Overspendin'

How do you guys get re-motivated?
I'm stalled out on my '88 IROC convertible, I've built my dream garage, I have a new ZZ4 crate, rebuilt T-5, and a whack of new parts piled up ready to drop in and I just can't seem to get motivated.
Money is not a problem, its motivation. Lately I just want to walk away from it all.
Its not just the Camaro, its cars in general; I don't know wtf it is but I'm losing interest in a passion I've had since I was ten.
My first guess was that it might be that I am at a stage in life where I can afford almost anything I want.
But I've always maintained a hate-on for all those wannabe's that can afford to drop a bundle for a new Vette, Porsche, Viper or whatever.
I've always considered myself a hands on guy, building my own cars and not one of those that decide they like cars when they realize they can afford them.
Sometimes I feel that if weren't for watching Overhaulin' I would have sold this very expensive pile of parts months ago.
Maybe we should start a new discussion board for psychological help?

Willie

iTrader: (1)

How do you guys get re-motivated? I'm stalled out on my '88 IROC convertible, I've built my dream garage, I have a new ZZ4 crate, rebuilt T-5, and a whack of new parts piled up ready to drop in and I just can't seem to get motivated.

You are not the only one who feels this way. I'll give you my conclusion in my last statement. But for now, please read my itemized responses to your comments. Believe me, you are not alone!


Money is not a problem, its motivation. Lately I just want to walk away from it all.... My first guess was that it might be that I am at a stage in life where I can afford almost anything I want.

Ditto.


But I've always maintained a hate-on for all those wannabe's that can afford to drop a bundle for a new Vette, Porsche, Viper or whatever.

Until last year, I've stated countless times that I choose to drive my third gen daily.... that I can afford virtually anything I want, but what I drive is because of my pure love of this car. But the time came when I decided that I wanted the most reliability in a daily-driver due to my position at work. So I bought a "newer" car to replace my IROC-Z as my daily.

As a relative new owner of an '03 Cobra (I do not buy new cars), I'm finding that a good number of other owners are young wannabee's who don't know diddle about cars in general. Who knows how they can afford it, including insurance. All they do is buy the bolt-ons, have someone else tune their cars, making upwards of 500-600 hp and think they know it all. In reality, they don't even know how to tune their own cars! It makes me sick.


I've always considered myself a hands on guy, building my own cars and not one of those that decide they like cars when they realize they can afford them.

Ditto again.


Sometimes I feel that if weren't for watching Overhaulin' I would have sold this very expensive pile of parts months ago.

Just look at my car/situation. I installed a rebuilt engine last September. I bought a $6k Gale Banks twin turbo kit last October. As of today, I have approximately 0.5 miles on my car without the TT setup. Yes, that's one-half mile on almost one year. As for the TT stuff, it all still sits in the original boxes. My project is almost complete. All I need is motivation (and time) to put it together. So what have I been doing for the last year? Everything else. My friend's all assumed I was selling my car and all my new parts. Not yet because I do plan on putting it all back together and owning one unique IROC-Z.


Maybe we should start a new discussion board for psychological help?

Nope that's not it. I noticed in your profile that we are almost the same age. The "problem" here is age related. We all slow down with time. And motivation to do anything physical, no matter how passionate we are about it, does degrade with time. But it is my opinion that if you can visualize the finished product, you will eventually finish it. This is why I'm keeping my car and very slowly working on it, one part at a time. Opposite of my friend's beliefs, it will get done! Did this motivate you any?

Klortho

Take a break from it for a couple of weeks, then get on and look at pictures of how other people's cars look, how nice and such and that always brings me back around to want to finish the car.

Jason E

I might have the age (25), but I sure don't have the $$$. I stooped to looking at a $2,500 purple '92 RS this past week because I want a third gen so bad I can't see straight, but I can't afford jack right now. I bought a house 18 months ago and have poured every dime I have into it, between the down payment and over $10k worth of improvements. Plus, as a first-time home buyer, I have no idea how many extra thousands I have spent on everything from storage sheds to lawnmowers to tools to furniture to...well, I'll stop there

If I had a ZZ4 crate motor and an IROC sitting in the garage, I wouldn't be complaining Just think of all us poor folks who idolize your IROCs and can't even afford a rusty one. Willie, I've seen yours with the old blower...that car is evil, and will be even more evil with a TT setup You're my hero for doing it to a 305...that's just awesome.

About all I can do is sell the Z for a 3rd gen. That won't happen either, because I know in a couple years when I can afford to have both, I'll be kicking myself for selling it. Gentlemen, take your time and enjoy...there's nothing I'd love more than to have either of the cars you two own.

DanTheMan_smlk

lmao

83ho86tpi

I have a good daily driver that requires little to no maintenance (yawn). You probably have lost the desire to restore / work on cars if you are content with that for a long period of time.

For me it is not the car in paticular, its the challenge. I like being able to use the wrenching skills I have on any given car and see the results of my own work. I get a good feeling when I make the car run or look good because of my efforts.

Its a cool feeling driving a older car that is running off your own blood and sweat. Many cars like yours are not on the road anymore because they are worn out and it is cost / time prohibitive to maintain them, people just buy a newer car. It makes me feel like my project is something neat because there are less and less of these cars driving around as time goes by, that plus the good feeling I get form the work I do to keep it running makes it worth the effort.

You might need to take a break untill you get bored from not working anything. Or you might need to move on to another part of restoration, I got burnt out on building a 700r-4 front pump, so I jusr bought a nice rebuilt one and went on to suspension upgrades that seemed like more fun.
Or you may need to look at another car that seems more restoration worthy to you, but I would not quickly give up your current project yet.....I bet you have spent the time on it to know exactly what you have, and that takes time to acomplish with a different car
I have owned 6 other F-Body cars and the 3 I gave up on / parted out went straight to the car crusher, the nicer 3 I sold were either abused badly and then parted out / or totaled in a accident. This is my 7th F-body and I am sure someone else will eventually be kill it if I dont keep it alive myself. I just dont like to see cars die that I have put so much work into.

okfoz

Motevation...
To be honest I go in streaks where I get motevated to work on my car(s). Usually its about 1 or 2 weeks before a car show. I think for me working on an F-body is therepudic, as when I get stressed out, I tend to try and find something to do on my car. Unfortunately with a Wife and kids finding time is usually after 9 pm giving me little no time to do anything real, so I put it off. Saturdays are usually shot because I am either doing yard work, upkeep of the house, or some other project my wife scheduled for me.

Sometimes my motevation stalls when I overthink how I am going to accomplish the task. Rather than just doing it I will think about it for 3 days. In reality I could have been done with it and onto something else. Other times I spend time typing messages on TGO telling others my Formula woes...

I also find that there is a reverse corelation to money and motevation . The less money I have to spend on it, the more I want to work and spend on it... When the cash is good, and I have a surplus, I can't get off my butt to actually do anything. Fortunately I have parts cars where I owe nothing and I can pick and pull as I like when cash is short.

To motevate yourself turn off the TV and internet, if your like me I have dyslexia and it drives me nuts to read more than a little, so that puts me back at working on my car. Nothing else to do I guess.

Also try projects that are not too much to bite off. Do the little jobs that take an hour or two, don't dive into a big turbo project until you know you have the time to commit to it.

Firebat

iTrader: (7)

Its best to take a few days break from it now and then.

For some reason, i get the most motivated at night, like 10 or so. Probably b/c i know no one will bother me.

I find that listening to classic rock like ac/dc keeps me going when i'm working on the car.
I'd say put a stereo in your garage. The music helps your mind from thinking about too much stuff. Once i start hearing classic rock, i feel let getting stuff done. Its works as motivation for me.

Also, i agree with what the other guys said in this thread.

KenV

Damn, okfoz, I read your post three times and couldn't get over how much your situation mirrors mine. No kids yet (buying land and getting a builder, blablabla), but the correlation between $ and motivation is my biggest hurdle. That, and I spend a TON of time looking at how I'll do something instead of actually digging in and doing it. Glad I'm not the only one.

I have looked at ~2002 Z06s until blue in the face, and always come back to the Formula. I can get a trans for the difference in one year's insurance on the Vette! Makes yanking it apart for paint a little easier

K

PS one more thing: a 1965 Skylark witha 430/TH400VP sits in storage.

okfoz

Ken I think you may be my long lost cousin... I have a 67 Buick Riviera 430 ci/400 Trans sitting in storage too....

I used to find it funny that when my grand parents would visit from AZ, I would find time to work on my car because I could not deal being with them for a super extended amount of time. I liked being around them for a while, but in the long term it was just too much for me.

Hmm....

CDN_87IROC

Good topic ... to chime in ... my IROC is completely dismantled and I too have lost some interest in it (I have also tired of all the space the parts are taking up in my garage, attic, yard). There is always some other project with house or kids that is of higher priority.

Like others I am also in the position where money is not a problem (mid 40's in age). When I look at the project I think an easier solution is just go out this fall and purchase a new 2006 Z06. I could be enjoying driving it instead of working another 2 years gettting the IROC on the road. My biggest fear remains the california emmissions test. After rebuilding everything I would be crushed it I could not get it to pass.

85z28guy

Just go to a local track. If that doesn't motivate you nothing will. BTW I burnt out of my project to. It was a 305-355 and 700r4 to t5. I did the motor, but am backing outta the t5 swap, purely because of lack of motivation. It will return over the winter tho, and next summer a t5 will be in the car

Anvil

I tend to break projects down into smaller pieces.Such as doing front brakes one weekend and rears next weekend.I think it is really important to drive your car in between repairs/modifications this keeps you in touch with why you are doing the repairs/mods.
I also work on totally different projects-Camaro, vintage snowmobile,antique tractor(1948),and building a vintage(1954) stock tractor puller..
Getting projects running is very important.Looking at a big pile of parts can sometimes be depressing. Take a break,and go back to it later.

KenV

Yeah, having a pile of parts can be a bummer, but if you line them up so that they can go in as various parts of the car give up, it can be rewarding. I have all the guts for the 10bolt, a brake kit from Ed Miller, door lock switches, Ronal R9s, and a few things that escape me now sitting in wait for the time to get them installed. Now that the brakes are getting old, the new ones can go in. Of course, I need to get new struts/shocks as well, so those go hand-in-hand. Then there's the ailing 700 trans and oil-chucking L98 which, at 145K, run but don't seem to enjoy the process. I have replacements for them in the works as well. Then there's the body/paint, as the car looks like a 4-wheel leper. Yet, I feel the desire to get it done. It's time that is in short supply. Like Willie says, visualize it done and the creaky bones loosen up. Being in my 30s I have no clue of that yet...

okfoz, my Cousin: my drivetrain was out of a 1969 Riv. Blew the trans from that car right up and found a good local rebuild that was a VP. Got lucky, but the 430 (+.060, thinwall now lol) was wasting this second trans when I parked the sucker. We hope to make it a good project once we get a house. Good thing I married a car gal

K

Edit: Lost the trans today. I shouldn't have said a damn thing about the, well the damn thing.

Mark 89Formula

Unmotivated. I've been there. My Formula was in the garage for 3.5 years. Thousands of dollars worth of parts waiting to be installed. Third son made his appearance, had a daily beater for commuting, and work was out of control. My friends figured it was over. I was starting to think it was over. But now it's my daily driver again and I can't believe I didn't do it sooner. It's so much fun to drive and so inexpensive compared to a new car, very few of which interest me anyway.

Here's what motivated me:
1. Going to the track. Mentioned above and agree 100%. That always works for me.
2. Riding in friend's cars. Doesn't have to be a thirdgen, just a nice well maintained vehicle that shows you the possibilities.
3. No car payment and cheap insurance
4. Learning tool for my boys. I want them to have the opportunity to learn about cars and tools and, most importantly, to have a "can do" attitutude rather than pulling out the credit card everytime something needs attention.
5. Not seeing "your" car everytime you go out for a drive.
6. Introducing a whole new generation to the stoplight prowess of a TPI

Don't stress over it. If you have the option, walk away for how ever long it takes, but don't sell. Try some entirely new hobbies. Decide what really motivated you to buy the car in the first place (appearance, performance, uniqueness,...) and concentrate on fixing/enhancing that aspect of the car. The one upgrade that got my efforts back on track was upgrading the worn out carpet to a high quality set and installing a fourth gen leather interior. It energized me because I could appreciate the improvement everytime I got behind the wheel whether racing or just commuting. Give it time. Odds are your interest will return. Good luck.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

Don't get me started... Somewhere deep down inside I can't help but think I'd be better off with one project instead of multiple projects, but the reality is that I enjoy the variety. The variety keeps me motivated in one way or another.

The current project is my 86 T/A. Bought it cause it drove good and seemed to run fine and only had some minor tranny issues. Two days after I got it the engine developed a rod knock. The unfortunate result of a faulty cooling fan, malfunctioning IAC, and an idiot previous owner revving the engine at stop lights to keep it running. After a junkyard 350 swap it started knocking again, so it was time for a rebuild. Now as a 355 it ran good but 2nd gear went out of the tranny. At least it was drivable, for two weeks till the radiator went out. A windshield, radiator, and *** knows what else cause I've damn near replaced everything, and I thought I could go ahead and replace the trans. I took a used B&M 700R4 out of the garage to the trans shop to have them dyno it and make sure it works. Two months later they've completely disassembled it and it sits in pieces in my garage. I installed another trans out of a parts car, it didn't do anything (pump problems). So I installed another used tranny and it doesn't have second gear either. Now I've got a stack of junk trannies and the car sits in the driveway. In the mean time the trans in my 91 formula went out. Summer's almost over and I've got 9 months of snow ahead of me. My plan is to save money and do a 6spd come March.

So back to the motivation? I'm taking a break and messing with a 2.8 5spd 84 Camaro beater I bought for nothing at a tow yard auction. It runs and drives and looks like complete *** but my hood pins (nearly required due to rust) intimidate every kid in town. It puts the fun back into the hobby.

aaron7

iTrader: (7)

I as well feel the same way. My second 3rd gen was my baby... I built up a motor and dropped it in, changed the rear, changed the tranny, changed the interior from brown to black... etc, but on my third 3rd gen, I had shops do most the work. Now I don't even have a car to work on, I have one that is beyond me so I don't have to worry about it!

Hell... I rather pay $20 for an oil change now, when I used to do everything myself.

I feel as if the spirit of working on cars has left me for good.

okfoz

I start watching Overhaulin or some other car mod show and I get motevation, I then remember that I can't do all of it due to family... But I manage.

I guess the thing that really kicks me in the butt is right now parts are cheep and parts are plentiful in junkyards, (although not as nice as they were 5 years ago). And a 3rd Gen is a perfect car to rebuild NOW because parts are available. Unfortunately by the time these cars are desired, the availablity for parts will not be there.

My Formula 350 project is about right for a project, just little things, nothing major. I would really like to make it perfect and keep it, but money is holding me back right now. I would like to sell it to a good home, and I know that eventually it will probably be worth the most out of all the 3rd Gen Formulas I have owned.

se-la-ve, I guess in 20 years I will have to tell my kids... "Yeah, I used to have one just like that, same color and everything I sold it for only $2900, I wish I had it back tho..."

John

Xophertony

with how little a storage shed costs i don't think i would ever sell a car i have restored as much as some of you guys. heck, i have not done too much to my car but since it's a daily driver needed five days a week there are not too many things i can do in one day ( i work odd shifts so i never have two days off in a row)

Overspendin'

Wow...Thanks to all that replied, I don't feel so all alone anymore.
Special thanks to Willie; I know how respected you are on these boards, seems I'm in good company.
I'm not quitting, I'm not giving up, but I'll just stay out of the garage for a while...who knows, maybe next time I open the door Chip Foose might be standing there.

KenV

Some days I want to hop in, drop the windows, crank the tunes and get a burger in my paid-for, not-one-on-every-street Formula. Other days, I want to run away screaming as I pull my hair out of my head.

I was SO ticked when the trans died this week that I was perusing the auto/truck ads. I wanted to stash the 'Bird and get either a truck or a used Z06 and not touch whatever I bought. Then Mrs. KenV chimed in about how much she knows I love the car, and how we'll have room to work on it soon. She also likes working on the cars so we might have an air-conditioned baby area in the shop when it gets built. No kids on the way yet, but you get the idea

My greatest mistake was letting daily drivers become projects. First the 5.0, which went a year without moving a foot due to an Ebayer taking FOREVER to ship a shortblock to me. The car went from being our intended honeymoon vehicle to a car that has sat from lack of time until now, as I work nights to get it smogged so that I can give my Mother her Lex back. As it stands now, the Formula will be a fast-track project as parts arrive. No frigging WAY am I letting this one sit. It became our ride for our honeymoon, and for that it's a keeper

K

okfoz

Thats becvause Formulas Rock and they should be DRIVEN!



John

KenV

The car has been good to us. Now we'll return all the favors at once

K