>From: mbstartech@juno.com
>To: rbarber41@hotmail.com
>Subject: Re: [MV] WC 12 Reality check
>Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2001 14:07:31 -0500
>
>This is absolutely the truth. I'm a professional mechanic, with a
>well-equipped home shop, and about $50,000.00 worth of hand, and power
>tools. I already have 2 projects going: A 74 1/2 MGB roadster, and a
>1984 Jaguar XJ 6 sedan, both of which are undergoing extensive engine
>work. Both projects, while not terribly costly in terms of dollars,
>have taken far more time than I planned-parts have to be "found", and
>ordered, machine shop work needs to be arranged, and the units taken
>there, and removed when done, etc. I have no wife/kids, but I do have a
>house, and, often, that interferes with a weekend planned in the garage.
>I can't imagine having to listen to the whining of an unsatisfied female,
>or several, when you inform them that you have made plans to be with your
>"other" wife. Women become quite jealous, and are not terribly
>understanding of "the other woman". Also, you can imagine the response
>of the wife, when you inform her that HER car now must sit out in the
>weather (scrape frost, snow, ice, etc), and run through the rain when she
>needs her car, while your "project" sits under cover, taking up what she
>considers to be "her" garage. Can you say divorce?? Alimony?? Lack of
>marital relations??
>
>I have an oversized 2 1/2 car garage to work in. My "good" car, a 1990
>Mercedes, sits outside, in the weather, as it has for 2 years. It's
>worth more, monetarily, that both cars in the garage, even if they were
>running, and in good condition. Now, how's that for having your
>"priorities" in the wrong place?
>
>Because of the above, when I do decide to by the M135 of my dreams, I
>will buy from Joe Young, as I don't need another project right now. I
>want something I can use, with a bit of tinkering now, and then, until I
>get the "projects" finished. BTW, after both sports cars, there is the
>engine overhaul that my 1980 Jeep CJ 7 needs.
>
>I don't mean to sound discouraging......the point we are trying to make
>to you is that it is often cheaper to buy something that is in complete,
>and running condition, than to buy a basket case, and start from scratch.
> You did start in the right place, by asking the right questions, of the
>right people. My assessment of you, therefore, would be that you would,
>at least, have a fighting chance of finishing what you started, because
>you obviously have done some homework. If you do decide to take on this
>project, you'll be doing a lot more of it.....
>
>Good luck either way-E.J.
>
>
>On Thu, 21 Jun 2001 10:49:24 -0400 "Robert Barber"
><rbarber41@hotmail.com> writes:
> >
> > Pete
> >
> > Well you wanted a reality check so here it is ...Please
> > understand
> > I am NOT trying to discourage you or anyone else, but interject
> > a serious dose of reality to what is on the table here.. Serious
> > restoration projects belong in the hands of the very experienced
> > if not a professional restoration specialist.. The rest of us
> > need
> > to stay with in our capabilities as to not get discouraged enough
> > to trash the project and give up
> >
> > You statement about
> >
> > >Now I have to say up front that I have almost no experience working
> > on
> > >old trucks. But this seems like it could be a pretty good place to
> > >start
> > >learning the hard way. If I go for it and develop regrets, I can
> > >always
> > >sell it again. If I don't go for it and develop regrets, I'll >be
> > SOL.
> >
> > Kinda says it all .. The "hard way" sounds Ok until you get
> > entrenched in it.. Then it becomes very easy to get very
> > discouraged and you wind up dumping the problem project for
> > about half of what you have in it..You need to assess with
> > yourself and be VERY honest as to Do I have :
> >
> > 1 A place to put it and work on it. That I can afford to
> > tie up the space for a number of YEARS. Such projects
> > always take 2 - 3 times longer and 2 -3 time more money
> > than originally planned .. I too hate to see grand ol
> > girls
> > go to rot but the reality is it takes a pickup truck full
> > of $100.00 bills and a lifetime to bring something that
> > far gone back to life.. Add in the the wife and kids
> > miss daddy and the weekend you planned to work on the
> > truck is pre-planned by the lady of the house for some
> > thing else, guess who wins that discussion ??
> >
> > 2 The tools to do the work or am I going to become VERY
> > popular with the local Sears, NAPA and Snap-ON dealer ?
> > IE more drain on the budget ..
> >
> > 3 All the time in the world to putz with this puppy
> > learn what make it tick and chase down the parts.
> > you will spend 3 times as much time chasing down
> > tough to get parts as you will working on it. Add
> > the small fortune to buy the maintence manuals and
> > specialty parts catalogs ... More unexpected drain
> > on the budget.
> >
> > 4 Am willing to farm out to others at premium rates the
> > work I can't do or worse, to fix what I thought I could
> > do and screwed it up. this happens MORE than you planned
> > on
> >
> > 5 You have all this time and money tied up into this
> > project which is not even half way done and you stumble
> > into a super deal for a vehicle for short money that is
> > fairly complete, running, stops and needs cosmetics to
> > complete and you can't touch it because all your budget
> > is tied into the money pit project...
> >
> > The other nightmare to the above is life gets in the way of
> > such projects IE the money you were saving towards the new
> > bumpa de bump now needs to buy a new washing machine cause
> > your current one died
> >
> > Worse, (excuse me ladies) than penis envy, you see your MV
> > buddies
> > all riding around in their machines at umpteen events over the
> > summer while your still (as we called it in High School) a car
> > suck wana be, bumming rides with them and having to listen to
> > "when you gonna get that beast of yours running?".. You go back
> > home, open the garage and stare at the metal beast ..One of two
> > things happen.. You kick it and hang the for sale sign out OR
> > you get over determined .. Live in the garage never see the
> > lady
> > or the kids. Live your life over a metal obsession .. Thats
> > living ??
> >
> > Further food for thought, we are not talking a rare truck that
> > is worth making a "government" project out of right ?? Time &
> > money .. The government has lots of both , Do you ??
> >
> > I have personally experienced all the above in the last 30 some
> > thing years of building Drag cars, street machines, and now
> > Mil vehicles.. I have bought the lost interest projects of
> > others at prices far less that their value cause they wanted
> > out or lost their storage or a hundred and one other reasons
> > And I only take on the project I know I have the tools and
> > talent to do the work necessary to get it going.. The only
> > exception may be the 41 fire engine I have outside .. but
> > thats another story ..
> >
> > The reason I say this is I already have my staff car and a
> > M38A1
> > jeep to take to events .. I can afford to have the fire engine
> > be a long term project since I have active toys to use.. To
> > make
> > a long term project your one and only is a mistake ..
> >
> > So after thinking about it if you say NO to just one of the
> > above 5 questions I strongly suggest you find something more
> > complete and in better condition to start.. Something that
> > can be put on the road in dependable running condition in
> > 6 months or less (the golden rule of thumb for project
> > vehicles).
> > Believe me you will get a grand education in just doing that
> > and maintaining it ...
> >
> > Oh ya rule number ONE and always .. If it ain't fun your doing
> > something VERY wrong .. FIX IT !!! and have fun
> >
> > Bob B
> >
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Thu Jul 05 2001 - 00:40:37 PDT