Staying Motivated - Project cars

EA2BA · 07-12-2005, 03:03 PM

My car the daily driver and as most probably know needed a new engine, well I got the engine, but have also been doing alot of other work, and have been SLOWLY completing the task of getting it back on the road, the fact is that I am finding it hard to keep my motivation up to complete the project quickly.

Working hard all day, then going home, spending maybe a few hours on the car when motivation is good, weekends always seem to involve doing something other then the car.

So all the project car people out there, how do you keep motivated to finish a project, or is building in spurts just the way it goes.

Mack 6 · 07-12-2005, 03:07 PM

Hey Dellboy. I'm probably the least inspired person, but I'd have to say set yourself a goal. All Chrysler Day next Year for my Ute, although it's not looking good. Too much to do.
I'm pretty impressed with the work that you have done so far. A lot better than I could have done. I suppose being a daily driver it's hard. Buy a bomb to get around and hook in maybe?
Good luck anyway

dansedgli · 07-12-2005, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EA2BA

My car the daily driver and as most probably know needed a new engine, well I got the engine, but have also been doing alot of other work, and have been SLOWLY completing the tsk of getting it back on the road, the fact is that I am finding it hard to keep my motivation up to complete the project quickly.

Working hard all day, then going home, spending maybe a few hours on the car when motivation is good, weekends always seem to involve doing something other then the car.

So all the project car people out there, how do you keep motivated to finish a project, or is building in spurts just the way it goes.

I like to look at cars like mine that are finished, watch racing/burnout videos. Getting the Girlfriend really angry at me on a friday night helps too. It means I wont see her for nearly the whole weekend meaning I can work on the car as long as I want. :evilsasmo

Buying new parts is fun too. Having them sit your room is kinda good motivation. In my room now I have a turbo, manifold, wastegate, intercooler, rajab intake manifold, fuel pump, surge tank, fuel rail, decompression plate, nitrous system, wolf ecu and some injectors. My room is lacking space at the moment so it means I have to work on the car or struggle to get to my bed every night.

EA2BA · 07-12-2005, 03:11 PM

Well I am married, getting the Mrs really angry is not advisable.

Keeping parts in the house, that would achive point 1, and point 1 is not good.

KEV EB XR8 · 07-12-2005, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EA2BA

Well I am married, getting the Mrs really angry is not advisable.

Keeping parts in the house, that would achive point 1, and point 1 is not good.

Behind every soft man is a strong woman, my marriage works fine as long as i do as im told

:

"MOTIVATION" I work on the ute when the missus wants to help or my nipper . but i get motivated more when mates come over and have some input or just want to help, in turn i do the same with them.

Casper · 07-12-2005, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EA2BA

Well I am married, getting the Mrs really angry is not advisable.

Keeping parts in the house, that would achive point 1, and point 1 is not good.

I'll second that.
I'll also add that buying lots of expensive things (angry no 1) and then leaving them sitting there doing nothing (angry no 2) AND THEN spending all day on the weekend working on the car (angry no 3) will kill a marriage very quick.
I have an increadable wife who accepts a lot of crap from me... but even thats too much to ask.

dansedgli · 07-12-2005, 04:02 PM

: Sounds like I should stop complaining about my GF the way you guys have it!

:

Tote · 07-12-2005, 07:15 PM

Slow and steady, that's how I did it. I bought the XT in 2001 and did it bit by bit whilst keeping it on the road as much as possible, even if it looks like crap it's pretty satisfying to take your new engine for a blat whereas if it isnt registered the vehicle is just sitting in the shed.
You also have the advantage that you can get the engineering bits done without damaging any new paint. If you run short of funds you still have a useable vehicle.Taking it slowly also gives you the opportunity to collect bits at the right price rather than trying to buy them all in a short period.
Regards,
Tote

Psycho Chicken · 07-12-2005, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dansedgli

: Sounds like I should stop complaining about my GF the way you guys have it!

:

Me too!

Project daily drivers just don't work. You rush things knowing you'll need it monday morning and it all goes to hell. I can take as long as I want on the XB knowing full well the NC is there.

XRated · 07-12-2005, 07:24 PM

I'm in the same fricken boat. I had my brother's EF in the driveway for months (nearly a year LOL) and just couldn't find the motivation to fix it up. Finally done that and now my ED is in the drive and has been for nearly two months hahaha!! Still on stands with only about an hour or two left in it, but I just need some extra help.

RegSpec · 07-12-2005, 09:09 PM

I found that by going over to the shed every night after dinner, even if you only do just one small thing, like tighten 1 bolt or something, eventually you will finish it.

sphell · 07-12-2005, 10:17 PM

If it's something like an engine swap, I'll tend to pull all nighters starting on a Friday night and finishing by the end of the weekend. I'll end up missing lunches, dinners and I'll be covered with grease n sh1t at the end of it but it's worth it. That way it's maximum work in minimum time.

xbcoupe302 · 08-12-2005, 01:05 AM

just keep going out there everynight i get to the point with my capri that i will go to garage with a beer in my hand look at it drink my beer go get another one pick up some sand paper rub a little bit then say stuff lock the garage and go back inside.

but other times i will go out a say 2pm and i wont come in till 2 am in the morning because i can see it taking shape on those days all depends on the mood ur in.

Timmeh · 08-12-2005, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dansedgli

I like to look at cars like mine that are finished, watch racing/burnout videos.

This is how I stay motivated... I look at pictures and videos of Escorts rallying, and it takes me only a few seconds to want to be out there swinging a spanner.

Also, getting a friend to come around to work on the car with you is motivational too, share the enthusiasm!

:eclipsee_

Timmeh

Pilch · 08-12-2005, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho Chicken

Project daily drivers just don't work. You rush things knowing you'll need it monday morning and it all goes to hell. I can take as long as I want on the XB knowing full well the NC is there.

Which is why you need a back-up plan.... a car you can "borrow" when things go pear shaped.

I actually find having a daily driver project works well, as if nothing gets done it still gets me from A to B. A little bit at a time works well. When it comes to paint and engine removal though, it gets a little tougher!

henry 351 · 08-12-2005, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueBAXR8

I found that by going over to the shed every night after dinner, even if you only do just one small thing, like tighten 1 bolt or something, eventually you will finish it.

Exactly. As long as you can get at least one task done per day, its always ticking over and one day closer to completion.

After all isn't driving it again as soon as possible the ultimate motivation?

mustang · 08-12-2005, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilch

When it comes to paint and engine removal though, it gets a little tougher!

i believe its called a taxi or public transport..

EA2BA · 08-12-2005, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mustang

i believe its called a taxi or public transport..

and dont forget good old fashioned walking

py:

xe351 · 08-12-2005, 07:56 PM

Dont rush it, project cars are way easier if they are not your drive car for me, you can work on it and dont have to worry if you dont finish before a deadline. Hang around inspiring mates, good magazines etc etc i nearly sold my coupe about 10 times during the resto and am so glad now i didnt sell it. Good luck with it

boss-290 · 09-12-2005, 11:20 AM

Just a quick question:

Do Clevland's and Windsor's use push-rods?

PS: I'm interested in restoring a 351ci clevo.

Cheers,

Nathan

dansedgli · 09-12-2005, 11:21 AM

yes they both do.

boss-290 · 09-12-2005, 11:27 AM

cheers mate

GTFORDMAN · 09-12-2005, 04:19 PM

disaplin is the key here, make your self do somthing on your car make it least an hour each day - even if its vacuming the interior, also dont look at the whole car as one BIG Project, its a series of smaller projects - break it up into smaller managable peices, and once you finish one and start on another youll see it starting to take shape and feel the motivation coming back.

good luck with it

NZ · 10-12-2005, 11:14 AM

I've have been collecting bits and peices for my car for over a year now and its been frustrating not being able to do anything on it. Basically my eb will be an NF/NL fairlaine in an EB shell. Even got the windsor from one as well - converting back to auto etc etc. I had been having trouble finding a cappachino ef/el to get the dash and interior plastics from then one popped up on the forums which i bought. So within the space of a week i finally had all the crap i needed to make a start. The problem was i need a vehicle during that time and I couldn't do this in stages as it just wasn't going to work like that. A friend of mine was heading away to qld for 2 weeks and his car needed rotors, pads, new waterpump so I did a deal with him that i'd fix his car up for nothing in return i got to use it. Cost me 80 bucks for the water pump and the wreck i bought had basically new rotors and pads so i just chucked those on for him. its been great to have his car to drive while i make some awesome progress on mine. I've found if I do the crappy jobs first while have a bit of motivation it keeps me interested. Listening to music while i work on it also helps. UI've spent maybe 40 hours on it in the last week. Mostly from 6pm till 12 -1am and in the last 2 days all day as well.

Feathers · 10-12-2005, 11:43 AM

Meh, I've had a project car since I was about 12. It WAS to be my first car when I got my licence. Once we realised how much work it was going to take to do up, I bought another car identical to drive around.

I still have the project XD in the shed at the bus depot, I've finished pulling it apart, have started putting a few pieces back on, and it's ready to be sprayed, but I haven't touched it in about 4 years.

My motivation was that I want to paint it Blueprint, instead of the gross yellow colour it was, but now I have the BA, I have less motivation, though I would still like to have the XD matching the BA.