The I am sick of working on my truck thread

[cortcomp]

I'm about 6 weekends from really wanting my truck for goodguys columbus. When we painted the cab, there was an area where we didn't get paint (near the back window gasket) but didn't see it because it was dark in the garage. We cleared over it but i always had it on the to do list to scuff it and paint/clear it, and sand the whole area and buff to kind of blend it in. Fast forward, glass guy is coming tomorrow to make a custom rear window (long story) and i figure i better get it done.

Once that's in, the bed is ready to go together with all new shiny parts (didn't want bed on while doing glass, and had other work to occupy me.) Well, i get it done, take the masking foam off....and i missed some and have to redo. Took the wind out of my sails for the night, knowing i'll have to redo that spot AGAIN. It's a small thing this far, after a year and a half straight and tons of money and effort, and great results. But, i closed down, didn't finish sanding and buffing the tailgate (which is my last panel to sand and buff, and would have taken an hour, you'd think i'd get it done.)

I am ALMOST there, but i find myself dragging..hopefully across the finish line in time! Everyrthing has fallen in place: weather, motor done, glass guy ready, money available to buy the last of my parts, but i can't seem to keep motivated.

Oh well, tomorrow is another day, i can fix that part in an hour or so i missed today. But damnit.

[NEWFISHER]

Stay focused, you can. Relax and cruise when this push is over. Read others build threads for inspiration. Take a break tomorrow night and head over to a cruise close by. Do a burnout in something....it gets your blood going!

[cortcomp]

Glass guy calls: Can't make it today, will come out monday or tuesday, which is really like next friday.

I don't think i've ever had a vendor on a project come through on time: machine shop, glass, transmission, what have you. You know how it goes: how long to do this? 3-5 weeks. 8 months later you're pestering them.

I work for myself in the service industry (not car related) and the kind of stuff people get away with in the auto related industry would never fly in mine, i'd be out of business in 6 months.

[63burban]

Exactly why I do everything myself.

[jbgroby]

BUT think how sweet the first drive will be! You'll quickly forget about all the time of delays. I started my truck in 2000, (yes you read right) had it in the paint booth when Katrina hit, started all over again in 2006. Still waiting on the painter to finish with the bed.

[cortcomp]

63burb: I would normally agree, but in this case i need a custom back window and i really don't know where to start cutting glass, and don't really want a new hobby Plus, with half the parts vendors selling these days not a correct or exact fit, this hobby can be "interesting" learning how and where things are off.

jbgroby: You are a patient man. This and my daughter have taught me some patience, but i am far from being calm. I just LOVE when a plan comes together, and having a smooth system to do things, and i despise when someone throws a wrench in my machines. Ugh. Still making progress, and still have 5 weekends left to get done. Once glass and drivetrain is in, should go together very fast.

I mean GM knocked out like 1000 a day, what could go wrong!?

[Willie 66]

life is sweeter when you drive a beater!

No joke! These old trucks look good in rust-blue-black-bondo "4-tone" paint jobs!

[Vernski]

Dern we all have ups and downs in life because of family, jobs and lack of money. Cover it up with a tarp and take a break, just hope there is not to much dust on the tarp when you get back to it. Good luck with your choices what ever they may be, I can feel your pain brother hang in there...Vernski

[RANDY COX]

Originally Posted by Vernski

Dern we all have ups and downs in life because of family, jobs and lack of money. Cover it up with a tarp and take a break, just hope there is not to much dust on the tarp when you get back to it. Good luck with your choices what ever they may be, I can feel your pain brother hang in there...Vernski

What Vernski said. Go and start looking at the Build threads that's what I do and it will help get you motivated, and No I don't work on my truck everyday either, just when ever I can and when I feel like it, Lots of times cash always holds me up. Heck I don't even have a Garage everything I do is outside. It's the pits when it's raining and If I had a garage I could still do some work but oh well In time..

[LostMy65]

I know myself.
I know my limitations.
I will never be able to do a frame off restore.
Anything I do to my truck will have to be at the very most; no more than what I can accomplish in a few months. Otherwise it becomes a job and loses my enthusiasm.
I admire those who have the dedication, but me; I'll keep it a tinker hobby.

[LT1 Burb]

Bought this to have a break from bodywork, original SS with a 4 spd and 327.

[morethanstock66]

Originally Posted by RANDY COX

Heck I don't even have a Garage everything I do is outside. It's the pits when it's raining and If I had a garage I could still do some work but oh well In time..

I'm right there also. No garage and we need rain here, but whenever I find myself with time and motivation to do work on it the past few months, it rains. We need it here, but I find myself cursing it. Working on floor pans, inner and outer rockers, and kick panels. I've never been good at body work and it is difficult, but I want to do it myself. Motivation gets hard sometimes

[earl84]

Originally Posted by cortcomp

Glass guy calls: Can't make it today, will come out monday or tuesday, which is really like next friday.

I don't think i've ever had a vendor on a project come through on time: machine shop, glass, transmission, what have you. You know how it goes: how long to do this? 3-5 weeks. 8 months later you're pestering them.

I work for myself in the service industry (not car related) and the kind of stuff people get away with in the auto related industry would never fly in mine, i'd be out of business in 6 months.

I know what you mean. Had 2 separate guys on the hook to do some rain gutter repair at my house. They just didn't show up, and one said as I was talking with him that he didn't have the right ladder and was gonna have a buddy do it. Huh? Why take the job in the first place, and who the heck authorized you to hire someone else to work on my house. Exactly why I try to do everything myself.

[ChrisDollins]

Originally Posted by cortcomp

I work for myself in the service industry (not car related) and the kind of stuff people get away with in the auto related industry would never fly in mine, i'd be out of business in 6 months.

Unbelievable isn't it. I was in the service industry for 13 years before I closed the doors. Cannot see how guys are getting away with the things they are. I've been chewed for being early, and others are weeks late and praised lol. I try to do everything in house in our new venture, but every once in a while you don't have a choice. I just make the deadline very clear and be accommodating.

But back on topic. I've tried the frame off deal before. I lose interest too quick too. I just try to keep it to running and driving projects. Maybe small week or two deals, but don't want it to be down very long. Definitely hats off to the guys who can do the big builds. I love watching them on here!

Chris

[cortcomp]

I've been sand blasting and painting the 100 little parts left (heater box, brackets, fittings, nipples, wiper equip, pulleys, etc). Just getting that done, made a great glass pattern with glass guy in monday, says he'll be back tuesday. Today "i'm going out of town this weekend, be back there monday."

I said hey, just cut and give me the glass, we can put it in. "No no, i'll do it for you, just put your bed on anyways"

I could put the bed on, but when someone drops a window on it and scratches it, who is going to fix it? me. Now, i feel like if i put the bed together, that gets him off the hook for feeling bad dragging it out. I told my father in law i almost hope he bails on monday too, so i don't feel bad tearing him a new one. I'm respectful, but people can push too far, and some people just won't do their job without being leaned on.

[JBX66]

Originally Posted by Sharps40

Go easy on yerself. Truck is 50 years old. I put in a new motor, three rear main seals, two oil pan gaskets, two intake gaskets and two valve adjustments, lookin at a third adjustment or a lifter replacement next oil change, a new transmission, two new trans speedo seals, a new trans rear seal and then another and now the pinion seal leaks.

I adjusted the carb and timing 342eleven times till I found a right setting and now netting 18.5ish mpg and running 65+ on the interstate regularly.

Chased headlight and turn signal gremlins till I ripped out the wires and made a new harness from scratch, broke a new throwout bearing and replaced it....

and the list go's on.

Mine is a daily driver but its rare to go a month without lifting the hood and tweaking something.

What I'm sayin is, it'll get to reliable daily driver status and then you'll spend a few hours each week for the rest of its life keepin it there. I'm 16K miles down the road in mine in one year and more of that spent in reliable worry free drivin than in frustratin breakdowns or tuning. Even if it does hiccup, ye'll know its systems inside and out an most often fix it in no time flat.

I wouldn't have any other truck!

This literally kept me sane