You still enjoy wrenching on things?
 

Man. I loved my last cars. Doing routine maintenance was part of the charm.

Now? Man, I just don’t think I like it as much. I had a flat tire on the back of my motorcycle. Finally got my rear stand and went to work. Hands filthy, chain grease on my chin. Knees sore.

Bleech. Putting it back together should be easy. I might need to visit YouTube to glean the sequence but in general I think I got it.

I seriously considered putting my bike on a motorcycle tow rig and farming it all out. Haha. You still like pulling out the tools?

I haven't done it in a very long time. The last oil change was more then 25 years ago. Changing plugs and air filter and monkey around doing little stuff to the 930, but that's it. I am building a race/street early car. I have become the ultimate check book mechanic. I did enjoy little bit of it during college but that was pretty much out of necessity.

Absolutely. I’ll probably do more of it now, then I ever did. I’ve spent a good chunk of the last six or eight years restoring motorcycles for friends. I might even build another one for myself in a year or two.

I still like wrenching. I have a ‘75 Datsun 280Z that I’m slowly renovating.

Yes .........but.......if I HAVE to do something AND there is a time crunch or deadline with it..............not so much. It's still my go to - to express my creative / artistic side. Some guys golf, others collect stamps. I build hot rods, motorcycles, restore all sorts of old stuff.

I haven’t really had the opportunity to do much since I sold the 930, but I started at age 15 to 50. All the cars/truck are in good shape and needed minor work since then.

I did just change the plugs, cops and a new set of wheels/tires from Tirerack for Ms Rocket’s vw.

I think the days of major work or laying on my back under a car are gone.

I enjoy it, but let other things get in the way.

If I didn't enjoy it I'd of sold one of my 944's. Possibly both.

All my work is new tech development, I do not get the hands on satisfaction from when I worked in manufacturing/machinist.

Working on the car gives me that delightful physical soreness combined with a job done.

If it ever gets to where there isn't something for me to tinker with on the 944, I might sell it and buy some other car to tinker with.

I enjoy it but less on the daily drivers than I used to

Hey Jim, how are you guys?

Is this 280 gonna be stock? Are you doing a bare bone restoration?

Does pouring a bottle of Techron in your gas tank before filling up count as "wrenching", because I'm kind of tuning up my truck.

But seriously, if the 911 needs something I'd rather do it myself. All my other cars I've always done the oil changes. Haven't done one on the F150 yet but did do the brakes on my previous one. I mentioned on another thread that they put the pads on wrong at the Ford dealer which ground down the rotor on one side.

I've got a killer set of tools, I have to justify them.

I still do it. I am 66 and built and replaced the motor in my truck back around Christmas. Had to do the trans an extra time because the guy that built it screwed it up. I do have time on my hands so I need to be doing something. I hate thinking about the time when I am no longer able.

Not exactly stock, and not a total restoration, Jeff. After refreshing the fuel, cooling, and HVAC systems, I’ve moved on to renovating the interior. It’ll have a few non-stock mods (240Z steering wheel, Miata seats, rearview mirror camera, vintage looking modern radio). I have a close-ratio 5-speed and a 3.90 diff to replace the stock 4-speed and 3.54 diff. It has a 240Z skinny front bumper (rears are backordered) and 16” Panasport wheels. I’ll need to start shopping for suspension goodies in the coming months.

My better half says Hi!

I'll do small maintenance jobs on my daily drivers...oil chg, spark plugs, filters, brakes...but that's about it. For anything beyond that, they go to the shop.
I still get a lot of satisfaction from tinkering with my old VWs though. It's easy work and I'm under no deadline to get stuff done.

I'm making some improvements to my '78 911. The trunk is largely gutted giving me a chance to clean, which I like. Swapping out dash switches, windshield washers, ventilation box and controls, brake master cylinder, fuel pump. Replacing burned out bulbs. I finally love the car so it's a joy to do.

I used to like it a lot more than I do now. I still like making improvements. Maintenance....not so much.

Right now I’m trying to figure out how to yank the aftermarket alarm out of my 97 Miata because it’s draining the battery. Is that considered wrenching? Either way, I still enjoy working on my cars - Miata and Jeep Wrangler.

Working through a brake fade issue on my bike, but the other two vehicles are still under warranty. If I had the space, I wouldn't mind buying a project to wrench on, but the bike will do for now.

I can't wait to retire so that I can wrench every day .

:D:D Thats funny. I have often thought about the difference in doing it because its your job and doing it for entertainment. I hang out with 4 other car guys every Saturday and you never know what we will be wrenching on. 55 Chevy coupe, 65 Corvette, 56 Ford, (today), 36 Ford, 55 Chevy truck, my Porsche or my V8 S10 or one of the others. A few beers may be consumed and we always have a good time. Cant really do that when you are on the clock.

Yes, I enjoy wrenching. I've been doing a lot of bicycle maintenance this winter. Right now, I've got this on my lift and I am prepping it for an endurance racing event at Watkins Glen in April:
https://photos.smugmug.com/By-Land/R...IMG_1206-L.jpg

No.

Seems like I spend my whole spring cleaning gummy carbs and then I ride like 100 miles on each rig and then the next spring I do the same. I feel like I’m approaching that part of my life where I have one really neat rig ready to go all the time instead of a bunch of neglected stuff with -potential.

I like to tinker with my cars. Changed oil in the Boxster and the X5. Change parts in the X5, just did the coil packs over the weekend. Installed a reverse cam in the X5 and the 335i I just got. Put on a rear spoiler and front spoiler on the 335i in the past week. Need to change oil in 1k miles and really need to change pads to ceramic! Those factory BMW pads leave so much dust! Nice to get my hands dirty doing things I want to do, not have to do.

I still do routine maintenance on my wife's car, my truck, tractors, bike, house and property. I've found out in the last few years (from over 70 somewhere to now - 76+) I don't have the enthusiasm to get out there I did before. I still do the basics because I don't trust taking my things to someone else. I do have a place for brakes & alignment, a place for electrical if I don't feel like doing it, and a guy I take my bike to since I just want to ride it except for doing oil & filter & other basics. I'm still attempting to get my 911 back together and on the road (before I kick the bucket) and not get side tracked, like I recently did by doing a coil over conversion to the rear suspension. It seems like anymore when something needs fixing or servicing I have to motivate myself to get out there & get it done. Once I get involved, I mostly enjoy it. It's the getting involved part that's the problem.

I do still enjoy wrenching on things, lately I find that I just don’t have the time and my body hates me when I do it. Spend the next two days with new joint pain and soreness.

No...so what do I do with a bunch of tools & a rollaway? Hand 'em to my honorary nephew when he comes by to wrench on his beater Subaru.

All the '09 Mustang has needed was replacement battery, wiper blades, and tires.
Service by the book at the local Ford dealership. I supplied the Mobil1, but the last oil, filter, and tire rotate had a bill of $24. Uh, not worth doing it myself at that price.

Another factor is indeed my age...at 75, not as spry as I was even 10 years ago.

Yes, I still enjoy working on the bay window Westy and my daughters 5.0

I won’t work on the 996TT except for real minor stuff like replacing the frunk latch solenoid, or the 3rd brake light.

I spend more time wrenching on the summer toys, the camper and Razr, just bought some bead locks and 32 inch tires for it so I need to get the new spare tire mount installed on it.

I enjoy working on stuff for fun or even planned maintenance.

I find I no longer enjoy working on the daily drivers when something unexpected comes up.

I enjoy working on things, but have come to strongly prefer things that are clean and on a work bench in a well lit and reasonably warm space with music playing.

If my cars were clean and on a lift in a sumptuous man cave, I'd probably still like working on cars. As it is, I prefer working on bicycles and lately espresso machines.

Have two cars in the garage that haven't been running for, one for 12 years, the other for 5 .
Just can't seem to get motivated to get cold and oily any more. Do have a third hobby , running,car that I tinker with to do minor suspension improvements, fitted new wheels ,etc

I usually dread it when i have to do something to fix it
But once i get going it's not to bad.

And when it all works again, I feel satisfied that I fixed something better and cheaper then if I would have let somebody else do it and bill me for it.

Its complicated. I hate working on cars if there is a time constraint. Not fond of routine maintenance on DDs. I thoroughly enjoy fixing up my old VW - everything is easy and quick. Ditto for the 356s. The 911 is less fun to work on. I have become the go-to guy for cheap lawn equipment repair in the new ‘hood. I like it, I’m building respect with the natives.

I still enjoy it but not like I used to.

20 years ago I could work all day and night, sleep a little then repeat the whole process day after day.

Not so much now but I still have family and friends who ask me to do things for them.
Tomorrow I'm servicing my daughter AND HER PARTNER'S cars.

IME, most people are hopeless when it comes to fixing their own stuff. :(

Phrasing! :eek:

These days many repairs cause Tourette’s at my place.

I recently did the torque converter and then the valve body in my wife’s Tribeca. The torque converter was misdiagnosed by the dealer. I also did the spark plugs while I was in there and managed to break a VVT actuator...

I hate working on that thing. I’m hoping that baring a head gasket failure, I won’t have to touch anything major on it again.

I enjoy working on the Porsche’s - I have to drop the engine in the 86 930 but haven’t found the time to do so.

As many have said, not as much when I was younger. My hands aren't as nimble and I get frustrated seeing far and up close because I have the wrong glasses on. Bifocals don't help much.

I do get a sense of accomplishment after working on something -that feeling hasn't changed.

At 68 I still enjoy it. I have been known to drop the engine in the 911 just to clean things up..

I’ve limited my wrenching to motorcycles. No laying under a jacked up car with my nose against the oil pan these days. Heck, I’ve gotten so lazy I avoid bikes with lots of Tupperware to remove. And even on bikes, it’s oil changes, adjustments, brakes, etc. No engine rebuilds for me....I’ve finally come to terms with my limitations!

But that could change if I ever retire. Wouldn’t mind restoring an R50 or 60/2. A matter of time and enthusiasm.

I'll help you put your back wheel on if you help me with mine!


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1552051256.jpg

I’ll do what maintenance I can on the plane, and I’ll start changing the oil in the Jeep when I no longer get free oil changes from the dealer. But I’m not touching the wifes BMW.

Yep, I like it done right.

Right now my 85 911 is on my lift. I plan to drive to Key West this coming July. July is Florida is likely to be HOT. My AC system is a Dual Kehul system. But the evaporator fan was OEM. So in went the upgraded 30% more total air fan. And then I am also changing the fan switch. The factory switch has low which is almost off, medium, which is not much more, and full blast. Now I will have an totally variable speed fan speed switch and a light that tells me if the compressor is running, and if it is just cycling. It is NOT as easy as changing a switch. It is a slow process, since I would at a snails pace.

After 22 years of ownership I don't think there is one part of system I have NOT worked on and either improved, or have working at 100%.

And I meant to thank Vash for the recommendation of the head mounted light. It is the the BEST way to work on a car. Light right where I am looking, and never shining in my face. It is almost like having a superpower. I can crawl under the dash, look up and see everything. It is one of my favorite tools. Thanks Vash!