I keep my project cars and bikes driveable once done, I figure it's better to do small projects along rather than let the various needed repairs stack up to where I feel overwhelmed. With three running and driving vehicles right now (Casper, the Red Rocket and the Xterra) it is a fair amount of time etc, mostly for the Red Rocket.
I am sorta considering another project car, though... stay tuned.
SilverFleet wrote: I have been whittling away at the CSX the past few weeks. This winter was too damn cold and snowy to get out to the garage, and all wrenching time was spent on my snowblowers. I like lists. I have a mental and physical list for each car. Issue is that most of the stuff that needs to get done is big stuff or things beyond my skill level. BTW, that "carrot" is now $500. Guy still has a skull tat.
Buy the carrot and leave it at my place temporarily. I have plenty of room.
My Alfa has kicked my ass in the "money/ability/time" department more times than I can count. When it happens I step away from the car and grab a firearm or a brew-pot and indulge in one of my other two hobbies. When the confidence, patients, or money returns, or when I think my way around whatever's stopping me at the moment, I grab a wrench and head out to the garage again.
I can't say my projects move quick at all, but it seems to work. Kids and a level headed wife keep me from acquiring too many other projects before I finish what's on my plate.
Mazdax605 wrote:SilverFleet wrote: I have been whittling away at the CSX the past few weeks. This winter was too damn cold and snowy to get out to the garage, and all wrenching time was spent on my snowblowers. I like lists. I have a mental and physical list for each car. Issue is that most of the stuff that needs to get done is big stuff or things beyond my skill level. BTW, that "carrot" is now $500. Guy still has a skull tat.Buy the carrot and leave it at my place temporarily. I have plenty of room.
I think the Z28 finally sold to someone, but I will remember this tidbit of info for further cheap performance cars.
I think the only way to deal with my current "Project Car Hell" is to face the projects head-on and see them through. It's not that I don't like them; I really like both cars. It's just that I am always on the lookout for other cars and for good deals on cars.
About that... Good deals usually mean that something is wrong with them, so for the next time I get something, I think I need to choose a project that I can handle a little easier. I'd love to do a fly-and-drive on a car like that Z28 I was looking at. Both cars I have now need body work, and I loathe it, so I sense a vacation to a southern locale at some point in the future. 
North Carolina. Ill treat you to some of the best bbq in the state. Want me to start looking for you?
And I know I'm no help.
I learned not to mix house project hell with car project hell. The other key is to minimize downtime and control scope during that downtime. When a car is not driveable, it's very easy to make the project exponentially longer, more expensive, and more discouraging. I try to keep things simple, because I lose a lot of motivation when I can't drive a car.
I'm getting ready to move for the 7th time in 9 years. If I have to move something, it better be a "need to have."
Is anyone else eagerly awaiting aussie's response?
For me it's lack of garage space in an urban environment. Basically amounts to me only having space for 1 project car at a time. Makes me kick myself when I see amazing junk on craigslist, but also results in me staying faithful to one crap bucket at a time.
dj06482 wrote: The other key is to minimize downtime and control scope during that downtime. When a car is not driveable, it's very easy to make the project exponentially longer, more expensive, and more discouraging.
This is huge too.
It's ok to walk away from a project for a little bit, but only a little bit. Make sure you get something else constructive completed in that time. The longer you stop, the harder it is to start again.
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