NO! NO! NO! Why talk you into something else. Just put it away, cover it with old houseold shit, a good layer of dust, and BOOM, it's the next "BARN FIND"! You will now be a HAMB hero!
You don't need anyone to talk you out of anything. Just do what feels right, right now. Your kids and family are more important than the iron in your garage, especially if it is a long way from done. So, you can cover it and forget it, throw some time and money at it and finish it, make it more of a project with the kids, or sell it and give someone else a shot at it (or whatever is BEST for you right now). If driving a late model muscle car gets your blood flowing in the meantime, so be it. Just do what feels right, not what people think you should do. Good luck.
I got my 39 in 1978 when I was 14, did the best I could and built it myself. Finally got to drive it a little in the late 90s til I hydrolocked the engine. Popped it into storage where it promptly got f'ed up, left it for 10 years partly out of disgust, partly out of being busy. Started working on it about 18 mos ago. I have owned the car for more than 30 years.... SELL IT??? F U.... It has never crossed my mind. You have to really want it.
Everytime someone fires up a mustang Beaelzibub breaks a kittens' neck. Do you really want that on your conscience? Paul
Only you know what will make you happy so do whatever you want, if you've decided to keep it that's great. I've put a bunch of projects on hold for the family and even sold a few because of the family, but you will never get the looks of appreciation you get driving an old car in a modern "muscle car". Good luck with the project and/or final decision.
I find that when I am frustrated with Child/Family/Life, the car is a good way to focus on something else. When the car becomes frustrating, the Child/Family is a good thing to focus on. It can be fun to have a car to go and blow off steam, it is diminishing returns. As many have said, newer cars just do not have the soul. You will get bored with it. My wifes car is OT, is a blast to drive, but even it wares out over time. Like others have said, why not just move it to the back of the garage, throw a tarp over it, come back once you have renewed interest.
If you have free storage and don't need to sell it - just park it for a few years and then come back to it when the nest empties. I "parked" my 40 for 8 years - not including the slow 15 year restoration. Am glad I did.
I'm a Whoader, my vote might not count. my logic is that selling an unfinished project you might get 1/10 of your time and money invested. if you finish it you'll get a 100% of the pride and joy and can sell it for 2/10+
just make a goal of working on a little at a time. I know you can at least rebuild the front suspension easy enough once you get the parts. I have only like 30 minutes to 2 hours if I am lucky and know that I can replace most of one of those bullet points in one sitting. Dont worry about chopping it or the interior for now... or even the body work. Get it to drive first. Your list is too big. narrow it down... it will lessen the frustration. If I had a big list like that for my 2 projects I would probably hang myself with my shoelaces. Here is my list for you: 1) get it running (that includes doing the limited wiring to get it running) 2) suspension work 3) brake work 4) get it driveable THEN go back and redo the wiring with everything you want. THEN do body work.. THEN worry about interior... If you really really really want to chop it... worry about then in the body work stage. once you get it driveable you will get the motivation, the frustration will be gone and you will be excited again. trust me its a good feeling to be able to take it around the block for the first time
Why are you not getting the kids involved? No wonder you have no interest in it, your family isn't into it. You are showing an interest in their life have them reciprocate by helping out. They may act like they are allergic to work and to busy, but just ask them to help you and keep it fun (mechanical stuff that way you start a particular project and they will see it get completed) and if they get bored then quit and do a little more the next day. Pretty soon they will see what you are trying to accomplish and get into it. If the kids are into it the mrs. doesn't mind it as much if funds are used on the car because it is now a family project, not what you do to get away from the family! This also gives them an opportunity to learn problem solving (give them a chance and I bet they surprise you) which is a huge leg up in school and life in general. if your life is that nuts just set aside sun. morning and thats it. A good way to keep it on track would be to say you want the car to be a driver before anyone goes to college that gives you a reasonable deadline and involves them. Yep its gonna take years but It's the journey not the destination man! Good Luck!
Love them family things but sometimes you gotta think about what you're doing. I once sold a 56 Porsche Speedster to get married to my ex-wife. Shall we say that this possibly was not the best choice at the time ( especially in 35 year retrospective). I still miss that car. But then I miss all of the cars. Billy
Two high school girls. Tried to get them interested, didn't happen. Wife is not into it either. That's just reality...
I started on my Cadillac July 4th, 2005...oh here, read it for yourself: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=329070&highlight=the+best+55+caddy+build It's taken me 5 years to re-do all of it...it's now getting the body work finished and it'll be painted some time next month... There's really no need to "hurry" a project, sometimes just doing small stuff to it will pacify your build urges...it does me...and times I just go out to the garage and sit and study the car, thinking about it. A Mustang is nice...but you've already got money in your build, will you get enuff out of it to pay for the Mustang...??? R-
Started my Merc in 88....that's 1988...radical custom,lots of weird shit done to it..than kids activities most nights,plus being self employed,working a ton of hours..then my Mom was sick for 10 years..I was the only kid close to her..then Dad died,partly from the stress of taking care of her..had to move into her house for 11 months to take care of her..worked on the car as much as possible after she died..then divorce,and the battles that go with that..then fell in love again,that lasted for 3 years,not much car work then,either.. Cars are all still in the garage,I'm 57,and still self employed..Kids gone,parents dead,no g/f anymore.. The cars don't eat,they're all dry,just waiting on me,or who knows,whoever my kids sell them to after I'm gone. Don't sell...I may never finish any of mine,honestly,but as long as I own them,the dream is still very much alive.
x2. Also, I have a project that I've had since 1977. I'm gonna get to it one of these days. I'm not worried about it.
You need motivation? My wife and I have a two year old daughter and a set of twins that are a month old..Keeps us both busy!! I found the time to make my 49 chevy a driver. From the field to the daily drive to work. Its far from perfect but it takes me where I want to go. The key is MAKE TIME!! For me the time was Saturday and Sunday mornings from 5am till everybody woke up then it was family time. If your dedicated to your obsession you will find the time, if not buy a mustang!
I'm a bit torn on a response to you. first, I'm a bit in the school with those that if you're considering it, maybe you aren't a hot rodder and should go ahead and sell it. I'm also a bit with the school of thought that you need the time with your kids, so spend your time there. So, my advice is to keep the car, store it. It doesn't eat anything so it costs nothing to keep (leave the wife's car in the driveway, park the project in the garage). Pretty soon, (within a year or so), your kids are not going to want to have anything to do with you and want to spend all the time with their friends and very very little of their time with the 'rents. Then, you'll have more free time to resume work on the 37. In the meantime, buy a beater to run around in.
honestly anyone that is telling him to sell it based on the fact that he is considering getting something else that he can enjoy immediately can go pound sand. He came here for advice, not a verbal bashing by people that are either retired and have all the time in the world or can afford to drop 10 grand in a motor or have someone else do it for them. That is pretty rotten to tell him to just sell it because he isnt a true hot rodder. maybe the folks that are posting this kind of garbage should sell their cars because a true hot rodder would help a fellow car enthusiast out by giving him helpful advice.
I have a Model T project and a Model A project that never get worked on. I’m fine with that, because they’re in storage and they’re there if I want to think about them, but more importantly, because I have an old car to drive when I want to. Sounds like you have only a project, and that’s a tough spot to be in. You’re getting negative feedback from a lot of fellows not because you’re considering walking away from your ‘37, but because you mentioned a Mustang as a potential replacement. I think if you’d said ‘52 Ford, the response would have been totally different. For many here, you’re either completely a pre-muscle car guy, or you don’t get it. I tend to see it differently. So yeah, store the project if you can, and it’ll be there later, what you replace it with is up to you, but it sounds like you need to scratch the car jones with some driving, and I respect that. If you can’t keep the project and get a driver, then I suggest you sit down with a copy of Mustangs and Fast Fords and a copy of Rod & Custom. Go back and forth and see what’s giving you yearnings more, and then you’ll know what to look for in a driver. Maybe it will be a Mustang, maybe it’ll be something HAMB-like that you can drive. -Dave
I feel your pain. Thank God my son is into the car and bike scene. Otherwise I'd be in the same boat with you. Hey, there's always hope for grandsons, right? May want to keep the car for that.
man im in the same boat!!!! but im not giving up! i feel good when i get stuff done, even if its just a bit! it will be worth it when i get to drive it! and i will never sale my car! ever! did that once before, and i will never do that again! just keep on trucking, mustangs are chick cars, i dont care how fast they go.
Ok I'll bite, I have a late model GT, it beats driving a camry every day. On that, the reason I bought the car was because life took over a little, and I don't get to enjoy my old cars as much as I'd like because they're at my dad's house. It holds me over until I can take one for the weekend or slip away to tinker. I still make time for them even if I don't drive or work on them as much as I'd like.
I had similar time constraints with kids/family/work. I started getting up an hour early four or five days a week and protecting it as garage time. Amazing what you can get done in an hour when you know its all you've got. Just keep your tools and workspace organized and put everything away before you leave the shop so you're ready to pick right up where you left off when you come back. Some days I can't do a full hour, but I can do a half - if you're organized you can still make good progress with that limited time.
The Jalopy Journal
