Technical Are you a Happy Mechanic or a Mad Mechanic

When I was young, like ear deep in transmission fluid, I was a mad mechanic.
Paint would flake.
Sometimes things would fly.
Now that I'm old, I'm a happy mechanic. I'm very slow but not dumb slow...methodical. Now I'm a problem solver rather than a problem maker.
The only thing that really gets me now is loosing my dang glasses. That and the occasional mystery wrench.

 

Body guy, happiest wetsanding the final coat of primer. paint is a let down, project is over.

 

If it doesn't make you happy, don't do it. Problem solving is fun.

 

As a general rule, I start out happy and end up with an attitude.

 

I found my favorite wrench yesterday! Been missing for more than a month.

 

If you find tools out in the front yard you know I'm not happy. HRP

 

I got "released" from my first mechanic job in 1961 because the owner said there was too much loud cussing. I think it was on the third dynaflow r&r on a '57 Buick. The boss had never rebuilt one and I pulled it at least 3 times before he got it right.

 

I’ve a dual personality I guess. If I need to fix something to get me or the kids to work by the next day, I’m not happy.

I’m “happy” when doing something on the projects, there’s no rush

 

Depends on if I have time and money to fix what is broken... In general, I have never really been a mad mechanic since I learned a long time ago that throwing a boot through a wall when I was a kid made for a "learning opportunity" in fixing more than was broken to start with...

 

When I get frustrated...stop. Go for a walk, work on another project. It'll all be different when you come back to it (especially if a sledge hammer is nearby).

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I'm generally a pretty happy mechanic. I don't throw stuff and I seldom curse at what I'm working on. I curse more when I'm sitting having a beer with friends, not at them, just putting a little something extra in the conversation.

I enjoy solving problems, especially the ones that others were unable to. Sometimes all it takes to solve a problem is cleaning my glasses so I can see what's happening.

 

I only work on project cars now.If it takes 3 days to do a door skin so be it.I walk away a lot.As a kid I worked all weekend to get the beater ready for the commute week,and spend late Sunday afternoon trying to source parts.Not fun.

 

I'm always happy to get started, and always happy to get done.

But sometimes in the middle I am not quite as happy.

 

When I am working on the drag coupe at my home shop I am happy. At my job I have to work on a lot of junk, and high mileage beat into the ground cars. I am almost always rushed and yes I do get very pissed.

 

When I worked as a mechanic it was just another job, they all seemed to blend together after a few years. Headgaskets and no-starts.

Now that I only work on my projects when I want to (or have the time) its enjoyable and relaxing. If it's not, I do something else.

When my wife's car breaks down, I'm not as happy, have to get it fixed asap. Cant look for deals on parts on Ebay.

 

When I worked on my old Chevys back in the day, I was a happy camper... Now that I own Fords, it's a different story.....

 

Love it!

 

Working on these heaps doesn't bother me....doesn't bother me, doesn't bother me, bother me, bother meee.....

 

Now that I'm a old fart I enjoy working in the garage. Sure beats the alternative.

 

Something I often hear when Grandkids , wander into the garage , “ PaPaw NO POTTY WORDS ! “ . I worked 35 years as a pipeliner , good hard working men , but not to be taken lightly . Words I have never heard before came from their mouths !

 

I enjoy sitting in the recliner with my feet up thinking about working!
When I work I get pissed off thinking about how productive I used to be.

 

I´m in the happy camp. I ´m glad I can afford to play with old cars in my free time and it´s keeping me busy and focused. Plus I learn something new almost every day. My glass is half full, usually.

 

Not sure why , but I have experienced the same , hahaha---Lately I got a little upset while working on my Dad´s OT econoline van... 7 hrs just for pulling an engine, and nothing , really nothing went easy, I could have set that POS on fire... My Dad only asked me if I was tired because I wouldn´t speak anymore. I answered that I just didn´t have anything nice to say, and he understood immediately, hahha, shuffled off and came back with two beers. That helped alot.

 

Lol, found my 1/4" drive 5/16" deep socket and 1/4 drive bit in the furnace return (re-installing grill after painting). Spend a good hour the other day looking only because I noticed it was missing from where it should be. Ya, getting old sucks!

 

The shop is my happy place

 

I start out happy working on most tasks, my back has a different opinion though which changes mine.

 

This is an oddity people who don't wrench won't understand, but even when I'm mad, swearing and yelling, and things aren't going my way, I'm still happy to be turning wrenches.

 

I have always been a happy wrencher, ( its a form of therapy for me) although these newer cars with miles and miles of tiny wires, computers and the need for expensive diagnostic equipment has KINDA flattened the smile a bit. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy every single minute I spend in the shop, being retired I'm almost never in a rush, the major thing that bums me is that I don't/cant have a lift. It's getting to be a pain crawling under and back out from under the car repeatedly. Been thinking about installing a pit. A big big smile always shows up when I get to work on an "OLD" car, something that I know a lot( well maybe, depends on who you ask!!) about. Mitch

 

Generally speaking, happy. A world of difference since I retired. Back when, I had limited time to get something done and therefore pressure to get it done. Now, if it doesn’t get finished today there’s always tomorrow. It’s a good feeling.
Just an example, I took out the front spring of my Model A to replace the reversed eye main spring with a regular mainspring. Once I got it back on the ground I realized I’d be better off with a longer second leaf. Oh well, kind of annoyed but will get back to it Wednesday.
Some of the stuff we do is for the “spirit of the exercise” and not worth getting all whipped up about.
Again, very different now.
While this is my logo:


I try to not have anything airborne.

 

Now that I am nearly as old as dirt, I am somewhat happy to just do things at my own pace. I remember my cousin back in the day was not a happy mechanic. There was this beautiful black 57 Chevy Bel Air hardtop in high school that a kid drove to school. It was really nice but a factory 6 cylinder. A year or so after high school I found out my cousin bought it. He came driving into our driveway one day for me to look it over since he had just converted it to a V8. There was a big crease in the hood between the two "birds". I asked how that happened. He said he hit his head on the open hood and proceeded to slam a huge Crescent wrench into it in anger...not a happy mechanic.