Re: Working on cars alone VS having a few buddies over...
[Re: Kern Dog]
#3006459
01/18/22 11:21 AM
01/18/22 11:21 AM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 11,686 W. Kentucky
justinp61
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 11,686
W. Kentucky
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One of the things that I like about construction is that there is often a sense of camaraderie among the guys. It is sort of like a sports team or the military in that you have several men working together toward a common goal. Many times, I prefer to work on my cars alone. Distractions from others can cloud my thought process and lead to screw-ups. Other times though, I like having friends around. The jokes, the stories and sometimes pranks make it a lot of fun. I joined a car club in 2004 for this very reason. I figured that guys that joined a Mopar club might be the type I'd like to do car projects with. It has not worked out that way. While they are nice people, most of the members never do anything. No car shows, no junkyard crawls, no interest in car movies and IF they have a classic, it never shows any progress. That is very disappointing. One friend of mine here has all but lost interest in cars since he sold his Challenger to fund the purchase of property. I've reached out to the car club guys but as stated, most of them are nowhere near as car crazy as I am. I do know of a couple more though. Sometimes if I commit to the guys coming over, it motivates me to get up and moving. If it is up to me (And it is cloudy or cold) it is easy to just stay inside. Do you enjoy having the guys over or do you prefer to work and tinker alone? That's the thing I miss the most about construction work, I took a job in a chemical plant 26 years ago. I work alone about 99% of the time as there really aren't that many car guys around here and few are Mopar guys.
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Re: Working on cars alone VS having a few buddies over...
[Re: Ramrod39]
#3006460
01/18/22 11:23 AM
01/18/22 11:23 AM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,700 Wichita
GY3
master
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master
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,700
Wichita
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I always built my project cars by myself. I'm kind of a control freak and I never minded being by myself. Same. I'll help other people with their cars at their house but I do everything myself on my car including engine and trans installation.
'63 Dodge 330 11.19 @ 121 mph Pump gas, n/a, through the mufflers on street tires with 3.54's. 3,600 lbs. 10.01 @ 133mph with a 250 shot of nitrous an a splash of race gas. 1.36 60 ft. 3,700 lbs.
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Re: Working on cars alone VS having a few buddies over...
[Re: PhillyRag]
#3006500
01/18/22 12:42 PM
01/18/22 12:42 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,938 Central Florida
larrymopar360
Stud Muffin
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Stud Muffin
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,938
Central Florida
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One friend of mine here has all but lost interest in cars since he sold his Challenger to fund the purchase of property. Good for him. He found a new interest/hobby, OR something that will give him a better "return", or satisfaction down the road. Strange response on a car forum. Old Mopars are supposed to bring satisfaction and joy and aren't about a better "return" if you mean financially.
Facts are stubborn things.
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Re: Working on cars alone VS having a few buddies over...
[Re: justinp61]
#3006501
01/18/22 12:44 PM
01/18/22 12:44 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,938 Central Florida
larrymopar360
Stud Muffin
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Stud Muffin
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,938
Central Florida
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One of the things that I like about construction is that there is often a sense of camaraderie among the guys. It is sort of like a sports team or the military in that you have several men working together toward a common goal. Many times, I prefer to work on my cars alone. Distractions from others can cloud my thought process and lead to screw-ups. Other times though, I like having friends around. The jokes, the stories and sometimes pranks make it a lot of fun. I joined a car club in 2004 for this very reason. I figured that guys that joined a Mopar club might be the type I'd like to do car projects with. It has not worked out that way. While they are nice people, most of the members never do anything. No car shows, no junkyard crawls, no interest in car movies and IF they have a classic, it never shows any progress. That is very disappointing. One friend of mine here has all but lost interest in cars since he sold his Challenger to fund the purchase of property. I've reached out to the car club guys but as stated, most of them are nowhere near as car crazy as I am. I do know of a couple more though. Sometimes if I commit to the guys coming over, it motivates me to get up and moving. If it is up to me (And it is cloudy or cold) it is easy to just stay inside. Do you enjoy having the guys over or do you prefer to work and tinker alone? That's the thing I miss the most about construction work, I took a job in a chemical plant 26 years ago. I work alone about 99% of the time as there really aren't that many car guys around here and few are Mopar guys. Same here regarding cars. Too bad because it would be helpful and enjoyable with someone else sometimes. Had a great time a couple of times when Scratchn (Mike) made the long haul from West coast to help me out with stuff on my Power Wagon.
Facts are stubborn things.
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Re: Working on cars alone VS having a few buddies over...
[Re: larrymopar360]
#3006613
01/18/22 09:15 PM
01/18/22 09:15 PM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog
OP
Striving for excellence
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OP
Striving for excellence
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
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I do prefer to do some things by myself without any distractions. As another member mentioned, bodywork ! I've had car owners want to help on their cars and every time, I have had to go over their work. I'm not an OCD perfectionist but I do try to get the body and paint to look as good as I am capable. Engine building? Oh yeah. A chatterbox buddy can distract you enough to make a mistake that shows up during break in or miles down the road. Most of the time when I really appreciate the help is on some junker car where precision isn't a factor. Lifting hoods with helpers avoids scratches. Breaking in an engine is another time where extra eyes really helps. I do get help from the wife for moving cars around the yard, bleeding brakes and some other medium duty tasks. She is strong enough to help lift steel hoods too! It does come back to the guys working together though. If you've never been in the military, been on a sports team or worked alongside a bunch of like minded guys, you might not understand why I say that I really like the camaraderie. It really is a thing. Years ago, We'd have marathon sessions doing engine swaps. In the 80s and 90s, lowered cars and mini trucks were the big thing. I was "the guy" in the neighborhood with a floor jack and jackstands so I got tapped to chop coil springs, install lowering blocks, do spring-under jobs, etc. I rarely drink...same for most of the dudes that I hung out with. When we were focused on a project, if there was a screw up, we only had our own incompetence to blame.
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Re: Working on cars alone VS having a few buddies over...
[Re: larrymopar360]
#3006631
01/18/22 11:00 PM
01/18/22 11:00 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,757 Phila
PhillyRag
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,757
Phila
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One friend of mine here has all but lost interest in cars since he sold his Challenger to fund the purchase of property. Good for him. He found a new interest/hobby, OR something that will give him a better "return", or satisfaction down the road. Strange response on a car forum. Old Mopars are supposed to bring satisfaction and joy and aren't about a better "return" if you mean financially. Not really; since there was another posting about "mopars being someone's worst investment". Well they're "supposed" to be satisfying, UNTIL some realize they're "over their head" wrt the work involved/money needed to finish them. Shame, not many years ago it was very possible to have a "nice" vintage car to drive/enjoy, without going into deep-debt. With paint prices today, and finding a good reasonable $$ shop, they've climbed to high on the "elitist ladder" for many, especially for the "younger" crowd wanting to get involved.
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Re: Working on cars alone VS having a few buddies over...
[Re: Rhinodart]
#3006644
01/18/22 11:55 PM
01/18/22 11:55 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,318 Southern Maryland
klunick
master
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master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,318
Southern Maryland
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To be honest, I prefer to have a buddy over. I have lived with a repaired detached retina most of my life and about 5 years ago a torn one in the other eye. Both were fixed but bad floaters. Basically, my eyesight sucks. I need huge amounts of light to see stuff and it has really affected my confidence. When I walk I now find myself looking down non-stop. Some of that is due to cataract surgery with the near/far thing, but I like my car buddies and they are more knowledgeable than me. They also seem to have a lot more patience which helps me stay calmer also.
67 Barracuda FB
69 Superbee
"Southern Maryland: If you want a good looking woman, you had better bring her with you"
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Re: Working on cars alone VS having a few buddies over...
[Re: ]
#3006735
01/19/22 10:57 AM
01/19/22 10:57 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,757 North Dakota
6PakBee
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,757
North Dakota
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I am a superintendent for a construction company doing commercial and industrial work and I find that I have to deal with a good amount of stupid people so my shop time is my solace time. The wife has no issue with me spending a lot of time in the shop. One of my buds calls it "Shop Therapy".
"We live in a time when intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't be offended".
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Re: Working on cars alone VS having a few buddies over...
[Re: 6PakBee]
#3006740
01/19/22 11:16 AM
01/19/22 11:16 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 31,074 Oregon
AndyF
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 31,074
Oregon
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Local guys bring their Mopars over to my shop in the winter to work on them since I have heated floors. Beats busting their nuts off in an unheated garage at home. Last year I helped with a RR project, this winter I helped with a Dart project. I like the company and I can usually help move the projects along since I have a big stash of Mopar parts sitting on the shelf.
Last edited by AndyF; 01/19/22 11:18 AM.
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Re: Working on cars alone VS having a few buddies over...
[Re: Leigh]
#3006955
01/19/22 08:45 PM
01/19/22 08:45 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,634 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,634
Freeport IL USA
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For me, it really depends on what we may be doing as the project of the day. Some things I really need to pay undivided attention to, and other projects are more laid back. I suppose the urgency of the project moving forward in the shortest time also plays a big effect on weather I want help or not.
There are a few guys I can work well with, but those guys understand how my mind works. I do not multitask. I'm the one thing at a time guy. If I have to lay out a plan for someone else, and a plan for myself, we would tend to do whatever the other guy's part of the project is, but if they know what they need to do, then we can both get something done. If I need to help them, I tend to teach them things along the way.
My son and I have become pretty good at working together (its taken years to get to this point). He is a great welder, but just can't fully grasp the process of a custom fabrication project. When we work together, I guide him on how to make patterns, and help him lay them out on the metal to cut, then he does the cutting. Then I guide him in the metal bending process, and he will bend the metal, and is getting really good at the final metal fitting and the welding. We are gaining on making stuff pretty. We set up projects as a 2-3 day process because his time is limited, and we usually accomplish the mission in the given time. As he is gaining in experience, we find more time to talk as we work, but that talk time has to be after I have done the part I need to do, and while he does his part. He can multitask pretty well, and he knows I can't.
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Re: Working on cars alone VS having a few buddies over...
[Re: AndyF]
#3006979
01/19/22 09:25 PM
01/19/22 09:25 PM
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Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 1,166 Loudoun County, VA
Brad_Haak
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 1,166
Loudoun County, VA
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Do you enjoy having the guys over or do you prefer to work and tinker alone?
Really depends on the guy. ^^^ My friend Mike who is (was?) on here as "'THESHAKERPROJECT" is major to have come over to help. He's done some extremely nice restoration work and has experience with areas of the car that I don't. He's also a good motivator for pushing through what seems like a never-ending project to get The MoPig running again. Another friend who I've known for decades has offered to come over to help multiple times. However, my best recollection of how he works on his own cars is he's more of a "slap it on and call it good" type of hot rodder. I know I'm not a fast wrench, but I don't wanna build build junk, either. I've yet to take him up on the offer simply cuz I can imagine a clash of personalities on how things get done.
2021 Challenger 6.4L Scat Pack 1320 100% stock: 1.680, 11.894 at 113.75 (DA 175 ft) weight reduction, wheels, tires, Hellcat air box: 1.661, 11.686 at 115.97 (DA 710 ft)
1973 Challenger 452 ci street/strip [2008] pump gas, DOT radials: 1.454, 10.523 at 126.44 (DA 514 ft)
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Re: Working on cars alone VS having a few buddies over...
[Re: Kern Dog]
#3007016
01/19/22 10:49 PM
01/19/22 10:49 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,536 On the run…
BloFish
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,536
On the run…
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Attention to detail are paramount to me, therefore I work alone most of the time.
It really doesn't matter whether you win or lose… as long as you look good doing it!
‘65 A100 ‘69 ‘Cuda ‘73 Vega GT ‘06 Mega Cab ‘14 Mercedes SLK
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Re: Working on cars alone VS having a few buddies over...
[Re: Kern Dog]
#3007091
01/20/22 08:31 AM
01/20/22 08:31 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 20,000 Puttin' on the foil in Charles...
not_a_charger
Mr. Big Shot Moparts Moderator
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Mr. Big Shot Moparts Moderator
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 20,000
Puttin' on the foil in Charles...
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I used to love working on my cars, and helping other people work on theirs. I never really had a preference as to what kind of work I wanted to do alone vs. with other people. For me, it was more of a timing thing, like "Today, I'd like to just be in the garage by myself and goof around with the car."
I think working in the collision repair side of my industry for so long, being in shops all day every day, dealing with repair problem and after repair problem, really took the fun out of the hobby for me over time. I don't really have any interest in working on cars anymore. I enjoy looking at them, and am considering buying another old car or new Challenger or Camaro, but I'm not sure I will. I miss the enjoyment the hobby used to bring me, but that hasn't proven to be enough to get me back into it like I was 10 years ago. We sold my wife's 64, my Trans Am, all of the extra parts, etc. I still have my 82 F250, but that's just a work truck, and I'm likely selling that in the spring anyway.
I'm grateful the hobby still exists, and I hope it does for a long time.
Earning every penny of that moderator paycheck.
DBAP
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Re: Working on cars alone VS having a few buddies over...
[Re: 56_Royal_Lancer]
#3007373
01/20/22 08:48 PM
01/20/22 08:48 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,807 Castlegar, BC, Canada
That AMC Guy
master
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master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,807
Castlegar, BC, Canada
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I'm inherently lazy. So, if I'm going to spend time doing something.... I do it once - correctly. If possible, I'll even try to future proof it if possible to prevent subsequent failure. I missed my calling as an Engineer. I don't know what it is.... maybe because I don't have BEER at my place, people rarely come around to help. Thing is, I prefer a slight distraction be it somebody to talk to or listening to music. Occasionally, a spare set of hands is very welcome.
However, to the flip side of that.... a LOT of people call upon me to come help with their projects. I've helped one friend build 1.5 Willys trucks.... helped another friend completely disassemble a Gremlin and harvest it for parts (former V8 Gremlin but far, far too rusty to even consider any kind of restoration).
Bloody Mary, Full of Vodka, Blessed art thou among cocktails....
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Re: Working on cars alone VS having a few buddies over...
[Re: That AMC Guy]
#3007377
01/20/22 08:59 PM
01/20/22 08:59 PM
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Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6,318 nowhere
Sniper
master
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master
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6,318
nowhere
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I'm inherently lazy. So, if I'm going to spend time doing something.... I do it once - correctly. You are the only other person I have ever heard say that.
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