Tell me I'm Not Crazy..
- Thread starter Brobrian
- Start date
I dont drink or do drugs,so rebuilding & driving my A,s gives me all the High I need.I figure that with all the money Ive spent on the A,s then at least I have sonething to show for it.Ive had at least 10 FH V8s,4-Ts & assorted other early cars & trucks.I love model T,s but have found that with modern traffic conditions they are simply not safe to drive.While its possible to make a T cruise at 60,its not really a T any more.A model A needs little more than an OD & a HC head & will cruise nicely at 60.
inex01
Senior Member
What a wounderful car the Model A is and I feel so fortunate to have the good fortune to be a caretaker of this fine vehicle. The people who also own and care for these old Fords are the most decent folks I have ever met in my life. Every cent I have spent on my car is worth that plus more. Thank you Henry Ford !
Jim Parker Toronto
Well-known member
Brobrian, YOU are normal, but the rest of your family is not. Why are they not out there helping you? (At least till they wear out their welcome, hehe!) $1800 is not too much money to spend on that truck to get it looking like that and running. If you change your mind and want to get rid of it, give me a call.
glenn in camino
Well-known member
I know the feeling. It's called having fun and it's good for you.
ivoryjohn
Senior Member
Once I heard that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. That is a pretty well accepted definition of crazy in the addiction recovery circles but in my mind it does not go far enough to explain Model A restoration addiction. There is a twelve step group for them I have heard.
Circumstances forced me into selling my newly 1929 Briggs Standard Fordor. I had gone through the process of fixing and adjusting every last nut, bolt, wire and whistle. The car was perfect. When times were better I tried to buy it back and even though the old fellow wasn't driving it he hated to sell any of his possessions/toys and refused to sell it to me.
He did say that I could buy it when he passed away and confided that immediately after the funeral wasn't too early to call his wife. Thankfully it didn't come to that and I had her number on speed dial but I did circle over head evaluating his health. Finally after he had owned it ten years and having driven it only a total of 100 miles in all those years, he agreed to sell it back to me for $500 less than I had sold it to him. He had stored it wonderfully in a dark, dry metal building and it was in great shape. I had it running and driving within a couple of hours. This is when my personal definition of insanity comes in.
In the last year since buying it back I have gone through every nut, bolt and whistle of my car redoing things that were either screwed up by the mechanics he got to work on it for him or went bad from sitting to many years. I am now scared I won't have anything to do when the last bit is done.
He never had a real Model A guy work on it and didn't belong to any car club and it seems he only wanted to use the car for three or four parades a year. That is not being critical of him. It was his car and we all enjoy them for different reasons.
From passed posts you have mentioned you are a school teacher so I assume you possess at least medium intelligence. I also see from your present post that you also own another Model A so you have at least some extended experience with Model A ownership. Do you really expect us to believe this is the first you have questioned your sanity?
My modified definition of insanity is as follows and I invite you to quote me as I believe this is my original thought. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, knowing better and doing it anyway!
You are stark raving crazy, have more than one or two screws loose and in the company of nuts! Welcome to the Barner Brotherhood!
Circumstances forced me into selling my newly 1929 Briggs Standard Fordor. I had gone through the process of fixing and adjusting every last nut, bolt, wire and whistle. The car was perfect. When times were better I tried to buy it back and even though the old fellow wasn't driving it he hated to sell any of his possessions/toys and refused to sell it to me.
He did say that I could buy it when he passed away and confided that immediately after the funeral wasn't too early to call his wife. Thankfully it didn't come to that and I had her number on speed dial but I did circle over head evaluating his health. Finally after he had owned it ten years and having driven it only a total of 100 miles in all those years, he agreed to sell it back to me for $500 less than I had sold it to him. He had stored it wonderfully in a dark, dry metal building and it was in great shape. I had it running and driving within a couple of hours. This is when my personal definition of insanity comes in.
In the last year since buying it back I have gone through every nut, bolt and whistle of my car redoing things that were either screwed up by the mechanics he got to work on it for him or went bad from sitting to many years. I am now scared I won't have anything to do when the last bit is done.
He never had a real Model A guy work on it and didn't belong to any car club and it seems he only wanted to use the car for three or four parades a year. That is not being critical of him. It was his car and we all enjoy them for different reasons.
From passed posts you have mentioned you are a school teacher so I assume you possess at least medium intelligence. I also see from your present post that you also own another Model A so you have at least some extended experience with Model A ownership. Do you really expect us to believe this is the first you have questioned your sanity?
My modified definition of insanity is as follows and I invite you to quote me as I believe this is my original thought. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, knowing better and doing it anyway!
You are stark raving crazy, have more than one or two screws loose and in the company of nuts! Welcome to the Barner Brotherhood!
Tom Cavallaro
Senior Member
After reading all the posts I had a laugh and sigh of relief. I thought it was just my coupe needing parts all the time, almost like a needy broad...LOL. Let me say this, we have a love for an auto that has a styleish look to it, unlike the pressed out models of today...
I used to be able to look at a car ride by and say "that's a 64 ford, or 55 chevy" can't do that today.
I used to be able to look at a car ride by and say "that's a 64 ford, or 55 chevy" can't do that today.
cradlescyth
Senior Member
Sounds Normal to me!!
gweilbaker
Well-known member
"Or at least, not alone in Nutsville.
In October I picked up my '71 Gremlin which I'd purchased from my brother. Since then I've been on a mission to get it running reliably.
The body was dirty and understandably I wanted to see the condition of the paint, so I washed and waxed it completely that first weekend.
It had electrical issues. I rewired the entire car.
I tried to rebuild the generator and ended up putting in an alternator.
On and on it went, check wheel bearings and brakes, rebuild carburetor, replace exhaust system, check valves, chase down leaks,...
Despite telling my family that I would take a full year to tinker with the car, thus spreading the expense out more gently, I have spent $1800, every single weekend and many week nights working on the car. And every week a box of "needed parts" has arrived at our door.
If at the end of a binge the car was running and my work seemed to have solved something I was a happy man. I'd take everyone out for pizza (jammed in the cab, of course.) If the next day some new issue came up, or an old one resurfaced I was in the dumps, and spent evenings in the garage living off of soda crackers and coffee. When I came back into the house it was just to update the family on what I'd done or discovered. They all groaned and went back to their activities.
This weekend I replaced the window winder and quieted a very loud rattle in the door. So currently the little truck runs fairly smoothly, stops straight, has lights and horn, keeps a charge, and is tolerably noisy when driving, and only leaks a little oil. I may have reached a plateau. A place where I can live with it "as is."
But look at how I got there. Do I need a twelve-step group, or something? What is this? Obsession? Addiction? Lunacy?"
If you said what I changed to red and underlined, yes you are all the above.
In October I picked up my '71 Gremlin which I'd purchased from my brother. Since then I've been on a mission to get it running reliably.
The body was dirty and understandably I wanted to see the condition of the paint, so I washed and waxed it completely that first weekend.
It had electrical issues. I rewired the entire car.
I tried to rebuild the generator and ended up putting in an alternator.
On and on it went, check wheel bearings and brakes, rebuild carburetor, replace exhaust system, check valves, chase down leaks,...
Despite telling my family that I would take a full year to tinker with the car, thus spreading the expense out more gently, I have spent $1800, every single weekend and many week nights working on the car. And every week a box of "needed parts" has arrived at our door.
If at the end of a binge the car was running and my work seemed to have solved something I was a happy man. I'd take everyone out for pizza (jammed in the cab, of course.) If the next day some new issue came up, or an old one resurfaced I was in the dumps, and spent evenings in the garage living off of soda crackers and coffee. When I came back into the house it was just to update the family on what I'd done or discovered. They all groaned and went back to their activities.
This weekend I replaced the window winder and quieted a very loud rattle in the door. So currently the little truck runs fairly smoothly, stops straight, has lights and horn, keeps a charge, and is tolerably noisy when driving, and only leaks a little oil. I may have reached a plateau. A place where I can live with it "as is."
But look at how I got there. Do I need a twelve-step group, or something? What is this? Obsession? Addiction? Lunacy?"
If you said what I changed to red and underlined, yes you are all the above.
Brobrian
Senior Member
This is absolutely great! I haven't laughed so often in a long time!
I've decided to pace my lunacy, however. After this month's bills are paid, my wife and I will sit down and determine a "guilt-free" budget for me. That way I can keep from feeling like I'm stealing from the family. Also, now that I've reached a place where the cars both run, I can pace myself by not buying new parts until I've put, say 250 miles on the last part I installed/repaired. That will help me keep a reasonable space between my "all nighters." Without even trying, it only takes me about a month to put that many miles on my cars.
Today it rained so I had to test my recent brake and steering adjustments under wet conditions! YIPEE! Oh, and I got to drive with my newly-fixed park lights on. What a nut.
Again, these comments have been priceless!
I've decided to pace my lunacy, however. After this month's bills are paid, my wife and I will sit down and determine a "guilt-free" budget for me. That way I can keep from feeling like I'm stealing from the family. Also, now that I've reached a place where the cars both run, I can pace myself by not buying new parts until I've put, say 250 miles on the last part I installed/repaired. That will help me keep a reasonable space between my "all nighters." Without even trying, it only takes me about a month to put that many miles on my cars.
Today it rained so I had to test my recent brake and steering adjustments under wet conditions! YIPEE! Oh, and I got to drive with my newly-fixed park lights on. What a nut.
Again, these comments have been priceless!
Attachments
Tom Wesenberg
Well-known member
No, you're not crazy, but I think this guy is. Take a look at the time that must have gone into making this outboard look so nice, and then not bother to make it run!
At least he's selling it as a non-runner.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/260937283171?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
BTW, for those who haven't used Semi-Chrome polish this is a nice example of what you can do with it. The seller doesn't say what he used for polishing the outboard, but I've polished some small parts with Semi-Chrome and it can make parts reflect like a mirror.
At least he's selling it as a non-runner.http://www.ebay.com/itm/260937283171?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
BTW, for those who haven't used Semi-Chrome polish this is a nice example of what you can do with it. The seller doesn't say what he used for polishing the outboard, but I've polished some small parts with Semi-Chrome and it can make parts reflect like a mirror.
joe plumber
Well-known member
I thought you were crazy ,but now I see your nuts .OOPS ,beg your pardon .
(that doesn't sound right .)Just kidding .
(that doesn't sound right .)Just kidding .
Steam Engine Pete
Senior Member
Brobrian,
I think you and your wife should reconsider the "guilt free" budget for you. If you felt a little bit guilty for what you are doing it could work in her favor. Remind her of that and keep promising that you will do things in the house for her when you have time. I have been doing that for over 20 years and it seems to be working. I have bought alot of stuff and been getting away with lots of promises and a little bit of work in the house.
I spent a bunch on my A in the last two months but I moved past the guilt last week. She has not said anything but I am now in "FEAR" mode so the UPS and FedEx guys won't be here again for at least a few weeks.
Pete
I think you and your wife should reconsider the "guilt free" budget for you. If you felt a little bit guilty for what you are doing it could work in her favor. Remind her of that and keep promising that you will do things in the house for her when you have time. I have been doing that for over 20 years and it seems to be working. I have bought alot of stuff and been getting away with lots of promises and a little bit of work in the house.
I spent a bunch on my A in the last two months but I moved past the guilt last week. She has not said anything but I am now in "FEAR" mode so the UPS and FedEx guys won't be here again for at least a few weeks.
Pete