dean1484 wrote: ... Then there is the car that somehow develops what I can a sole...
A sole... what? Oh wait, you mean sole, as in tires? Just messing with you. Reminds me of my coworker who always messes up the use of "lose", "loose", and "loss".
Back to the topic, Kimini took 10 years and really was done. Midlana took five but due to me installing a fire-breathing engine, caused never-ending drama so it's never really been finished.
I'll let you know once I finish it.
I took my Monte Carlo apart for paint in 2000. It's still apart.
I've never finished one. Because as soon as I think I'm done, I tear it apart and do it all again. I'm like Pat with less budget.
kb58 wrote:dean1484 wrote: ... Then there is the car that somehow develops what I can a sole...A sole... what? Oh wait, you mean sole, as in tires? Just messing with you. Reminds me of my coworker who always messes up the use of "lose", "loose", and "loss".
And your point is??? You know it would have been much more helpful if you PMed me and pointed this out so I could have gone and fixed it.
We had this discussion a while back. I am ging to stop here.
In reply to dean1484:
I do a fair amount of writing...for work and on my own. I write press releases sometimes as well as web content.....My grandmother was a teacher. My grandfather was a high school principal. My mother and sister were teachers. I am a terrible speller. Thank goodness for excellent assistants and editors along the way! Off topic....I see you have a 924s. Killer. I have a long standing relationship with a 944 so I can relate.
dean1484 wrote: And your point is???
That if you can't laugh at yourself there's a problem?
jh36 wrote: Am I alone?
By no means.
Um, let's see, I have a 91 Katana that I bought from a junkyard somewhere about the year 2000. I got it running maybe 6 or 7 years ago, and figured I'd ride it to the carwash. Improperly assembled front brakes locked up, and I wiped out. Lost motivation many times on that one. I've come too far to turn back now.
That's it in the front.
Then there's the bugeye I bought in '11. Haven't done anything on that one in 6 years.
Don't even get me started on the RZ 350 I originally bought in what, 91?, and my brother and I have passed back and forth through the decades.
I bought my 64 Spit in 89 or 90 and it still isn't finished. It's drivable, but I haven't touched the interior.
I was given an 80 Spit several years ago and I jumped on it like I was on fire. Then I ran out of steam and it's been sitting for years.
Does it count if I sold it years ago, and it's been sold multiple times since, but I still occasionally get fairly involved in working on it?
Let's see...
My B-Mod project has been in the works for 6 years now and my speedster project for 4 years....
I think my loop-hole detector is going off. If my Rabbit was out of commission when I pushed it home, technically it hasn't started as a project. Am I right?
Just kidding around...
I'm with the good captain- I don't think I've finished one yet. 
jh36 wrote: In reply to Knurled: I'm coming from; taking it out of commission to recommission. So, back into some useful state.
My longest build wasn't a car. In total, I spent about 15 or 16 years working on this project: ejection seat, but in truth, about 11 or 12 years of that was complete stagnation/inaction. I still have a few loose ends I'm working on, so I guess its 15/16 years and counting . . .
Longest car project was my Miata, and that was only a few years in total.
39 years! I bought a 1969 Mustang convertible when I was 16 and drove it for a few years. Transmission went out and I got 6 months before my brother blew up the engine while I was in college. New engine and I head back for a job. It sat until I got some time, but not before the floors had rusted and the top was torn. I replaced the top on my vacation one year and fixed the floors the next.
Some hooligans stole my radiator, console, battery, carburetor, wheels and broke some trim and interior parts. Found and replaced the vital parts just to keep it running and rolling even if it is not street worthy.
I sat for a while...again and I gathered up many parts and make sure it can start and drive around the yard and a few times to the car wash, around the block...just making it roll!
2001 I finally move where I can keep the car close and work on it.
It is actually slated to be next! I have moved a lot of other cars out of the way to get this one in front.
Bruce
I got my Fairmont in '87. It's had three engines, four transmissions, three drive shafts, two rear axles, two K-members, two front brake setups,four steering racks, a rear suspension re-design, and a replacement body. It still vibrates.
And, it's still not done. It at least needs drop spindles, and maybe a front short/long arm suspension. Oh...brakes. It could use some brakes.
In reply to jh36:
My longest build isn't a car. It's my home.. I started the actual build in 1998 when I bought some Black Walnut timbers at a sawmill and stickered them up to dry.. A normal house requires about 2500 to 3000 man-hours from start to finish.. To put that into perspective a 40 hour work week is 2050 hours a year. So far I have 30,000+ man hours of my time into this place..
Yes I know what I'm doing and no I don't redo stuff later on.. Plus I had free access to power equipment that would make most builders green with envy. Telehandlers, Forklift, cranes, manlifts, scaffolding, all new, all on demo! In addition I'm a tool-aholic. I bought tools that the majority of the contractors I've sold to prefer.. Based on common knowledge I've been extremely happy with the selection. I own or have owned some rare and expensive tools. Some used for one task and put away. Others used, and used up, then replaced when worn out.
I'm nearing the finish, with luck it should only take me another 5000 man-hours..Mostly finish work, some of which will be extremely intricate. Yes I've stayed in the house ever since I began tearing down one section at a time and moving into the new sections as they are weather tight.. Dealing with Minnesota winters has proven to be , well interesting? One winter I used to open my bedroom door, climb down the ladder, walk through the snow on the floor and then go into the first part of the house that was weather-tight.. Where the kitchen and Greatroom were sealed and warm.
In reply to egnorant:
That is the record so far, I think! Impressive!
Wall-e wrote: I took my Monte Carlo apart for paint in 2000. It's still apart.
That's why my Miata hasn't been painted yet. I fear it getting stuck in paint jail. As it is, my engine has been at the machine shop for 5 weeks with no words. Besides, I kinda like the shiney suspension and wheels/scruffy paint aesthetic.
I have a '58 MGA project that began in 1987 and a Bugeye waiting since 2003. I'm sure my Porsche 906 will not be finished until I've been dead at least a decade. At least all the MGA needs now is paint...
jh36 wrote: In reply to egnorant: That is the record so far, I think! Impressive!
Bad thing is that I have done 100 other projects in the meantime! This Mustang is my non roadworthy project and I must nominate my brother and his 32 years project. He bought his 70 Mustang convertible as a wrecked showcar. Took awhile to get all the front end straight and proper and was off the road for 9 years. One Christmas when he had time but no money and I had money but no time, I bought him a paint job for his Mustang. Understand that we are car show people, not show car people and we drive. He put that car together and made changes to make it a better driver or just fit his vision. After 100,000 miles or so it was getting worn so...
We took it apart again! New paint, interior, transmission, AC, made wiring changes to accommodate new tech. Got LEDs, bluetooth, GoPro, USB, gps... It got dynamat stuff and we spent several days on noise elimination. 2 guys for 2 full days on window adjustment made a huge difference!
First thing after his rebuild is drive it across America...TWICE! Now he has found the stuff for power windows, upgrading interior lighting and has a cool idea for gauges! Project still going!
Bruce
Started in 2003, roughly...
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/1981-camaro-c-prepared-build/59501/page20/#post2246825
The MG took about two years, including the bodywork.
I bought my 56 MGA when I was 18. I am now 45 and it is still not done. I did drive it this weekend with no front fenders. really only moved it to take a set of snow tires off my truck that are out of balance and need to be replaced, but I drove it.
Mine would be my current project. Started parts gathering 2 years ago, Assembly started a bout a year ago, Im hoping to have it "running" in a year, quicker if they take my legs and I need the automatic.
I bought my 1800ES is '05. It was a running and driving car at the time, although more than a wee bit rusty. At the time of purchase, the plan was to part it out for profit. But it just ran so well. And unlike a few 1800's I've seen - it's straight. I just couldn't do it. However, I did scavenge the drive shaft for my ex's ES to finish a manual transmission conversion. While I did get replacement parts to get mine back together, it hasn't moved under its own power since early '06. I've I'd know then, what I know now about regular tags and inspection stickers on classic cars (PA cops DGAF), I never would have torn it apart and would have just driven it. In '08 I tore it apart and the shell has been in my back yard ever since. The body is very rusty, but nothing really out of the ordinary. I still need to learn to weld. It will run again if it's the last thing I do.
More recently, my daily driver '03 VW TDI has been sitting on the lift in my garage for a turbo replacement for the last 3+ years (Dec 2013). I have no logical excuse for this one.
My mother's husband recently passed away and I may end up with his '73 Kawasaki H1 that hasn't moved under its own power since 1974. It shows less than 4000 miles on the odometer. Next task is to find the title in a mass of disorganized papers.
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