I know this has been discussed before but I had it brought home personally this Christmas. My 18 year old car nut Grandson wants us to start a project as he seriously wants to learn engine swapping etc. At my age I really don't need any new projects and suggested he do what I did at his age, get a bunch of friends together and share tools, knowledge, time etc. He said he doesn't have a single friend or know anyone that's interested. Doesn't bode well for the future.
I was lucky growing up in the 60's and early 70's when it seemed everyone was into cars. Don't get me started on kids today! If he is in Napa there are a ton of local car shows he can go to and start to meet younger car guys. Heck, even most older car guys are willing to help a younger guy interested in building a car. Once he gets a project and starts on it he may find some of his non-car guy friends might become interested as well.
I can't imagine why a Grandpa wouldn't want to help his Grandson work on an old car. Isn't that what Grandpas live for? If I ever have a Grandkid I sure will encourage any interest they have in old cars, and will help as much as possible. Can you change your mind?
Yes this generation really scares me in a lot of ways. The pack mentality is the worst. Don’t turn him down because your hearts not into building. Just lower your expectations of the build and go to work. Once you see his energy it’ll make you realize your not building a car, you’re actually building character, experience and a mutual respect and love.
No disrespect to you or your unknown-to-me current physical condition...but if you don't help in some way.......you are not taking advantage of a precious opportunity.... If you can at least provide "Your knowledge & Your Friends" to help make this happen??? Ok, the following words only apply "IF" if you are not disabled, and not pressed for time?.... then Man the F up, or Stfu about young kids that don't want to do this stuff... Parting words... at your p***ing, do you want him to recall that "gramps never helped me"? .
You can guide him, let him do the work! It may give you a shot of enthusiasm. Sent from my LG-TP450 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
All the more reason to help him. Not physically mind you, mentally. Let him make mistakes before you let him do all the lifting and wrenching. Just be there is all.
i hope you have better luck then i. my grandson wants to learn about cars and wants a race car, everytime we need to get started he's not there or has plans with his buddies. that's alright he's pulling the drive shaft out of his daily driver, i know i'll have to craw under to replace the rear trans seal but he's got to do the rest or walk.
Are you having age/health issues? Burned out from a life of building cars? If so, then I'd understand you not wanting to bond with your grandson. Maybe you could buy him a PlayStation so he can hide in his room like the rest of the en***led generation. I can't see how this is in the to hard basket. If HE wants a project, then all you gotter do is supervise. Make him do all the work. My housemate is a diesel mechanic, who watches lots of U tube videos when he wants info on cars. He's a machine. Your Grandson would benefit from U tube as well. Its a great tool for learning, and is how the younger generation work. I don't see how hard this could be, all you gotter do, is park up in a comfortable chair with your favourite beverage, and watch him do all the work. A little instruction here and there, and in the processes, you get to know your Grandson better.
There is probably a lot more going on here. Grampa healthy? Can grandson finance or help with.......does he have it in him for the long run that is until completion? Having him walk away because of whatever reason leaves grampa in the hole. Does he or grampa have space for a project. Nothing ever goes tickity boo.......
Yeah, good to give Gramps some encouragement, but we don't know the whole sich-ee-ation. Still might be worth the effort...if the boy is truly willing to learn and do. And learn and do some more. And...and...and... "Nothing ever goes tickety boo." I'm gonna use that...lol.
I'm really fortunate I have a Grandson who wants to soak up automotive knowledge like a sponge. Besides he has excellent manual dexterity skills and is able to accomplish difficult tasks with ease.
My grandson is Autistic, and this will never happen for us. Do what you can. Sent from my LG-TP450 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
You guys are pretty tough on ol Gramps. I'm gonna be 71 soon and feel every muscle/bone in my body some days. My Grandsons aren't old enough yet to build full sized project cars but I'm grooming them [like I did with my son] with pedal cars, remote control cars, electric cars and taking them to car/monster truck events and races. I have no room to give for their projects but if ol' dad will give a little corner of his m***ive shop space I'd be glad to jump in and help on "good" days. Maybe CA280 has no room, eh? We don't know yet.
And people wonder why so few guys my age and younger never took an interest in cars. Be a teacher, don't build the car for him. It should be his project, with your help. You don's have to turn wrenches, you could give him a place to work if he does not have one. Make sure he does not make unsafe dangerous mistakes.Talk him through the engine swaps. Lay out tools, Share stories,ect... Yes, the reason I became a car guy is because of my father and mother both came from car families. They took me to races (I was in the pits at my first 1/2 mile dirt track when was 3 months old.) My dad is go to be 70 he is in the shop every day doing something it literally hurts him to close his hands, but he helps me all the time.
18 years old grandson ? In high school, and about to graduate ? I'm probably just naive, but I would not be very surprised if a couple of his non-interested friends showed up once in a while. And, might even contract a touch of the fever. https://usmechanicedu.com/ca/
The idea that young people working on cars is dying is laughable - you are just looking the the wrong places. Get on Facebook, Youtube, or Instagram and you will find a thriving car culture - maybe not traditional hot rods - but you will find a ton of p***ionate people who bust knuckles every chance they get to feed their addiction - engine swaps, fabrication, and creativity that would blow most traditional hot rodders out of the water. Tell your grandson to put himself out there and he will find people who want to work on cars - with the internet and social media it has never been easier to find people of like interest - especially in the Bay Area he should have no problem.
Holy Mackeral! Not a single friend at age 18? Scary. Doesn't he have even one "car nut" friend? 3spd has the right idea.
When I was about 18 or 19 I bought a POS Chevy Suburban with an L6 that was wasted. My dad tried to talk me out of buying it, he knew it was a POS, but I thought it was *****in. Sure enough, he was right. We had to do an in-frame overhaul on it, so I learned how to do that. I did the work, he told me what to do. You know, he had worked on cars and farm machinery all his life, at that point in his life the last thing he wanted to do when he got home from work was go out to the garage and work on a car. But to me it was one of the best experiences I had, and I loved every minute of it and treasure the memories. Truth be told, I think he probably enjoyed it a little bit too, but he didn't let on. But I would say, don't let this opportunity slip away, you will be making memories with your grandson that he will carry for years after you're gone.
You don't have to build a whole car.....if you have a welder teach him, If you have a paint gun and compressor buy a pint of something cheap to spray....get a junk yard hood or trunk lid and teach him. Get a bucket of soapy water and sandpaper to wet sand and teach him. Take an old motor and let him ***emble it and re***emble it using all the old parts he took off....teach him. Have him go through and read your motors manuals then quiz him or give him a practical test like brakes or oil change, show him how to properly use a torque wrench, teach him. None off these things cost much, just some of your time and a tiny bit of sweat equity......to me you sound self centered.....this is your blood....your grandchild....sit in a chair and supervise, he will cherish these lessons for the rest of his life. Take some of your duplicate tools and make him up a small tool chest, they will always be known as grampas tools he gave me. I know I have many good memories of my gramps mentoring me. Teach him.
Exactly!! obviously a lot of folks on here don't remember (or conveniently forget) what 18 is like. This would end up as my project. There's ALWAYS a friend with a more fun suggestion.. All his friends are car freaks, they spent 3 days sleeping in there cars at Monterey Car Week just to hang out. Finished, exotics are what they are interested in, that was my point. I'll try to hook him up with some of my younger (early 50's) acquaintances who would appreciate the occasional, extra pair of eager hands.
I am 70 so I feel I can speak on the subject. You think you are old and the boy has no friends. Go out to the garage with a cup of coffee and talk cars for a while. Then start talking about the things you used to do. He will start asking questions. Let him use your tools and let him touch and feel and do a task, all you have to do is offer some direction...sort of like directing traffic. That is not hard at all. An 18 year old is like a sponge and he will learn from YOU. He can do the heavy work and avoid most mistakes because YOU are directing him and chances are that you have already made most of those mistakes. What you don't know, you can learn together. He will start telling his acquaintances about the times you and he are sharing and they will want to join in. Don't squander this rare chance to be a hero to your own Grandkid.
It won't be long and you will be looking for him to come over so you can talk cars, you have to watch out he could be the best friend you ever had.
At this point in time none of my three grandsons show an interest in mechanical things, but if they do I'll be there for them. That's all I got to say bout that ( quote from one of the smartest men I know)!
When my son was 16, he had big plans on building a car. We discussed the amount of work and the amount of money involved with building a car. When the time came, he and I went to look at several possible projects. I made it clear to him it was his project, his money, and his time. I had other things I was doing with my money, and they didn't include his project. I told him I would work with him, but he had to be there, I wasn't working on his stuff without him being there. I did provide some space, and tools and equipment he could use, as long as he respected my stuff. Whenever he quit working on his project for the day, it went outside in the yard. Before is could come back in, he had to tell me what he was going to do, and I would help him get it back inside. The 1st project he started was way too big for a 1st project, and I told him it was. He bought it anyway, and bought a lot of parts before he understood what i was telling him. He was fortunate enough to actually make money selling that off as parts. The next project was also too big, but closer to what he could do. I told him that as well, before he bought it. I bought that one from him. By the 3rd attempt, he was more on board with what I was telling him. He got pretty interested in something that was actually within his then abilities, and made good progress. He was able to drive that 3rd project during his senior year at high school. He has had several projects since then, and is getting pretty good at what he does. Last year, my 17 year old grandson wanted to build a truck. He has had a few projects since, but none of them were very complex. He just doesn't want to invest the time required to finish something, and ends up sending the current project down the road when he finds something he likes better. He has a bad case of Automotive ADD. He is going to school to be a mechanic, so hopefully some day he can gain control of his Auto AAD. Gene
I am 74, both of my grandsons have come to my shop to work on their worn out drivers. I tell them what to do and which tools to do and often get down and dirty with them. If either showed an interest in building a car I will be right there with them. I am still building so no reason to not do it with them. But alas, they don’t really ask about what I will do with any of my four hot rods much less ask about building one. Although this thread has me realizing that I have never ever told them that they are as able as I was when I started my first one. My conversations with them in the future will be about that very thing. Just participate as much as you can.
The Jalopy Journal
