Beginners,doing multiple modifications at once......

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Abodybomber

Breaking street machines , since 1983.....:)
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I did it,a few times. Someone, showed me a better way. Seen a lot of new FABO members,posting multiple threads on the same car(different projects,all at once)!. My advice: slow down,one day at a time. Share your advice,FABO members,about advice and organization.
 
Good advice.

I still think myself as beginer at car repair/modifications after 3 years.

But always safe way to start build is stop, steer and go.
make sure all brakes etc are in good shape, then steering/handling, nothing fancy, new bushings etc.
Rust repairs are good to do at some time:)

After that you can think about making car go:)
 
that is advice I really need to take .......I have diagnosed the problem as AADD

Automotive Attention Deficit Disorder......and I have a hard time staying on one project in one area to completion.

and if there are more people like me ....I have more cars than one person should have .....so I tend to jump from car to car and in the meantime im spinning my wheels (not in a good way).....I think as of now I might have the most threads in the Members restoration forum and they are all for different cars, then add model car building and just the general FABO projects that come up.....whewww I need or more hours in a day

OR

I could take you advice and stay focused and get something done.

only time will tell as to how simple I make this.

but either way ...thanks for the advice ...I would give you a nickel if you had a stand like Lucy from Peanuts. :thumblef: :hello2: and we really should help each other stay focused ......support group time .....im in :shock:
 

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Oh lady,don't get me started on Peanut's cartoons. I was reading these,when Watergate occurred.
 
I have to check myself whenever I give my two cents worth.

If it contains any sort of psych advice, I have to mark it up to five cents.
 
Hi, my name is Bob, and I have AADD.
I'm also a procrastinating perfectionist...is there a group for us??

BC
 
It's difficult NOT to go multiple directions.

For example, I'm tearing the Dart down for paint. I've been thinking more and more about a turbo, and in fact picked up some Dakota manifolds AND headers. So I'm about to yank the engine, and thinking of putting it together with the manifolds instead of the Hedmans that are on there.

This is no idle project, as I don't have head pipes, and need at least one O2 bung. Also, I'm debating about getting started on the turbo now instead of a "retrofit" after getting it running again.

At my age, and lessening energy, increasing body and joint pain, this is no small undertaking.

The Black Menace is resting out there "on the hoist" as we speak.
 
It's difficult NOT to go multiple directions.

For example, I'm tearing the Dart down for paint. I've been thinking more and more about a turbo, and in fact picked up some Dakota manifolds AND headers. So I'm about to yank the engine, and thinking of putting it together with the manifolds instead of the Hedmans that are on there.

This is no idle project, as I don't have head pipes, and need at least one O2 bung. Also, I'm debating about getting started on the turbo now instead of a "retrofit" after getting it running again.

At my age, and lessening energy, increasing body and joint pain, this is no small undertaking.

The Black Menace is resting out there "on the hoist" as we speak.
You are no beginner though Del. Least not in my book.

Right now I have spent the past MONTHS talking to Rob (RustyRatRod) about rebuilding my suspension on my truck as it has, in general, seen much better days. I've been dead focused on it. But as I do my suspension, I am also taking advantage of this optimal time to paint my suspension parts and flush my brake system and replace the lines. I always find myself doing everything I can when its easiest. I've made this a habit I guess as I have gone thru almost everything on my truck.
 
This is GOOD,Pan gasket. My 73 4WD short box,three block drive. It scared me more at 35 MPH,than my El Camino ,at 120 plus. Chassis /brakes,first always.
 
This is GOOD,Pan gasket. My 73 4WD short box,three block drive. It scared me more at 35 MPH,than my El Camino ,at 120 plus. Chassis /brakes,first always.
I'm just trying to have a real good plan of action when I do it. He has been an awesome help. I woulda been beyond screwed if it weren't for him. I ordered the PST Polygraphite kit for my truck, if he hadn't pointed it out, I wouldn't have noticed that: A. Most importantly, the kit didn't come with inner tie rod ends and B. My outer tie rod ends have a LH thread so I could order the right inners.
 
Listen to Rob.(you already do). He's the real ,honest deal. I learned from 2 ,like that.
 
Listen to Rob.(you already do). He's the real ,honest deal. I learned from 2 ,like that.

I agree, Rob is a good guy to listen to. One of the select handfull I trust on here.

Btw bomber, you aren't talking about my multiple cars/engines threads, are you? lol. I have legitimate adhd! I can't help it! You should see my house...with all my jumping around, imagine me remodeling a 7 bedroom/2 bath/2 livingroom house....

Besides, alot of the fun for me is the parts hunting.

I just noticed the "beginner" in the title, I've been learning for about 20 years now. I still consider myself just above the "beginner" title. No matter how much I learn, there is still so much I don't know.
 
I have been working on my Dart for the last seven years and it's still not close to being done. One thing that I've learned is to try and keep the car drivable. The longest it has sat was about nine months when we did the mini-tub which snow balled into the narrowed rear end which morphed into the four wheel disc which necessitated rebuilding the front end!! By keep the car drivable, you are still able to enjoy the car and are not discouraged by it sitting in the garage not being driven.

I told my wife if my car ever gets covered by boxes of crap that we are storing in our garage (like my neighbors Torino) it's time to kick me in the butt or sell the car!
 
All great advice, another reason to slow down and do one thing at a time, is to know what effect that one change made. It's hard to know if that carb made a big difference, when you changed 3 other things. I do know that when you are rebuilding something, it does snowball into a lot more. Mentors are also a huge advantage. I used to read a lot of HP magazines when I was young. Then, I got to know real mechanics and racers that opened up a whole new reality for me. Theoretical BS made way for the practical: does this make me go faster; make my car more reliable; handle better; more efficient; make it safer... Looking back, my best advice would be to get the best body you can to start. Get what you want, because down the road you will have a lot invested, time, money, and affection. Do the suspesion and brakes. Build a bulletproof shortblock, and get a performance valve job from someone really good. Now you can change things to your hearts content because you have a good foundation.
 
Hi, my name is Bob, and I have AADD.
I'm also a procrastinating perfectionist...is there a group for us??

BC

Bob, You're off to a good start. Admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery. In my case, I had it bad and family intervention was required. However, while I now typically stay focused on specific repairs/mods, I do fall off the wagon once in awhile. Good luck my friend,,,,:D

Pat
 
Gotta be careful about going in too many directions at once. You can easily find yourself overwhelmed and before you know it your pride and joy has been sitting untouched for a year. Ask me how I know.
 
Think of it like this.

For every change you make there are 3 possible results. Positive, negative, no change.

If you change 4 things at once you end up with 12 different possible outcomes, 4 x 3. Good luck figuring out which is the good, bad, or no change.
 
I have been working on my Dart for the last seven years and it's still not close to being done. One thing that I've learned is to try and keep the car drivable. The longest it has sat was about nine months when we did the mini-tub which snow balled into the narrowed rear end which morphed into the four wheel disc which necessitated rebuilding the front end!! By keep the car drivable, you are still able to enjoy the car and are not discouraged by it sitting in the garage not being driven.

I told my wife if my car ever gets covered by boxes of crap that we are storing in our garage (like my neighbors Torino) it's time to kick me in the butt or sell the car!
Those are words of wisdom to me. I can see a nice paint job or a big suspension rebuild rendering the car to a non driver status for a lengthy time. But if the car can be worked on and driven (enjoyed, thats why we have these cars) it makes the rebuild of the car a better experience.
Back on topic, multiple issues do come up when "fixing one thing".
Heck last weekend I was figuring out why my gauges don't work and now since I have the dash out might as well rebuild the heater box, since it's out might as well sand the under dash and repaint, since all the wiring is out might as well might as well rewire, and while I'm at it better put some new paint on the floorboards. LOL
I love my car.
Luke
 
Guilty i do the same thing but i definetly get some stuff done pretty quickly.




that is advice I really need to take .......I have diagnosed the problem as AADD

Automotive Attention Deficit Disorder......and I have a hard time staying on one project in one area to completion.

and if there are more people like me ....I have more cars than one person should have .....so I tend to jump from car to car and in the meantime im spinning my wheels (not in a good way).....I think as of now I might have the most threads in the Members restoration forum and they are all for different cars, then add model car building and just the general FABO projects that come up.....whewww I need or more hours in a day

OR

I could take you advice and stay focused and get something done.

only time will tell as to how simple I make this.

but either way ...thanks for the advice ...I would give you a nickel if you had a stand like Lucy from Peanuts. :thumblef: :hello2: and we really should help each other stay focused ......support group time .....im in :shock:
 
I did it,a few times. Someone, showed me a better way. Seen a lot of new FABO members,posting multiple threads on the same car(different projects,all at once)!. My advice: slow down,one day at a time. Share your advice,FABO members,about advice and organization.
o way rip that crap apart change everything ....if your good it can work:finga:[-X
 
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