Today I'm going to start on the rack&pinion replacement on Wee Beastie.
Is it just me or does anybody else sometimes get frustrated when these projects get overly involved? In this case, "Am I going to really end up having to repair or replace every single g**d*** part on this car?" :P
Well your just looking at it wrong. Dont think of it as work but a project. Its always good to enjoy a good project. So belly up to it and have a blast. :lol: :lol: :lol: You lucky dog.
Quote from: dholvrsn on March 30, 2010, 09:42:29 AM
Today I'm going to start on the rack&pinion replacement on Wee Beastie.
Is it just me or does anybody else sometimes get frustrated when these projects get overly involved? In this case, "Am I going to really end up having to repair or replace every single g**d*** part on this car?" :P
ABSOLUTELY. I am in so deep at this point it's hard to say if I will ever finish. I don't seem to have the drive/interest I did last year, and I am actually contemplating giving up on my car. I probably should never have dug as deep as I did, but seriously, the car needed it. Now really questioning whether I want to invest the time/energy/cash to finish it. It's already been a huge money pit, is inconvenient to get to, and I am tired of beating myself up over it.
Chris
I see both sides on this one. It started the day I bought my 302 Pinto. I decided to get a shaker. $600.00 later I was cutting it up to get it to fit. Rebuilt the whole front end and brakes, Rebuilt the rear to have new moser axles with the 5 lug pattern and a Detroit Locker rear, needed new leaf springs, shocks, etc. Trying to build frame rails was alot of fun (one of those things you laugh at later) Bought some magnum 500 rims and began cutting up the mustang center caps, (another shot in the dark) but the Pinto center caps I made were worth the effort.. I ripped apart the whole dash and re-wired everything with an additional fuse box, I got rid of all the splices under there since 1977. (worth the effort, but not fun at the time) Sent the gas tnak out for refurbishing, only to remove it a year later and put in a 16 gallon Mustang one. (mileage became an issue) Gutted the interior, insulated every inch of floor space, built a fire wall between the trunk and cab, then put it all back. Removing the Mustang ii radiator that hung under the the car too low, and repalced it with a Griffin aluminum radiator. (tough fit, cursed alot, worth it!) Bought a set of hatchback louvers, cut them up (another shot in the dark with an item that is not replaceable) installed some mustang external hinges, wow, worth it!. bought a 1970 boss mustang valance and spoiler, cut them up and remoulded them to fit. (worth it!) Recently I tore apart the whole top end. Rebuilt with new cam, edelbrock cleveland heads, E-Boss manifold, etc. (no help form Edelbrock, almost like they knew nothing about this set up, major headache) she is now running close to 400 horses (deffinitely worth it) I the spent way too much on a new set of cusotm headers from American Racing Headers. They do not go under the cross member, they did not cut into my fender wells. (worth it!) My 1970 Boss 302 clone of a 1977 Pinto is almost complete. I then did something I didn't expect. I bought my wife a 1976 runabout, so it will start all over again.
All I can say is this is a labor of love. I take my Pinto out and wonder, what was I thinking, it drove so smooth before I did all this work, and then I put my foot down! And she is solid as a rock and she screams so loud! Don't give up! Hang in there! Then take her for a drive.
This is exactly why I ended up buying the Mustang II. Although I may not be driving the Pinto everyday, it HAS to be available at a moment's notice if my wife needs her car. I had fully intended on the Pinto being a daily driver/project car, but quickly realized that I couldn't do both with it.
Even with that said, I am almost terrified to even fix anything on the Pinto, having the worry that if I touch something I will find that more has to/should be done than I can do/afford at the time.
So the II is satisfying my need to work on a car without risking the daily driver. Maybe if I ever get the II done I can start on the Pinto.
Russ
Quote from: popbumper on March 30, 2010, 05:47:56 PM
ABSOLUTELY. I am in so deep at this point it's hard to say if I will ever finish. I don't seem to have the drive/interest I did last year, and I am actually contemplating giving up on my car. I probably should never have dug as deep as I did, but seriously, the car needed it. Now really questioning whether I want to invest the time/energy/cash to finish it. It's already been a huge money pit, is inconvenient to get to, and I am tired of beating myself up over it.
Chris
Gosh, Chris! I can't think of a single Pinto project that I would hate to see "given up on" more than yours! I know it's been costly and time consuming, not to mention all the hard work, but when/if it's finally done it should be just about perfect.
Dwayne :smile:
Rearended i like the way you talk, very well stated.
You definatly find more to fix as you dig in you just have to keep fixin.
Come on Chris this dont sound like you. The biggest problem a restore or project you get so deep and you look at your project and its down to the bone and you loose interest cause it looks hopeless but as you start to put it back together you start seeing progress and it usually goes back together quicker than all the fixin does you can see all your hard work starting to pay off and its a big moral booster. keep at it chris its worth it when you get done.
Thanks guys for the support - it means alot! There are so many "logistics" issues I am dealing with right now, I guess I am, more than anything, tired of working on things all the time. It's a disease! My pinball hobby is like having a second job, and it funds the Pinto. So, getting the Pinto done requires a LOT of pinball work, and a lot of extra time....see the trap? The Pinto effort gets "squeezed" the most. I just wish more than anything that the car was at home. It's wonderful having it in a large garage, but it's a 20 minute drive to get there, evening and weekend time is limited, and my full time job has been a real bear lately...which makes me TIRED!
Sorry again for the rant, I really do appreciate your inputs and support. I'm sure as soon as I get back out on it I'll be excited again.
Chris
Usually I work on the Pinto for fun. Except that it has crossed the line over into "it ain't fun no more" about 17 times. It got especially bad last fall with the air conditioning project going two months late and three times over budget and having the charging system go wacky on top of that.
Now I feel a little better. I allotted two mornings and two afternoons to drop the rack & pinion out. I got it out in a morning and half an afternoon. Still feeling better despite having the project grow to also installing new front shocks and longer studs to mount spacers and Mustang "hurricane" wheels while everything is apart.
So does anybody know where online to get some longer studs?
I know the feeling doug, I have been there a lot lately. The wagon has been fine, I expect it to take a lot of work on everything I do to it because it sat for SO LONG.
My 78 has had a lot of those things that seem to take longer than they should, never fun.
Every time I think about working on the car though, I think it might be fun because of all the times I worked on it before, even when the project drug out longer than it should have. Have a lot of good times and fond memories of working on my 78. :)
Hope things get together soon for you!
Ok all of you who are becoming disenchanted with your Pinto Projects...
We need to remember that these cars are no spring chickens! Of course some of them need extensive work. Some of us knew that coming in. But before you throw in the towel consider this: There aren't many people who are into restoring these little gems- they're not "classic" or "classy" enough. In my humble opinion we are a very special- yes elite- group. Maybe our cars aren't big money-makers like the '50s T-Birds or Bel Airs or whatever, but I think our PIntos are worth every penny, every drop of sweat, every banged knuckle, etc. because they're dear to our hearts. We would love to see the day when our babies start right up, can run without mishap, and look great doing it. It just takes patience, and yes money. Some of us are in such a financial crunch that things have to go on the back burner because a mortgage is more important. It does't mean we're ready to give up... so Chris and Dave and anyone else who is frustrated with their project car and its woes... Chin Up and be glad you have a Pinto...they're rarer than T-Birds or Bel Airs or Mustangs (yes I love 'Stangs too but Pintos were my first and strongest love) and becsause they're dear to our hearts they're worth their weight in gold. Wildfire now resides in a garage, but do you think I've given up on her!? NOOOO!!! I replaced her rear shocks before she entered her new digs. To really restore her will take more money than I have. I shudder to even consider selling any of my Pintos. Don't give up on yours. Remember this: How do you eat a whole elephant? One piece at a time. ;D Good luck!
Doug as to the studs. A competent auto parts guy/girl should be able to fix you up. Go to the store you trust the most and have them take a trip thru their bolt/nut_brake hardware supplier catalog while haveing in hand the structural dimensions of the stock stud. DORMAN is a long time fastener supplier in this area