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| You ever just get tired? (Page 1/3) |
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Additivewalnut
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JUN 26, 05:16 AM
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I dont want to sound like I'm complaining too much here, but nobody else really gets it like you guys do since we're all dealing with the same car. But;
Man. I can't help but feel exhausted with the little thing. I put so much time and effort into getting it running again and bringing the thing back to its former glory and it feels like every single time I've got it going reliably, it shoots fire out the tailpipe and dies on the side of the road.
I've got mold in the headliner, but the new one from the fierostore doesn't get here for another couple months.. got some electrical problems that only show up sometimes so I can't really diagnose them. Just a bunch of little stuff like the cracked radio trim and the parking brake light that sometimes works and sometimes doesn't.
It's all so tiring, yknow? I want to work on the car so bad but it's honestly a little overwhelming and I feel like at the end of the day, I don't really have anything to show for it. I hate to say it but I've been neglecting my Fiero in place of a 240sx project that I've frankly been having more fun with. I guess I underestimated how hard it would be to get a 35 year old car road worthy again.
YouTube doesn't help with it either. Seeing people like Ronald Finger putting the time and effort into their Fieros makes me feel a little worse about mine. Full respect to Ron though, man did some incredible work.
I guess my big question is: Do you guys ever feel like this?[This message has been edited by Additivewalnut (edited 06-26-2021).]
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R Runner
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JUN 26, 05:57 AM
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Short answer: Yes.
I have a daily driver that it seems really isn't because I always have something to fix. Eventually, everything that is critical will be (more or less) replaced. You WILL get there..... and it does take time. I agree, it seems like "magic" when a YouTube video pops up and seemingly with little effort, a beautiful car appears. My hardest project (by far) was my IMSA. I had a lot of time and money put into it for nearly 2 years with little to show for an end result. Even once it was running and functional, it was another 5 years before I really got it to where it is now. There was a point (several) when I felt overwhelmed.
A few years after my project was "complete" (are they ever?), I got a call from a guy that was very serious about building a similar tube chassis car. We talked weekly/monthly by phone. About a year and a half in to the project, he made the comment that he thought it was just too much. Honestly he was just about over the hump so to speak for the work required on that car. I told him basicly what I'll tell you, one small system at a time. Building a whole car is a huge task, but fixing a certain system is much more manageable. Laser focus on one system and get it where you want it. Be happy with your accomplishment and then move on to the next.
Sometimes you just have to "do it". I was not always excited about working on the car, but I saw a goal. I used that end product vision to tell myself to finish the system or task I was currently on so that I could get to one that I thought was more fun.
Above all..... Never give up. Just keep going. I tell my kids "You haven't lost until you quit."
Hopefully that helps.... 
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Paul
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Additivewalnut
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JUN 26, 06:58 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by R Runner:
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"You haven't lost until you quit"
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I should put that on a plaque and hang on the wall in my garage. I sometimes get so caught up in the bigger picture that I forget how to see the smaller stuff haha
I'm thinking when my 240 is finished and put back together I may start with the fiero headliner and work from there.
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RCR
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JUN 26, 09:49 AM
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A lot of the time. I've been working on mine for years, with the hope of one day being able to cruise around in it.
Getting tired of looking at it is why it's dragged on so long.
I tell myself it's a hobby. It's probably more...
Bob
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My Build
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RCR
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JUN 26, 09:50 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by R Runner:
Sometimes you just have to "do it". I was not always excited about working on the car, but I saw a goal. I used that end product vision to tell myself to finish the system or task I was currently on so that I could get to one that I thought was more fun.
Above all..... Never give up. Just keep going. I tell my kids "You haven't lost until you quit."
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Nailed it, Paul.
Bob
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pmbrunelle
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JUN 26, 11:07 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by Additivewalnut:
I've got mold in the headliner, but the new one from the fierostore doesn't get here for another couple months..
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| quote | Originally posted by Additivewalnut:bunch of little stuff like the cracked radio trim
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Attacking problems one-by-one is pretty time-inefficient.
My preference is to rip out the entire interior once, redo everything, and put it back together.
By doing things in large related chunks, you're only dealing with the assembly/disassembly overhead once.
It's my preferred way to make good headway on a project without burning too much gas.
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fieroguru
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JUN 26, 11:35 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by R Runner:
Sometimes you just have to "do it". I was not always excited about working on the car, but I saw a goal. I used that end product vision to tell myself to finish the system or task I was currently on so that I could get to one that I thought was more fun.
Above all..... Never give up. Just keep going. I tell my kids "You haven't lost until you quit."
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X2
I like the phrase: Never let the car win...
- Force yourself to accomplish something small every day.
- Focus your efforts on the systems that are most likely to leave you on the side of the road - brakes, coolant, fuel, ignition.
- Set triggers for when things happen -for example if you find a lower ball joint loose, go through the entire front suspension at the same time - bushings, upper/lower ball joints, inner/outer tie rods, etc. Doing it this way, you only touch that section of the car 1 time and by replacing all the wear items (and using quality parts), you won't have another one go out in 3-6 months. You can even break it down into sections so you can see daily/weekly progress.
- Until the car runs and drives, it doesn't make sense to divert funds to cosmetic or want items (stereo upgrades). Doing so just diverts time and $$ away from the critical path. There are exceptions to this: full car builds, rebodies, tube chassis, major engine builds, etc... but for the average new Fiero owner, get the car running, driving, and enjoy it ASAP.
It took me 3 years to build my LS4/F40 car, then I was able to enjoy it with daily driver reliability for 6.5 years and 55K miles. When I had a DoD lifter collapse, I decided to take the car down for some major power upgrades... I am 2 years into the upgrades, realistically have another year to go, and I really miss driving my LS4/F40 Fiero... While the car has been down, my goals and priorities have shifted, and the scope seems to be ever expanding, but I continue to focus on the small progress steps! It will be running again eventually!
It also helps to focus on enjoying the journey:
- Every repair is an opportunity to learn how to research and better understand how the system works.
- Any skill you develop just makes things easier going forward.
- Things are easier with the right tools, so as new ones are needed, start collecting them - no need to buy new. Pawn shops, estate auctions, ebay, etc. are great sources of tools with remaining life - the key is maximize specialty tools with minimal $$$
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R Runner
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JUN 26, 05:12 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by fieroguru:
X2
I like the phrase: Never let the car win...
- Force yourself to accomplish something small every day.
- Focus your efforts on the systems that are most likely to leave you on the side of the road - brakes, coolant, fuel, ignition.
- Set triggers for when things happen -for example if you find a lower ball joint loose, go through the entire front suspension at the same time - bushings, upper/lower ball joints, inner/outer tie rods, etc. Doing it this way, you only touch that section of the car 1 time and by replacing all the wear items (and using quality parts), you won't have another one go out in 3-6 months. You can even break it down into sections so you can see daily/weekly progress.
- Until the car runs and drives, it doesn't make sense to divert funds to cosmetic or want items (stereo upgrades). Doing so just diverts time and $$ away from the critical path. There are exceptions to this: full car builds, rebodies, tube chassis, major engine builds, etc... but for the average new Fiero owner, get the car running, driving, and enjoy it ASAP.
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That's good stuff...
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cvxjet
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JUN 26, 08:44 PM
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Make a list of what you NEED to do and what you WANT to do. Then hi-light the things that need to be done first, and do them one by one- but take a break every once in a while so you don't suffer burn-out.
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hyperv6
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JUN 26, 09:33 PM
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The trouble is many people commit to major projects and find they are challenged by time, money and fading enthusiasm. This is why so many garages hold half finished projects.
If enthusiasm is an issue you need to adjust your project into stages where you are not just doing big project items but completing small projects that help you mark things off the list showing progress.
Like working on a race car you need to make a punch list and list the different jobs that need to be done.
Also take breaks. You don’t need to work on it constantly. Step back take a week off but commit perjury to return after some time off.
While my car is done I still take off time from it as when I get back to it I feel new enthusiasm for the car.
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