Thanks guys for taking the time to share your thoughts. I like your plan @moparmat2000 I hope it will come to realization for you. I still have 23 years, at least, to work. I'm not sure I will ever afford to retire entierly. My plan is to get my second job up and running and to be self-employed in the end. Over the last ten years, I have built a recording studio, that I own myself. No debts. I would be content working there until I croak. I have been working very hard on getting business to it in the last two years. I work there on weekdays in the evening, and on weekends and holidays. It's very rewarding and I love it, so I consider myself lucky. But my Duster project have, of course, suffered a lot, and I do miss working in the garage a lot. I used to be there all the time on my spare time. I just don't have any spare time at the moment. But I like the idea of working towards a goal like you do. To have a plan and strive towards it. If I get to the point where I can live of my studio I would be really happy!
1970 Duster project in Sweden
- Thread starter trebor75
- Start date
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moparmat2000
Well-Known Member
Sounds like your headed in the right direction. I always wanted to be my own boss. Run my own business. Sounds like your actually doing that. Sure starting something like that up takes a lot of time, but eventually you will have some time back for other things you love to do. Looks like you have your eye on the prize too, just in a different way. It's awesome that you are actually doing something you love, it makes you money, and the big bonus is its payed for. So you put your project aside for awhile. You still have it, and it will be able to get back to it eventually.
Life is funny when you get old as me and look back. $ was never the most important thing in life for me. I have worked jobs, I have worked for myself doing something I WANTED to do not because it made me a lot of $. but DOING what I wanted and because it was who I was and was meant to be,so I retired poor far as $ goes but NO regrets. Smarter and more hndgry people work all their lives for others or for themselves and retire with many $$$$$$$$$!/
I know when I was 1/2 way thru my Willy’s restoration, I hit burn out on the project.Here I am, almost a year after my last post. I never expected to be in a situation like this. I work so much at my job I still have not had the time, or the energy to proceed with all the updates I'm working on with my Duster. I always expected that I would have the energy to work 2 jobs and do my hobbies as well. Well, I'm guessing age is catching up with me. I actually have a bad conscience about it. I so badly want to feel motivated to start working on it. But when I have a free Saturday or Sunday I also just want to catch up on some relaxation. How do you guys and gals deal with this? I dont want to complain, but It's been so long since I worked on it the project seems so large to pick up again. I know though, if I get that initial spark I will probably be all over it again working away
I told myself at least go up to the garage and do one thing, even if it was as small as sandblast a bolt.
Something done, no matter how small is how projects get finished.
My Duster is 99% done, I only drove it once this year to a car show. Just no time, working on too many other projects. Never even drove the Willy’s this year.
Thanks! What I have going for me is a good work ethic and patience. Also a lot of experience in the field of recording, both as an engineer but also being a musician for over 30 years. But it's a tought field of work. There are no guarantees. I never was wealthy though, so if I can make ends meet for me, my girlfriend and our cats I'm a happy camper.
I hear you loud and clear. I have been lucky because my regular job has been one that I actually enjoy and feel is of value. The pay is low though, but I can live with that because I like doing it. My goal is to be able to make a living and being self employed working in my studio in the future. I just need enough to get by and I would be very happy doing that.
That is really good advice. Even if it's a small thing, it's a start and progress towards finishing the project! Thanks!
I ran into the same issue with my 69 Dart and got in over my head. Realizing that it was going to take me years to finish the project I started looking for a driver. I was lucky enough to find a 72 RR tribute that I could build it my way while enjoying it. I love driving and sharing my classic car. After a few more years I came to realize that the Dart wasn't going to happen so I sold it. I regret it but just didn't have the space any more. Now I am not suggesting that you sell it and buy a driving car because your Duster looks to be very far along and you have done some amazing work on it. Best advice is to chip away at it as others have said but concentrate on getting it road worthy first. You can always complete it as you go and it is really satisfying to enjoy those improvements as you drive the car. Sometimes you can feel them and sometimes you can see them plus working any bugs out if necessary.
The only other thing I can add is that I can work as much overtime as I want at my job but I am getting older (58) and I tell myself, you can always make more money, but you can't make time. In the end only you can set your priorities based on what is important to you and your life situation.
Good Luck and keep us posted!!!
The only other thing I can add is that I can work as much overtime as I want at my job but I am getting older (58) and I tell myself, you can always make more money, but you can't make time. In the end only you can set your priorities based on what is important to you and your life situation.
Good Luck and keep us posted!!!
I know space is an issue for all of us except country types like me, but, I have always felt to keep motivated in the hobby most people needs something they can drive. Drive while you work on it or have a total project to do while driving the other.
I have also seen over the decades the guy that buys (sometimes builds) the perfect show care, haul it to shows in his enclosed trailer, and after a while is bored chitless, and wants a driver. Sometimes.... He wants to sell the show care and get a driver but can't get is $ out of it. Not putting down the show guy but I have seen this so many times.
I have also seen over the decades the guy that buys (sometimes builds) the perfect show care, haul it to shows in his enclosed trailer, and after a while is bored chitless, and wants a driver. Sometimes.... He wants to sell the show care and get a driver but can't get is $ out of it. Not putting down the show guy but I have seen this so many times.
moparmat2000
Well-Known Member
Of course my 67 is on the back burner now as we are working on sonny's 69. Just a shell with almost completed bodywork. I was going to paint the undercarriage body color and super detail it. I am now leaning towards shooting it all with undercoating and just doing the front framerails and trans crossmember in body color. This way I can drive it and not care about stones kicking up under it.
As barbee6043 said. Do the small jobs first and the bigger will follow. Promise yourself to fulfill a small task with your project that'll only take 30 min or an hour as a start. Go home happy.
Visit car shows, swap meets and car meetings to find the motivation to get on. Meet other car people over a beer or two. Start follow a car resto channel on Youtube.
Good luck!
Visit car shows, swap meets and car meetings to find the motivation to get on. Meet other car people over a beer or two. Start follow a car resto channel on Youtube.
Good luck!
I have trained quarter horses all my life, and a lot of car resto work is similar. With the horses, they don't train up or get broke in one session! It comes as it comes, you cannot force some things, the just take time. I find satisfaction in seeing a small amounts of progress with every ride. If that horse got 1% better every ride, in 100 saddles he is 100 % trained. BUT it really take way more time!!!!!
If my project car got 1% better in 100 sessions it is restored !! Ha not really, so I find satisfaction in all the small and larger jobs I accomplish!!
Somedays satisfaction is just living to see another day!!?????
If my project car got 1% better in 100 sessions it is restored !! Ha not really, so I find satisfaction in all the small and larger jobs I accomplish!!
Somedays satisfaction is just living to see another day!!?????
As this says -
Long time since I last updated. I hope you are all staying safe and healthy. I have managed to stay healthy so far.
I'm doing a Wilwood disc brake conversion at the moment. It is a pretty straightforward thing, the kit is the wilwood 140-2712-B. I'm just about ready with one side and will be doing the other side tomorrow. It is a long way until this car is on the road again, but every step in that direction is fun and welcome in these hard times!
I'm doing a Wilwood disc brake conversion at the moment. It is a pretty straightforward thing, the kit is the wilwood 140-2712-B. I'm just about ready with one side and will be doing the other side tomorrow. It is a long way until this car is on the road again, but every step in that direction is fun and welcome in these hard times!
Nice!
Great work! Since the car meetings here in Sweden is mostly cancelled we can work on our cars. Social distancing!
71DusterSwe
Well-Known Member
Nice, where did you buy them?
Did you buy the wilwood master cylinder too?
Did you buy the wilwood master cylinder too?
I bought it over 2 years ago and I think it was from Wilwood, but I cant remember right now haha. I do have the receipt somewhere.
Some more progress from today. My new Indy Mags and tires is finally on so I can show the car forward. It was on my old steel wheels that went flat after a while before. This is the farthest this car has rolled in two years haha.
71DusterSwe
Well-Known Member
Ah okay.
I saw they have this really cool proportioning(?) valve that mounts on the master cylinder so you can throw away the original one
Found it quite cheap in germany but won't be buying it myself just yet
I saw they have this really cool proportioning(?) valve that mounts on the master cylinder so you can throw away the original one
Found it quite cheap in germany but won't be buying it myself just yet
Aha. I hope I don't need it. It has been my impression that this kit should work with the original one. But I'm probably wrong and need to spend more money...
71DusterSwe
Well-Known Member
You probably don't, I was just curious haha.
Hope you get it out on the road soon
Hope you get it out on the road soon
Thanks! It's a long way to go! I want to clean up the engine bay and I still need to put the engine together. How is yours running?You probably don't, I was just curious haha.
Hope you get it out on the road soon
71DusterSwe
Well-Known Member
Yeah well small steps at a time and it will be completed ;)
Umm, my one year old demon carb cracked so I put back the holley on it again. My fuel pressure is about 8-9psi on idle too so it doesn't run well at all haha...
Umm, my one year old demon carb cracked so I put back the holley on it again. My fuel pressure is about 8-9psi on idle too so it doesn't run well at all haha...
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