Hot Rods Back in the chassis business?

Retirement isn't what it's cracked up to be. Celebrated my 81st birthday by taking on another deuce ch***is for a friend. That ch***is plus the one I'm already doing just to keep in practice should consume my time for a while? All I told him was hope your not in a hurry. In the 3 years since my last customer ch***is I found it's hard to walk away after 40+years in the business.

 

Have you considered p***ing on your knowledge/experience so the good work isn't lost when you do eventually stop?

I fully appreciate having an employee can be an expensive game, no one local you can collaborate with?

Seems a shame for it to stop when you stop as it appears quality and successful work?

 

Good for you! Your skills are too good to waste not building hot rods for as long as you can.

 

Just because you are retired(?), it doesn't mean all you have to do is sit and watch the world go by. To me, it means doing what you want, when you want. Enjoy and share if you like, Carp.

 

Clydesdale: I have a friend whose son in law is learning the ch***is building trade currently working at a prominent hot rod shop. When he gets proficient I'll help him get going by showing him what I learned over the years. At this time he plans on keeping my name alive but that may change? Before I quit the first tine 3 years ago I tried to get some local boys involved but they wanted instant gratification financially and that's not how it works. Takes years to build the brand.

 

That sounds positive, good on you for being willing to share and keep the skills alive.

One day those boys will realise what they missed out on, its a shame life has become so expensive and instant gratification focussed as it tends to breed that mindset.

All that said glad you have decided to keep going but with a realistic approach to 'where you are at in life'.

 

just ditto to everything that scot said so well just above!!

 

Glad you are staying in the game, just a slower pace now, which is perfectly fine.

 

I hope that you are enjoying the finer things in life along with still doing what you have made a living all those years. Very few know when the Checkered Flag falls, so enjoy the laps.

 

I have some concerns about that retirement thing too. I enjoy posts like yours because it gives some clarity in a strange time of life. Thank you

 

Facing heart issues at 73, with a procedure on the 30th. This is when I wish I had a "real" job, since my 50 years at my bicycle shop doesn't give me many options on p***ing it down.
I've said for years that I want to make the retirement decision, not have it made for me.
Glad you're carrying on. Some days I think work keeps me (us) young. Getting out of bed and going to work isn't an choice for me, for now. The shop is expected to always be open.But,none of us know what's next.
Good luck to you!
EDIT. Most days I just want to stay home and work in my garage. Hopefully, one day.

 

Just to be different, I'm about 83 and I retired 18 years ago and I have had nothing but fun with cars and family. I've put a couple of hundred thousand miles on my cars and it's been far from boring for me. Retirement is the greatest thing since being a kid every summer. Have some fun.

 

My dad retired when he was 65. He was an owner/operator and hauled rock/sand, etc.

After a short while he got itchy and we put together a transfer for him to “pick up a load here and there “ to add to his SS.
Soon he was doing it 5 days a week.
My point is (I think) when you run your own business, it’s what you enjoy. It’s not like “working for the man”.
He’d spend his weekends fishing and hunting. I told him he could do that all week if he wanted to.
But it was in his blood after some 40 years to climb into his truck and go.
I say do what you enjoy, if it’s building a ch***is, playing golf, etc, just do what you want to do.
Best of luck with whatever you decide on.

 

49 years of 24/7 call-out and missing Thanksgiving, Christmas, 4th of July for shutdowns and turnarounds.....I don't miss it after shutting down the business at age 71 in 2022....
Good on you for having the drive and customers willing to accept your work speed....
and I drive a slower hot rod than you....

 

I closed my welding shop and retired when I turned 62. I don't miss it much! Now I get to work on my own stuff when ever I want, without feeling guilty.
I'm 69 now, most of my equipment is still here, I got rid of the equipment that was related to stuff I didn't want to do. I can go out in the shop and do as much or as little as I want, when ever I want to. It is a refreshing change from the long hours when I had to be there every work day. I'm too busy to go back to work.

 

At 77, I stopped taking customer work after 50 years in the business. I just have one job I owe to my local engine machine shop. My desire has been dwindling down lately, and have 4 projects of my own in their final stages. The sad part is, with all the equipment I have now, it's so much simpler now to do all the phases I struggled with for years.

 

You are sooo right. I had to laugh especially after the last email you sent me with ch***is photo's. Looks like I'm going to have to get the ol pacemaker fitted that I have been putting off but I'll just slow up a bit more. I'm just changing centres into different rims for a guy that couldn't find someone local that knew how to do them. Told him to come back in 2 weeks although they should be done in a couple of days. Your decision is good for the rest of us here because you will have to keep posting.

 

@krylon32 always enjoyed your contributions.
Glad that you can give your Knowledge to your buddies' Son in law,
Me and Charlie Brown just keep hoping the past will get better

 

Life Changes. Sold and gave away most of my cherished 32 Fords, the Avatar I'd had almost 45 years. I wanted to see them go on my terms not some vultures trying to steal them from my widow.. Ain't walking yet, still have the 40 coupe and Howard. Should have the new deuce roadster ready for the LARS? The ch***is I'm doing for myself? I did talk to John about another roadster body. The customer ch***is is going under a 32 delivery conversion. When they are done we'll see if anyone else is waiting in the wings?

 

Best way to think of retirement is that you get to choose which jobs you take on and when you will have them done.

 

I suspect, that doing the "business" as a retired-version, will be more relaxing & more fun, since you aren't depending on it as sole income. It'll be nice to do for whom you *want* to, not those you feel you "gotta", because it's your business. Lot to be said for only doing for those you willingly choose to. .
Glad you're staying in it, at least for now, as long as it feels good. .
Marcus...

 

krylon, good for you, keep at it,...and you also have a good eye for artwork...lol

 

How about hoping back on your track roadster!

 

I am gonna use this space to make a claim,
Today, first day, in years that I feel larger than the maladies I've had since 2014.
Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

A *****. My last attempt at a track roadster ended up at Dale Grau's and turned into the Green Hornet. The one before it also ended up at Dales and turned into his bobbed box black track roadster. Both cars are proven road warriors. I seem to get them about75% done and move them on. The ch***is under the Green Hornet took so many hours and lots of one off parts I don't think I have another in me.

 

With two of my own complete builds going on, I do very little outside stuff. I have one job in the wings to make parts for a half dozen br*** era cars. The owner said he is willng to wait for as long as it takes, and that is the only reason I agreed to help. Well, that, plus he is a friend and I've done previous work with him.

 

Gary, ya still got it.
Go for it.
Wish I lived closer to you.
Stretch

 

I will retire for sure in 2 years unless I get pissed.
Im actually scheming on something to do with several ideas, not going to leave my shop but something they bring to me.
Good luck