swap meets, car shows, everything.
I bought a house and moved in March of 2015, but didn't have the new garage built until October 2015. The 34 got moved into the garage, along with the rest of my life, and due to renovations and life, I'm only just now getting the garage organized enough that I can get back to work on the truck.
Of course, now I struggle with the motivation, as the truck constantly makes me think about my buddy who passed.



I also picked up another project during the spring of 2015 that I'm super excited to get working on. However, I can't until I get the 34 done...

 

What made me work on it was this post. Just got the windshields installed in the '46 Chevy this morning. they've been out for more than a year. Thanks for the kick in the seat of my pants!

 

I don't know you and I don't know your friend, so if I sound presumptuous by putting words in your friend's mouth, please know there is no disrespect intended. Why don't you build it in your friend's honor? It could provide you some motivation and maybe even help you feel close to your friend again. If he could, he might tell you that life is short and to enjoy it by doing the things you love and to live a little bit of it for him. Build that pickup, Speedy and take him cruising. Like I said, no disrespect intended. I'm just thinking about you and your friend, and frankly, I'm thinking about me and a dear friend that I lost a few years back.

 

I get a lot done in the months between finding out my wife is pregnant to the birth. I know that after the birth I'll have no money or time.

So, my car is almost done after flogging this summer because... #3 is due in Feb.


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Dads '31 Roadster was parked in 1983, I should get it running again, but it was his car, and running or not won't change anything. Bob

 

Depends on your outlook, I guess.

 

I lost a couple people close to me this year. I had envisioned taking both of them out in my car. I've had dreams about it at night that wake me up even. Your idea is a good one, but it's the kind of thing that takes a while to build up to. Grief is funny that way, but in time, with work and luck, sometimes you can turn it around like you're suggesting. When my best friend died, I did manage to throw myself into my car and made huge progress, but when the second loss hit, my sails ripped.

It's different for everybody, but we're all doing the right thing here sharing our stories, supporting and encouraging each other.

 

The only thing you can do about the past is learn from it! Believe me I know. That little guy should be all the inspiration you need. IMO Time is a wasting. I have been out of commission the last couple of weeks having me knee repaired and I am climbing the walls. Can't wait to get back in the garage. Although I did sneak in yesterday to service the shocks on the roadster (don't tell the wife). We take too much for granted. Like our health.

 

No need to worry, no disrespect or presumption taken. I appreciate the input. And flat out, I completely agree with you. You're 100% correct that I need to finish the truck, if for no other reason than he was excited to see me get it done. I need to build the truck for myself - as therapy, and for him - to live a little bit of life for him as you say.

When I am in the garage, I need to accept the fact that he's gone, and work through that, instead of finding something else to distract myself with. Thanks for the positive encouragement, and my condolences to you on the loss of your friend as well.

You're absolutely right. Its something that takes a while to build up to. And having an outlet for sharing, supporting and encouraging is absolutely something that is necessary. I think it's too easy to bury the feelings or pain and distract yourself away from the reminders.
Sorry for the loss of those close to you as well, two in a year is a big blow.

 

Well, Kid; you certainly struck a chord with this thread. In just a few days, 113 replies indicating how life can
get in the way.
After loosing, yet another friend to cancer this past week, I am reminded how precious life is, and how quickly
the carpet can be pulled out from under us.
These testimonials will serve me well in the motivation dept. It's time to get back out in the garage while I am
still able........

 

I have a psychological issue buying parts. I have been building cars on a shoestring for 4 decades, for the first time in my life, funding is not really a problem, but I act like I am still doing it on a tight budget. It takes me weeks to months to pull the trigger on big purchases, its like I cant break out of the mindset that I should have a difficult time affording stuff. I really needto wrap my head around the idea of just buying the shit I needto finish the project and keep Moving forward.

 

George, Man I understand totally what you mean by those words. I am in the same boat. today I do have the money, but it is difficult to get out of that old mindset when I did not have any money and every thing was a struggle when it came to the car. Maybe as I reflect back on those times it was somehow better maybe. I have learned that sometimes the wanting is actually better than the having.

 

Its really wierd. For us children of the late fifties/early sixties, we probably remember our parents that grew up in the depression having the same sort of issue. I have to remind myself, money in and of itself has no intrinsic value, its only worth what you can buy with it.

 

I always wanted a Model A coupe...
I had just finished my 1940 Coupe, when an elderly friend of the guy who did my body work, hard heart surgery, and had to give up on his 1930 Sport Coupe project, so I bought it... That was 1988...
My body man moved out of the Bay Area; it took him over a year to finish setting up his new shop... Then he went through a divorce, and was forced to do high end restoration work to raise money to buy his wife's half of their property. The money I had to do the body and paint work went into a half finished 1940 Tudor. Several years later, when I again had the money to do the Model A, the body man couldn't work it into his schedule... The Model A became a money pit... The body and paint work never got done. My body man is now 80 years old, so he won't be working on my car... I went ahead and wired it to the point I can crank the motor over, but not start it. I was trying to get it drive able so I could get the most for it if I sold it. I've spent the last three and a half years caring for my ailing elderly parents; now they're both gone.
I have to make a decision... My garage is filled with my 1940 Coupe, and the unfinished money pit Model A. The 1940 Tudor, which became dads pride and joy, is still in his garage... Do I sell the Tudor, and finish the Model A or sell the Unfinished Model A, take a loss, and keep the 1940 Tudor? I'm leaning heavily toward letting the Model A go... In the meantime I'm too busy settling my parents estate to do anything with any of the cars.


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This quote came from another thread but I thought it was excellent advice for this one.

 

(Quote);I have to make a decision... My garage is filled with my 1940 Coupe, and the unfinished money pit Model A. The 1940 Tudor, which became dads pride and joy, is still in his garage... Do I sell the Tudor, and finish the Model A or sell the Unfinished Model A, take a loss, and keep the 1940 Tudor? I'm leaning heavily toward letting the Model A go... In the meantime I'm too busy settling my parents estate to do anything with any of the cars.

Keep them both if you can afford it. I'd say keep the 40 so you retain a finished, driveable Rod. Remember, it was your Dad's favorite too.

Model A; Look for another body man. Ask around for references from local car guys. You'll find someone. As far as body work goes, your Model A is a piece of cake. The grille shell and fenders are new. The rest is a cowl a pr. of doors and quarters and deck lid which look to be pretty darn straight.
Finish the wiring, etc. while you take body work bids. Get it running/driving in primer-then drive it/list it for sale as it will be a great canvas for someone to finish to their color choice and you'll make the most $ from it at that stage.

You said you always wanted an A Coupe. Chances are, once you're driving it you'll want to keep it!