My interest is waning.....
 

...and pretty fast. After Ventura (and I think I'll display my '88 in the FS section), I'll most likely put my car back to stock and let it go. I have a feeling that the Boxster is gonna keep me busy as it gets older and towards 45K miles.

I like to weld, I like to form sheet metal, I like to build molds and parts, and I'm more interested in machining than ever before. I'm totally burned out in the contracting/home improvement business and there's no work anyway.

So, what would you do? I don't have the strength and energy I had even 3 to 5 years ago when I built the 914 race car and the '71 S cafe racer.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1220738289.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1118014689.jpg

This last project took a lot out of me:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1220738631.jpg

I'm sorry if I sound like a broken record, I know I've posted similar threads and replies before. The thing is, nothing has come of any of it.

i can revive your interest

you need some batsh t crazy roads and a guide
we need to talk about you visiting, and bringing the puppies along...

trust me, i'm your friend

What do you want to do? That's what you should do.

Do you like the '88 or is it more or less interchangable with something else? Do you want something else?

Do you like the Boxster enough to keep after it? see first question.

Your labor is valuable and you only have so much energy. Save it for the most rewarding stuff in life now: welding, metal-forming, machining. For some strange reason I don't see the Boxster maintenance involving any of these, unless you want to get crazy with it.

I have to say I've cared about money and will continue to, because it's how the world goes 'round. But I've read plenty of stories and seen plenty of people with dang near $0 and they're still happy, somehow things still work out.

I like Joseph Campbell's advice, "Follow your bliss."

P.S. That bumper looks CLEAN!

Why return the Carrera to stock? It's beautiful, I would think that someone would pay a lot more for it like that. I just realized that your car is the one that an acquaintance mentioned to me on the for sale board(?)

What you need a 944 to play around with (see my sig) I can arrange delivery

Yeah right :p

Well, you saw my debacle about the clutch. I took your lead and spoke to Tony Callas about it. I think if it needs major work, I'll let him tackle something like a clutch. But, the Boxster will make a fine hobby. You and I share the same opinion about these cars. They are great cars. But, I have to limit my work on cars to what I can do at home w/o a lift, etc.

I just like the idea of making things. Welding is a form of fabrication, a very important one. I've been to L.A. Trade Tech on plastics and molding years ago. I briefly worked in a pattern shop. And I've obviously built my share of all things residential and light commercial. It's all fun to create stuff whether it's a cabinet or some tile work. I'm hooked on being creative.

There's no perceivable market for a 63 YO creative person.

BTW, welding is easy once you have the right equipment and a fundamental understanding of the process. In fact, I'm going back to welding school this fall to do some arc welding. I've done the MIG and the TIG, but I've not fully understood all the tricks to stick welding (and I never will be as good as a lifer). I like the idea of sticking things together; it's fun.

This may sound crazy... well maybe not coming from me.

Have you consider doing fine art? Like large sculpture installations?

The more stock and unmolested a car is, the more salable. I'll keep the bumpers for a rainy day. I already have V.2 in mind, so these will probably get cut up.

I'll even give you a preview. I think I missed something when I didn't use a little more of the Carrera RS front oil cooler opening on the front. V.2 would have a little more projected center section. And in the back, it seems short. Doing this again I'd add an inch to cover the muffler more.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1217895584.jpg

But, that's kid stuff. I'll do it when the spirits move me.

So I can do this fiberglass stuff, so can a thousand others.

I'm ready when you are. Whom do we contact fora commission?

Damn, I wish I was in the market, I'd buy it as it sits, but I won't be in the market for another 2 years. Damn!!

Seriously - if you hosted a welding clinic, I'd definitely come. I need to learn how to weld to do a few things on my 911. Probably quite a few others around this area too.

fix that tailpipe
it looks off by about a mile... , you can weld,
weld sexy looking taipe on that car, it deserves it...
no tailpipe faces down...

that's more important then hiding that muffler

i'de do it for you, but i can't even solder properly... not kidding, all i can do is make blobs of soldering tin and bad connections...

Jeff. LBCC offers welding on Saturdays in the morning. I've never been to any other training except a gas welding class at night way back in the 70's. The cost is next to nothing to the point that people are coming into the class from all over. Non LB residents pay maybe double, so that's a 100 bucks for a semester. And they give you all the supplies!!

On another note, when I did Beau's G 50 conversion, I left my MIG at his house over night and told him, "Fire it up if you want to. You've seen all the procedures." He never did.

I love the sound of sizzling bacon in the morning.

(Don't get any ideas about me going into the welding trade. It's hard and heavy work, for the most part. Young strapping types and some older grizzlies can do it, but it's a lot like a framing carpenter. You don't see too many 40 YO NFL players and you don't see too many 40 YO framers.)

Well Milt, all I can add is that I "sorta" know how you feel. Burned out on one interest...searching for another. Good luck to us both! :)

OK, that was part of the next move. Ben at M&K and I were working on a completely new and exotic design never seen before. Unfortunately, Ben is not cheep and he shouldn't be.

I'll come up with something. Your criticism is warranted.

no sweat Milt,
like i said, i can't even solder

tried restoring a car once... broke my back financially coz .. hell, i can't even solder right, let alone welding

i wish i could do half of what you do

i think you need to get a tattoo. just kidding :D

those cars look beautiful. i wish i had that kind of talent

Isn't that funny? I wish I had the talent of a recent college grad who can jump into the market and pull down 40K/yr on his/her way to 3x that. Us old Viet Nam era guys don't ever see that kind of money unless we got into some biz that might be best described as "money changers." Best money I ever made was as a union tradesman. But, the union stole so much and expected so much payoff to work that I left. Now, in the long run, that was a stupid mistake.

i graduated from college 14 years ago and still have 4 years of student loans to pay and, im a godamn miserable bastard slaving away in an office 60 hours per week and a long way away from making 3x$40K despite hard work and 2 degees

life is a ***** for most of us. hey, at least you get to drive those cars year round, sit on the beach, have an awsome selection of fish tacos, deserts, mountains, palm trees, amazing car shows, pretty girls everywhere...yea i know...the housing market sucks, over crowded, crime, no jobs, low pay, terrible traffic, fires, earth quakes etc.... look on the bright side, you survived the jungles of viet nam, have useful skills, great cars, perhaps a nice wife and the ocean nearby and sunshine

next time your at the video store, pick up Bukowski: Born Into This. Pour yourself a drink and watch it. Youll feel better or maybe even inspired