I've been in the paint and body field for a number of years now and generally don't mind when a good friend or family member asks for a favor. I never do it for free, but most of the time it's for the cost of materials. I've been married for over 12 years and my father in law obviously knows that I am willing to help him out when needed. Anyway, I get a call from him on Sunday asking if I would be willing to replace the backlite seal on his pickup because he has a leak. No biggie, I tell him to bring me the truck and I'll have it done withing a couple of hours. So he brings me the truck yesterday morning and the first thing I notice is that he's taken a caulk gun and went around the window on both edges of the seal using household silicone. WTF???? I ask him about it and he says he did it about a week ago to try to stop it from leaking and it didn't work, so now he wants it fixed. I ask him why he didn't just bring it to me to begin with and he says he didn't want to bother me since he knows how busy I am. Thanks Pop, I really appreciate that. So now - instead of just pulling a piece of gl*** and putting in a new seal - I have to repaint damn near the whole cab because he got a little carried away with caulk gun and made a hell of a mess, getting silicone on the tops of the doors, the roof and of course the back of the cab. It all has to be blended too and there really isn't a good place to cut it in so it's all getting sprayed. Don't get me wrong folks, I love my Pop, he's always been good to me but right now I think I'm ready to hang him. Anyhoo, thanks for letting me vent and for the love of Pete, leave the household repair items in the house where they belong.
Kinda like my Mom backed out of my driveway took out my p*** door and then proceeded to pull forward only to take the bed side out on her second try down the driveway, of course the truck was only 2 weeks old, I'm so happy I wasn't home! I can't wait to get old and frustrate my children!
I think I'd tell him it needs to be painted, and ask him when he can come help you prep it for paint since its a larger job than it would have been, and you're busy. I'd do just about anything in the world for my in-laws, and I don't expect payment for 'little things.' But... they all know there's a penalty for stupid things, and whenever I have to fix someone else's screw ups, that takes more of my time - and more money for my aggrivation. Just my thoughts....
Yep, they can frustrate you. But to put it in perspective, we were told yesterday that Mom hasn't got much time left, she's 88 an lived a good life and has a great at***ude but it will be hard when she's gone. So... sometimes the very things that frustrate us now are the fond stories years later that maybe will start with, "I remember when my Dad/Mom... Paint the cab and tell him you love him. GV
Hey there Flat, I heard from several un-named individuals that you like playing with co... caulk. Damn I crack myself up!!!
If there is moisture trapped underneath, absolutely. I guess the thing that really bugs me is that he should know better than that. I know he's getting older and the thought process isn't as clear (I think the seven and seven might have something to do with that), but how does a person ever think that silicone is good for the exterior of their car? Oh well, I'll paint it and keep on loving him and you are right, one day I will look back and laugh. Today isn't that day though...tomorrow doesn't look good either
DOH!! Doing good. Got the *** end lowered down and the new radiator is going in. Should have it running tonight.
That's awesome man. For those that don't know, this guy has some of the coolest stuff I've ever had the chance to work on. Hopefully he will bring me the rest of the projects when they are ready (insert shameless plug here)
My F-I-L owns a body shop and I tried for 2 years to get him fix some rust that was forming on the bottoms of the doors on my late model driver. He *****es non-stop about how slow he is at the shop, yet every time I asked him about fixing my doors, he acted like I never asked. Now that they have bubbled through, it's too late. I wasn't expecting the job for free or anything, I just wanted it done. What pisses me off the most was that he's slow, yet when I tried to get him some "busy" work, I got ignored. The bad thing is, I can't afford/don't want to get a different truck, so now I just have to watch it rust...
Awww shucks... Yer too nice. Here is a pic of my 55 that Flat just did some work on with our buddy Brian and his brother Cory. They slicked 'er out for me and shot all the black. Did a DAMN fine job and I greatly appreciate all the hard work they put in to make 'er look presentable. Amazing what these guys did for the overall look of the car!!! After I get a few more things done on the list, I'll post up more pics and a better "Thanks to" list. Sorry about the quality of the pic. It really doesn't show what a great job they did.
Yeah,,my father-in-law was like that,,,He would do what ever it took to get his ride on the road wheather it was the ol' 54 wagon or a pinto,,,,,he even used a barn door hinge for a gas pedal,,, He is gone now,,,damn,,,I miss him,, Just **** it up and do whats gotta be done,,,,I'm sure you know he tried to keep from bothering you.,,,,HRP
When my dad was in his 70's he new I needed a engine hoist, so he built me one. It was so tall it would not go under the 7' high garage door. It also took 2-3 people to move it. It was so well built we us to use it to stand the 1981 mustang on its rear bumper to steam clean it at the end of each race season. I shortend it a little and lighten up some what - it still takes a lot of space in the shop but after dads p***ing last year I probably will keep it the way it is. memorys are worth more than the space.
If its your father in law you better pony up and fix it without *****in,otherwise you'll "pay" for this for the rest of your marriage,cuz it will be brought up all of the time.Take one for the team(again)
Amen to what Gordon said. The people we lose are gone a long time. Don't let anybody get out of your life without everything being said that needs to be said. I'm going through some of that right now, and it's tuff.
It was exterior caulking wasn't it? ;-) Works on brick, wood, aluminum window frames, and everything else, why not a car? Myself, I prefer to lay down a bead of urethane caulking to seal up pesky windows... =-) Alex.
Sorry to bring up an ancient post. I was looking through some of my old posts when I came acrossed this one. We finished the truck up for Pop shortly after the post started and you would have thought he won the Lotto or something. Nothing but smiles and thanks. Anyway, Pop p***ed away on October 4th of last year and seeing this post brought back alot of memories. The truck now belongs to my brother in law who plans to p*** it down to his son eventually (provided I can't talk him out of it! he he he). Everything these fellows said about looking back is true. Wish he was still here... I miss ya Pop
Yeah, I'm with a previous post. Have "pop" over to lend you a hand and paint his cab. He'll be telling everybody what a great son-in-law he has. Mine does. Good luck, Kent
Whenever my father in law would buy a car during the 70's or 80's the first order of business was for me to rebuild the motor. I did three for him never charged him a dime just whatever the parts cost, he would always throw me a hundred or so, but we became great friends we would go for cruises upstate in my 69 camaro conv, if I ever needed anything i knew I could have counted on him he had bought a motorhome back in the mid eighties every swap meet or car show I wanted to go to I would call them they would head down early find a great spot at places like Hershey, Carlisle,the Nationals whatever then my wife and I would drive down and everything would be all set,he p***ed away about 7 yrs ago and I still miss him ,wouldn't trade any of it
You guys who get along with your Dads should consider yourselves lucky. My Dad has chosen to become a complete *** in his later years. He'd rather argue than talk. If I try to talk, he'll bring up the last time I did, and we argued. So, we don't talk anymore. He doesn't have a lot of time left. I sorta miss him already- who he used to be, anyhow. Love 'em while you got 'em, if you can...
Just ****it up and re-paint it for him. Frustrating yes, but it's called an honor job. He'll appreciate it for ever. Besides you got his daughter. Also you will get ribbing rights at all holiday dinners from now on. Tim
Man this reminds me years ago before my Dad died he blew the motor up on his tractor. My wife and I went to the house and pulled the motor, I rebuilt it and we took it back to Dad's. I put back in and fired it up and he smiled from ear to ear!! He said "What do I owe ya" and real quick my wife said to him "We will put it on your account" he said "What account" she said "On account we love you" he could not say another word!! I will never forget this one!!
guys, guys, please check date of original post and then read post #21 before posting your comments....oh ****, who am I kidding. flat_mountain, sorry he gone now, but glad it turned out to be a good memory of sorts.
I think most of us have a few similar Dad, father-in-law or granddad stories to tell. Just about every time my dad came to visit his car would need something done to it and we spent some of our best time together fixing those things on his car. The best story I have on my father in law is from when he bought a 69 Ford sedan to use as a road car as a salesman. I asked him what engine it had in it and he said with a straight face "blue".
Flat , Thanks for sharing.Sorry for your loss. My Dad and i farm and run cattle together. I am thankfull for the time we spend together . O there have been teeth clinching moments ,but it has been a great time. I wouldn't want to be any where else.
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