FNG Tech: What I've learned so far!

Great Post, you are on target with all 6 lessons. You may want to add one, keep focused, have a plan and don’t sway from it. Don’t allow an idea or the latest trend to take you down a path that requires major time delaying changes from the original concept.

 

im going to get a chalk board !!!! great advice and so true

 

Yep!!..8 yrs later, most parts collected, money tight, the shops a bigger mess than it ever was...but it's all coming together...
I would add one thing...Don't forget or neglect your family and friends... They will need our support and you will need their's during the journey...Great Post!

 

i was thinking the same thing..

 

Good point, good job and good attitude Mr. SwearWord Tugmaster! And cool car, too!

 

I'm glad most everyone likes this post. If you get something out of it that helps you that is terrific (and the point).

I would not say it is wisdom though. ALOT of mistakes and frustraion along the way. I got a big pile of parts I should not have bought or don't need ect. It's great to have a site like this to help and inspire us.

Todd

 

HEY LOOKING GOOD TODD

 

It's great to hear there are more like me out there. I just keep trying. I need a welder next... Hoping I don't burn the house down.

 

Thanks for the post Tugmaster. Well said. It's very inspiring knowing there are many others that share your "wisdom" and enjoy the build.

One comment / question: I also have boxes of stuff, old and new, that I no longer need because I've changed my mind or whatever. To me, although I have all this stuff I'll not use (on current builds anyway), I don't think it's so bad to change direction or lose focus. As I learn (especially from the HAMB, and by doing), I can stretch a bit, which allows for change. Am I wrong here?

 

Hey Todd.

It`s nice to hear that other guys out there with the same problems than i have.
This board is magic for me if i have problems on the long road down. Everybody help each other with parts, techpits and posts like yours.
Many thanks for this post ..................... and now go back to point 3!!!!!!!!!!

Chris from far far austria.

www.hotrod.at

 

Very good post. I too am hanging this list of do's and don'ts on the garage wall.

 

Great post. Now you've done it,,, You've been infected with something that no hospital can cure.

 

Great post, it should be a sticky somewhere, required reading for all FNG's and newbie builders/rodders.

I've always done what you've suggested, mine's just in my brain. some days it's very hard to move forward, but MAKE PROGRESS must be foremost in my mind.

As some of my stuff is going to be sold, I find I get deeper into projects than I really want to having to fix unseen/unknowns. Some folks would just cover it and move on, but I personally won't sell something with known defects unless they are fully disclosed. And rather than disclose that I was too lazy to fix a problem when I was there, I make it right... your rule #4, it always takes longer than you think.

 

It kinda goes with #4, but patience is the hardest thing learned. I found myself grabbing junk parts because I had to have one sometime, and a week later the same part in perfect condition would show up on the classsifieds usually cheaper. Everything is out there just be patient it will find you.

After 25 years of marriage my wife has tought me the true art of being patient, only 4 times a week now.

 

Great read from a fellow FNG here! Be productive is my moto as well even if it's simply having a cold one and staring at it for an hour.

 

Great post..
one thing ive learned in life. at the point where you believe you know it all..that is the day you kicked the bucket..I feel I learn something new every day..being open mided and having ears open..can no doubt teach you things you thought you knew, and things you may use in the future.

 

I've been working on cars for over 30 years and I can honestly say you've got it mailed your first time out. If those pics are examples of your work I say you can hold your own with most here and look at the guy who sold you the car and screwed you over turn it around and look at it in a positive way. You were forced to do it the right way and look how it turned out.

 

I know a guy that can get you to your ending point! lol! You need anything let me know....and check me out at www.spotlightcustoms.com Good luck! Chad

 

Thank you very much. That means alot to me, REALLY. Bye the way where in Jersey you from? I grew up in Bergen County.

 

That explains the picture your using for your avitar. You've got a PM

 

I know your car is gonna turn out great even though it's a first build. Know why? You understand the process. That's the hard part, the rest is just labor. Good luck

 

Everyone needs a hero!

 

thanks for your post, going to save this and read it once a week might be the cure.

 

What is it with us sailors? I have an autographed black and white pic of Ron Jeremy on my wall...lol
(really)

 

Very cool post man! I have to admit to being intimidated by bigger projects due a lack of experience/knowledge and your post is pretty inspirational.

 

Definetly required reading!

Very well said

 

This is exactly the post I needed to read today!!! Yesterday I was working on mine, and I started to feel like the whole project wasn't going anywhere, and I was looking up a mountain. This post made me look back, and see that I was about a third way up the mountain, and as long as I keep on foot infront of the other I'm on the right track. Thank you for this post and the realistic outlook. By the way here's one for you......"You could drive it to new york" craigslist add.... really means..."well i haven't started or driven it for 2 years" when I drove the 3 hours to really see the car....lol

Blake

 

Good post, and it's all true.

A few things I would add:

Take notes and keep the notes somewhere where you can find them. Even though you think you'll remember every little detail, after four or five years, some of that info will somehow vaporize from your head.

Organize stuff. Organize and tag the parts you take off. Keep your tools organized. Keep your other junk that shares your garage organized. Otherwise you'll be like me and waste a bunch of hours or days because you can't find something -- a tool, a part, or a scrap of paper with the vital info you need.

Get a digital camera and take lots of pictures of everything you do. It's great to have pictures of things when they're assembled before you start ripping them apart, so you can figure out how they go back together.

On a lot of parts like suspension or door parts, I stamp things like "L" and "R", "front" and "rear" into them with punches so that I'll know what side of the car they're from after I strip all the rust and paint off.

 

Rustybolts,

Thanks for sharing that. Your right there's never nothing to do. If nothing else clean and organize. I labled and bagged everthing as I disassembled the car. But as I got my shit more togehter I broke it down into specific areas and reboxed all the various bagged parts. Ex. Firewall fwd, dash area, interior ect. I did take pics but not enough. I took shit for granted and now I'm scratching my head trying to figure out the inner fenders. Lesson learned. NEVER TO MANY PICS OR NOTES! Todd

 

Bump for tech week.