So what are you going to be doing "Hotrodwise" today....procrastinate about what you should be doing, but aren't? Getting very small to tackle a tiny project that builds on a big Hotrod? Driving your rig? Shaking your head in disgust over what is wrong with your rig? Moaning over your lack of funds to complete your project? Wishing you had what you don't? Trying to figure out what the heck your problem is? When you snap on that shop light....are you happy with what you see, or do you just look at it and shake you head and say, "What the heck am I doing?" Or say, "Gosh I wish I had more time to devote to my hot rod passion?" What is the number one thing preventing you from completing your Hotrod project? Time, money, motivation, scarcity of parts, know how, wife, other priorities??????? Lay it all out on the table.......then make a plan-and move forward! Hot rods don't get on the road unless the time is done in the trenches!
Drove the Shoebox out with a friend to check out a '56 Plymouth for sale. Stupid old man had his daughter tell us it's not for sale anymore. Gonna weld on my model T door later. Right now, beers and a movie while the weather starts to clear.
Up until I sold my car it was cash flow or lack there of. I can't use that as an excuse for a while anyway. Getting started has always been the hump for me. I guess I'm just naturally lazy. I blew the brake light fuse yesterday going to a small show so I have to trace down a short today. I want to pull back the trans in the 56 to install the clutch fork but I'm losing all my ambition for pulling the OD trans by myself on a creeper at my age. I know that I CAN do it...it's just not a fun job. That is the biggest hold up to getting it running and then it's on to the paint job. I've got to get that job in the rear view soon!!!
When I have time, I don't have money. When I have money, it means I'm working and don't have the time. Putting money aside never works, life always whips a curve ball and causes it to be spent elsewhere.....
There is this inverse thing that happens to us. We get old and have enough money and time, but our bodies don't cooperate. I would get a lot more done if I didn't have a bad back
Lets see.....went for coffee and got a lead on a 62 Ford 1/2 ton,took some garbage to the dump and scored some old tins,checked out the 62 Ford "only some trim and the 390 are good",gave a business card to some guys at the gas station hauling scrap vintage tin,stopped at my cuz's place and gave him the tins "he gave me some old 56 Pontiac trim and some wheel covers" then came home. Buddy called and we are heading to a junkyard shortly.....
Timely post, 1hotstude. I was headed to the garage and got sidelined by yard work. Been thinking a lot about what I'm getting done car-wise lately. I've been picking away at stuff a couple hours at a time lately and seeing some progress, but not as much as I like. So I'll keep plugging along...
Did a little yard work then adjusted the clutch and tweaked the FI unit a little on my 57 fuely car--then took it out and leaned on it a little
Tommy, I think that should be our new motto for us been there done that guys. I know I can do it but it just isn't fun anymore. I got out and inspected the pieces that I picked up at the Tri-Cities (WA) Kennewick, swap meet yesterday. The roadster was the big winner with 18 inch wire wheels, pedals and some other trinkets. Now I need to make a 150 mile one way jaunt out in the big middle of wheat country to pick up a F-1 three speed to go behind the flathead six. I did find out that I need spacers to make the wires work on my drums but weight shouldn't be a problem there. Now, It's off to my buddy's house to pick up a rear end for the roadster and maybe this afternoon I'll have something resembling a chassis sitting there.
I'm at work... earning some money (OT) for the hot rod fund. I don't want to be here when there's a bunch of stuff I could be getting done on any number of hot rod projects but I'm not the type to say "no" to working extra to help out. I guess I should get back to it...
Beautiful day to be outside...going to flush out the cooling system on the F-100 before installing the long-awaited Griffin radiator... time permitting, going to finish the engine compartment paint on the T-Bird so final assembly can commence... Good times!
Finishing the cowl for my new body on the dragster so I can make the White Walls and drags race in Armore next weekend with a fresh coat of paint instead of bare aluminum. Funds are always an issue, but motivation seems to be the killer.
Let lunch settle and am heading out to the shop to check for leaks, had the roof worked on a couple of weeks ago in anticipation of the spring storms. Clean up some around my 2 projects, Fairlane and Cougar, and pull the heads off the Cougar to install screw in studs. tnrotter
Spent most of the day at Temple Academy Dragway. It was the 20th Hill Country Street Rod Nostalgia Drags. This one was dedicated to the memory of Collin Casey. I've got some pics to post, including one of his last ride down the dragstrip when his ashes were scattered. I'll try and post the pics on Tuesday, won't be able to spend any time online until then.
Changed my mind. Welded supports for the driver door on the Shoebox. Now, finish dinner, this 34 yr old dishwasher will earn his keep and the back outside (it's raining right now) to adjust that driver door.
Took the wife and kids to an INDOOR car show. My 4yr old son kept saying "I'm gonna have one of these when I get big". Saw some nice cars and talked to some folks I haven't seen in a while. Would've been much more productive if we hadn't forgotten the show flyers for our show in June. Oh well.
Your post worked. I got off my ass and did a little work. Fixed the short but the brake lights still don't work. I need a pedal man to figure that out. Got the fuel line hooked up on the 56 and a few other insignificant tasks done. Thanks for the kick in the ass.
Tommy - you don't need a "pedalman", you just need the right length wooden brake pedal depresser.... vic
After 4 hours of sleep got up and went to the swap meet at the fair grounds, lot of crap, antiques, toys, clothing and such what few car parts that were there did need a home in my shop. Them got home and got the SNOW Blower off the tractor and put the mower on the tractor, found the dog lost in the yard and then mowed the grass. Got a BIG HUG from Mrs jalopy for finding our dog out there and now I'm to tired to get any thing done on the 54 so I might take a nap.
i missed that swap meet and did some work on my `29 pickup project instead, then changed oil in my `36. tomorrow i will finish up on the TH350 rebuild
We have been under Flood warnings all day here. Got up and was sanding the inner trim pieces on the Falcon Gasser my son and I are building when it came an absolute monsoon for about an hour. Water was rushing acroos the front of the garage door and down the yard and the small brach by my house that is usually dry looked like the Mississippi (literally). My son and I decided to drive out the road and look at the big creek and was in shock. A friend of mines garage was in about 2 feet of water and the creek behind him was very turbulant to say the least. I went home and got my trailer and we helped him get all his compressors,tools,parts,51 chevy truck,etc out before it got worse. When We got finished helping him I was soaked to the bone....came back home finished sanding my parts my son painted them bright Orange and they are out there DRYING right now....and it is still raining like a mutha.
Had to work till noon. Got off work and watched it rain the rest of the day, got all my rods ready to drive and all it does is rain damn Indiana weather.
Went here Saturday: http://picasaweb.google.com/alan.boldventure/CapitolaCaRegularSaturday# And here Sunday: http://picasaweb.google.com/alan.boldventure/CapitolaBayPorterNobHill#
I woke up Friday with a nasty cold and only worked a half day. Despite feeling like utter shit I dragged my ass to the tri-cities with my daughter to hit the swapmeet. Picked up a couple of what I think are 32-33 chev pickup doors, a rear sedan door, and a 28-29 gauge cluster complete with a SW speedo. Today I fixed the grill on my boy's truck and built a moving van box for it.
Didn't work on the dragster, but I did make some headway re-wiring the Triumph motorcyle, so that's something. Hope to finish the bike and get it back on the road in the next couple of weeks.
Ahhhhhh COFFEE,I love my coffee,Got my horn wired up,New temperature sending unit and gage hooked up,made spacers for the shift linkage,and put on new sway bar bushings.......and probably lost ten punds it was so freek`n hot out! Now just waiting for my king pins to be finished up at the machine shop......
The Jalopy Journal
