FNG Tech: What I've learned so far!

This post had been rattling aroung in my pea brain for some time and I finally got some time to post it. I often see there are alot of people like me that are working on their first project car. I thought I would share some of the lessons I've learned so far working on my car. In my garage I have three sayings posted in various places to keep me on track and focused. They are: BE PRODUCTIVE, COOL SHIT TAKES TIME and IT'S AN OLD CAR IT'S ALREADY BITCH'N.

About me: I'm 43, Retired military, Before this project my ONLY automotive experience was in high school auto shop. I have done oil changs and a brake job or two since. Nothing more.

LESSON 1: Think before you buy. I bought my car in 05 not knowing what the hell I was looking at. I got fucked. (more like I let myself get fucked)
The guy I bought it from said it just need some mystry oil in the cylinders and the motor would run WRONG. It was junk. I did not know all the places to look for rust so I missed most of the rust. Needless to say I ended up with a major project. That car acually sat for 6 months before I did anything. I did not want to face the wrath of the wife either. I'm glad it's a Chevy though. Lots of interchangability and aftermarket stuff.

LESSON 2: YOU CAN DO IT!!! Like I said before this car I had virtually no experience. I never welded or painted, ect. There is SO much info on the internet and dvd's and books it amazing, Thank god for the HAMB and other sites. Since starting my car I rebuilt the front end, hung new rear leafs and rear, replaced the inner and outer rockers,both front qrtrs, two body mounts, both front floors, filled the firewall and a host of other stuff. It's a process like anything else. Read, absorb and understand and you can do it.

LESSON 3: BE PRODUCTIVE!!! I work in the marine industry. My minimum work week is 60 hrs. I keep a dry erase board in my garage with what I feel are the next steps in the project along with the associated parts and materiels that I need. I also have a section "nothing better to do" That is for when I don't have alot of time or I'm waiting on something. Ya know, strip this, paint that,ect. As much as I love this site. My car is not going to build it self while I'm sitting on my ass on the computer. REMEMBER: BE PRODUCTIVE!!!

LESSON 4: IT'S GONNA TAKE LONGER THAN YOU THINK!!! I think alot of people start a project and set themselves a hard timeline. When they realize they are not going to make it they say fuck it and give up. When I started my car my youngest son was staring the sixth grade. I told myself if I drove it to his high school graduation I would be happy. Am I going to make it? HELL YEA!! But I set a conservative goal and I work on it when I can and just keep plugging away. I look at eash step or subsection: Motor, front end, doors or trunk as it's own seperate project. That way I don't get to overwhelmed and just focus on that small task.
REMEMBER: COOL SHIT TAKES TIME!!!.

LESSON 5: IT"S GONNA COST MORE THAN YOU THINK!!! When I started this project. I only had your basic homeowners tools. No welder or compressor or torque wrenches. BUT..... There are good deals out there if you are patient and beat the brush a little. I got my Lincoln Weldpak 100 (mig ready) for $150.00 at the local pawnshop. I found my compressor on Craigslist for $250.00. It's 60 gal. with a 2 stage Westinghouse compressor motor and a Dayton elec. motor. That was one of my better scores. I got a engine hoist and stand off the Sunday radio flea market for $75.00. The deals are out there. Also, I had to set my money priorities straight. Those 57 Caddy Hupcaps on Ebay are cool but the won't do me any good if I don't have the money to rebuild the front end!

LESSON 6: DON'T GO CRAZY: When I first got my car I had visions of a heavy chop, air ride, Caddy qtrs. ect. Face it I'm not Cole Foster or Alex Gambino. This is my first car and I have never done any of this stuff before. It will be cool but it will be safe and done right. I can always do that other stuff later. REMEMBER: IT'S AN OLD CAR IT'S ALREADY BITCH'N

These are strictly my opinions based on my own experience. PLEASE chime in and help out with what you've learned along the way! Thanks, Todd

There are more pics of my project on my photobucket page

THE LAST PIC IS WHAT I HOPE TO END UP WITH

 

Nice post tugmaster, I know it can be over whelming at times but when it all comes together there is no greater feeling.

 

Some real wisdom in this post for sure.

 

Well Said.

 

Just read Lesson #3 = Back to the garage.....................

Seriously, good post.

 

This is great. I have found you need to make a plan of what you want the finished car to be and stick to it. Getting side tracked by constantly changing plans is a sure way to stall on a project and ultimately never complete it. I build custom machinery for a living and I can tell you the first 90% of a project is easy, it is the last 10% that will drag on and on if you let it.

 

as another member of the marine industry , well said man! your doing great..

 

You have a good attitude towards your project, and a good grip on the reality of it and that's very important. I agree with your lessons. Especially on "LESSON 4: IT'S GONNA TAKE LONGER THAN YOU THINK!!!" , I always tell my self to calculate how long I think it will take to do something, then double it and add another half. Then MAYBE you'll have a close estimate.

 

You have learned a lot here, haven't you? Great post. Should be required reading.

 

Very good post, If it was easy everyone would do it!!

 

I agree with your post... but I'd really like to see a bigger picture of how you have the body suspended over the frame. I'll be needing to do something like that eventually for my 52 Fleetline.

 

I need to post this in my garage! thanx tug

 

good post!

 

Slide,

Go to my Photo bucket page and you can enlarge the pics. Just 4x4's and some bracing. And alot of praying when I set it on there for the first time. Actually it was very steady. Todd

 

Great post. I'm in the same boat as you. Pun intended. Glad to know there are others like me, seems like everyone else here is very talented. I'm 50 and have made all the same mistakes you've mentioned, still a rookie at this, but love what I'm doing. Lesson #3 is what I need. Perfect, Thanks

 

Just read my reply, just to clarify, I don't mean you don't have talent. Just making fun of myself. Your project looks good, have fun!

 

I vote this most helpful post of the year! Good hearing someone is in the same boat I am...

 

Thanks... looks pretty doable.

Dig the color for the engine, too!

 

gee thanks...and i was all set to give it up...

 

People say Im one of those talented ones,every time i go here i learn something like yourself

 

The dry-erase / calkboard idea is great. I have a board on my door in the garage--I have/ had 3 cars--divided the board in 3's--one section for each car.I put 3 items on each car-1.-2.-3. I work on those 3 things--AND finish those 3 things--then erase them and put up 3 more.Doing it that way, the projects don't seem so huge--works for me ,anyway!

 

Great post. These 6 rules should be a "sticky".

 

Man, this is a five star post if I ever saw one! Can never go wrong when using some good old common sense.. Hey Tug, going to Manchester tomorrow?

 

Exellent post! Another lesson I learned is to pick one project and stay with it. My wife says I have hot rod A.D.D!? Once I quit bouncing back and forth between my sedan delivery,30 A sedan and my race car and started concentrating on my delivery It was amazing how much progress I've made in a short amount of time. Hope to fire it monday and see it move under its own power by the end of the week!

 

thanks for the reality check...i need this one my garage wall also.glad to see i'm not the only one fumbling thru there first build..................dave

 

Great topic, well spoken. I tend to have the "ADD" problem with just one car. I'm constantly jumping around on different parts of my build. I tend to like alot of different styles and my mind is constantly thinking how this would be cool or that and I end buying stuff I don't need or buying good parts when I could have repaired what I already have. When I see what other people have done and sometimes how quickly they accomplish it I feel inferior and then question my abilities. I also remind myself that this is my first kind of build like this and I'm constantly learning and picking up info from alot of people both on here and else where. later shawn

 

These 6 lessons are going up on my garage wall right under the one I put up there last year. That one is Always remove thumb before the hammer strikes!

 

4 project cars ,boxes and boxes of never to be used parts 'cause I've found something better/different....Where was this post when I started them all?
Really we all knew every one of them but never admitted it.

 

Yeah, buddy. Im with you. Been there...

 

Always the smart ass.