Looks Like the TVR is Sold..

And I'm kind of sad. Not just because I really like TVR's and seriously wanted to finish this car, but because the reality of getting older, having less time and less physical ability is what lead to selling it. My mind still thinks like it did when I was repairing cars and trucks for a living, when I could do things fast. My body doesn't agree. Aches, pains, fatigue, poor eyesight. It sucks to be on the down side.
I replaced the timing belt/water pump on our CRX this past weekend. My son Bradley helped me, and it took us about 4 hours. During that time I was telling him that I've done literally dozens of timing belts on Civics/CRXs, and I used to do the job in 45 minutes. Getting old isn't for sissy's, as they say.

What? Speak up. I can't hear you.

Getting old is not for the faint at hart. In fact it sucks!!!! For those under 40 enjoy it while you got it.

I feel your sadness.

It is probably good the TVR isn't still for sale because I am vulnerable right now.

pinchvalve wrote: What? Speak up. I can't hear you.

Oh yeah, hearing. I wear hearing aids. To many loud engines and music in my youth....That really sucks when you need to wear ear plugs! I can't near all the little noises that my kids hear... "Dad, the (pick the car) is making a squeaking noise, can't you hear it?" Now I tell them if they can hear it they can fix it.
A word to you young guys. It probably sounds like I'm 70 years old. I'm not. I just turned 52. You are not invincible. Your body will fail you. The better you take care of it now, the longer it will last. I know you won't, but try to learn from my mistakes, okay??

I always thought I'd restore cars for a hobby and income after I retired. Yeah, right.

Brake jobs take my back out of service for two days now and I pay people to R+R exhaust systems...

In reply to Woody:

I hear you. I have two herniated discs in my back (surgery in 1998), one in my neck, advanced degenerative disc disease, and arthritis in my neck, shoulders and fingers.
Back in the day, I worked as a mechanic at a chassis shop. We did everything related to chassis. We gave a lifetime warranty on our brake jobs, so we did complete jobs including rebuilding the calipers/wheel cylinders, turning the rotors, repacking the wheel bearings, installing new seals, hardware, pads, shoes and bleeding the system. I kid you not, I often worked 10 hour days were I did 8-10 brake jobs myself. I made 50% of the labor I took in, so I worked fast. Hard to imagine now, because they take their toll on me like they do you. Having a lift helps, but since I've had one I now can't even work on the floor, as it kills me!

bravenrace wrote: I replaced the timing belt/water pump on our CRX this past weekend. My son Bradley helped me, and it took us about 4 hours. During that time I was telling him that I've done literally dozens of timing belts on Civics/CRXs, and I used to do the job in 45 minutes. Getting old isn't for sissy's, as they say.

I just finished replacing the timing belt and water pump in my '03 TDi. A job I've done twice before... the first time, it took me about a weekend. The second time, about 3 weeks. This last time, well over a month. I have no son to help me. I do have a gimpy left shoulder that made some parts of the task rather painful.

Granted, part of the issue is having some incentive to finish quickly. The first time I changed it in my g/f's garage which meant her 1800ES had to spend the night outside. The second time, I had our MINI 'vert to drive while I did the work, thus reducing any sense of urgency. This last time, I had the truck and E30. I sold my truck last w/e and on the way to work yesterday the alt belt on the E30 broke, thus requiring a tow home and a cancelled client appointment. This gave me the kick in the butt I needed to finally get the TDi running again, although I still have some things left to do.

I recently had to re-set cam timing on my engine.... (long story short... )

my eyes are so bad... I had 2 friends over helping me see that I indeed had corrected the settings...

also....

Getting down to the COLD concrete floor isn't what it use to be either.... getting up... HAHAHAHA

When I was turning a wrench for a living... frequently I was the trans jack

when I swapped in the 6 speed into my Corolla... I had a young friend doing most of the lifting......

Concerning TVRs....I looong time ago... I owned, and loved a 69 VixenS2... I always wanted to swap a well tuned street 4AGE into one.........

.......... only problem is I'm not sure I could fold myself up enough to climb in to a TVR anymore. I think my "vintage little sports car" dreams come back to a Volvo 1800

bravenrace wrote: It sucks to be on the down side.

I'm using it as inspiration for getting things done that are on my bucket list while I still can enjoy them. Focusing on the great stuff in life, not merely the good stuff. And letting the rest of it go.

foxtrapper wrote:

bravenrace wrote: It sucks to be on the down side.

I'm using it as inspiration for getting things done that are on my bucket list while I still can enjoy them. Focusing on the great stuff in life, not merely the good stuff. And letting the rest of it go.

Very good idea. That's really part of what lead to me selling the TVR (Priorities. it unfortunately falls into the "and letting the rest of it go" category for me). That and the fact that TVR's are very hard to get into an out of!!
As I've gotten older I've had to re-evaluate what's important to me, and frankly, doing heavy work on vehicles is no longer enjoyable. So I've gotten back into music, and I have an old truck that has great sentimental value to me that I am determined to finish. Those, among other things, are what I really want to do. AND I WANT TO DRIVE!! Driving has always been more important to me than the car itself. I want to do the Hot Rod Power Tour, I want to do track days and autocrosses. But I don't really want to spend all my time working on something that's going to make me hurt for a week after. I do regret NOT doing some of the things I wanted to while I could (I didn't really believe my body would go downhill so fast despite my attempts to keep it in shape), but instead of hanging on to those and screwing up the things I CAN do in the future, it was time to re-prioritize and move on. I just wish I had listened to the old timers when I was young...

I was just saying to my wife the other day "I need some new friends because they are all getting old". She was quick to point out that I was getting old too. Problem is, I don't feel as old as they look and act.

Woody wrote: Brake jobs take my back out of service for two days now and I pay people to R+R exhaust systems...

exhaust work is hell. I avoid it like the plaque. luckily i found a local exhaust shop that is cheap, open on Saturdays, and doesn't mind if he sees a missing catalytic conveter every now and then.

tr8todd wrote: I was just saying to my wife the other day "I need some new friends because they are all getting old". She was quick to point out that I was getting old too. Problem is, I don't feel as old as they look and act.

Reminds me of a funny story I heard on Cartalk. From here: http://www.cartalk.com/content/aging-matter-perspective-1

While waiting for my first appointment in the reception room of a new dentist, I noticed his certificate, which bore his full name. Suddenly, I remembered that a tall boy with the same name had been in my high school class some 40 years ago. Upon seeing him, however, I quickly discarded any such thought.

This balding, gray-haired man with the deeply lined face was too old to have been my classmate.

After he had examined my teeth, I asked him if he had attended the local high school.

"Yes," he replied.

"When did you graduate?" I asked.

He answered, "In 1957."

"Why, you were in my class!" I exclaimed.

He looked at me closely and then asked, "What did you teach?"

In reply to dculberson:

Now that's funny! Okay, maybe not to you.

Picked up this morning. I'm numb.

Dang. How long had you owned it? did you take any pictures of it going away?

Did you tell the new owner about this forum and that he should keep a build thread that way you get to see your old car being worked on?

dculberson wrote: Dang. How long had you owned it? did you take any pictures of it going away?

I couldn't bare to look.

Raze wrote: Did you tell the new owner about this forum and that he should keep a build thread that way you get to see your old car being worked on?

No, but I'll mention it to him. He did say he'd send me progress pics once he gets started on it. He already told me that it will be lowered with threaded coil overs, panasports, and it will be painted orange with a high end interior.

bravenrace wrote:

dculberson wrote: Dang. How long had you owned it? did you take any pictures of it going away?

I couldn't bare to look.

you shouldnt feel that way. you got enjoyment out of it even if you didnt finish it. it was time for someone else to get enjoyment out of it and maybe you met a new friend who shares the same passions as you.

some project cars are destine to be projects their whole life. i know of a 69 GTX that has been a project car for 38 years and has been thru 7 owners and each loved the car and added to it. now it sits in a sea container waiting for when i retire for it to be finished maybe or it may find its 8th owner

It sounds like the TVR went to a good home. I miss a couple of the cars we've sold off over the years, but concentrating on what's left on the plate helps.

bravenrace wrote: I have an old truck that has great sentimental value to me that I am determined to finish.

So how about a thread on this truck?

I'm about to turn 50 and am in the same boat. I sold my 240Z project last year for similar reasons. I had been working on it for 5 years and it had gotten to the point where I worked a day and was laid up for two. I can remember working on the race car all night, loading the truck, driving half way across the country, racing, driving home, and working on Monday. All with about 5 hours sleep during the weekend.

Now I walk to the mail box and have to go to bed by 10:00!
Seriously though, I have similar neck and lower back issues, mainly because of all the bad things I did to them in the past. My dreams of having an open wheel car are long gone...people do race Town Cars right?

Rob_Mopar wrote: It sounds like the TVR went to a good home. I miss a couple of the cars we've sold off over the years, but concentrating on what's left on the plate helps.

bravenrace wrote: I have an old truck that has great sentimental value to me that I am determined to finish.

So how about a thread on this truck?

I will do that, but I haven't started working on it yet.

bravenrace wrote:

pinchvalve wrote: What? Speak up. I can't hear you.

Oh yeah, hearing. I wear hearing aids. To many loud engines and music in my youth....That really sucks when you need to wear ear plugs! I can't near all the little noises that my kids hear... "Dad, the (pick the car) is making a squeaking noise, can't you hear it?" Now I tell them if they can hear it they can fix it. A word to you young guys. It probably sounds like I'm 70 years old. I'm not. I just turned 52. You are not invincible. Your body will fail you. The better you take care of it now, the longer it will last. I know you won't, but try to learn from my mistakes, okay?? I always thought I'd restore cars for a hobby and income after I retired. Yeah, right.

Golden Years, ain't no gold about them, more like lead.