Thread: I need a kick in the slats!

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Here is my story:

been dinking with cars for near 20 years now. In my younger years, I would think nothing of chopping, drilling, modifying etc. Whatever I had to do to get it done with what I've got.

Well, now I'm not as young, and seem to have lost my enthusiasm. Getting tired of sliding around on a piece of cardboard cause I ain't got a lift, sharpening a drill bit on an angle grinder cause I ain't got a bench grinder... or even sharpening the drill bits at all cause I ain't got the money for new.

Well, this was looking up to change. Got about ten large squirreled away, and was going to start the shop: put up a two-story roof ( AKA pole barn ) and close it in later. Well, dang if the company hasn't announced it's going to go tits up in March, and I dunno where the hell I am going to make the scratch I am earning now ( in this area anyway )

SO.. the poor ol 36 chevy master sedan is sitting on jackstands in the driveway, waiting. I've knocked out most of the dents and pulled the fenders, dollied them back into shape. The fenders grille and hood are in the rear shed, and it is sitting. It has sit so long that mother nature has wore out two tarps already.

Well, let's get this stright: the poor dear is in real bad shape. I removed the seats by grabbing them firmly and yanking them. they came out with large chunks of the floor. So why this one and not something better? Because I waited TEN YEARS to get my hands on it. Ol' mister Carver wouldn't come off it. Then the ol coot caught allzheimers and his kids sent the ol girl to the scrap yard. I recognized it instantly. $200 and it was mine.

Anyway... I can't figure out which way to go. Should I go ahead and put up the roof, and bet the farm on getting another job, or keep the pennies squirreled away? There is a good chance I will get to hang around after the plant closes down, and work on gutting it. It is possible that I can get PILES of conduit... maybe enough to build the roof. Definitely enough to build the roll cage I want in the 36.

In as much as I want to get the 36 rolling, I have GOT to do something with the 64 C10. I was in the middle of doing a complete restoration on it, and had to yank it out of the shop with just a coat of primer. Well, I ain't gotta tell you what it looks like after several years in the elements. ALL my hard work on that one has got to be re-done. At least, if I had the roof up, I could leave that one on the back burner guilt - free.

Plus.. it's December. It's cold outside.

dammit. I think I need a kick in the slats.

I built a 14x22 pole barn I used the steel panels for the sides and roof . To do your roof this way should not be to costly . But you have to look for a job asap . I have been a heavy truck mechanic for 25 years . In the winter here many times I have had to free up frozen air brakes on loaded trucks at 130am -20degs . Even two nights ago When I started work . The boss had a truck that needed an engine replaced . 6cyl long block 8 hours ? Had to do it and I am not so young and tired to . I am sure that many others on this forum also deal with thing like this ever day . Hang in there keep your car covered for now . You will work on it soon . But try and put a roof over it !

Tough call. Probably the wisest thing would be to keep the money just in case you need to fall back on it. You should immediately start looking for another job though as March will come real quick.

Only you know your personal needs and finances, so you have to make that call. You can also probably collect unemployment too, and it helps somewhat.

Good luck, I know only too well what it is like to be laid off from a job you thought was secure for life.

Don

i would save the dough , sorry to hear about your problem , we have all been there once or twice .. be well and good luck