Hot Rods As we get older ~

Yep, me too.
What I used to do all night long, now takes me all night long to do.

 

Okay at 55 YO, no issues with legs, knees or feet, can drive standard, arm strong steering you name it.
I just took the old beast for a drive into town, my problem is seeing in the dark, I have issues with this, and have for a while. My hands also spasmed sending cramping shock waves, was working with them all afternoon, might be the cause.
I know guys in their 70s and 80s driving stick, but might be exceptions to the rule...

 

^^^^ That looks like a hornets nest!

 

Despite having a torn meniscus in my left knee, I'm going down kicking. My 63 Chevy Belair with a T5 has a clutch that flat out wore me out. My 64 Biscayne and 62 Impala wagon are both automatics. My 63 Impala (car in my avatar) my latest project has a Muncie M21 but the clutch is pretty easy. The real problem I have is getting up from working under the cars or working under the dash. One day I was working under the dash and somehow got myself into a position where I couldn't get out. My wife wasn't home and I thought I might have to stay there until she got home to help me get out. After a while I managed to free myself.

Gary

 

Pulling Gears makes me feel 16 again, I am 61. My car collection ranges from 1936 to 1972 , Half are sticks and the rest are autos. and any one of them make me feel young again. So as long as it is vintage and brings big smiles to me and anyone else that see's them going down the road, . I suffer from wide spread nerve pain but my cars take my mind off those so it is all good! Larry

 

I had this same problem until I had cataract surgery which completely solved my problem. Having cataract surgery was one of the best things I have ever done. I have a brother-in-law that needs it but is scared to death of it. His wife now does all the driving. I don't think that's what anyone wants.

Plus, my glasses went from a set of $700 specialized lenses to a set of $18 "readers". Do yourself a favor and get your eyes checked.

 

I thought having the manual while driving on the "wrong" side of the road was actually helpful as it reminded me to go left in those infernal roundabouts!

 

Growing Old is mandatory, Growing Up is Optional, someone asked me years back, when are you going to grow up and quit playing with cars, my answer was and is NEVER . A man has to have a hobby, Cars are mine. Lifetime of Fun and Good memories.

 

Having had a two level fusion in my lower back at age 37 taught me I wasn't super man. That's when I started taking care of myself a little better. I work alone on my cars and will go to all sorts of measures to be able to do that. I have a set of wheels for just about everything, pry bars for leverage and have just learned to work smarter not harder. Everyone I know asks me how I took the body off a 52 Chevy by myself and I just smile....then go take another Vicodin....shop crane with an air cylinder....chainfall and a boom pole for the tractor.... I want one of those damn creepers though!

 

It beats the HELL outta the alternative! HRP

 

Just crawled out from under my '40, installing the elec. fuel pump and starting to run the new fuel line. Yup, at 66 I'm not as limber as I used to be. Throw in some vertigo due to inner ear problems if I lay on my left side and it's just great... Though I spent all day on a step ladder chasing oil leaks on an R985 so guess I'm not doing too bad.

 

When I built my new shop 12 years ago I had a old friend that encouraged me to install a lift, "I don't need a lift"funny haw a few years convenes you your not always right.

i can still get down in the floor but getting up is a PITA. HRP

 

OR, You could build a nice Kustom instead of another Hot Rod. Autos are OK in them.

Actually, at 71, I'm thinking about doing that.

 

Five of my first six cars had manual transmissions starting in 1969 when I was 17. I've probably owned more than 50 cars and trucks over the years-both old classics and late models-and well over half had sticks, including 3, 4, 5 and 6 speeds. My first car was a '65 Impala with a 6 and 3 on the tree and my current '60 Edsel has a 6 and 3 on the tree. Driving a car with a powerful engine and a manual transmission is about as much fun as you can have with your clothes on in my opinion. I also had a Class A CDL for several years and drove big rigs with a variety of manual transmissions. Long live the stick!

 

You got that right, you are not alone, 6 years ago I retired and built my dream shop at my retirement home and bought a 4 post Direct Lift, without a doubt, the BEST $2100 I ever spent on a tool or gift to myself. Would highly recommend to everyone to get one, I know people that their garage is not high enough, and they still are happy with theirs. It's kinda funny how things turn out, I had such big plans on a complete build that I never took the time to do, now I can tell you, that ship has sailed and sunk, not going to happen, BUT I am enjoying retirement, keeping busy, the time is Flying By, Scary FAST ! enjoying the car Hobby more than ever. As we age, the health issues come on and put a another bump in the road to over come, my wonderful wife is battling Breast Cancer, so far, so good, prognosis is good, my prayers are for her recovery and remission, this has put things in perspective on what's really important, Family

 

To paraphrase John Mellencamp - " Life goes on, long after the thrill of living it is gone".

 

I'm only 57, but have been driving a semi pulling a flatbed for over 31 years. I've changed gears millions of times in those 31 years, so it's no longer a thrill for me. Also, all those years of "throwing iron", chains for you non truckers, has my right shoulder worn out. Arthur visits me regularly, not only in that right shoulder, but also the left one, my knees, my ankles, my fingers, heck almost all of my moving joints, especially if I spend a day in the shop doing a lot of wrench turning. Getting up off of the floor isn't what it used to be either, sometimes it's a downright challenge to maneuver myself where I can pull up on something. Standing on my feet all day on concrete kills my knees. Sometimes I get to where I can't pick my right arm up over halfway up. So, power steering and an automatic trans just make sense to me. I work on my junk when I get time and feel like it, and enjoy driving it when I don't have to fight it. This will probably be my last full bodied car to build, next time I will probably build a fenderless roadster or coupe, mainly because there is less to have to work around and less to have to body work and paint!

 

Yup, me too, laying on the floor can be so good that I'll nap there, under the car. For me, it's a trouble light and readers even when welding, eyes aren't what they were, try welding with progressive glasses.

 

After going to Shades of the Past in Pigeon Forge and sitting on the parkway with the three speed and a hot flattie in the Merc, I had had enough. When the flattie died in went a 351 and a c-6 best move I could make. Wish I had the flattie back but not that clutch. Now I do some parades and cruise-ins with no problem at all.

 

I have arthritis in both knees and both hips. My Roadster has a C4-soon to be AOD. My Fairlane has an AOD and the sprint has a C4 - Ranchero has a 4 speed . Roadster has a full custom interior with a huge amount of room for an A Roadster so I can travel many miles in comfort. I am so used to the pain I am Hardly aware of it any more. Quit taking pain medication many years ago.
As has been said Getting old aint for sissy's

 

I did that many years ago on my International Scout. I had to lube the speedometer cable. I got my arms up in the dashboard to put the cable back in and couldn't get them back out. I live alone and I started thinking if somebody from work would come looking for me or if somebody would find a skeleton. It took several minutes to work my way back out.

 

Funny, I also had children later in life, they are still little. It has aged me like a president. I look at pictures of myself when my first child was born and I am unrecognizable, I feel 30 years older too. Last time I grew my beard out it was almost all white, two of my kids' classmates asked them in front of me if I was their grand dad. I shaved that thing off that night. (Never thought of myself as vain, but rethinking that...)

My legs now start to cramp if I'm stuck in stop and go traffic with a stick, never used to happen. Rush hour, I try to drive an automatic.

 

Gary been there done that too. Thats why I always carry my cell phone with me now . LOL. Bruce.

 

one bad 51 Merc.The only thing I pull is a muscle if I stretch the wrong way under a car now.LOL.Bruce.

 

I drove truck in Flordia for 10 years .With all the traffic down there that was long enough for me. I like it up here in the quite part of East T.N. Bruce.

 

1) i prefer automatics most situations anyways.

2) Comment on the practice of floating gears-----shifting without the clutch.

3) i am having some minor aches/ailments, but i'm not convinced these are solely a result from shifting? (is the clutch really THAT stiff?) This will take more time and possibly another thread to discuss; For example, diet, exercise, and stretching could possibly take care of all these maladies.

 

I had major knee reconstruction done on my clutch leg years ago. Fortunately everything went well and it remains strong after 30 years. The rehab was tough and I converted my Mustang over to an automatic so I could get around.

My '59 Ford is a 4-speed with a hydraulic clutch. The pedal is pretty easy to push and has a good feel to it. The hydraulic clutch decision was based on what would be easier to accomplish.

 

If we are going to quote it, we may as well get it right instead of adding words that aren't there
Oh yeah life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone
Oh yeah say life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone, they walk on

 

Yeah, but I still do not like the alternative.

Ben

 

At '61 I get it, although my preference is manual transmissions.

When I built my '40 p/u (avatar) many years ago, I intended to put in a ford toploader 4 spd behind the flatty (bought the trans and competition plus linkage to go with it).
After much consideration, and my belief I am going to keep this p/u until I die, I reconsidered (unknown, maybe even non-issue future health issues), and put a C4 behind the flatty, and sold the 4 spd. I'm regretting that now.

My '39 Coupe is a 4spd, and I love it, so is my Corvette. They really enhance the driving experience for me, and hopefully won't be an issue in the future. I intend to keep the coupe, so if I no longer can drive a stick, it will be converted to an automatic.

Golden years my ass.