How to stay motivated

[Rob F]

Hi all
I haven’t posted much but have enjoyed reading posts. I am doing a frame off restoration of a 74. I am so close to finishing but am finding it hard to stay motivated. I am wiring dashboard and rest of the car and doing vacuum lines yikes. The car was a basket case and I have made it this far but have been stalled. Any suggestions on how to get on track would be great. I would post pictures but don’t know how and can’t seem to figure that out either.
Thanks Rob

 

[Rruuff Day]

Hi Rob. We have lots of members in, or having done the restorations and I'm sure they will chime in with some motivational words of wisdom. I can't help with that but can help with posting pictures. I'm attaching the link to instructions on how to post pictures. If that fails, PM me and we will figure it out.

Picture Posting to Threads and Media Albums and Voting for your Favorite Media Picture Made Easy

 

[nascar03]

Welcome Rob....
You have come to the right place for motivation....
We will badger you first for pictures..
. then once you post pictures we will request more of the story about you AND your Corvette,..
then once that is done we will ask for more pictures of your progress,!

We will not stop this obsession for information from you until you are done..!
At that point we will want to see the car at cruises, shows, drives, events and more.
So!! You might as well get it done so we stop pestering you,,!

Welcome again..
Ha ha
Graham

 

[Jeffer2013]

you must know this but make a booklet or a binder for the next owner

that might help you get motivated,

may we ask what is the end game, restore then sell

restore then keep, restore then go to car shows

help us enjoy your journey and then you will get some more interest in showing off your progress

Jeff

 

[Black 03 Z06]

I always found making a "to do" list always helped. That sense of satisfaction of just crossing something off that is finished is so rewarding.

Make the objectives achievable and set a goal for each to do. Next thing you know will have to do'ed the entire car and can sit and enjoy a beverage looking at your accomplishments.

St. Thomas, a cool little town. Spent lots of time there, I have relatives in Aylmer. The Dragstrip was one of my favourite places to go.

Good luck on your project.

 

[Rruuff Day]

I always found making a "to do" list always helped. That sense of satisfaction of just crossing something off that is finished is so rewarding.

Make the objectives achievable and set a goal for each to do. Next thing you know will have to do'ed the entire car and can sit and enjoy a beverage looking at your accomplishments.

St. Thomas, a cool little town. Spent lots of time there, I have relatives in Aylmer. The Dragstrip was one of my favourite places to go.

Good luck on your project.

I changed my mind Rob. Murray's reply gave me a similar but possibly a more productive idea... Assuming you have a significant other, put your Corvette restoration "to do" list together... Give it to your partner, have them rename it to a "Honey Do" list, post it on the fridge, and tell them to remind you at least twice a day that it's there and that you haven't finished it yet..... Come springtime, 100% of the restoration will be complete, you will be single again, and able to spend all your time cruising in your fully restored 74 with your buddies.

 

[williame3590]

I don't believe you are even restoring a Vette Rob. After all.......this thread is worthless without photos. Do you not have a camera???

Bill

 

[turbozig]

Hi all
I haven’t posted much but have enjoyed reading posts. I am doing a frame off restoration of a 74. I am so close to finishing but am finding it hard to stay motivated. I am wiring dashboard and rest of the car and doing vacuum lines yikes. The car was a basket case and I have made it this far but have been stalled. Any suggestions on how to get on track would be great. I would post pictures but don’t know how and can’t seem to figure that out either.
Thanks Rob

Keep your mind on the final prize. It is very difficult to stay dedicated until the end, expecially when life and daily work is constantly in the equation. There must have been a rendering, a picture or a vision that made you start down the restoration highway. Don't get discouraged and make small baby steps towards the final destination. Once you get much closer and hear that beast start up and move under it's own power, all of the money, blood, sweat and tears will be worth it. All the best of luck and stay focused! If it is important enough to you it will happen.

 

[dannyboy]

Okay it's been a full day...
Any progress to report?

 

[Rruuff Day]

 

[Paul C7 to C8]

Any suggestions on how to get on track would be great.

It can be a bit hard to keep motivated at times. I find that when I lose some of my initiative I break things down to small task...... Tomorrow my goal is to do/finish X - or this weekend I will tackle Y. Soon enough your pace will pick up again..... Invite some buddies over to give you a hand with some of the bigger tasks..... have a few beers and order a couple of pizzas....

 

[Keith Tedford]

I haven’t posted much but have enjoyed reading posts. I am doing a frame off restoration of a 74. I am so close to finishing but am finding it hard to stay motivated. I am wiring dashboard and rest of the car and doing vacuum lines yikes. The car was a basket case and I have made it this far but have been stalled. Any suggestions on how to get on track would be great. I would post pictures but don’t know how and can’t seem to figure that out either.
Thanks Rob

Back in 1992 I started to restore a 1972 400 4 speed Lemans Sport. About a nine year projects. When it got on my nerves, I just walked away for a while and forgot about the car. Later on, when the mood struck, I got back at it again. It eventually got done with everything new from suspension, to steering, even to the heater core. Turned out pretty nice with the appropriate backdrop for the picture, a restored B-A gas station.

 

[Jr. Corvette]

I can find it hard to get motivated sometimes as well. I like to write out a “to do” list then do the thing I want to do most. Something smaller that won’t take much time but gives you a great sense of satisfaction. Last winter I was struggling to find the motivation to rip apart my interior again, and dismantle and rebuild the rear suspension. I started off the winter by making a custom armrest. Got to use some expanding spray foam and sculpt it, then took it too my upholsterer to match it to my seats. This year I rebuilt my distributor. A few years ago I repainted my shift knob and added a matching red stripe on it. Very small projects that I loved doing. That’s how I find my motivation.

 

[Jcpstrat]

Yes ... staying motivated over the long haul can be a problem ... I've run into that with the '67 I'm trying to resurrect. Being apart of this forum is a good step and you've been given a lot of good suggestions. Sometimes though, you just need to take a little break from it. Good luck!

 

[Rob F]

Hi all
I haven’t posted much but have enjoyed reading posts. I am doing a frame off restoration of a 74. I am so close to finishing but am finding it hard to stay motivated. I am wiring dashboard and rest of the car and doing vacuum lines yikes. The car was a basket case and I have made it this far but have been stalled. Any suggestions on how to get on track would be great. I would post pictures but don’t know how and can’t seem to figure that out either.
Thanks Rob

 

[grumpyfellow]

First try at some pics.
This was a basket case that was all tore apart when I bought it
I blasted the frame and hand sanded the body.

 

[turbozig]

Beautiful work Rob F. It's turning into a nice machine. Kudos!

 

[ttarob]

Hey Rob F I hear ya about staying motivated with these cars, they can be a royal pain to work on, it seemed every time I thought it was finished I would take it out and bang! Another issue, I finally got all the bugs worked out of it ... I hope!! One year I was soooooo frustrated with I put it on the lift in the corner, threw the keys under it and left it there for a year before touching it again!!!! I have now had 3 years of mostly trouble free cruising in it, a battery last year!! Good luck and keep your head up, sometimes you have to walk away and get a fresh perspective!! By the way it’s been 7 years ... 5 years getting things worked out and almost 3 of being able to drive it!!

 

[turbozig]

I got ambitious yesterday and removed my rear spring, just purchased a new steel 9 leaf and adjustable strut rods for my 70.

 

[Jcpstrat]

Rob ... thanks for the pics ... always nice to see what's being worked on. Looks like you're doing a great job!