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Is it just me...I can't be the only jack@$$!!

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Buzznut, Mar 25, 2013.

  1. Buzznut
    Joined: May 9, 2008
    Posts: 2,349

    Buzznut
    Member

    So TWO years later and I have a choice: 1) button her up and drive her or 2) spend another year pursuing perfection. OK, "perfection" is subjective, but you get my point. I'm at the point where I can put body and paint off and drive it the way it is, or tear into body and paint and invest a few thousand more and not drive the project for at least another year.

    Did I underestimate the time and money needed? HELL YEAH!! But at this point, I'm looking for time behind the wheel more than oohs and ahhs from onlookers. Anyone else cut a complete resto short (put it off a bit longer) just to drive it and have some fun? Or am I the only idiot who underestimated exactly what it was going to take to get it done "just right"?
     
  2. Molonewolf
    Joined: Jan 22, 2012
    Posts: 195

    Molonewolf
    Member

    Drive it, paint it later.
     
  3. Two edged sword,,you know as well as I do that if you drive the truck as is you are going to come up with a thousand reasons not to pull it back apart and you will never finish it.

    Don't you still have something to drive?

    Patience Grasshopper! :D HRP
     
  4. Buzznut
    Joined: May 9, 2008
    Posts: 2,349

    Buzznut
    Member

    I'm going to, just upset with myself for abandoning the original plan. Honestly though, if I don't drive it soon I'm going to go bat-scat crazy.

    I do, but nothing cool....
     

  5. dt50chev
    Joined: Mar 15, 2005
    Posts: 596

    dt50chev
    Member

    Currently throwing my 49 Styleline together so I can drive it to the Roundup in less than 2 weeks. Cutting lots of corners (not safety wise) just so I can have a driver again. Paint and body work can mostly be done a little at a time on a running car, just like we all did in high school. At some point you tire of working on it all the time and just want to drive the thing. I say drive it.

    .
     
  6. You're not even close to being the only guy who's underestimated his project. My 1 year project is coming up on it's 3 year anniversary with no end in sight. Wondering the same thing, thinking I should just get it on the road, but seems like a lot of work just to drive a crappy car. Than again, I've got another project waiting in the wings, and it's calling to me... :D
     
  7. do you have pictures? there are "long cuts" to get the car, up and running.
     
  8. I know exactly how you guys feel,,my 1 year project only took 9 years.:rolleyes: HRP
     
  9. harpo1313
    Joined: Jan 4, 2008
    Posts: 2,584

    harpo1313
    Member
    from wareham,ma

    nothin like a good shakedown before the pretty goes on .drive it.
     
  10. Yes and No. I'm kinda in the same boat. I like to keep them driving as much as possible because that's where the fun is at for me. Driving them is more fun than sitting in the lawn chair at the show in my Tommy Bahama shirt, next to my perfect paint, waiting for admirers to ooh and ahh...so I can turn up my nose at them. I know that's hard to believe but it's true!

    That being said, I'm at the point on my '58 where I've just about decided to finish the interior and get the outside in primer and drive it for a while. Otherwise I could be dead before all the body and paint is done.

    The hard part is knowing where to stop. I have a natural inclination to go for the perfection and as a result it just keeps sucking me in deeper and deeper. I'm currently formulating a plan for less perfection and more fun.
     
  11. Buzznut
    Joined: May 9, 2008
    Posts: 2,349

    Buzznut
    Member

    The link in my signature is the truck I'm talking about. All mechanicals are new including brake lines, brakes, wiring, battery, starter, driveline, suspension, mounts, distributor, alternator is rebuilt, radiator is rebuilt, new tires, new wheels, etc...

    I've sprayed the body all one temporary flat color and have even done a little temporary bondo and body work to hide major blemishes. Long term plan is to replace doors, fenders and hood with new reproduction pieces. The planned color is a dark pearl and cannot be painted in pieces, so it's either 12 more months, or drive the wheels off this summer. I'm driving the wheels off....
     
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2013
  12. Buzznut
    Joined: May 9, 2008
    Posts: 2,349

    Buzznut
    Member

    THAT is exactly how I feel. What's worse, with all these new regulations and gas changes, who's to say we'll even get to drive them much longer. I'm hitting every show I can...first one is late April.
     
  13. One thing to consider here and I don't mean to sound morbid, but how old are you now? As others have said, a year or two in primer to work out any bugs is not a bad thing and who knows, you are enjoying driving it for those two years. There's no guarantee as to how long we're going to be on this magical orb. Getting older has a way of putting things in perspective for sure. Now that I've depressed the hell out of everyone reading this, I'm sure you're no closer to a decision...........:)
     
  14. jmpowie
    Joined: Dec 2, 2006
    Posts: 202

    jmpowie
    Member

    The only plus NH has is you can drive in the summer but you have 6 months of snow that you can paint and make it look its best.
     
  15. cleatus
    Joined: Mar 1, 2002
    Posts: 2,277

    cleatus
    Member
    from Sacramento

    Shiney is not that much fun.
     
  16. 65PANELRAT
    Joined: Jul 27, 2007
    Posts: 833

    65PANELRAT
    Member

    Drive it! I call em' a work in progress!
     
  17. Rocket88
    Joined: Jul 11, 2001
    Posts: 912

    Rocket88
    Member

    Take it from some one that wasted too many years looking for perfection.
    I finally got my car running late last summer, never had so much fun, now I just kick my self for waiting so long.
    Drive it!!
     

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  18. Gearhead Graphics
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 3,890

    Gearhead Graphics
    Member
    from Denver Co

    Drive it now and youll never finish it. Chill out, take the time to finish it right.
     
  19. 40StudeDude
    Joined: Sep 19, 2002
    Posts: 9,536

    40StudeDude
    Member

    Drive it...you might find some small items that'll need fixing while putting some miles on it...and you won't have to worry about scratching up the fenders leaning over them...

    Tear it apart next winter...oh wait, you guys don't have winter...!!!

    R-
     
  20. Buzznut
    Joined: May 9, 2008
    Posts: 2,349

    Buzznut
    Member

    I live in the Sierra Nevada's, we have winter. You can't do anything outside around here from about mid-November to the end of March. This was a relatively mild winter, but last winter there were times we had 6 feet of accumulated snow. LOL, I think you have me confused with those SoCal guys...

    I'm driving it, and will continue to until it starts looking haggard again. I'm off onto my next project, and I can enjoy driving this one during THAT build. Jeez, I think I just discovered why it's a good idea to have two projects at once.
     
  21. Firefly
    Joined: Sep 15, 2005
    Posts: 377

    Firefly
    Member

    My truck is a work in progress. It is in primer and doesn't have upholstery as such. That said ...... we have been havin a blast in it this summer.

    This winter it will get carpet and upholstery, but no panel work or new paint. Will enjoy it again next summer and may consider putting some paint on it the following winter.

    My vote is to drive it :)
     
  22. I'm driving mine as soon as I get it in primer/sealer...I'll paint it when I get sick of the primer upkeep.
     
  23. trollst
    Joined: Jan 27, 2012
    Posts: 2,108

    trollst
    Member

    All my cars the first year are in primer, thats the year to decide what needs changing, usually nothing, but if necessary its no big deal. Paint it and you have to live with it, besides, the most important thing to remember is.....its a car...a machine built to take you places, not to look at, drive it and enjoy it.
     
  24. fleetside66
    Joined: Nov 20, 2006
    Posts: 3,003

    fleetside66
    Member

    It depends on how much time you have left on the face of this planet. Seriously. If you're under 60 & have no serious health problems that might compromise your existence, wait the extra time. If not, put gas in it, charge the battery & burn rubber right out the freakin' garage.
     
  25. Frankenstein57
    Joined: Jun 16, 2010
    Posts: 75

    Frankenstein57
    Member

    I have a 57 ranchero project that started in06/07. It stalled for 3 years when I found this 58 I couldn't pass up. I came to realize the body was a waste of time, I found a much more solid one, cut the other body up. So in case I feel like you do in a year or so, I'm trying to save the window gaskets if by chance I drive it in primer for awhile. If you can afford the paint now, do it. Mark
     
  26. VoodooTwin
    Joined: Jul 13, 2011
    Posts: 3,453

    VoodooTwin
    Member
    from Noo Yawk

    If you value fun behind the wheel more than the oohs and aahs, then you answered your own question.

    I'm in the same boat with my truck; I don't give a crap what it looks like, I just wanna drive it before the worms come knocking.
     
  27. thehazguy
    Joined: Aug 12, 2010
    Posts: 1,849

    thehazguy
    Member

    Life is short Drive it
     
  28. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,627

    The37Kid
    Member

    I've never finished a project and had it road worthy, so my advice would be finish it and drive it in two years. Bob :)
     
  29. onegalonly
    Joined: Nov 2, 2008
    Posts: 128

    onegalonly
    Member

    i'm going through the same thing right now. i'm putting i together to drive this summer. i'll look at it as getting the kinks out of it before i go for the finished product.. WHO AM I KIDDING, I NEVER SEEM TO FINISH ONE !!
     
  30. castirondude
    Joined: Jan 26, 2012
    Posts: 496

    castirondude
    Member

    I'll second this opinion. I usually focus on reliability and impeccable driveability, I.e. my goal is to have all my cars and trailers in a shape where I would not hesitate to drive any of them cross country. Having a top notch paint job, if anything will subtract from that goal

    Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app
     

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