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

As mentioned by a few here, it's important to do a little every day. I try to do at least one hour a day (usually after hours at work as it beats sitting in traffic!). I'm now 8 months into my build and I'm really happy with the way it's going.
The money vs time argument is also often mentioned. I think it's easier building a car on a tight budget because you've always got time but very seldom the money, so I have a list of 'wants' and a list of 'needs', and when I have the money and something on my list comes up at the right price I'll buy it. Having the time to go that extra mile with the look of the fabrications is also extremely useful.
At the stage my project is at (I have engine, gearbox, axles, brakes, wheels, fuel tank, seats, shifter etc etc. The chassis rails are finished and most of the rollcage is tacked in place) I have around $3kNZ invested (around $2kUS)including the purchase price of the vehicle, and that is because I buy at the right price when I can, and make sure I resell any of the parts I don't need. It also helps that I can fabricate and I'm pretty hot with plumbing and wiring.

 

My problem is I never am able to make time for myself. I'm either doing something for a friend or my dad or fixing the daily driver or my wife's car or my mother in laws car. My dad has a small fleet of cars and since I use his place to store my stuff, I am obligated to take care of his stuff first. Getting ready to strip his square body C10 down to a cab/frame for a quick restoration, have to put body mount bushings, front end and brakes on his Nova, brakes and ABS sensor on his daily along with fixing his AC leak. I maintain his house and mine, work 50 hours a week and have three teenage girls and a 7 month old son. I really wish I could clone myself.

I did consolidate my projects down though. I sold off my O/T truck project, my Chevy coupe body and a few other projects leaving me just my Chevy roadster and my daily driver. I have some body work to finish up on the daily and that will be ready for paint and that will leave me with one less project. I'm hoping that I can get the rest if this stuff finished up so that I can start working on the roadster once my son's old enough to get out there with me.

 

Haha. That's a classic. And true!

 

I think it helps if you have a large roomy garage or workshop to work in. I get discouraged when I go out to work on my current project because I have to move so much stuff to get to it. I hardly have room to walk by it. I truly regret not building a bigger garage, and one with heat and air. Now I find that I put off going out there if its too hot or too cold, and living where I do its not often that it isn't too hot or too cold or too wet or too dry or....oh well, just lazy excuses.
If you have hot rodder friends I think that helps motivation. I don't have any here but I did in the last place I lived and that kept me motivated talking and visiting with them.

 

Problem with this approach is, I care what I think...

 

I've had my '40 since 1970; started as a daily driver and then as it deteriorated I started driving it less and less. Finally tore it apart in the mid-80's and started a frame-off rebuild. Got most of the body and running gear parts blasted and primed; then came a move, but got back onto the project a few months later. Had the body back on the frame and on a rolling chassis after a few months work. Then life, work and family finances got in the way... Suddenly it was 2010 and cancer, a divorce and sale of the house meant the mess got hauled to my sons' shop for storage. Finally last year I got the bug to get it on the road using the Cadillac out of my roadster. Knew that I needed to get this thing done while I'm still capable of doing the work, just couldn't get excited about keeping the flathead in it. So now the new paint is mostly done and I'm collecting parts. Work and life are only allowing me a few hours a week on the project, but I'm chipping away at it. Hope to have it at least runable next year...

 

I try to get in at least an hour after work every day. Sometimes I have to push myself to hit the garage. Sometimes I'm just too dang tired! I'm at the 6 year mark now. The reason it takes so long is because I'm building this thing dirt cheap. I make virtually everything from scratch using recycled metal/materials or whatever I have laying around or find in the dumpster. Working on forming a decklid now. Hopefully, things will speed up soon. I retire in 90 days! The before pic is when I first got it and the after pics are about a year ago.

 

I have limited room although I have a fairly large garage. Part of my motivation was to regain space. I had to move a lot of parts out of the house for Xmas and into the already packed garage. So to get those parts on the car was a priority. And it worked pretty well. Now I have to sort all my leftovers and consolidate them.

 

Also a card carrying member of high fiber diet club. Wife purchased that sign for me years ago, BUT now as I'm ageing, my car hobby/addiction is changing, reducing inventory, going to use my OT late models more and I have 1 project to finish, at the rate I'm working on It, might end up selling off that to. I have only a few friends that still build cars, someone said, getting old is not for the weak/sissy's, BUT on the positive side, still walking, talking, typing, enjoying our wonderful hobby, LIFE is Good, Thankful and greatful for every day. Agree w/ several people's post, try to do a little each day, and eventually things get done, my motto is " Nothing Happens Fast "

 

I was getting some progress on my two truck projects, putting full days in on my days off from the office. Then, first week in June, I got a tooth infection and used it as an excuse to skip a day. Haven't spent more than twenty minutes in the shop since. Yeah, it's South Florida and I got the same problem with the heat as some of the others have mentioned - "Only in the hottest years this happens - and this year, it grows hot" and I'm looking over my shoulder for the Predator.

That aside, I have to get squared away and back at it. I have four vehicles and none of them are running. Had to get a rental econobox when the steering broke on my daily driver Jeep so I have to fix that first, then get back to my trucks. My car buddies ask me about progress and my answer is always "Any day now" and someday that will be true.

 

Well when you are laying in the hospital wondering why you are still alive, it becomes pretty evident, pretty quickly to you what needs to happen in your life. Don't wait till it's to late to get something done, get it done and enjoy it while you can. I had an off and on project for over 20 yrs until that day, now I'm driving it and am pretty happy about it.

 

Unfortunately, the rags to riches saga of my life seems to be stuck in phase one.

Whenever I get a little extra money and a little extra time, I work on it. But it's not too often that I have both at the same time.

I should probably do like they do on TV and create some deadline one week away. Then thrash on it for 7 days and 7 nights - just finishing in the nick of time, in spite of my helper's mistakes and shenanigans.

Here's my helper:

 

I don't agree with money being the cause of stopping, if you make can parts, and scrounge and fix what others won't buy.

Mine is a 32 Ford, no repro parts, no 1-800 parts to speak of. My car was so rough that it took way more labor hours to see progress, and by the time I finished one thing, I'd have a few bucks for another piece I spotted at a swap.

the timing was always perfect....I passed on expensive parts because I could do a different task and wait on that. Then when I least expected, the part I needed next, was found dirt cheap.


I don't agree with guys in their 40s-50s saying they will wait to retirement before building. We are tired out by then, and a rough project is NOT going to happen before it's too late. Don't BS yourself.

Sell off stuff you never touch, or think it needs to be saved for heirs, or some past sentiment. Live for the day, not the past, or the future. Buy something done or close, or use the sales money to farm some stuff out on your rough car. Making a move is better than thinking about things, and getting nowhere.

yes, I'm on mine again today, as I have been since July 5th, not one day of at least an hour or so

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That is so true!

 

I have not worked on my Model A in almost 5-years. It is packed into storage, for the foreseeable future.

I worked on the Falcon over the weekend, a little, and the new engine is almost done. Everything I need to do on that will take a big block of time, a fat-stack of cash, and an indoor space where I can leave it apart for some time.

I am always battling the money-space-time continuum. I am only allowed to pick two.

 

It takes money to acquire space to work.

 

Sometimes I just bite the bullet and force myself to work. A lot like having a job I suppose.

 

Are you the guy who came from CT? If so, you know the short season. I built my first "ground up" full fender mopar roadster from junk in 79 to 80, and I did all wood/replace w/steel and a lot more in my driveway in northern CT. I do admit I later joined the local club and did some work there, but the then wife bitched at my time there, so I finished it at home...in the driveway.

Excuses are just that; things that are said to make a person be able to deal with their zero progress,

Sheeez a favorite 50s pic on hamb in So Cal, the teens were chopping the top on a 32 5w out in the street, as they had no driveway? If you want something bad enough, it gets done...


speaking of that rod club; each month there was a "suitable progress report" on each car taking precious floor space. The club did a vote and: "No progress shown, we don't care about sob stories, your car is OUT".

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I am from CT. I am pretty sure I know exactly what your neighborhood looks like. I am not too sure you know what mine looks like.

Have a look: https://www.google.com/maps/place/2...a24c580b9d1a44!8m2!3d37.7958836!4d-122.438788

On the opening page, you will see a lifted Jeep Cherokee, behind a postal relay box. That is mine.

There is only street parking here, unless you want to drop $450/mo. for a parking space, where car work is prohibited, or you can afford a $1.2m+ home. Working on your car in the street is illegal in almost every jurisdiction within 100-miles of me.

 

Once I accepted the fact that I will never build a car without flaws they got finished much quicker. Now I don't give a shit what anyone thinks, if it is reliable I am driving it. Isn't there anyone around to lend a hand to the OP? Help from someone with skills is always a great motivator to get over the hump, seems most half done projects I have bought stalled because the PO hit a point where they could not do the work needed next.

 

Dave, I work at a restoration shop two days a week, did it full time for 13 years back in the 1970's early '80's. Maybe that is part of the lack of interest in my stuff. Could have driven some truly great cars back then but passed for fear of braking one. It sure was a shock to see two that I once worked on in the Petersen back in January. Bob

 

Terry... I'm not sure if that was supposed to be funny or not, but it made me laugh!

I have too many projects and not enough time. I tinker here & there and I meddle my way through it all. I'll spare my personal details as I fall in-between the extremes already mentioned here. I hate the days where I have HUGE intentions and everything seems to backfire and in the end, you get little done. However, I thoroughly enjoy the days where I make great strides... it does give me that high that keeps me going.

I will say that if you're looking to get over your funk, and if none of the before mentioned tactics aren't working for ya, here's two I put together from my experiences:

1). Try it sober. I get work done while drinking beer, but there's a threshold of too many beers where progress drops like a rock. If it's your crutch, find help.

2). Find a newbie, teenager, neighbor to teach your knowledge to and let them lead the way. It will lift your spirits to be a teacher and you can get cheap labor out of the deal - and progress!

I hope you find motivation somewhere... and make a move!

3blap.

 

3blap, Had my last beer in 1999. The Inspector comes over just about every day and asks to be pushed on his swing. He now asks if he can work on his axle, today was a lefty loosie righty tighty lesson.

 

102F is pretty damn hot for working. Maybe add a small A/C to the shop?

 

I was rooting for the OP last year when he was just trying to clean his basement. I could relate to his one thing checked off at a time approach. Try to use this myself when all else seems to be failing. On the opposite end I also bounce around to keep from burnout when I forget things soon might start failing.

 

It's good to know I'm not the only one making excuses. My grown sons are constantly after me. "What did you get done today?" "What's next?" All these comments are making me see things a little differently though. I love seeing the fantastic skills of others on here, but sometimes I go out in the shop, look at my progress, and get a little discouraged. And yes, getting older does make a difference! I like the idea of steady progress, do something each day. Will try to do just that.

 

I'll agree, getting older does slow you down, personally, I think I've built my last ground up car, I'll concentrate on maintaining and improving what I have. It's getting tougher getting up off the floor.

 

I've had my 39 Chevy truck since I was 13. My parents bought it for me to keep me out of trouble. Which it did. However, back then I didn't have any money to work on it and all the time in the world. Now I have the money and just not enough time. It wasn't until last year I really started working on it. My dad was diagnosed with throat cancer and when he got better we would plan to work on it on Sunday's. We've come a long way on the truck and you can start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

I think my biggest comment to those just starting is to tackle it one step at a time. When you try to tackle this huge project and you don't see the progress you get discouraged. It's like weight loss or body building. You don't see the results so you stop doing it. We'll stand back and appreciate the steps that you've done.

Oh and the occasional looking at this forum helps too

 

A Hot-Rodding friend used to say.."when are you going to finish that fuckin' car?..... Your'e not going to live forever!..'
about a year later, he passed away. I still did'nt do as much as I could.... then I got diagnosed with the same thing that got him. Luckily it was found early, fixed, and I was O.K. Man, did I get my sorry arse into gear! When I get disillusioned, dissapointed, etc, I can still hear his words..!
I have several more projects on the boil, and spend a couple of hours a night and as much as I can on the weekend, after building maintenance/ car maintenance (daily drivers, wife and kids cars), usual family stuff, etc.
A list is very helpful, crossing stuff off as it gets done. Only trouble is, you sometimes cross off 2 things, and add 4 more to the bottom.
I would rather do things like cleaning up, equipment repair, designing brackets etc, than to waste time watching that god-dammed idiot box they call TV!

 

Rain. I love working in the garage on a rainy day.

Last rain we had was 2009.