Thread: Project $ 3 K Is Underway

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I just got in from the shop and found all the nice messages from you guys. Thanks for the encouragement amd good wishes. Denny and some of you have been talking about this subject of how companies really don't want to hire us older, more experienced guys anymore. They find that younger, cheaper help is the way to meet their bottom line expectations. We see it everywhere, from Walmart, to Sears, to AutoZone, etc anymore. The days of going into most businesses and actually finding someone who can help you with solid, experienced assistance are gone forever.

I was actually relieved when they told me the news, because I dreaded going to work for the first time in years. I used to love my job. I had another call tonight, and he asked me if I could hold on for a couple of months until they finalize setting up a new marina that is coming into the area, so I sort of have that to possibly look forward to. In the meantime I live pretty modestly, so I can survive.

By the way Mike, I owe you one for that shot about building a car for $ 3K.


Oldf100.........hope you are feeling better, and you made the right choice. They didn't need a wedding and a funeral in the same week.

Don

Don new time new ventures . I like the rod building idea wish i could but not ready yet. So i been watching and now i may see you pulling it out of shop sooner then you were thinking HUH . Get a job when your ready they do hire experience still.

Sure did miss my auto porn while site was down also.

Oldf100 Miss the weding but get to see GRANDKIDS Priceless

Yeap, Charlie, I guess I can't beat that. As a matter of fact Les and Jessica have already given me one grandson. They just tied the know now.

Yeah Grandpa, I think somebody would be a little upset if you got sick. I can tell he's gonna be your Buddy as he grows up. Better bone up on your baseball.


I actually got out of this chair and went to the shop today and got something done. Not on my T, but on Dan's '29. He and I worked the past couple of nights painting and prepping the new steering arms and spindles so we could install the Wilson Welding brakes he bought. I commented on the ones Bob Parmenter has on his coupe, because I knew Dan was interested in getting a set. If anyone is thinking about them, do it. These are the cat's meow, and give you modern self energizing brakes, readily available replacement parts, and the old time look. Between these and the Chevy Van rear brakes, his rod should stop on a dime.

We had a little work to do last night because there was some interference in some of the pieces, but a little grinding and drilling the paint out of the holes finally got things together. I didn't have a set of bearing race installation tools, so we had to quit last night, but today I bought a set and got the bearings put in. Dan doesn't know I got this done today, and thinks we are going to do that tonight, so he should be pretty happy when we go over after he gets off work.

Here are some pictures of the new brakes, complete with the Buick drums I bought in about 1990 for spares for my '27. I paid $ 25.00 each at a local wrecking yard, and have moved them around for almost 20 years. Glad I did, the price of these is through the roof now. When I bought them everybody else was going to modern discs, and I was one of the few die hards still building traditional cars. Guess I'm just stuck in a time warp.


Don

PS: I inherited Dans old '40 brakes that we just rebuilt about a year ago, and never used, so there could be a TRUE project $ 3K around the corner.

Dan is going to end up with one fine looking ride!!!!! Some really great work and excellent parts selection on the car!!!! Congrats all around!!!!!

Thanks Dave. Yeah, he hasn't cut too many corners on stuff, so it should be a basically brand new car when done. I think he's starting to get really excited now to hear this thing fire up........after all, he's missed two Turkey Run deadlines, so the fun is starting to wear a little thin for him at this point.

Don

PS: One cool thing is that I get all the hand-me-downs as he upgrades stuff. The car hasn't even hit the road yet, and he has redone lots of stuff, and I am right there with my hand out taking the old parts. I'm such a packrat. lol

Originally Posted by Oldf100fordman

Yeap, Charlie, I guess I can't beat that. As a matter of fact Les and Jessica have already given me one grandson. They just tied the know now.

Hey Duane, he allready has more hair then you do!!!!!!!!

Sorry buddy, somebody had to say it!!!!

I'm not sure but that looks like an IMPACT SOCKET they are playing with

Dave, yes he does have more hair.

Charlie, actually that's my electronic voice, so it impacts my throat, hehehe

We now return you to your regular program with the exciting adventures of Don's build. That A of Dan's is looking great.

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

I just got in from the shop and found all the nice messages from you guys. Thanks for the encouragement amd good wishes. Denny and some of you have been talking about this subject of how companies really don't want to hire us older, more experienced guys anymore. They find that younger, cheaper help is the way to meet their bottom line expectations. We see it everywhere, from Walmart, to Sears, to AutoZone, etc anymore. The days of going into most businesses and actually finding someone who can help you with solid, experienced assistance are gone forever.

I was actually relieved when they told me the news, because I dreaded going to work for the first time in years. I used to love my job. I had another call tonight, and he asked me if I could hold on for a couple of months until they finalize setting up a new marina that is coming into the area, so I sort of have that to possibly look forward to. In the meantime I live pretty modestly, so I can survive.

By the way Mike, I owe you one for that shot about building a car for $ 3K.


Oldf100.........hope you are feeling better, and you made the right choice. They didn't need a wedding and a funeral in the same week.

Don

I'll use my uncle as an example here Don. He is about your age and has been a trucker since high school for a few different companies. He was employed at one for several years when there was some restructuring in the company and they decided to close his whole warehouse and fired everyone. He had a hard time finding work (probably mostly due to age). The company that fired him called him shortly after, much like your situation, and realized they didn't have anyone to finish a project so they asked if he would stay on temporarily. They sold his semi and gave him a little box truck to run around in. Now maybe two years later they flew him out to CA from NJ to pick up and drive back a new tracker trailer and he's still working out of the same warehouse. Moral of the story I guess would be that "comming back on temporarily" could turn out to last for a while...maybe until you're ready to retire. I can't understand why companies jump the gun on firing everyone then realize "o wait we need some of these people" Hang in there...I'm sure it will all work out

I really like Dan's '29...I'd like to do something similar and half as nice as a future project. Sounds like he won't ever be perfectly happy with the way it is...he needs to just get it running and change it ove the winter (not like FL has a winter, but you get it )

Thanks, and I'm happy things worked out for your Uncle. I have some things in the fire, but I just don't want to seriously start looking until I get some things out of the way . (Like this T project ) As I mentioned, I keep my life pretty simple, so I can survive for a while. I'm starting to enjoy this being out of work thing, maybe too much. The rest feels good.

In the meantime, I got some of the stuff I ordered from Summit today, and bolted them on the engine tonight. Got the water pump, alternator, water neck, etc. The only thing I couldn't install was the harmonic balancer......found out Chevy's (this one anyway) don't have threads in the center of the crank to pull it into place with, so tomorrow I have to heat the harmonic balancer in boiling water for 15 minutes so it expands enough to hammer in place. Seems strange not to see a retaining bolt there, I guess it is a machine fit when you hammer it home?

Tomorrow I plan to do that, then start on my floor installation. Here are some pictures of the engine with the new stuff on it.


Don

Don that engine is striking . Colors and chrome pop out at you . Has a 3 d look you laid it out just right.


One word three letters WOW

Don that engine is a work of art. I'd love to have that just sitting in my living room to look at, really just drool

Last week I quit my job. I now have a Temporary job, gone the way of independent contractor. The scary thing is my first is to be born in 18 days. But this job should become permanent and I will have my weekends free. I work about 60+ hours a week with a variable schedule for pennies have no time for my soon to be child or my cars(now my third love .

Really love the engine, good luck. Maybe next time I am in Florida visiting my sister in law we could come check out the cars.

Zachairah

Don, hey that engine looks terrific. I could use that in my 34, except it would make the 34 look terribly dull and might force me into spending 10 grand to re-paint it.

Maybe you should consider dressing engines for money instead of a hobby. Around here you'd get plenty of takers.