Projects WHEN BUILD THREADS "GO COLD" - What not to do

I don't start build threads because I only get to build around life happenings. More building in winter, less as summer activities occur. I do a fair amount of photos so I may decide to share a build if I am sure I can finish it in short order. The bad thing about waiting is if a question is asked, I can't go back in time and show an answer.

 

jimpopper, Why is important to finish a build in short order?
Like Flash Gordon, Dick Tracey, Superman, and other serials that go on for years, the interest and intrigue continues...

 

Mine is one of the stalled ones but I don't know if anyone has noticed. It is part build thread and part where I keep my notes to myself. I am fighting with my dead friends for my shop space and they seem to be winning just by shear numbers. Note to living friends: I'm not hauling your crap home! I started a major shop cleanup that so far is a bigger mess. I don't want my sons to have to deal with this. Anyway I'll update the thread soon. There is some slight progress, new parts, new ideas.

 

Thanks for the reminder Six Ball, dead peoples stuff does take up a lot of space around here, and the time spent getting it to new homes takes away from build time, but provides some for the funds for the builds. When I have room for a 4x8 piece of plywood on the floor anywhere, it is time to add more stuff.

 

Because today's generation is all about instant gratification. We bought our scale model cars in pieces, the more the better. They open the Box and cut the bands, roll them out and done. I may organize my pictures and start a thread after the snow is flying and I'm knee deep in progress again.

 

Often wonder how many people buy someone else's DONE car and never experience the build experience? It is a different outlook on life, few people ever experience both ends of the hobby.

 

Is any car ever done? If it ends up with a new owner, that owner should want to make changes to make it to their vision.

 

Guess I should qualify "Done", to me it is a vehicle that is safe to drive cross country. Most people never get to drive one down the street unregistered.

 

I am about to give one of mine a heart massage, and get back in the mood to finish it. This is where it was, when I stopped.

 

I've been working on the same project for 48 years, so a build thread seems kind of presumptuous. I work in spurts of funding and/or time. Got more time now with retirement, but the weather has turned cold and I'm reluctant to spend much time in the unheated garage for the next few months. Also, available funds come during the school year, when I substitute teach. June, July, August and September don't provide me funds to play with the hotrod. I need to rebuild the automatic transmission, buy a radiator, paint it, wire it, put in glass and upholster it. I'm not going to do a build thread on the tranny as I've never done an automatic and don't want to waste everyone's time by showing how stupid and lost I am. After that, I might just do an assembly thread, including an initial startup of the 351W. Might just get that accomplished before the project turns 50.

 

^^^ Nice AA, I had a stone stock 1928 with the wire wheels and long running boards with rear fenders. It was a U. S. Post Office bulk carrying rack body. Guy I sold it to finished it and brought it over to show me, looked very nice.

Bob

 

One of the reasons I watched The Waltons was the cars. Especially the As.

 

That Walton truck was a '29 AA Express, which is what I'd like to emulate. Unfortunately, finding an express bed is nearly impossible. I'll get someone with an 8-10-foot brake to bend me up some 16 or 18 gauge and go from there.

 

Just something about stone stock new Model A Fords out in the snow. Bob

 

Cool truck osage orange. I hope you will continue to post progress updates.

Some folks are able to stay focused on a singular car project and devote all their resources to complete a project. The TV show car build "docu-dramas" seem to cater to this with dubious deadline plot themes. Yup, instant gratification. But many rodders have to split their time with other things and that draws things out.

 

Especially on the internet. I'd love to be able to post daily on my progress and spend all my days in the garage. But with a full time job at 60 hours/week and travel on top of that, I just don't have the time to dedicate to my project. It sucks, but that's the way it is. I had planned to retire in May '23, but now they're asking me to stay on for 2 more years and take on new responsibilities. The first thing I thought about was my project! Hahahahha. We'll see. I ain't getting any younger, and I'd like to enjoy the car once it's done.

 

My advice?
RETIRE!
Let the young guys work the 60 hour weeks.
Life is too short to work until your health goes away and you can't enjoy the life you have worked so hard to have.
Don't let your boss's problems become your problems and short cut your enjoyment of your life.

 

Amen! Preach on brutha...

 

Hell! I'm retired and I still don't have the time to work on my roadster.

 

I have found that I am better doing threads on running/driving cars and the adventures with them. Most of my build threads (and actual builds) have stalled... I am hoping that we can get back on my sons 63 C10 soon. And, my other sons 51 Chevy pu will be nice to get back to as well. If it weren’t for life and keeping everyone’s drivers going, maybe I could make progress on the bigger projects.

 

Amen
How I ever found time to go to work is beyond me.

 

Exactly! I wish I could do as good of a job for myself as I did for my employers.

 

I haven’t stopped working on mine, although the cold weather has put a damper on progress. I need to go and post an update.

 

I did a motor and trans rebuild thread on another forum and it was gratifying to have a bunch of people follow along over the 2 years it took to complete. Same deal with kids in school, soccer, basketball, cross-country, baseball games up the wazoo, oh and work! But some guys posted that the first thread they checked when they logged on that place was my build thread. It helped motivate me through the project and it's been many years since, so many that if I go back and read it through, it's surprising all the details that I've forgotten. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

 

Build threads are beneficial for the builder as well as fellow forum members.
In my case, as I'm sure others, we are an aging group whose memory isn't as sharp as it once was.
If a build gets drawn out over a period of time, there may be a time, that you need to research your own build to see what you did.
I do find it a shame though that opinion threads about wheel choice, color choice, etc. get more activity/response.
It may be because everyone can contribute to those, where a build thread, people may be intimidated or lack the knowledge.
I appreciate the people who post their builds..Thank you for taking the effort.

 

I very much agree with the above posts. I use my thread to keep notes and information. I recently went through a restored some pictures and corrected some spelling. It wanders quite a bit and gets into the shop, tools, wine making and stuff that jus comes up but is part of the project in its own way. I am grateful for others who have given information & encouragement. Grumpy Gabby 2 and I have shared a lot of information about '25-26 Chevy roadsters especially the wood framing. This information is very hard to come by and I hope when we are done we will have it pretty well covered so if anyone else wants to keep the wood they will have what they need.
It is very good to have others following along and showing interest in my build. I need the encouragement and input. The thread is about 6 1/2 years old but the idea goes back to the early '60s and parts gathering began in the 80s. I'm looking forward to getting back to it. At this point it is just part of me and working on it is more important than finishing it. I will be excited to take the first drive though.

 

Have been looking @ my speedster sitting in the middle of my barn for quite awhile,trying to get back at it.Have had a cpl rough yrs,serious heart attack,broken leg along with lifes little bumps. I've never stopped looking for things the car needs along the way, found a copper tank thats gonna make a nice fuel tank. Got a 37 transmission so still keeping to my 1939 cutoff.

 

First I notice this thread is a year old but has a great opportunity for those who have started a thread. I think this thread is a great reminder to those of us who have started a thread and it would be nice to update it even occasionally so others know it's not forgotten. Now I wonder, did I start such a thread.......... hmmmm guess I'd better research that.

 

With winter here in Minnesota it is time to dig back into the Catalina to make it a bit better for next year.
Starting on a list of what all might be good to tackle and then prioritize based on cost/benefit, then decide what can reasonably be done by spring.

 

Go Cold Or Out In The Cold?..