mopar head
Well-Known Member
I would love to see some good pics of your 33.
Front-side-rear-interior-engine bay shots.
What a majestic car. If you get a chance and start a new thread on it.
Have you ever lost
- Thread starter rbkt65
- Start date
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Front-side-rear-interior-engine bay shots.
What a majestic car. If you get a chance and start a new thread on it.
I did quit cold turkey and walked away from Drag Racing
at the Winternationals in 1977. The 1964's Max Wedge went
to Ray Christian's shop in Ohio and the 70 Roadrunner 440/6
to Abe Lowen in Canada. Both of them are still on the track still
today I believe.
My lack of interest was very simple. I had spent Ten of Thousand dollars
racing (That was MONEY back them). I had just gotten Married and getting
rid of all the stuff and quitting really was necessary.
I still kept my interest in Mopars and helped my collection friends a lot.
However, I never went to a race or even watched it on TV. By the late 80's
I was in the Boat Business and was racing boats for customers and testing
new designs. I had a crash (1991) in testing a new design at 100++ and severed my
left foot at the ankle! When I got out of the Hospital, I called my old friend and
bought back my 1970 Duster. I was finished with Boats!
While still in a wheelchair, I built an engine and got the old Duster back running.
I then won the 1992 Gambler Nationals with it while still in a walker.
I had never been a religious guy, but while flying in the flight for life Helicopter:
I committed my life to the Lord Jesus Christ.
I told him = If I live 5 more minutes or 50 more years, I will follow you!
It has been 33 years since then
at the Winternationals in 1977. The 1964's Max Wedge went
to Ray Christian's shop in Ohio and the 70 Roadrunner 440/6
to Abe Lowen in Canada. Both of them are still on the track still
today I believe.
My lack of interest was very simple. I had spent Ten of Thousand dollars
racing (That was MONEY back them). I had just gotten Married and getting
rid of all the stuff and quitting really was necessary.
I still kept my interest in Mopars and helped my collection friends a lot.
However, I never went to a race or even watched it on TV. By the late 80's
I was in the Boat Business and was racing boats for customers and testing
new designs. I had a crash (1991) in testing a new design at 100++ and severed my
left foot at the ankle! When I got out of the Hospital, I called my old friend and
bought back my 1970 Duster. I was finished with Boats!
While still in a wheelchair, I built an engine and got the old Duster back running.
I then won the 1992 Gambler Nationals with it while still in a walker.
I had never been a religious guy, but while flying in the flight for life Helicopter:
I committed my life to the Lord Jesus Christ.
I told him = If I live 5 more minutes or 50 more years, I will follow you!
It has been 33 years since then
Newbomb Turk
Well-Known Member
Yup. If you do this **** for a living the last thing I want to do is go to the track and babysit guys and argue with them about why the junk they have won’t run.
I only go to the track with friends. No more customers.
Shenango
Well-Known Member
When I finally made it to 70 3 years ago I thought, wow I feel pretty good, I have enough strength left to do anything I want, my wife and I have enough money to be comfortable and have a toy to play with. That toy is our 66 Belvedere, built 440, (500ish hp) 727 with shift kit and 3.91 rear gear. All kind of fun despite the constant upkeep. Then 13 months ago I had a TIA while sitting at home in my recliner. By the time we got to the ER I was feeling a lot better and my speech was nearly normal again. After dozens of test and being passed around from one specialist to the next, no one could tell me what specifically happened.
Then about 4 weeks ago my heart rate started going very low and I felt like crap with joint stiffness and pain and nausea on top of all that. At one point my resting pulse was in the mid 30s. I called the heart Dr. that did my AFIB test for the TIA and she ordered another Holter monitor that took 3 weeks to get here. In the last 6 days, while waiting for the monitor, my heart rate has returned to normal and most of my pain is gone.
Now for the good news. My wife has been looking for a more modern hot rod that will be fun, for us, and not require a lot of upkeep. The Belvedere has needed constant attention the past 3 years just to keep it safe and drivable. Well we brought it home today. She found a 2010 Mustang GT Premium in Grabber Blue with white stripes. 4.6L with a 5 speed. Best part is only 14,000 miles. She asked me if the engine was going to be powerful enough for me and I just said it will be plenty enough to get me put in jail if I'm not careful.
I get my Holter Monitor Friday and a new brain MRI next week. Yahoo I got a new toy.
Then about 4 weeks ago my heart rate started going very low and I felt like crap with joint stiffness and pain and nausea on top of all that. At one point my resting pulse was in the mid 30s. I called the heart Dr. that did my AFIB test for the TIA and she ordered another Holter monitor that took 3 weeks to get here. In the last 6 days, while waiting for the monitor, my heart rate has returned to normal and most of my pain is gone.
Now for the good news. My wife has been looking for a more modern hot rod that will be fun, for us, and not require a lot of upkeep. The Belvedere has needed constant attention the past 3 years just to keep it safe and drivable. Well we brought it home today. She found a 2010 Mustang GT Premium in Grabber Blue with white stripes. 4.6L with a 5 speed. Best part is only 14,000 miles. She asked me if the engine was going to be powerful enough for me and I just said it will be plenty enough to get me put in jail if I'm not careful.
I get my Holter Monitor Friday and a new brain MRI next week. Yahoo I got a new toy.
Mr. Sinister
Devastation Manager
Hang in there Rick. I know it’s tough flying a racer solo especially since it sounds like you are used to travel in
a group.
a group.
I work at a Napa store. plenty of old guys and a few young guys come in and we shoot the bull. We always try to help each other out. Most of them are my age(73) or older and the younger ones are in their 50's. Also, Joe Suchy "had" a weather strip, an NOS one even and gave it to a guy in New Jersey to make him some. That was approx 25 yrs ago. Not done yet. Wife does not care but said see what the FABO guys say. Makes sense that the FABO family would have info that I would never had considered. So, I down loaded some more pics of my car. The door bars are now gone and the bar behind the seat is also gone. Needed to move the seats back 5.5 inches to be able to get in/out. hope everyone enjoys the pics.
Inertia
Well-Known Member
Very, very awesome. Thnx for sharing.
mopar head
Well-Known Member
If the thrill is gone, pass it on and go after the next car on your bucket list, no matter what manufacture.
I have found, the more usable a car is, the more the interest is kept. Our '80 D150 has 4.30 spool, it's a little loud, and hardly ever gets driven, just an occasional short trip out of time now and then.... Our '77 van, however, sees state to state use. Same with a few other classics we have. ALSO... I don't have anything nice because I refuse to be a slave to what I claim to own (but instead have it own me), in all it's care and worries 
I lost interest in my Polara and sold it four years ago. Had the same thing happen to my 86 D150 and my 96 Impala SS. Get oh so close and something happens and I give up.Bought my 68 300 back after 20+ years and it sat until I traded it for my 72 Newport and now it sits. Need to build a motor for my Duster it will suffer the same fate. I am getting older,money is shorter,and I just want to get in and drive. Don't enjoy the work part anymore and my body has taken me out of most of it.
So yes, I understand.
So yes, I understand.
Many days my resting pulse is 30 to 35
My Doctor explained that my heart was not contracting
enough to pump any blood about half the time.
That has continued for several years, but the Doctor does
not seem to think it is important enough to be of any concern and
at 76 - I feel OK most of the time.
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Super-Cuda
MOPAR .. Move Over, Plymouth Approaching Rapidly!
WOW..... Just.....WOW !!!
famous bob
mopar misfit
my family doctor put me on Prednisone , that's what the statin drugs kill in some peoples body -----working for me .I hear ya! I had a triple bypass in 2017 during Hurricane Harvey... They put me on big Statin and blood thinner. Get a scratch and I bleed like a pig. and bruise bad. Muscle strength has been going downhill for years. I tell my family doc and he just says I am old! I went to a joint/bone doc. No issues. I finally find a nerve doc. He goes ape chit about Statins. Says I have to be off at least 6 months to show if that is the issues. (Statins can cause muscle atrophy in a small % of people). I went to a different nerve doc and he schedules me for a muscle biopsy next week. He said that is what the first nerve doc SHOULD have done! I just bounce from one doc to the next!! for first one issue then another!!
Will be a tapering off thing , sometimes takes a yr.
Lookup Mayo health clinic for the run down ...I typed in "what causes a 78 yr. old man to loose muscle strength and have extreme muscle and joint pain" , got the mayo clinic website , then told my doctor what I found , he blood tested me and confirmed it . Walking at least 7 miles a week right now and started doing some lite weight lifting , and stretching exercises , and its working for me ...
Dartswinger70
Well-Known Member
I was just telling a friend ? summer comes Im outside doing property maintenance then I get back on the car over the winter..." problem is Im down to paint and body cant really do that in the cold but...I have stuff to keep busy with this year and maybe I can shoot some primer come spring...
Dartswinger70
Well-Known Member
I dislike saying this but i dont trust the medical industry...
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Back when I was a rabid Audiophile a good Audio-buddy of mine (who was on his way out of the hobby) said something I've never forgotten: "I'd rather live my life with music, than for music".
I forget that every now and then, but thankfully it pops into my feeble brain every so often to remind me of what's important.
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skep419
5.9 Magnum 4 speed afficionado
I've been hearing this same story a lot lately. Whatever you decide to do you can always buy another car 
I've found having a simple combo, stick shift, with street gears keeps my interest at a high level.
I've found having a simple combo, stick shift, with street gears keeps my interest at a high level.
I have been in the hobby since early 80's and have owned a lot of Mopars. They always would come and go. Never could keep them all! I guess the "hunt" was always exciting and kept my interest up. Finding a "new" project has always been a rush!!!! (disease???). But as decent project cars get higher cost and scarcer, and good parts hard to find, and new parts crap from China.... hard to stay as motivated and then as I age, you know!!!!
What has always helped me keep interested, is just the fact that no matter how small a job I complete on the project, I get a super big sense of accomplishment. When I think about it, pretty strange.
What has always helped me keep interested, is just the fact that no matter how small a job I complete on the project, I get a super big sense of accomplishment. When I think about it, pretty strange.
I can't justify paying insurance and plates on a bunch of cars you never drive. Personal property tax , the list goes on .. My pockets aren't very deep anymore.
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skep419
5.9 Magnum 4 speed afficionado
Although here in MN it would probably be cheaper to register 5-7 old vehicles than 1 new one...........
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Yup! 5 old trucks versus my 2021 Honda Ridgeline...no comparison when it comes time to buy new tabs.
Wish I could use one of the trucks for my Daily, but a 40 mile commute, at 10-12 MPG, versus the 24-25 MPG I get with the Honda.....
(But I've never done the math, though! Hmmmmm.....)
Been working on her for 17 yrs.
Everything mechanical has been remanufactured or new. It's down to cosmetics. Several times I was seriously thinking about selling.
I even called to see what it would cost to transport it a 1000 miles. My wife has been saying "sell the damn thing"
Since the day I brought it home.
Luckily I retired a yr ago, I have the time and the means to finish it. Been busy
Im keeping her, I suggest you do the same.
Everything mechanical has been remanufactured or new. It's down to cosmetics. Several times I was seriously thinking about selling.
I even called to see what it would cost to transport it a 1000 miles. My wife has been saying "sell the damn thing"
Since the day I brought it home.
Luckily I retired a yr ago, I have the time and the means to finish it. Been busy
Im keeping her, I suggest you do the same.
NC Engine Builder
Grumpy Old Man
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Maybe I'm jaded, working on other people's stuff, just leaves no time for my junk. But there is allways something cool in my shop. Like this all aluminum HEMI, will be a 528 cube pump gas street car deal. I guess I get more enjoyment now by doing cool stuff for other people.
zookgumby
Member
I'm 77, had a stroke while riding a dirt bike two years ago, still recovering. During the covid fiasco, I bought a model A and restored it, then bought and finished builds on a 41 ford hot rod, a 64 el camino, and a 65 dodge dart. It was really fun at first, but I'm starting to fall apart, skin rips too easily, get out of breath, and I don't have a lift so I'm under the cars way too much. Thank heavens the cars are about done after a zillion hours of work, but the thrill is leaving for sure, I guess the work just doesn't fit well with getting old. I do like the fact that I've brought these old cars back from the dead tho', and I've learned a lot of new skills in the process. No regrets.
demonjim
Well-Known Member
I have a 1972 Demon 340, 3 speed from the factory. I'm the only owner the car has ever had. I've always had a vision for it, through the years the vision has changed some, but I have never lost interest.
Now at 71 years old, I have finally come to the realization that it's never gonna happen. Some due to not having the funds when I was younger, some because I don't know anything about body work, some just coming to realize I just can't get it done.
I have been considering speaking with a friend of mine who has restored several Mopars in his life. He has restored a 'Cuda, a Road Runner, a Charger, helped another friend with a 68 notchback Barracuda.
I have thought about seeing if he would like to have the car, for free. At least if he is interested, the car has a chance to live again. Having never had a place to store it, it has some rust issues, but I have both quarter panels and the tail light panel. That would save him a good bit of money right there.
It's hard to give up on a dream, but there comes a point that reality overwhelms you, and you know what is possible and what's not. That time is here.
Now at 71 years old, I have finally come to the realization that it's never gonna happen. Some due to not having the funds when I was younger, some because I don't know anything about body work, some just coming to realize I just can't get it done.
I have been considering speaking with a friend of mine who has restored several Mopars in his life. He has restored a 'Cuda, a Road Runner, a Charger, helped another friend with a 68 notchback Barracuda.
I have thought about seeing if he would like to have the car, for free. At least if he is interested, the car has a chance to live again. Having never had a place to store it, it has some rust issues, but I have both quarter panels and the tail light panel. That would save him a good bit of money right there.
It's hard to give up on a dream, but there comes a point that reality overwhelms you, and you know what is possible and what's not. That time is here.
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