People suck

[Jarlaxle]

If you are not that comfortable doing the bodywork maybe there's a shop in your town that does classic restoration work. Worth asking. In my city there are some classic car mobile body techs as well as mechanical techs with good ratings. Maybe in your town there's some mobile techs too?

I'm beyond "not comfortable." I am completely incapable. I have the same chance of doing body work that I have of flapping my arms and soaring through the air.

There are body shops, of course. They're generally very expensive, very slow, and may or may not get it right. I did find a hood.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Never sell anything that's broken.

Fix it up first, then re-decide whether you still want it.
Maybe you do and maybe you don't, but if you fix it first, you'll know for sure.

And you're right. You can't have anything nice. Neither can I. Sooner or later, BAM!
It's just the way it works.
I've met other people who CAN have nice things, but for whatever reason, some people can't.

My first car was wrecked, through no fault of my own (bizarrely), when I was 17, after I'd worked like a dog on it for months. Since then, I've never had a nice car.
I painted my Chevelle when I was 19. It looked good. I'm 62 now, still have the car, and I've never rubbed it out after that paint job.
Just can't (couldn't, before it rusted again) bring myself to do it. I know as soon as I make it really nice, something's going to happen to it.
Same for all my stuff. I drive beat-up stuff, live in a beat-up house, sit on beat-up furniture, and wear beat-up clothes. Almost every piece of clothing I have develops a grease stain within a week of getting it, so why try to have a set of "nice clothes"? If it's too nice someone's going to steal it, wreck it, key it, or otherwise mess it up.

It's not worth it. Better to enjoy crappy-looking stuff and relax, than worry about getting really nice stuff wrecked.

– Eric

I don't see the point anymore. Everything nice I have gets destroyed. Everything I enjoy even a tiny bit blows up in my face. I give up, I just want to get drunk.

 

[MDchanic]

I don't see the point anymore. Everything nice I have gets destroyed. Everything I enjoy even a tiny bit blows up in my face. I give up, I just want to get drunk.

Well, just don't fall down and wreck something else while you're drunk.

– Eric

 

[RAT ROD AL]

I can't have anything nice.

https://www.amazon.com/Sylvil-Large-Bandage-Vinyl-Decal/dp/B0CS2B46Z1/?tag=fabo03-20

 

[mopar head]

We can`t have nothing nice

Boy, that was a big mistake, you took that quote to heart and run with it

 

[65TerrorCuda]

I get heavy truck traffic down my street day and night, the perks of having a grocery store across the street, rarely do I ever park anything on the street, even when people come visit I tell them to park in the driveway.

Man that sucks. I had a neighbor bump my cuda in the driveway while I was working in the garage. He didn't hurt anything but didn't apologize either. I'm gunna agree with the people suck comment!

 

[Jarlaxle]

Man that sucks. I had a neighbor bump my cuda in the driveway while I was working in the garage. He didn't hurt anything but didn't apologize either. I'm gunna agree with the people suck comment!

My cousin had a neighbor puke all over his truck.

Yes, alcohol was involved.

 

[65TerrorCuda]

My cousin had a neighbor puke all over his truck.

Yes, alcohol was involved.

That is nasty. But I'll admit I laughed when I read it. I had a guy puke on me after a ride at the amusement park. Ugh

 

[Dan the man]

I don't see the point anymore. Everything nice I have gets destroyed. Everything I enjoy even a tiny bit blows up in my face. I give up, I just want to get drunk.

That will solve nothing, in fact it could make things worse

 

[Jarlaxle]

That will solve nothing, in fact it could make things worse

But after a quart of liquor, I won't care.

 

[Dan the man]

But after a quart of liquor, I won't care.

I understand your heart ache and I'm not trying to preach at you but doing that won't solve a thing and in fact it could very well make things worse. My favorite drink was gin and squirt, this September will be 22 years since I've had any gin, I'm lucky if I drink 3-4 beers in a couple of years.

 

[Jarlaxle]

I understand your heart ache and I'm not trying to preach at you but doing that won't solve a thing and in fact it could very well make things worse. My favorite drink was gin and squirt, this September will be 22 years since I've had any gin, I'm lucky if I drink 3-4 beers in a couple of years.

Hey, it worked for my grandfather.

 

[grjammer]

I have one "nice" muscle car with beautiful paint (my '70 340 Dart). I hardly ever drive it.
My ratty Barracuda gets a lot more miles because it is like 5 different colors and i have never washed it in the 23 years I have owned it. It's nasty looking, ratty, runs mid-10's in the quarter, and is the most fun car I have ever owned.
Embrace the ratty, beat-up look at be happy, dude.
(and YES, people suck for a variety of reasons)

Pics of the rat monster please...

 

[CFD244]

I'm beyond "not comfortable." I am completely incapable. I have the same chance of doing body work that I have of flapping my arms and soaring through the air.

Great opportunity to learn! So many great You tube videos, and folks here that could guide you along. During my restoration, I learned a ton of new skills and turned out a pretty nice driver. A few basic tools, and some product and you'd be surprised.

At this point, maybe step back then re-assess at a later time when you are less emotional.

Re-do's suck for sure......LOL, I installed my engine and auto transmission then found out that the ARP flex plate bolts required a higher torque value than OEM. Lost some sleep fighting with the urge just to run it. But in the end, a day's worth of work, and I dropped the trans and properly torqued them.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[TF360]

In High School I drove my Duster to School after a fresh paint job. It was the best 500 dollar job you have ever seen. When school ended, I went to the car and some kid banged his door into the side of mine and chipped an area about the size of a dime. I learned early, if you want something really nice, you have to protect it. Daily Drivers get bumped and bruised no matter what you do.

 

[CFD244]

In High School I drove my Duster to School after a fresh paint job. It was the best 500 dollar job you have ever seen. When school ended, I went to the car and some kid banged his door into the side of mine and chipped an area about the size of a dime. I learned early, if you want something really nice, you have to protect it. Daily Drivers get bumped and bruised no matter what you do.

Man, did this one bring back some memories. As you can see in my avatar pic from the 80's, my posing location is strategic......

Got the car home and parked it (after that $500 paint job). Then, promptly ran into the RR corner with a trailer.

 

[ProjectBazza]

In High School I drove my Duster to School after a fresh paint job. It was the best 500 dollar job you have ever seen. When school ended, I went to the car and some kid banged his door into the side of mine and chipped an area about the size of a dime. I learned early, if you want something really nice, you have to protect it. Daily Drivers get bumped and bruised no matter what you do.

Reminds me…..

New Years Day, 1992. My (now “ex”) wife and I picked-up our special order Acura Integra and drove it home during a light snowfall. I pulled the car into the garage to wipe off the snow, and since our snow brush had a brass scraper blade on it, as I was brushing off the rear bumper I promptly put a full width scratch on the back of it, tail light to tail light….

Only 6 miles on the car.

My wife said, “Well, I’m glad you did it and not me!”

 

[CFD244]

My Dad clipped a concrete light standard in the dealer parking lot on the way home with his brand new truck......You can't make this **** up!

 

[MDchanic]

If I may add one more, perhaps psychoanalytic, point:

In my experience, this degree of frustration and all-or-nothing thinking points to an unconscious perfectionist mindset.

"If it's not perfect, I don't want it."

This way of looking at things can act like a straightjacket [bonus psych. reference] on life, preventing a person from actually doing anything.

"Why do it if you don't do it right?"
"I can't do that because a professional can do it better."
"I'll never do that because I'll never be good enough to do it."
"I screwed it up, I'll drop it / throw it away / give up / throw a hammer through the windshield because it will never be good enough."
"Why not wreck it / sell it – It'll never be perfect."
"This vacation is ruined by the rain / missing that flight / losing that suitcase / your constant bitching at me – I'm going home."

Once you recognize that urge to perfection somewhere inside what's left of your brain, and you can see it acting in different places, you can fight against it and see that it makes no sense, maybe even see where it comes from (was Dad always telling you what was wrong with things you did? How about your first grade teacher?).

Nothing is perfect. At least nothing that you can afford. Everything's got something at least a little bit wrong with it. It's just a matter of how much you can tolerate before it bothers you. The ancient Muslims used to introduce a small mistake into some part of their elaborate patterned tilework, mosques, carpets, etc., on the principle that "Only God is perfect" (which is actually pretty damn arrogant, if you ask me, assuming that they could make something completely perfect, but whatever).

Once you get to where you can distinguish between "perfect" and "good enough" you tend to be happier.

– Eric

 

[Jarlaxle]

Great opportunity to learn! So many great You tube videos, and folks here that could guide you along. During my restoration, I learned a ton of new skills and turned out a pretty nice driver. A few basic tools, and some product and you'd be surprised.

At this point, maybe step back then re-assess at a later time when you are less emotional.

Re-do's suck for sure......LOL, I installed my engine and auto transmission then found out that the ARP flex plate bolts required a higher torque value than OEM. Lost some sleep fighting with the urge just to run it. But in the end, a day's worth of work, and I dropped the trans and properly torqued them.

Good luck with your decision.

Nowhere to work, no tools, no ability. Nope.

If I may add one more, perhaps psychoanalytic, point:

In my experience, this degree of frustration and all-or-nothing thinking points to an unconscious perfectionist mindset.

"If it's not perfect, I don't want it."

Nonsense.

This way of looking at things can act like a straightjacket [bonus psych. reference] on life, preventing a person from actually doing anything.

I do things, though they're always the wrong thing.

"Why do it if you don't do it right?"
"I can't do that because a professional can do it better."
"I'll never do that because I'll never be good enough to do it."
"I screwed it up, I'll drop it / throw it away / give up / throw a hammer through the windshield because it will never be good enough."
"Why not wreck it / sell it – It'll never be perfect."
"This vacation is ruined by the rain / missing that flight / losing that suitcase / your constant bitching at me – I'm going home."

No, I just realize the yawning chasm between "not perfect" and "awful." I also realize that "nice" is nowhere near "perfect," and (yet again) I simply cannot have anything nice.

Once you recognize that urge to perfection somewhere inside what's left of your brain, and you can see it acting in different places, you can fight against it and see that it makes no sense, maybe even see where it comes from (was Dad always telling you what was wrong with things you did? How about your first grade teacher?).

The contrary-I was always forced to do things I had no interest or ability to do, no matter how awful the results. A few times, self-harm was required to be permitted to STOP the futility.

Nothing is perfect. At least nothing that you can afford. Everything's got something at least a little bit wrong with it. It's just a matter of how much you can tolerate before it bothers you. The ancient Muslims used to introduce a small mistake into some part of their elaborate patterned tilework, mosques, carpets, etc., on the principle that "Only God is perfect" (which is actually pretty damn arrogant, if you ask me, assuming that they could make something completely perfect, but whatever).

Nobody but you mentioned perfection. I simply cannot have anything nice. I cannot be permitted to enjoy anything even a tiny bit.

Once you get to where you can distinguish between "perfect" and "good enough" you tend to be happier.

– Eric

Never been happy, never will.

 

[CFD244]

Nowhere to work, no tools, no ability. Nope.




Nonsense.



I do things, though they're always the wrong thing.



No, I just realize the yawning chasm between "not perfect" and "awful." I also realize that "nice" is nowhere near "perfect," and (yet again) I simply cannot have anything nice.



The contrary-I was always forced to do things I had no interest or ability to do, no matter how awful the results. A few times, self-harm was required to be permitted to STOP the futility.



Nobody but you mentioned perfection. I simply cannot have anything nice. I cannot be permitted to enjoy anything even a tiny bit.



Never been happy, never will.

Brother, after reading this whole thread, it appears that the damage on the car is not your issue.

It's time to dump the negativity......I read the book "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff....And it's all Small Stuff" I opened my mind to the premise of the book and it made a difference.......Buy into it. Negative thinking is the cancer.

If you can't get over this mental hump, maybe some third party help is needed. Believe me, I am not criticizing you or being a smart ***. Life throws some awful curve balls. How you handle or process them is the key to happiness.

Best of luck...I've been there.

 

[mopowers]

What's with all the drama? The damage in the first post really isn't that bad. Pull your big boy pants up already. If it were me, it'd be a great excuse to buy a stud welder.

 

[missing linc]

That is nasty. But I'll admit I laughed when I read it. I had a guy puke on me after a ride at the amusement park. Ugh

I had a girl puke on me once, while close dancing, yes, she was very drunk. Fortunately I had an extra t shirt in my car and it was not a huge volume of puke.
Thanks for bringing back this memory from 40 plus years ago!

 

[Cranky]

I have one "nice" muscle car with beautiful paint (my '70 340 Dart). I hardly ever drive it.
My ratty Barracuda gets a lot more miles because it is like 5 different colors and i have never washed it in the 23 years I have owned it. It's nasty looking, ratty, runs mid-10's in the quarter, and is the most fun car I have ever owned.
Embrace the ratty, beat-up look at be happy, dude.
(and YES, people suck for a variety of reasons)

When I bought my 66 Belvedere in 88, it wasn't too ratty but got that way when the 2000 coats of paint started lifting. Kept driving it as I removed all the paint. Filled up two 5 gallon buckets when it was said and done. It's a 2 dr sedan and pretty dang straight and got thumbs up even back then. These days my beater is a 95 Dakota with peeling clear coat and it goes everywhere. So far no one has banged into it....yet.
Also have a 96 Dakota that looks really nice. Maybe one of these days I'll do the paperwork on my 64 Dart survivor and drive it more.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Brother, after reading this whole thread, it appears that the damage on the car is not your issue.

It's time to dump the negativity......I read the book "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff....And it's all Small Stuff" I opened my mind to the premise of the book and it made a difference.......Buy into it. Negative thinking is the cancer.

If you can't get over this mental hump, maybe some third party help is needed. Believe me, I am not criticizing you or being a smart ***. Life throws some awful curve balls. How you handle or process them is the key to happiness.

Best of luck...I've been there.

Naah. I'm not willing to risk ending up lobotomized, a drugged-up zombie, or locked in a nut farm. Negativity isn't the problem-the contrary, I'm never negative ENOUGH.

What's with all the drama? The damage in the first post really isn't that bad. Pull your big boy pants up already. If it were me, it'd be a great excuse to buy a stud welder.

View attachment 1716424194

Perhaps you missed where I noted (repeatedly) that I have: Nowhere to work, no tools, no ability.

Even if I did, I wouldn't THINK about trying to repair either panel-the hood is already crap (and I already found one), and that spot on a fender will never be straight again unless it's sculpted out of filler.