After watching the Aviator again, been thinking about how OCD I am with car work...measurements, angles, etc...my friends are all the same way...measure 5 times...reck..etc...I often just stare for long periods of time at the car, thinking about everything....is there anyone that can actually just throw a car together without worrying about everything, or is everyone like this?
From what i just read you are going about it THE RIGHT WAY. If there is a dout in your mind just tack it till you are sure about it. Hang in there you will get it done and it will be wright.
You are a "left brain" person. So am I. I guess that is why I ended up being an engineer. Left Brain Logical Sequential Rational ****ytical Objective Looks at parts Right Brain Random Intuitive Holistic Synthesizing Subjective Looks at wholes
I'll think about a project long enough to get a very good picture of the finished product in my head. Once I have that image I look at the reality of actually building it to that degree of finish, sell the pile and start on another dream.
It's been my experience that the project will TELL you the right way to proceed. You just have to quiet your mind and look and listen. I've never been able to take a build style and inflict it on a car. That's why I've never had a gas style car made from a big ol' 4 door. That's how a Right Brain'er sees it. And here's a story for you, AJ. The optimist sees the gl*** as half full, while the pessimist sees the gl*** as half empty. The engineer see a gl*** that's TOO BIG. Phil
my wife tells me that i look at my projects to long . its good to work and then look back and see what you have made . its pretty neat to be able to do this build your dreams and then get to drive them . it s pretty neat t rodz
I use plumb bobs--angle finders etc. Try to get everything (especially steering) within 1/16". Hey I'v got to drive this thing and from my racing days I know this is the only way.
I think that the closest that you can come to "thowing a car together" is to do a 100 point restoration. No new holes to drill, no suspension to change, no "retrofits". Just follow the build of the car as it was done from the factory. Buy (or make) the necessary components necessary. Paint it all original, and trailor it to the show and put it on display. Look guys, I'll be honest here. Like Elizabeth on TV, I'm OCD too, but it's not a really bad thing if you put it to work. No, I don't waste time by washing my hands 100 times a day, I don't have rituals that I follow. But I do eat everything on my plate, one thing at a time. Always have. I do count "things"...especially the number of strokes in a word as it's written...."Hmmnn...3 strokes in an "A"...my favorite car...that's interesting" But the OCD thing that's helped me, not only in my trade as a Tool and Diemaker, was my ability to pay attention to all of the details and small things that make/break a project. And that includes measuring, measuring again, counting, figuring, even making a mockup on a sheet of paper before you commit to hard steel. And worrying that your planning will make everything turn out allright. It was just like making a Hot Rod. years ago, my son and I were trying to put a SB Ford and AOD into a 29 Ford ch***is. It was hard to get in there, too long, too high, interference from everything. Jack it up, move it back, level it out. All this work to make the engine mounts. We finally got one made from a piece of cardboard, I had my son draw it up and cut it out, (he was 7 at that time) we used that pattern for a redesigned one that looked "cleaner" and I took it into work that night and made it on my break and lunch hour. In the morning when he awoke for breakfast, the finished product was sitting at his place on the table, cut out of 1/2" CRS plate, holes drilled and all the edges were radiused and it was in primer, along with his first attempt at design in cardboard and the cleaned up version. L'il John ****era once said that if you make a part, it might not be the right part, but it'll be good enough to get you to try and make a better part that will fit and do the job.
I love the story about making the motormount with your 7 year old. Made me smile. You're a pretty darn good dad.
funny...once I am done with a car, all I can think about is how to build another even better than before...and ya throwing one together would kinda be a restoration...funny never thought about it like that. Well I dont feel so crazy now...when gfriend questions my methods, I can just say ...hey there are lotsa people on hamb that does it.
Right Brain Random Intuitive Holistic Synthesizing Subjective Looks at wholes[/quote] welp...that sums it up!!!i use the right side and ive beat the living hell out of it!!!!anyway to switch????
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