Just wanna whine

[sargentrs]

So the project's pretty much at a standstill and I'm chomping at the bit to do SOMETHING but time, money and the weather are severely cramping my style. The whole Christmas thing has dramatically depleted the "bump budget". With 5 adult children and 7 grandchildren I'm pretty much wiped out. So I've scheduled vacation time next year to get back on track. I've got several things in the works but everything is missing a key piece that makes doing anything else not really worthwhile. i.e. I'm saving up for my limited slip differential, $500 unless I can find what I want cheaper. Axle housing and springs are painted pretty and installed. Until I get it, I don't really want to waste my time and money putting new axle bearings, rebuilding the drum brakes or replacing wheel studs. Got my new poly axle pivot and radius arm bushings but the I-beams are in the machine shop and even if I had 'em, it's too darn cold to get out there and install everything, no doors on the garage. Engine blocks machined and ready for parts but don't have the $$ yet so why waste time cleaning and painting the intake or rebuilding the carb only to have it sit till March-May and I really need the engine to figure out brackets and such for the serpentine conversion. Don't have the space to start on the cab until I get the rolling chassis done so I can move it out of the way. P/S gear box is cleaned and painted but don't want to install it until I get the brake lines run but that's not practical until I've got the suspension, front and rear, complete so I can get the brake hoses routed. So I'm rambling around in the "basement" picking through the piles of parts looking for something to clean and paint. So far I've got the frame, leaf springs, axle housing, P/S gear box, engine perches, coil springs, seats and retainers and radius arms blasted, rust proofed and painted. I haven't lost interest or motivation or anything like that, just frustrated and having to wait on funding to build back up. So I guess I'll just keeping researching and sourcing parts until then. Anyway, just wanted to whine to a kindred spirit or two. Thanks for listening and keep the forums hot so I'll have something to do!

[forrestbump]

Just part of the game Randy. When you have time, you don't have money...when you have money, you don't have time...vicious circle.

Look at it from this point of view, when you're back to making progress, you'll appreciate it and value it all the more. Remember too that most never start a project like YOU have, an even smaller amount finish one...you're in an elite group!

It's better to build it than buy it...infinitely more rewarding, and that's EXACTLY what you're doing!

You inspire me and countless others here with what you've accomplished...keep up the great work! ...we'll all be here for you when you need us...simple fact!

[MrMajestyk]

You inspire me and countless others here with what you've accomplished...keep up the great work! ...we'll all be here for you when you need us...simple fact!

Nothing I could ever add to that as I'm one of the countless others

[67mann]

Well Randy I'm at a spot on the build,that makes me wish I would have gotten the small parts cleaned and painted So now I get slowed down by (something I told myself to do)running to the blast cabinet,wiping down the part,prime and paint before install.........So you my Sir, may be ahead of the curve .......Now get down in the basement and get to work

[sargentrs]

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement guys! Did make it down to the basement yesterday. I've got 3 different styles of power steering pumps and brackets and was going to pull the pulleys off and strip the brackets so I could blast and paint them and assess the pumps. Stopped by Advance on the way home and borrowed a pulley remover. Never seen this style before. Had, like, a 2 jaw puller with a screw on back up handle and tiny screws that come through the sides of the jaw to hold them together around the pulley. What a POS! Every thread was stripped. I struggled for about 30 mins and finally gave up and went back in the house. Arrgh! I'm taking it back tomorrow and getting one from O'Reillys and trying again.

[basketcase0302]

That puller you described from Advance will destroy your pulley, hope it didn't bend it!
Here's our Ford pulley puller, (one brand of it):
http://www.amazon.com/OTC-4529-Steering ... B000F5JM0Y

I remember being in the same situation where you're at, (waiting for funding/parts). Like Jerry said above it is the perfect time for the small details, that way everything goes together like "peanut butter and jelly" when the major parts are ready.

[sargentrs]

Yeah, that's the one I was hoping to borrow but theirs were all damaged so they loaned that other POS.

[sargentrs]

No way that thing could have bent anything, Jeff. I couldn't even get it to grab hold. The one on the right is from O'Reillys. The one on the left is the POS from Advance.