I have a bad case of the "project butterflies!" I am getting closer to the end of the "parts accumulation" stage of my BMW 2002 m20 swap project and closer to the actual build stage. With every day that goes by I am getting more and more nervous. What if the motor I built does not start? What if it does start but destroys its self from the inside out? All the hours of driving back and forth from the machine shop, all the hours of degreasing, all the love, and all the HARD earned money. Man its just eating me up. I have so many doubts and high hopes!
This is my first real build. Up until now I have just been doing brakes, suspension, bolt on parts and some small interior fabrication.
I know I have been really taking my time and doing things as "right" as I can (almost one year on the motor and parts collection by its self). I think I am getting way to involved in this project! lol
Has anyone felt like this before?
Cheers guys!
Oh yeah... i've gotten it. Actually have it right now. Once my last three pieces are done by others (LSD install, trailing links modified, and my hubs arrive), i'm 3 days of work away from sitting the Escort on the ground again.
The butterflies aren't because i'm worried that something will go wrong, because something WILL. (Fact of life when you've got a hodgepodge like this)
The butterflies are excitement because much as it's a cliche, this thing is truly the first of its kind, and it should be a COMPLETELY different car in every way. I have no idea what to expect in terms of how it'll drive and what it'll be capable of.
Butterflies. Lots of 'em. I like it. 
Good luck with that man! It is exciting! Hope to see it up here.
You'll be fine you've done your homework. Kevin said he wants to lend a hand when you drop the motor in, so you should have plenty of help. The new body harness should be the hardest part, but even then it's called Painless wiring :)
Its fear of failure, and self doubt. If you put something together and it shreds itself, or works less well than you have dreamed about, it reflects badly on your self-worth.
If you never finish anything, there is no risk of failure, but there is also no reward, even if that reward is learning what you did wrong to make it blow up.
Suck it up, try to dot all I's and cross all t's, screw it together, and grow. Even if it blows up, its better than watching someone else do it on TV.
If you never fail you are living a very boring and meaningless life.
Seriously, if you are doing anything that matters, anything noteworthy, you will fail and fail again. Just how life works.
And I'm going to be in the exact same boat as you in a little bit. The Daewoo is getting a 2.2L engine swap ... 
Embrace the butterflies. They are there because you're stretching yourself, doing something new, etc. I'm kinda jealous. I've been doing this stuff so long, a lot of it is old hat, and thus not exciting. You're living the dream man. Embrace it.
In reply to deutschman:
been there done that... and as an ADD type, it drove me nutkin futs! It is far easier to build/rebuild another persons project then your own. Some assembly thoughts. Walk yourself through all the steps... make sure you have ALL the tools on hand.... One STRONG recommendation... USE assembly lube on all bearing surfaces, plain old oil on the rings
DILYSI Dave wrote:
Embrace the butterflies. They are there because you're stretching yourself, doing something new, etc. I'm kinda jealous. I've been doing this stuff so long, a lot of it is old hat, and thus not exciting. You're living the dream man. Embrace it.
Sounds like it's time for you to try hybrid powertrains or homemade aluminum honeycomb .... ;)
Streetwiseguy wrote:
Its fear of failure, and self doubt. If you put something together and it shreds itself, or works less well than you have dreamed about, it reflects badly on your self-worth.
If you never finish anything, there is no risk of failure, but there is also no reward, even if that reward is learning what you did wrong to make it blow up.
Suck it up, try to dot all I's and cross all t's, screw it together, and grow. Even if it blows up, its better than watching someone else do it on TV.
True words.
I am very excited. Some thing will go wrong, something always does, but the chances of something really big going bad are slim. I have really taken my time with everything.
I love pushing and challenging my self...
But I still have butterflies.
To mr2peak:
Anyone (especially professional mechanics) are welcome to come by in April and help with the swap!
