Technique advice/how to avoid stalling out on a project?

Do you guys have a system when it comes to builds? What I'm saying is, do you typically have a order you do things? Like motor then brakes then suspension ect, or is it more a squeaky wheel gets the grease kinda situation. I suppose I'm just asking is there a form of organization that helps you speed the process and stay on track? I think me problem is I just jump around so much I feel like I never make progress and then the project stalls out. I also admittedly get excited and focus too much on cosmetics. What're your techniques for keeping things moving along and avoiding procrastination.

I'm definitely NOT one to use as a role model in this department.

I think what works for a lot of people on the internet thought is to do something on the project every day. 15 minutes work if that's all you have. It keeps it on the front burner...or whatever.

Personally...I just surround myself with projects. I can always work on one project (while waiting for a deal on parts for another, etc). From the outside, it looks like most of my projects are stalled. Who cares what the outside thinks!

I try to do things in a certain order. If we're talking a long-term build, (assuming already torn down) i do suspension first, then motor, then wiring. Brakes last.

Though more often than not, it's nowhere near that organized.

What Clem said plus decide what you're going to do before you walk out to the garage. I think those two things are more important than enforcing a rigid order.

Order of convenience pretty much.

I am THE WORST at this - I start everything all at once and then lose focus, regroup, iterate until it;s all done.

What has worked very well for me over the last ten years or so is a support group approach. There are 3 or 4 of us who are in this hobby with a constant rotation of projects. We take turns visiting each others shops to help out on a regular basis; host buys the beer.

The key to this is always having a defined task to do before we arrive, and then leaving "homework" for the host to get done before the next visit.

A someone who pushes projects along for a living, I find this a great system, and take as much pride in my friends progress as my own. Gets me out of the house also!

Don't work on it.

Seriously.

Make sure you take actual breaks in the project, either for other smaller projects, or for some actual downtime. That refreshes/recharges you about the giant project.

I'm most productive on the Javelin after doing something like the Saab flip. Actually completing something makes you more eager to go back to chipping away at that giant mound of work.

Completing things is invigorating.

If there are recognizable "chunks", um, recognize them.

I have a bunch of stuff in the "tasks" section of my google calendar. I'm close to finishing off "garage attic floor". I have another little one for trimming the roofing nails that stick into the attic. With those two checkboxes, the garage attic is done, but I get a "taking something off my to-do list" moment for each of them.

Of course, you can wind up with an awfully long to-do list if you break it out too far; I also don't put stuff up 'til I'm reasonably sure it's in the near-middle future. Hate to see stuff unchecked for months...

Javelin wrote: Actually *completing* something makes you more eager to go back to chipping away at that giant mound of work.

I think this it he key. If you can see progress the momentum will continue. Also minimize downtime that the car experiences. If I can drive the thing I'm always more enthusiastic about it.

Make a build thread so folks can rib you until it's done.

Full, disclosure, mine is not done.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/build-thread-for-the-72-gmc-finally-thanks-john/59103/page1/

Javelin wrote: Don't work on it. Seriously. Make sure you take actual breaks in the project, either for other smaller projects, or for some actual downtime. That refreshes/recharges you about the giant project. I'm most productive on the Javelin after doing something like the Saab flip. Actually *completing* something makes you more eager to go back to chipping away at that giant mound of work.

Or in my case...

"Man, drinking beer on the couch is way more fun than wrenching!"

And then i never get back to it.

Honestly, what I've found for me is to have projects that aren't at home...and in my case I don't even own them.

I've got a project at home...2 Geo Trackers that I'm trying to turn into one driveable. I've had it for a year+ and haven't even gotten the engine out of the first one...though I'm almost there. What's holding me up? My daily life. Right now, it's out the door at 4:45am, home at 5pm, back out at 5:45pm for kids activities and home again at 7:45pm. By time I eat dinner and clean up, I'm wiped out and my kids are getting ready for bed. If I get 5 free minutes, it's doing housework. Even when my kids don't have activities, if I'm at home there's always something else I can/should be doing. As much as I want to finish my project, I'm darn close to not doing it and getting my garage/driveway space back.

My project work comes when I work on the team LeMons cars. They're housed at our team captains' (GRM member Sonic) house. That works out great. I clear time with the wife and go there. That way I can do nothing but work on the car. No kids, no wife, no housework that's 10' away. I don't get a ton of time even then, but it's better than what I get at home.

Javelin wrote: I'm most productive on the Javelin after doing something like the Saab flip. Actually *completing* something makes you more eager to go back to chipping away at that giant mound of work.

Agree with this success breeds success....

BUT organizationally... the people the OP should ask are those who have experience doing his kind of project.

For example... in Corolladom I know that if I have an older rwd Corolla then1985, my front brakes are solid rotors... fine for street... not so for a serious build.

I think the OP should be looking for people with specific knowledge about his type of build... what ever that build is....

So... to the OP... what are you building????

My dad tore down an Opel GT in 1981 to "restore it" and is still a pile of parts. He also acquired a parts car in the 90s that would be a rusting hulk of nothing if he didn't buy a new cover for it every 2 years. He won't let me touch them - apparently I have more important things to do.

For me making it move, followed by making it safe, followed by making it pretty (based on 2 builds).

I was going through something similar last year. My magic bullet was a big piece of cardboard with a to-do list on it. I would add stuff and cross stuff off but it was nice having a visual log of my progress.

Avoid mission creep. My wagon is apart for a new water pump. I have to keep reminding myself that I don't need to convert to electric fans and a one wire alternator and repaint the engine bay. I need to replace the water pump. Cleaning and painting a few brackets is OK, but the job is a water pump. Do that job. Then drive it. Then do another job.

Money, I plan a budget for a build and stick too it. Keeps me on track with what really needs to be done, and what I want to do. No mission creep.

wearymicrobe wrote: Money, I plan a budget for a build and stick too it. Keeps me on track with what really needs to be done, and what I want to do. No mission creep.

My advice is not to do that! I could never have gotten this far with my original budget.

Discrete chunks. "I'm just going to remove the airbox and crossover tube" often reminds me how much I like wrenching in the first place, and I get much more done

suspension/wheels and tires, brakes, power.

i collect all the parts to do everything i want to.

then it's simple. aside of work and some paying of attention to my wife and son, nobody sees me until it is done. i hit the garage hard and just tear stuff up and put it back together.

A girlfriend (now ex- ) who will constantly nag you, "Is it done yet? Can I drive my car? Why are you on the effing computer?" Annoying as hell, but they got done.

Oh, you meant my projects? I haven't figured that one out yet.

No matter whether its maintenance on the toyotas or something needing fixed or replaced on the bmw, I tell my wife and she and the girls find something else to do for the day or the weekend. I call it Garage Therapy.

-DONT

-GET

-MARRIED

-PERIOD!

thats all i got, as all three of my projects are stacked in the barn...

-J0N