I always throw on some music that motivates me....chuck berry, johnny cash,mike ness and the frustration goes away and i actually get more work done that way..Helps also to not jump around to much...pick a task and complete it then move on...Keep up the good work and good luck
This is a good thread, with some good advice. I've definitely been a bit overwhelmed with the Caddy a few times. Especially, dealing with finding a new tank after a careless tow car managed to crack it. Go figure the one year they do not re-manufacture. I didn't want to go to a different tank because this meant more things added to my list to make a different tank work. I love the car, but if I've learned anything, it's that I probably should've bought a runner for my first project, but I'm not giving up. Thanks for the encouragement. At least I know the car is mine, it's not going anywhere, and if it takes longer than I want it to, at least I know it will be done right. Based on a few people that ditched out on helping with the project, I also learned who I can trust and who is committed.
I completely understand. Some days (most days?) it feels like my truck will never roll again...But I keep plugging away, every little thing that gets done is on step closer to being done. One thing that helps me a lot is taking pictures. I have pictures of how she was when I started, and I've photographed most of the jobs my son and I have done to her...When I get frustrated, I look at them, and realize how much we have done, and how much better she is now than when we started, and suddenly it seems possible again. As for a Club to help out, if you have the right club, it really does make a difference. I'm not in a car club, but my bike club is really tight, we help each other out with mechanical stuff a lot. If nothing else, its nice to be able to talk about it, and brag on what you've got done, with somebody that gets it. So if you can find a good bunch of guys in the right kind of club, yeah, that will help.
before i retired 70-80hr work weeks were not uncommon. stuff got prioritized and done. stuff got put aside until that rainy day. now well into retirement(69) i find it more difficult to get stuff prioritized and the smallest of projects seem to take forever. BUT each day i will make some progress and be thankful i have another day to "get at it". do what you can, each grain of sand will build a mountain. all of the info has been good-you will "get 'er done". i have replied many times my projects will never be done until i am. good luck, don't get down. enjoy the trip!
My first project took 8 years, money was an issue and the 34 Ford truck was extremely rough, all I could afford at the time. I perserviered and finished it. I went sometimes up to 3 months without working on it but was in to deep to quit. I have done quite a few now and when I do get the oppurtunity to get to the garage all of the problems and hassles of the day go away because I enjoy it more than anything. Sometimes I just stand and look at my progress for along time or get out magazines and look up things, when I am in the garage nothing else matters.
One other thing I thought of, when I come to a difficult problem or boring job,I just keep thinking when I get this done I am one step closer to finishing it.
Being overwhelmed is part of the process. Plan one thing at a time. Careful planning is the key and every now and then take a step back, look at what you've already achieved, not what you still have to do. Good luck with the build and remember to enjoy!!
yes, way over my head... i have most of the parts to get her running, i just need to throw her together. but, i am to busy djing and spending all my money on records (its a sickness really) getting out at 3 am from the night club on thursday, then going to work on friday at 830am,then doing th same thin friday night and saturday night wears on you... but, i love it and help pay the bills, and buy more records. what a vicious cycle also doesnt help that the car is in the back of my dads house, and im not really able to go over and work on it as much as id like. which reminds me... the rainy season is here arghhhh
wow.. thanks for all the encouragement. sounds like making a list and sticking to one small project at a time is the way to go. i don't have a list but i do tend to keep to one task at a time.. i guess having a wife that understands might help too, she says "why are you taking apart a perfectly good car to just redo it??" i drove the car home knowing what i wanted to do, but took six months to finally get up the nerve to start the disassembly, not knowing how it would turn out... someone asked for some pictures, so here ya go.... thanks again, this site is a motovator in itself... Jim
I tried the list thing and said 'holy shit, i'll never get this done' and threw the list away. No list for me. Like others have said, focus on the nut and bolt in front of you and put it in to the best of your ability. If you have to take it out later and redo it then so be it, redo it to the best of your ability. Don't worry about the next item on a list, it doesn't exist. The biggest single thing i do that helps is when i get ready to go home after a day i look and do one more thing. All those 'one more things' at the end of a day will add up to a considerable amount of time saved in the course of a two year project. You start making lists and you will be overwhelmed. One more thing i do is a log book. Each day i make a few notes on what i did, how many hours, materials used etc. A long project will fill a couple notebooks. When you feel overwhelmed go back and read thru what you have done and accomplished, that'll get you off the 'pity pot'.
It looks like you got a nice chevy to begin with. I was feeling a little like you a few months ago untill I read a thread by a guy down under who was building an early Chevrolet roadster. He started with crapy junk and stuck with it and was an insperation to me. I started with a Model A Ford frame and I feel that I have an advantage on the guy with the Chevrolet in that the parts that I am not using are way better than the parts that he has to use. When I look at the parts,time and money that are available to me I think whats keeping me from completing this project. I am doing all of the work myself and a few aches and pains in the joints are all that keeps me from working on the car. Extreemly hot or cold weather also is a factor. Anyway Look at what others are doing with a lot less and it will inspire you to do a lot more with what you have. As I think about what I just said I think that would be a good moto to live by.
Thanks, I needed this thread...now I know what to do with the white dry erase board that I was using for the kids while they were in school. Now that they are all gone to college. I have a use for it!! I am glad I stumbled into this thread.
We all feel overwhelmed at times. but you'll enjoy your car and the process far more if you take your time, do it right and stick to your original plan/picture of what you want.
That's funny because I did the list thing once too and then started going through a few catalogs to add up what I thought I'd need. Lets just say that when I caught my breath I threw out the list and have never kept one since. I'd agree that when you're close to the end of the build a list might be OK as you tie up the loose ends but for me, the bigger the list the more I find myself thinking that I'd be better off buying a car that's further along.
Everybody suffers burnout from time to time but you will get it done. It helps to have friends building cars and go help them and share the pain. You might have started with a project that needed less work as a warmup to the real thing.
Staring at a bare frame for 8 years now, I feel it will never get done. Anything that can go wrong in life, has gone wrong for me. But the frame is still there, waiting patiently. Sometimes these things take an iron will. You must find your iron will first.
Hang in there, you'll get it done in it's own good time, and when you do it will be something you can be really proud of. I do know how you feel though, I've been away from messing around with these old cars for well over 20 years and I'm just now coming back to it. I have a pile of rusted metal that used to be a '65 chevy pickup and I'm still trying to find all my tools and figure out which ones I've sold over the years lol. Like a lot of folks have said upthread, I'm making out a list and a detailed build plan and I think I'm going to sit down and build it from a plastic model kit and paint it up to see what it's going to look like. I don't know if that's helpful to anyone else but I think if I had a model representation of where I'm going it might help keep me motivated to get there. Just don't give up, do the best you can and good luck!
Just my .02, but I need a list too. Gsport, you've made some great progress so far so I don't have much to offer. Once you finish this car your next one will be so much easier, mostly because you'll have a lot more knowledge and confidence. When I make a list I break it down into sections like chassis, drivetrain, wiring, body, paint, etc. Of course, each of these has sub-categories. Although its impossible to work on one thing at a time from beginning to end, I find it much easier. I don't rip out the old wiring until I have the new harness in my hands and ready to install. I don't pull the old motor/trans until the new one is ready to go in. This is a perfect world scenario of course. I too dig using a white board but I don't use dry erase markers, I use water soluable markers. Reason is, I don't want to accidentally erase something. Like patman did, I cross off the items where I can still read the finished items. Good luck with the rest of the build, looks like you've got a great handle on it!
Being in the shop, working on my ride is my HAVEN at the end of the day. Even tho' in it's own way it can be overwhelming.. just being in the shop and working is a stress reliever for me. Life, family, work are the REAL overwhelming stressers of my life and when I walk into my shop and take a look at my wonderful projects, get a wrench in my hands, breath a sigh of relief...... it just makes everything else ok... Enjoy the journey!!
The list has been mentioned...it is a great tool not only to keep the wheels of progress turning, but to give you direction and confidence when you cross something off. It is a huge relief. Taking a step back to let your body or mind recoup is another stellar idea. I have found it relaxing to sit around my projects, picturing it at this event or that event...or parked outside the office. Hell, I still do that! I just enjoy the company of old tin. The club thing...well, if you can get a group of guys together to help that is good. Often someone just sitting in your garage can help. Maybe have em help hold a wrench or something at most. Dont seek help because the help you seek may be lacking or never show. Friends with skills that are willing to lend a hand are priceless, and the friendships made under the hood of an old project last a lifetime. At the same time...dont call your guy (or gal) all the time to wrench on your ride or they too will get burned out. Not all clubs are actively involved with each others rides...but some are. Searching for a club for the sole purpose of getting your ride up and running is, IMO, not the best way to walk into a club. The Rodsters just went through an upheaval of sorts due to this exact thing if that tells you anything. Only work on the essentials first. This was a huge hurdle for me to overcome, but as I progressed in my build it made sense. For example, I want a drop axle OR MII setup up front, but it is not an essential componant to me driving down the road with a huge smile on my face. Getting the engine dropped in...well, you get my point. Some things are luxury items and can wait until you start driving it and working the bugs out...like a gas gauge. (dont ask) Just because you are driving it does not mean it is done...in fact it is far from. It leaves you with little projects that take a day or so...but you can drive while working on it. This is MUCH better than constantly working on it with no reward in sight. All the ideas mentioned in this post work well, but you need to find what works for you.
no need to feel overwhelmed with a project that looks that good .... i've been a tractor mechanic for over 40+ years ... spent time restoring antique tractors and cars for people with way too much cash ,, and short on patience ... here is a picture of mine ... it will get done when it gets done ... out of work for 3 years now ,,, waiting on disability checks to start coming in ... then i figure it will take around 2-3 years to finish .. and by the way ,,,, is is real nice if you have a shop..... mine is sitting in the Arizona sun ..no garage ,,,, no shade ......
I'm on year 3 of my RPU build. It's like eat'n elephant. Do a little everyday and it will be done. There are definately better and worse days. I have been alone for most of my build as well, but it's rewarding when you see progress though. Good luck.
The biggest help for me is having another drivable "Old Car" while I'm working on a project. That way...I don't feel like there's any rush to get finished and can stick to the task much easier.
If you want incentive, think about mowing grass or washing windows on Saturday instead of being in your garage doing what you really like. LOL
I get overwhelmed all the time but I just have to remind myself that slow and steady wins the race. Just take her bit by bit and make it part of your everyday if you only spend an hour a day on it your still getting somewhere man.
The Jalopy Journal
