Reason for my motivation, I'm calling her done for now - Photo Shoot |
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Reason for my motivation, I'm calling her done for now - Photo Shoot |
BPic |
Jan 9 2019, 09:36 AM
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#1
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Member Group: Members Posts: 341 Joined: 5-February 18 From: Miami, Florida Member No.: 21,864 Region Association: South East States |
My father had a 1927 Model T and a 1952 MG TD when I was growing up. They sat in the barn and he would always say “I’m going to rebuild them” “We’ll start on them soon”. Well that never happened. They sat for many years and we only drove the MG once and it blew an oil line and was parked. He sold the cars when he moved to Florida. I decided then that I would never have a classic car project that I didn’t have the ways or means to complete it.
A few years ago, my father was diagnosed with dementia and it has gotten progressively worse. He still talks about the cars and wonders what they would be worth if he still had them. We look up prices and he just say’s “shoulda kept them”. This is a weekly occurrence. Dementia sucks, but because everything is new to him, he’s the happiest guy I know. Give him a cold beer and he'll tell you he hasn't had one in years and how good it tastes. It really sucks for my mom and the rest of us to see him like this and to have to watch him constantly. Last April I started disassembly of my 72 914. I have since replaced the inner passenger long, inner wheelhouse, inner and outer firewalls, passenger engine mount and suspension mount, tunnel, floor boards, battery tray, seat hinges etc. At least once a week I have my mom and dad over for dinner and I always take him out to the garage to show him the car. He always seems amazed that I’m doing it and it’s always the “first” time he’s seen it. After a few months of showing him the car something happened and he started asking to see it before I showed him. He remembered my car. Then he would say “you gotta take me for a ride when your done”. Talk about motivation! I have since sped up the build working 10 hour days every weekend. Week nights are spent researching, planning and buying. I even took 10 days off from work and did nothing but work on this car during my time off. My wife is a saint. My plan was to post photos of the build as others have here and was planning on taking 2 years to get to the point I am now. Now the only plan I have is to finish it before he forgets everything. So, I haven’t even taken many photos of before during and after. I just get in there to get it done. However, I’m not skimping on quality. Many of you have assisted in this build, so far, whether you knew it or not. From the build threads to directly answered questions and purchases I have made from members; the assistance is greatly appreciated. I’ve called some of you about parts, engines and other items to purchase and may have sounded like I was interested and then either didn’t respond or just emailed you saying I found something else. I hope I haven’t offended or put anyone off in any way by doing this. I just have to make decisions quickly and I always have the unknown time frame in my mind. So, if I have left you hanging without a response, I apologize. And thank you to everyone here for the assistance thus far. I’m sure I will have lot’s of questions as I enter phase II. Hopefully it will be in the body shop for paint in March and I’ll start all of the other part reconditioning for the assembly when she returns. I Can’t wait to take my dad for that ride! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) |
mb911 |
Jan 9 2019, 11:19 AM
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#2
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 6,831 Joined: 2-January 09 From: Burlington wi Member No.: 9,892 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
My father had a 1927 Model T and a 1952 MG TD when I was growing up. They sat in the barn and he would always say “I’m going to rebuild them” “We’ll start on them soon”. Well that never happened. They sat for many years and we only drove the MG once and it blew an oil line and was parked. He sold the cars when he moved to Florida. I decided then that I would never have a classic car project that I didn’t have the ways or means to complete it. A few years ago, my father was diagnosed with dementia and it has gotten progressively worse. He still talks about the cars and wonders what they would be worth if he still had them. We look up prices and he just say’s “shoulda kept them”. This is a weekly occurrence. Dementia sucks, but because everything is new to him, he’s the happiest guy I know. Give him a cold beer and he'll tell you he hasn't had one in years and how good it tastes. It really sucks for my mom and the rest of us to see him like this and to have to watch him constantly. Last April I started disassembly of my 72 914. I have since replaced the inner passenger long, inner wheelhouse, inner and outer firewalls, passenger engine mount and suspension mount, tunnel, floor boards, battery tray, seat hinges etc. At least once a week I have my mom and dad over for dinner and I always take him out to the garage to show him the car. He always seems amazed that I’m doing it and it’s always the “first” time he’s seen it. After a few months of showing him the car something happened and he started asking to see it before I showed him. He remembered my car. Then he would say “you gotta take me for a ride when your done”. Talk about motivation! I have since sped up the build working 10 hour days every weekend. Week nights are spent researching, planning and buying. I even took 10 days off from work and did nothing but work on this car during my time off. My wife is a saint. My plan was to post photos of the build as others have here and was planning on taking 2 years to get to the point I am now. Now the only plan I have is to finish it before he forgets everything. So, I haven’t even taken many photos of before during and after. I just get in there to get it done. However, I’m not skimping on quality. Many of you have assisted in this build, so far, whether you knew it or not. From the build threads to directly answered questions and purchases I have made from members; the assistance is greatly appreciated. I’ve called some of you about parts, engines and other items to purchase and may have sounded like I was interested and then either didn’t respond or just emailed you saying I found something else. I hope I haven’t offended or put anyone off in any way by doing this. I just have to make decisions quickly and I always have the unknown time frame in my mind. So, if I have left you hanging without a response, I apologize. And thank you to everyone here for the assistance thus far. I’m sure I will have lot’s of questions as I enter phase II. Hopefully it will be in the body shop for paint in March and I’ll start all of the other part reconditioning for the assembly when she returns. I Can’t wait to take my dad for that ride! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) Please share pictures.. Would love to see it.. |
krazykonrad |
Jan 9 2019, 11:26 AM
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#3
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,124 Joined: 21-February 06 From: Canton, GA Member No.: 5,610 |
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914Sixer |
Jan 9 2019, 11:33 AM
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#4
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 8,876 Joined: 17-January 05 From: San Angelo Texas Member No.: 3,457 Region Association: Southwest Region |
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif) Go for it!
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Dave_Darling |
Jan 9 2019, 11:40 AM
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#5
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914 Idiot Group: Members Posts: 14,982 Joined: 9-January 03 From: Silicon Valley / Kailua-Kona Member No.: 121 Region Association: Northern California |
Best of luck with the car and with your dad! Dementia is challenging at the best of times... I hope you both get a lot of joy out of the drive once you finish it up!
--DD |
BPic |
Jan 9 2019, 01:14 PM
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#6
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Member Group: Members Posts: 341 Joined: 5-February 18 From: Miami, Florida Member No.: 21,864 Region Association: South East States |
Okay. I'll post some photos soon. I have before and after. Not many during or showing the actual work.
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scott_in_nh |
Jan 9 2019, 01:21 PM
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#7
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 808 Joined: 10-December 10 From: Hampton, NH Member No.: 12,471 Region Association: North East States |
Good luck with the build - we can't wait to see a picture of you and your dad taking a ride!
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SirAndy |
Jan 9 2019, 05:38 PM
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#8
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Resident German Group: Admin Posts: 41,623 Joined: 21-January 03 From: Oakland, Kalifornia Member No.: 179 Region Association: Northern California |
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bbrock |
Jan 9 2019, 05:56 PM
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#9
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,269 Joined: 17-February 17 From: Montana Member No.: 20,845 Region Association: Rocky Mountains |
I cannot think of a higher purpose for such a project. Very cool. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)
If I can give one word of advice. Go ahead and snap as many pics as you can of at least the after work to document the quality of your build. Snapping pics with a cell phone takes almost no time away from the project, posting them in a build thread does, so skip the posting to focus on giving your dad that ride. But you will be glad you have the pics later. My neighbor did a complete resto on a '64 Mustang and now has an interested buyer. He wants to see pics of all the problem spots deep in the bowels of the car. Unfortunately, she didn't take pics as the car went together so it is a bit of an issue trying to document how well the problem areas were addressed. |
Literati914 |
Jan 9 2019, 07:33 PM
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#10
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,457 Joined: 16-November 06 From: Dallas, TX Member No.: 7,222 Region Association: Southwest Region |
I'm hoping you can make that happen BPic !! Best of luck buddy.
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shane |
Jan 9 2019, 09:48 PM
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#11
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Member Group: Members Posts: 355 Joined: 12-February 13 Member No.: 15,518 Region Association: None |
Good luck and Godspeed, I’m sure your dad will be very excited to take that ride with you.
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infraredcalvin |
Jan 9 2019, 11:04 PM
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#12
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Distracted Member Group: Members Posts: 1,511 Joined: 25-August 08 From: Ladera Ranch, CA Member No.: 9,463 Region Association: Southern California |
Nice, keep your eye on the prize and get her done! As much as I want to see pics and read about the progress, I’d rather hear (several years from now) the touching story of making the best with the time you have!
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914-300Hemi |
Jan 10 2019, 12:17 AM
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#13
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,356 Joined: 7-September 06 From: San Dimas, CA Member No.: 6,794 Region Association: Southern California |
Good luck with the build and can’t wait to hear the story of your dads first ride.
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BPic |
Jan 10 2019, 07:04 AM
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#14
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Member Group: Members Posts: 341 Joined: 5-February 18 From: Miami, Florida Member No.: 21,864 Region Association: South East States |
Alright, I'll start at the beginning. The car arrived in March 2018. I drove it 100 feet from the trailer to the garage and proceeded to take it apart.
Started the inspection process. I wasn't surprised by the rust I could see but was amazed at what was beneath the rust. More rust. The PO added metal everywhere to keep it together. This one scared me. Thanks to a few members talking me off a ledge and finding an engine mount. I dug in. Keep in mind I am, well was an amateur welder. I would now say I'm a novice. Recommendation to anyone starting the way I did... Build your own rotisserie. It will give you the practice needed for the welding that will be needed. But also practice in thinner metal. I learned the hard way. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) Since the car had serious structural issues, I decided to tackle that first and get it strong for the rest of the time on the rotisserie. I built my own door braces and was neurotic about checking the measurement everyday sometimes 5 or 6 times a day. I would take off a part of the floor and measure, remove any metal- measure, add metal- measure. I would wake up in the middle of the night thinking of 25 1/8 inches and 52 5/8 inches. I bought the inner long and upper from RD and decided not to replace the entire length of the upper. I didn't want to disrupt the integrity of the connection from the upper to the rear shock tower. So made a sleeve for the area that would be but welded. It just didn't look sturdy enough to me so I took the extra piece that I cut off of the RD part and after a little modification I made it into a sleeve. The nice thing about this is that it was a perfect fit because the grooves in the RD part matched the grooves on the factory part. It almost clicked into place and the grooved part was then rosette wleded. Again- ameture welder so the word gap is a reminder to leave a gap for the weld penetration. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif) Here is the inner long screwed into place while making adjustments with the upper. Once this was all welded in and measurements taken like 300 times. I t was rolled out for a much needed bath. My neighbors think I'm crazy. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif) I'll add more soon. Now off to the place that allows me to pay for this stuff. |
Cairo94507 |
Jan 10 2019, 07:16 AM
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#15
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Michael Group: Members Posts: 9,737 Joined: 1-November 08 From: Auburn, CA Member No.: 9,712 Region Association: Northern California |
Very nice. That is the way to tackle these cars. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
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Lucky9146 |
Jan 10 2019, 07:48 AM
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#16
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Always Wanted A Bigger Go Cart Group: Members Posts: 1,608 Joined: 22-September 14 From: Poway California Member No.: 17,942 Region Association: Southern California |
My hats off to you! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) Best of luck with your build, looks like you are off to a good start. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/white914.jpg) |
bbrock |
Jan 10 2019, 07:56 AM
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#17
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,269 Joined: 17-February 17 From: Montana Member No.: 20,845 Region Association: Rocky Mountains |
Nice work! Boy, I could have saved a lot of time on my project had I known I could just rivet metal straps across large voids in my floor pan (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)
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billh1963 |
Jan 10 2019, 08:11 AM
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#18
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Car Hoarder! Group: Members Posts: 3,402 Joined: 28-March 11 From: South Carolina Member No.: 12,871 Region Association: South East States |
Nice work! Boy, I could have saved a lot of time on my project had I known I could just rivet metal straps across large voids in my floor pan (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif) Rivets hold planes together, why not cars? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif) |
BPic |
Jan 10 2019, 10:11 AM
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#19
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Member Group: Members Posts: 341 Joined: 5-February 18 From: Miami, Florida Member No.: 21,864 Region Association: South East States |
Nice work! Boy, I could have saved a lot of time on my project had I known I could just rivet metal straps across large voids in my floor pan (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif) Exactly!! The PO was very creative with repairs. Heres one I really like and might be the reason there were so many screwed up repairs. He must have run out of spring clips. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif) I tend to have a cold one AFTER I finish work on the car. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif) |
Larmo63 |
Jan 10 2019, 11:44 AM
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#20
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,264 Joined: 3-March 14 From: San Clemente, Ca Member No.: 17,068 Region Association: Southern California |
Wow, you are a brave man!!!!
Love the backstory, thanks for sharing it with our community. |
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