I'm still young and healthy, thankfully, but I can definitely see when I try to do something I shouldn't do and how I feel the next day. Years ago, I'd pickup a big block 727 and carry it across the garage. Now I'll use a lift. I take the attitude that if a tool can help me prevent a trip to the emergency room, it's usually worth it.
I've got three to finish. Any time aches, pains or lack of desire get in the way, there's a reason why God made tomorrow. And, if tomorrow doesn't come, it won't matter. We all spend our energy for what matters the most to us. One thing aging does give us is more things to bitch about.
Well,,,,,don’t give up yet . I know I feel like crap a lot,,,,,I’m 58,,,,recovering from cancer in my spine,,,,,,can barely do things I did before,,,,but,,,,I’m not gonna call calf roped,,,not just yet,,,,I’m not giving up . Here Is a pic of an old man that I model myself after,,,,he doesn’t quit . He has worked on all kinds of old cars,,,,and trucks,,,,mostly ford back in the day . A lot of Flathead stuff,,,,and Y blocks in his dump trucks back then . He always preferred driving Lincoln’s back then . I got him to place his hand on this cylinder,,,,,,he had just physically removed it the day before,,,,and replaced the seal and packing,,,,,by himself ! I looked back at the date of the pic,,,it was September, 2020,,,,,,he was a few months away from his 92 birthday! He’s 93 now ,,,,still doing good,,,,,but definitely slowing down more . But,,he never complains,,,,hurts everyday ,,,and still keeps on going . I hope I can be like that and live up to his example! I’m his 7 th son,,,,and I consider it an honor to call him Daddy ! Tommy
I used to do almost everything, chassis, body, paint, upholstery. Then as I got busier in the chassis shop my time to do many of these jobs became less and I found myself hiring jobs done because I didn't have time. Now at 77 I hire it done because I don't have the energy anymore. Right now I have a chassis to build for myself but am lacking the energy.
I want to know why it is that every time my wife comes out to the shop she finds me sitting in my chair reading an old magazine, on the phone, or watching racing on TV. I have to show her what I’ve accomplished so she doesn’t think I’m a slug hiding in the shop. She’s hoping that I at least finish the Morris woody before I grind to a halt…. I will.
Can relate-at 79 it takes a good bit longer to get things done and harder to get up and down off the floor as well. Thinking of doing another 40 coupe but not sure I'm up to it. Used to turn one out in about 3-4 months start to finish. Know of two good ones right now but not sure. Also parts are a problem now as well. Did the last one just before covid hit --managed that one just fine. I'm a bit slower now though. Have considered selling off my stock of 40 parts but can't bring myself to do it just yet.
As far as getting up from a creeper, do you remember when we used to jump up from the creeper ? Now, we look to see what we can use to help ourselves get up. I keep busy down in the cellar working on Stromberg carburetors. They are not heavy, but sometimes I need a little heat to loosen things up. It keeps my brain and hands working, so it is not a bad thing.
A thought following this thread. If at all possible buy yourself a lift, I purchased a 4 poster 11 years ago now, the very best tool I've ever purchased for my hobby garage, I have a Direct Lift, 0 problems, back then $2100, around $2600 now. It allows me to keep working on my stuff as like many have mentioned, getting up and down laying under a car is not an option anymore. Free advice to make your life easier IMO.
"I'm so old. I met a girl in the bar. She said she went both ways. I thought she meant number 1 and number 2..." - Rodney Dangerfield
I'll turn 80 in a month. Downsized the house and land and my shop two years ago. Took me all of those two years to put up and get the new shop operational. Much smaller. After retirement I used to work in the shop 8-10 hours a day. That started decreasing as I finished up the inside of the new shop. Now, I try to pick a small project or two a day to complete so I at least stay invested in the hot rod life. I still look through the cars and projects for sale at the various internet sites. But, whenever I run across something I have an urge to buy and build I remember the physical limitations that have gradually crept into my life the past few years and realize that, honestly, my days of frame off builds are behind me. I will be content, and lucky, to finish off the two projects currently in my shop. As mentioned in an earlier post, a lot of guys we used to travel with or exchange work with are now gone and fewer and fewer hot rod friends are showing up at shows each year. I used to go all over the country in one or another of my builds but find myself more and more limiting travel to local events. I have no regrets about this change even thou I wish it wasn't happening. Time catches up with all of us eventually.
I'm on my last restoration project for a friend/client. I'm 67 and have worked on cars all my life. I have some projects of my own I want to do. I fear I have too many to do and maybe not enough time. My wife recently retired , she thinks I'm nuts for wanting to build more cars for myself. I said last night to her, what's nuts about a 70 coronet station wagon with a 426 hemi in it? Seems sane enough to me. She rolled her eyes and walked away. lol. And why do I have all these motorcycles? Because I can I said.. I have had my health problems as we most all have, but I still enjoy the satisfaction of doing a good job. I painted a Triumph motorcycle tank for a friend of mine the other day and found out my eyes and 1/8th fineline masking tape don't get along anymore. lol. I also see I am among the right crowd here. Nice to know I'm not the only nut on the tree.
My father died at 72. Up until he got sick, the man amazed me. I outweighed him by about 80 pounds and carried a lot more muscle. I could destroy the man weight lifting or arm wrestling. But I could be working on something, trying to break a bolt loose or whatever, and he could step in and do it lickety split. He didn't have the endurance anymore, but he could call upon strength reserves in a pinch like nothing I've ever seen. Took him a week to do a full brake job on his 59 Vette, but if you needed gorilla strength for about 5-10 seconds, he was your man.
My norm time ,was I could rebuild a engine in 1 to 2 weeks max. From the mid 1950s up to about 6 years ago. Hotrod engine failed just before Chistmas 2021,made it home nocking n banging. Next day,put her up on stands=that took all day. Took a month to check out as much as I could,with out pulling it out. May take another month before I can get her running n driving! Mostly it's just me,a little bit it is things like cleaning the parts an finding what new ones I need. Asking for 4 of Ford Y-block 1.75in. freeze plugs at any local parts store so far ,has only got'"What the hell is that!" I'll keep plugging along !! Turned out the banging was a spinning pair of rod bearings,that had jump on to each other. This combo of the two parts being on top n bottom of each other an spinning around the crank,made the light an hard banging sound very odd and "not in time/rhythm" ,like a norm rod nock sounds. Cuz when the spinning together one on top of other,happened to be bottom of rod cap,all most no sound,then on side only a little more,but on top of rod,big bang= then when piston hit head< yet no timing.
That "walking the dog" thing doesn't seem to be working for me. The mailbox is a quarter-mile plus another 250' to shut down for the hairpin turn and the return back to the house. My old pup can make it to the mailbox with me because it's downhill. But then she's done and I have to carry her back. Those "dog years" are pretty tough, so I can't complain too much about my "people years". Next week, my yearometer rolls over to 79. Some of those years were good ones. When folks ask my age I say, "79...... but some parts are older than other parts".
I thought that's what a shop/Mancave is for, a refuge, I sure enjoy mine and miss it a lot Wintering in Az.
I'm 62 and still doing pretty good. lost 50 pounds over the last few years just cutting out fast food, ice cream and I completely cut cookies off the menu but they seem to be creeping back. I am a rare individual in that when my Dr. said I was close to being diabetic I changed my evil ways. too many think eating right is getting a diet coke with your Jumbo Jack and fries. that's not how it works. being a lifelong cyclist has also kept me young, but what helps in the shop more than anything is having a lift. all that up and down off the floor takes a toll on an old body.
On the positive side, and i'm just now finishing up the project that i thought 3-4 hrs top. I have a excuse to buy the tool that might help me next time. FYI and I'm ashamed to tell I was changing chunk out in 59 elky. Had plenty of practice on those years ago. They must have gotten bigger! Also on upside the chunk i took out has a great big P on the case, but it whined .
At 81, I couldn’t do squat if I didn’t have a fourpost lift. The other major help is 3/4” rubber horse trailer mats throughout the entire shop
Nobody is alone here. For the most part we WANT to do our own repairs and modifications. Most of us sound like we are in our 70’s and that’s when it really starts to hit us between the eyes. I’ll be 78 in June and 2 months ago I was lifting the y-block heads over the fenders twice to do a valve and seal job. Last week I did an oil change on our 2018 F-150. I don’t know about all of you but I really don’t know anyone I can trust to do what I want done even with minor maintenance. Our son will always come over after work but I hate to ask. I’m his pit crew at the dirt oval track races and it’s getting tougher to scrape mud. Hopefully we will all keep doing what we want at a slower pace which is ok ….what else do I have to do anyway…
I had been complaining to my doc about not having any energy and getting short of breath easily. He sent me for cardiac tests and all came out normal. After some research and more doctor complaints I found out I have this disease.....its called old age. Seems when you catch this disease you lose about 75% of your energy and about 50% of your strength. Once it hits you, you are confused as to why you can't do what you used to do. But when you get the proper diagnosis, you just have to accept the fact that you have it and learn to live with it.
Love them dogs. About a year and a half ago I got a 6 week old male black lab. I take him for a 4 mile quad ATV ride on the farm every day. He must run 6 or 7 miles at least. He lives in the shop. If I don't take him for his run he bugs the shit out of me. A whole different dog after his run. I was 70 when I got him. He is a lot of company in the shop. but once in a while I look at him and wonder what in the hell I was thinking.
Don't even get me started! My day begins with coffee then it's Cheerios with two Tylenol Arthritis formula horse pills. Then I think.........do I really need to do..........ANYTHING today. Gotta go, I think my AARP magazine just arrived.
Last year I made a younger friend, just a kid at 50 from my area who bought a limited engine Sprint car, met on a internet race site, he was looking for some help, advice so it's all good. I am so looking forward going with him this Summer. My role is advice, driving the 4 wheeler and maybe some mud scrapping, I spent my whole life till I was 44 going to dirt tracks and walked away from it, I have missed it, determined I was not really a grandstand fan and I found other hobbies to fill the void, car crazy all my life. I agree when turning 70, 4 years ago it seems to be a fast down hill ride, still aiming for 77, the average for our age group. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. LOL
I feel you. Dealt with a couple health issues recently and it seems anything I do anymore, I pay for it. It's becoming a problem. Starting to really piss me off. I miss my Motrin. Can't take it with the heart medicine. But I'll deal with it. RRRAAAAAARRRRRR!!!
I’m only 56. I got some replacement parts and I sound like a popping bag of popcorn with the slightest movements. Freaks out everyone around me. I had a coyote pit bull mix if she was not out in the shop everyday by 8:00am she would drag you out there. She loved working on stuff, cars, motorcycles, welding anything. And she did work too anything from watching for fires to helping lift a Muncie trans into my 63 bel air. She loved her rides on the Harley too! Rode right up front of me on the gas tank. Not a cop around would pull me over they did not want to deal with her after they interrupted her ride! God I miss that dog!!
What I find strange is how the body breaks down at different ages for different people. I started going down hill at 50. I'm 56 now and can't get out of the bed in the morning. My Dad is 77 still working a full time job, cutting yards, remodeling my nephew's house!! Always doing something!!
The Jalopy Journal
