Getting Old -> Dislike Wrenching

[jyl]

A six hour day under the van today. Not sure why but this thing is going back together harder than it came apart. But it is all ready for fluids and first start.

I decided to be Zen about it. . . . I'm just doing Pilates . . . a little floor exercise is good . . . another sit-up, another push-up, another fly and press . . . on the wet oily ground, in the rain . . . who needs skinny chicks in spandex . . .

[mossguy]

Originally Posted by jyl

another fly and press . . . on the wet oily ground, in the rain . . . who needs skinny chicks in spandex . . .

JYL, you have been in Portland too long!

[jyl]

Jeez, I'm glad I finished before it decided to really rain. Torrenting down! I need to unclog a downspout, water was fountaining high from the second floor.

I still like wrenching. But on small, clean, manageable things. After quitting work on the van, I spent an hour installing fenders on bikes. That was satisfying.

My son's school bike got standard plastic fenders, and my speedy weekend bike got Crud Roadracer Mk 2 fenders which are the only ones that will fit roadbikes with super tight clearances.

I'm going out for a ride tomorrow morning. Rain or shine; kinda hoping for rain. Yeah, I've been in Portland too long.

[herr_oberst]

Didn't rain this hard all day, but it rained all day.
John's a tough cat to crawl around that van in this crap.

[jyl]

Did some laps up Tabor this afternoon. To try out the fenders. I have no idea if they worked, but it didn't make any difference :-) I'm still chilled.

[herr_oberst]

I would have gone with, but I have a moderate case of the flu. Trying to keep it from getting bad.

[J P Stein]

I AM old (68) and feel the same about wrenching, so I went & bought a 65 Mustang.
I'm finding stuff on there that hasn't been apart for 48 years....
My hands/wrists are shot, I tire easily. and am allergic to cold concrete floors......this wrench turning must a genetic thing or I'm just stupid.

[jyl]

Ugh. Cold/flu stuff is starting to happen in my house too. I think I will get a flu shot soon.

[jyl]

Nice thing about that car is, stuff is simple and usually plenty of room to get your hands in. Love the old Mustangs. Fastback, notchback, convertible?

I AM old (68) and feel the same about wrenching, so I went & bought a 65 Mustang.

I'm finding stuff on there that hasn't been apart for 48 years....

My hands/wrists are shot, I tire easily. and am allergic to cold concrete floors......this wrench turning must a genetic thing or I'm just stupid.

[RANDY P]

I find myself using air these days in the garage. If it's a big project, it's air tool time. Forget about turning a socket wrench. Break out the impacts, especially if I'm working on suspensions.

rjp

[onewhippedpuppy]

I thought of this thread on Sunday. 1970 Mustang is STILL in storage because I've been busy trying to get my daily driver 996 up to my unrealistic standards. Master bath is torn apart for a full remodel. Lots more remodeling needs to be done. Son has baseball practice. Other two kids want to play. MBA homework is due. And I'm crawling around on a hard concrete floor under my 996, banging my head and doing something to my left wrist that hurts two days later. I love the car, but dammit sometimes I strongly consider getting a brand new daily driver that I won't have to constantly tinker with. It's my own damn fault really, I'm too picky about cars. Many would consider the work I've done on my 996 as a waste of time, too picky for a used car. But my OCD never sleeps. Starting with a clean baseline (new car) would definitely help in that regard.

[Baz]

Ha - that Trofeo is looking REAL good right now, eh Matt?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Baz

Ha - that Trofeo is looking REAL good right now, eh Matt?

LOL, I don't think that would meet my "no tinkering daily driver" requirement either.

[vash]

Still pissed about reading glasses.


Sent via Jedi mind trick.

[oldE]

I can handle the bifocals, but I find I either need a LOT of light where I'm working or I take a pic and look at it on the computer to get a better idea of what is there.

As for cold floors, a friend of mine built a new shop with in-floor heat. Oh Yes!

Best
Les

[GH85Carrera]

My latest addition to the garage makes a lot of chores a lot easier.



This will get it high enough to smack the roof into the garage door opener if I was stupid.

The next step is to drop it into a small pit so I can get rid of the boards. I changed the oil in the Elky without laying on my back for the first time in 300,000 miles.

It is a Bendpak MD-6XP right at two grand delivered to the door.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by jyl

I decided to be Zen about it.

This is where I am trying to go with The Miata (the Zen thing)

It is easy to work on... but dayum if some places are hard to get my big ol ham sized hands into! (I have dubbed it the tinymobile)

Installed coil-overs... dropped car WAY too low (great, not I look like a 16 year old... and I'm scraping up gravel in the alley)... remove coil-overs, adjust, reinstall... better but still not right... third try, developed a technique of just unbolting the bottom of the shock and anti-sway bar... slide broom handle between frame and swing-arm, pry down to release the bottom of the shock, spin threaded bottom of shock to adjust height, finally go tit where I want it.

Still need to fix the cross threaded lug nut... and the new stereo I installed has problems... but it keeps me off the streets at night.