Do something every night, even if it's wrong. Work on a sub assemble,
clean it, paint it, replace the nuts and bolts in it.
Make a lower fender patch, if it's wrong, do it again tomorrow night.
Before leaving for work in the morning, go out and second coat the spray
paint on the heater assemble so it's dry when you get home from work.
Measure that tinket because you thought you saw something that would
work in the store room at the office.
Pick your paint colors before you head to the paint supplier but be a
bit flexible. Do I want fire engine red or resale red? Does it really
matter? Unless you are doing a concours restoration, it doesn't really
matter. If the paint is 1 or 2 shades off from your magazine picture,
nobody will know.
As you are finishing up the body work but before the car is painted,
order up all those chrome doo-dads and rubber bits so it is in your
possesion when the paint is dry and ready to go on the car.
When you come in from the garage every night, double check the parts
catalog incase you are missing something. Check your internet car list
or forum for ideas, shortcuts, and parts venders. Ebay helps too.
Let's face it, if you wait on your parts, the price will surely go up.
Besides, you need the parts now, not next year.
With the paint job looking good and shiny new chrome all over the car,
start installing all those sub assemblys you have been working on while
the body putty was drying or the welding was cooling.
Don't waste time watching bondo dry. If friends stop over, hand them
something to fix or have them hold up the other end of the exhaust
system while they talk to you. If they bring beverages, toast your new
project but don't stop to drink, keep on working with their help and
grab a sip after the windshield wipers are operational.
On the weekends, plan on major undertakings like welding in new floors,
but only after you mow the lawn and fix the garbage disposal. This keeps
your wife happy, and the progress you are making on the heap you brought
home last month amazes her. As for the game, read the score in the
morning paper. This alone will give you 4 more quality hours with your
new project. The team doesn't even know you exist.
Look at stuff you have around the house in a new light. That rear
transmission mount that is no longer available can be made out of a long
bolt and a piece of that old bed frame up in the attic. The old
lawnmower throttle cable could make a perfect bonnet release cable, and
that short piece of 3/16 metal rod is exactly what they used on the hand
brake rod which was broken and not listed in the parts book.
You can do it. Ambition, time, tools, and money.
Frank Clarici
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