Thread: Marriage and Hot Rods

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I’m starting this thread because tomorrow will be our 41st anniversary of being happily married. A lot of my friends that know a lot more about Hot Rods then me are divorced. Before I was married I had 4 cars at a time some times more even when I was in the Army I had a part time job a Standard Station. I had two cars behind the building a 55 Chevy 2 dr.sedan and a 57 Desoto I had plans of putting the Hemi engine in the 55 but I didn’t have time and had to leave them there. The cars I took turn driving were a 55 Chevy 2dr. ht. And a 65 GTO both were pretty fast cars. I got out of the service the first week in January 1967 I sold the 55 Chevy and drove my 65 GTO to Chicago. I drove the GTO until the engine was pretty much worn out from too much drag racing. I would spend my working days in the Chicago and surrounding areas until retiring from my work injuries.

In the late 60’s I lived in an apartment and had a 53 Chrysler for work, a 57 Chevy for drag racing, a 65 Mustang and a 31 Ford Coupe Hot Rod/ Street Rod before that name was coined this was 67 and 68. I pulled engines and replaced transmissions, clutches and so forth I helped hone a big block 396 that was bored out to take 427 pistons. I never have taken apart an engine by myself and I regret that. I have taken heads off to have valve jobs, put a rear main seal in a slant six Chrysler engine and that was a real treat.

I had a 40 Chevy Coupe for 16 years it had a citation rack and pinion mounted to the tube straight axle. I should have taken pictures of it but I sold it and I had a 41 Chevy Coupe that had a Citation rack mounted to the independent suspension. A lot of you guys are building your own frames and adding different suspension set ups and I admire you guys for be able to do that.

I got married in 1969 and my wife knew that I was into cars but I said when I get married the family would come first so that put a damper on the learning curve. My wife had a 47 International she paid $40 for it, she said I could have it I said no thanks. I had a 60 Chevy 2 dr. Biscayne the clutch would go to the floor and I had been around throw out bearings and the forks so I knew what it was. I go to the parts store get 4 jack stands that I still have today and a creeper. I had bottle jacks and scissor jacks no floor jack at that time.

I would work all week and on the weekend I would try to slip out to the garage without waking my wife, later it was to keep from waking the new baby. If my wife would hear the baby and me before I could get out she would ask me to get a bottle ready but if I got out to the garage first I was in the clear.

Well over the years of spending too much time in my garage or at my buddy’s garages that didn’t go over too well. I thought it’s going to be garage time or stay married so I let the car building go. I just did what I had to do to keep our daily drivers running. I didn’t want to give up my family which I seen so many of my friends that really knew engines and were racing on the weekend end up in a divorce.

Now I’m older and my wife wants me to fix the projects so we can sell them. I have lost some of the confidence that I had in the early years when I would learn as I go with something new. With my physical condition in bad shape and my lack of patience when things don’t go the way I would like and have to do the job over it’s harder. When I see someone in worse shape then me I try harder to get back on track.

I have taken my air compressor apart that I got from sears 30 years ago and put new rings in it and the small valve’s an it’s still running. I also have a 5 hp 60 gallon Campbell Hausfeld for about 20 years.

Does this make sense to anyone or can anyone relate to this?

Richard

41 years is pretty cool, congrats. Especially considering how you run around the house in your underwear!

My bride and I are way behind y'all at 23, but then I'm a retread. She's never had a problem with the toy car thing. Probably, like you, because a couple came with the initial package. I've always done my hobby out of a separate account so I never tapped the rent money, always made sure it was self supporting. That probably helps too.

It is getting harder to get as enthused about gettin' out to the garage as much as it used to. Seems to come in spurts, sometimes it's fun, some times it just doesn't appeal at all. Yeah, I think I can relate with ya.

Congratulations on the 41 years being married. That is a rare thing these days.

You ask if any of that makes sense, yes it does. Most of us who are or were married put our personal hobbies on hold for the sake of keeping the family together and the little woman happy. It is really hard to be in a relationship and it takes a lot of work and give and take from both parties.

I was married for 28 years and then in a live in relationship for 7 years after that, and there were lots of times I wished I was two people.........one who could be the family/husband guy and one who could stay out in the garage as long as I wanted and drag home any project I could find, with no heat from her. I see guys who post all the time how they have an understanding wife who lets them do whatever they want.............I need to meet her Sister. The ladies in my life have always been happiest when I was sitting right next to them, keeping them entertained. My one night a month I did sneak out to the garage became "you are always at that d***ed garage!"

So, at this stage of my life being single is something I wouldn't trade for the world. But the years I was a family man and husband were also some of the best of my life as well. Maybe cloning is the answer. Like you and Bob have mentioned, working on cars isn't as much fun as it once was though. Maybe 50 years of doing it has taken some of the shine off of it for me.

Don

Thanks Bob, for your words of congratulation and mentioning my picture. I’m still laughing.

Congratulation on your 23 years of marriage.

I still kid my wife about the eye patch G-string.

There are times that I wish I knew it all but like I said I’ve seen my buddy’s going down that highway by their self.

My love for cars has always had me having more in the garage then I need but I would tell my wife if times get tough we could always sell a car.

Thanks Don, yeah 41 years I never thought I would make it past a few but I have a wife that is GREAT and she likes to see me run around the house like the picture Bob posted.
I was just wondering if people look at marriage the same today as we did back then. You have a kid and you have a life long obligation or at least you should feel that way.

Richard

Just passed 44 years (July 3rd) and I've always had some sort of hot rod or muscle car (mostly muscle cars) with a few "sleepers" thrown in for fun. BUT, the family always came first. I've been fortunate to work in the performance industry the majority of my life and I was the first to reproduce the Corvette knock-off and bolt on wheels (63-67) way back in 76. I also designed and brought to market the first (and still the best) Pontiac aftermarket block in 1998. (2806 HP with a pair of turbos). Now i've sold off most of my "stuff" and enjoy scaring the heck out of the mustang crowd.

My wife has developed into a real "car nut" and enclosed is a shot of her CTS.

Congratulations Richard!! I hope my wife can put up with me that long
Ken

Geezer2

I will say congratulations first on your long-term marriage and for your knowledge of developing and engineering the knock offs for the Corvette wheels and other developments.

I have bought and sold close to a dozen Corvettes but the one I regret not buying is the 63 split window in 86 for $8,500 I let a guy with more knowledge then me about Corvettes talk me out of it because it needed a little work.

I really like those CTS Cadillac’s when they first started the commercials of a guy flying down the back roads.

Again congratulations on your marriage of 44 years and all of your other accomplishments.

Richard

Thanks Ken,

You and your wife have a match made in Heaven. It has always sounded more like partners, friends and a genuine love for each other. I believe that’s what I have with my wife also.

Thanks Richard

Thanks Richard, I have truly been blessed. We are pretty good friends.
As for as the car issue, I was racing full time when we were dating so to her my time in the garage is nothing like it used to be
Ken

congratulations richard. my husband and i have been together for 17 years. first marraige for the both of us. when i started working with cars at the age of 40 my husband at first did not fully understand. now he buys me new tools for my birthday and brags about me to his friends. he seems to truly enjoy picking up parts from craigslist and when the guys ask him what his projects is he says " these are for my wife". dinner is not always on time unless he cooks and sometimes he wishes that i spent more time in the house than the garage. but he is truly proud that i do the things i do. He says when i ask him should i act more female and worry about my broken finger nails that he loves me for who i am and is proud of what i do. he is also very happy that i go out to the garage especially since i have hit menopause. makes for a lot quietier house and when i have a mood swing i take it out by throwing things out of the garage. i do not like him in the garage when i work unless i need a extra pair of hands or more muscle. but i stay out of his boat projects unless he asks. our hobbies make us alot closer by giving us time apart. that is why i married my best friend.

41 years is a long time. I've had the same wife 44 yrs and the same
57 chev 33 yrs...My wife harped on me selling it for years, but she
finally realized I could not hear that well, so she gave up..I win some
and lose some. I guess that is part of being married so long.

Well, a guy's got to have his prioities and all 3 of my ex's will tell you what mine are and have always been!!!!....

#2 was the most amazing! When I met here I was racing sprints, had two Harley's and a jet boat...then 6 months after being married I was supposed to give them all up and sit on the couch watching the idiot box....??????

Some guys just aren't cut out for married life, me included. I understand Hot Rods a whole lot better then I understand wives and as I get a bit older and a bit more cantankerous I like it that way!!!!

Ex #3 is my current girlfriend, has been for a bunch of years... We get along great----since about 6 months after the divorce was final. Great lady and excels in the health profession. We both have the utmost respect for the other's talents and would never consider asking the other to give up their life's passion!!!! She doesn't expect me to go shopping with her, and I don't expect her to do any block sanding!!!

Happily married is a oxy moron,---- it is like saying Happily dead.

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Well, a guy's got to have his prioities and all 3 of my ex's will tell you what mine are and have always been!!!!....

#2 was the most amazing! When I met here I was racing sprints, had two Harley's and a jet boat...then 6 months after being married I was supposed to give them all up and sit on the coach watching the idiot box....??????

Some guys just aren't cut out for married life, me included. I understand Hot Rods a whole lot better then I understand wives and as I get a bit older and a bit more cantankerous I like it that way!!!!

Ex #3 is my current girlfriend, has been for a bunch of years... We get along great----since about 6 months after the divorce was final. Great lady and excels in the health profession. We both have the utmost respect for the other's talents and would never consider asking the other to give up their life's passion!!!! She doesn't expect me to go shopping with her, and I don't expect her to do any block sanding!!!

Sounds like a pretty good arraignment
Ken

Good for you Barb, on your 17 years of marriage and the fact that you can get out in the garage with the best of them. Since you enjoy working on cars you will be in a better position that a lot of us older guys since it’s getting harder and harder to keep up with all of the changes. If I need the extra hand my wife will help but I try to struggle first before I say Uncle.



Rdobbs, Congratulation in the 44 years of marriage. You have me beat on the years of being married but I have you beat on having my 39 Ford for 42 years, it needs to be restored but I will not sell it. I told my wife either I get carried out or it gets driven out, it’s all together it just has run for many years but it has a small block Chevy T10 4 speed and a 57 Chevy rear end.

Dave, it sounds you are happy with the situation your in and if you need medical attention it’s close by. If you needed help with a little block sanding she more then likely would pitch in.

(Quote)
Bruce lee, Happily married is a oxy moron,---- it is like saying Happily dead.

I love it when someone uses oxymoron pronounced oxy-moron. It makes me wonder what the person has, cruel kindness or foolish wisdom.

Richard