Dr.Jass
Pastor of Muppets
...hanging it up.
I've been obsessed with cars since I was in a high chair, according to my Mom. I've been playing with and studying Mopars for 25 years, even when I ran Pontiacs. I've devoted a lot of my time, money, and brain space to these cars, and for what? Other than becoming a bit of an encyclopedia on them, not much thus far. My job leaves me mentally wasted at the end of the day, and I just can't bring myself to spend time in the garage anymore. Keeping up on daily life is enough--dishes, laundry, etc. I just haven't got the time or energy anymore.
Besides, due to my own stupidity in the past, it's not like I'll ever legally drive anything I build. That's nobody's fault but mine.
Maybe I'm just depressed of late, but I've not touched the LeBaron in months. The Imperial is just as I bought it, with the exception of removing the ghastly wire wheelcovers. I don't even want to talk about the Conquests or the Barracuda (the whole point of the Barracuda was to part it out; I haven't even seen it since there was snow on the ground). It just seems as if my enthusiasm is waning these days. Anyone outside myself that I know on this board would be chomping at the bit were they sitting on $10K or more in parts... I just see it as work I've not done. I'm sitting on over $6K worth of parts for the LeBaron alone. That car would be an animal were I to finish it, but I have no desire at the moment to even look at it... and despite my current indifference towards working on it, I love that car, having driven it for over a year as an anemic Slant Six with a column-mounted auto. Regardless, I can't walk through my basement without tripping over, or hitting my head on, some kind of high-performance part; my garage is an absolute nightmare.
Still, I read Summit and Year One catalogs in the bathroom. I'm intrigued when I see something new or different from my own experience, and I tuck it into my brain and think of how it could be incorporated into a future project... but to get to a future project, I have to work on what I've got, and I just can't bring myself to do that of late.
Maybe it's because I haven't driven a Mopar in 6 years, or perhaps because I've not driven a fast car in over a decade. Perhaps it's just that I'm happier knowing rather than doing... but it never used to be that way. Back in the good ol' days, I changed the cam, lifters, timing chain, timing-cover seal and water pump on the Black Bitch in less than two hours. Now I can't even seem to get off my arse to finish welding the front end of the LeBaron, which is already half done.
At this point, I'm committed to the engine swap in Sarah's Camaro... and I'm doing that only because no one else will and I want to foster her enthusiasm towards cars. I will do it, but I'm thinking that's going to be the end of the line as far as working on cars. I guess I'm just tired of spending money and time on something I can't drive upon completion anyhow. Riding in the passenger seat just ain't the same.
Unless some kind of inspiration hits soon, keep your eye on the "Parts for Sale" section... there will likely be some screaming-hell deals on the stuff I've accumulated over the years (much of which is brand-new, or close to it). Stretch--a lot of what I've got works on full-tilt A-bodies.
Should I decide to blow out all of this stuff, I'll likely retire from the board as well. I won't want the reminder.
Maybe Sarah's Z/28 will provide the inspiration to work on my own stuff, but I doubt it. I think I'll just be glad it's done.
I've been obsessed with cars since I was in a high chair, according to my Mom. I've been playing with and studying Mopars for 25 years, even when I ran Pontiacs. I've devoted a lot of my time, money, and brain space to these cars, and for what? Other than becoming a bit of an encyclopedia on them, not much thus far. My job leaves me mentally wasted at the end of the day, and I just can't bring myself to spend time in the garage anymore. Keeping up on daily life is enough--dishes, laundry, etc. I just haven't got the time or energy anymore.
Besides, due to my own stupidity in the past, it's not like I'll ever legally drive anything I build. That's nobody's fault but mine.
Maybe I'm just depressed of late, but I've not touched the LeBaron in months. The Imperial is just as I bought it, with the exception of removing the ghastly wire wheelcovers. I don't even want to talk about the Conquests or the Barracuda (the whole point of the Barracuda was to part it out; I haven't even seen it since there was snow on the ground). It just seems as if my enthusiasm is waning these days. Anyone outside myself that I know on this board would be chomping at the bit were they sitting on $10K or more in parts... I just see it as work I've not done. I'm sitting on over $6K worth of parts for the LeBaron alone. That car would be an animal were I to finish it, but I have no desire at the moment to even look at it... and despite my current indifference towards working on it, I love that car, having driven it for over a year as an anemic Slant Six with a column-mounted auto. Regardless, I can't walk through my basement without tripping over, or hitting my head on, some kind of high-performance part; my garage is an absolute nightmare.
Still, I read Summit and Year One catalogs in the bathroom. I'm intrigued when I see something new or different from my own experience, and I tuck it into my brain and think of how it could be incorporated into a future project... but to get to a future project, I have to work on what I've got, and I just can't bring myself to do that of late.
Maybe it's because I haven't driven a Mopar in 6 years, or perhaps because I've not driven a fast car in over a decade. Perhaps it's just that I'm happier knowing rather than doing... but it never used to be that way. Back in the good ol' days, I changed the cam, lifters, timing chain, timing-cover seal and water pump on the Black Bitch in less than two hours. Now I can't even seem to get off my arse to finish welding the front end of the LeBaron, which is already half done.
At this point, I'm committed to the engine swap in Sarah's Camaro... and I'm doing that only because no one else will and I want to foster her enthusiasm towards cars. I will do it, but I'm thinking that's going to be the end of the line as far as working on cars. I guess I'm just tired of spending money and time on something I can't drive upon completion anyhow. Riding in the passenger seat just ain't the same.
Unless some kind of inspiration hits soon, keep your eye on the "Parts for Sale" section... there will likely be some screaming-hell deals on the stuff I've accumulated over the years (much of which is brand-new, or close to it). Stretch--a lot of what I've got works on full-tilt A-bodies.
Should I decide to blow out all of this stuff, I'll likely retire from the board as well. I won't want the reminder.
Maybe Sarah's Z/28 will provide the inspiration to work on my own stuff, but I doubt it. I think I'll just be glad it's done.
I've run into long stretches like that too. Walk away from it for awhile and just live your life. I would agree that you should hold onto the one project you're really in love with because the bug will more than likely return. Take all the proceeds you receive from your fire sale and go on a nice vacation or spend some big coin on yourself in some other way. 
