I was sipping a wittekerke the other day and the thought popped into my head as I closed out a 4-day weekend (using up vacation days that dont roll over) that I barely have time for my hobbies, namely the damn car.

my other hobby (building speakers) takes up a lot of space and time as it is and with the less-than-conducive cold weather it makes it that much harder to work on the car.

the problem is: I can't leave well-enough alone. the car runs fine (except for minor stuff) but I want to build the engine and blah blah blah.

what about you guys? is it hard to be Hard?

 

I've found that it's very important to pace myself through a project. I have been rebuilding this car for about 7 months now, during which time it has been completely undriveable. That sucks particularly since that was prime convertible weather at the time as well.

You just can't get in a hurry. I tinker every saturday for a little while. When I feel pressured for time it ceases to be fun, and that's not what a hobby should do for you.

 

haha I wish i had time for my car. Im happy if I have time to work on my garage.

List of things to do
1) Finish building tables, shelving, installing lights for garage
2) finally decide open what mill and lathe i want
3) purchase said lathe and mill
3) Design two passenger on wheel vehicle
4) Build said vehicle
5) Redesign oil pump
6) Manufacture Oil Pump
7) Design Sand buggy
8) Build Said Buggy
9) Finish Turbo miata
10) Find clean shell and swap over
11) Build V8 miata with trashed shell

And I'm only 23. ****, lifes not long enough

 

If it was my daily driver, then no way. As a "fun" car, sure. The trick is to have two (or more), one running and one you work on.

Seriously, after missing out on quite a few track days b/c the brg was not running really sucked ***. It reminded me of why I work on the car --> to tear it up on the track and drive it. Even a stock miata is faster than the most well done up turbo miata that's not operational.

Plus, it's good to have several hobbies so when you get frustrated with one, there's something else to do.

 

Yall up north need to move further south, I can work on my car all winter :gay:

 

I don't get to spend nearly as much time as I'd like on the car (even less after baby number 2) BUT the fact that it does run (and doesn't blow) makes it much easier to wait for the next "garage time". I used to have a "loki list", now it's more like: work, family, turbo miata, and twice/year - race.

I actually paid somebody to do the timing belt / water pump service on the DD because I couldn't come up with the time in the last two months AND if I did, I'd rather spend wrench time on the Miata.

 

Thats why we invented heaters

Oh i forgot about figuring out WI with MSPNP

 

Not much time for the Miata. My schedule is like M2cupcar minus the racing. I really want to do an LS-1 swap but just don't have the time. With a 4 year old and a wife who works nights, there just isn't much time to wrench unless I do it after the kid goes to bed when the wife is at work. But having to get up at 4:30 am for work doesn't make me want to wrench til midnite.

Y8s,
Do you have any need for smaller sonotubes? Unfortunately, they're all 9-12 inch diameters I think. I'll have to measure. Good for testing some small subs or maybe an array of 8's for an HT setup. I've probably got 5-6 sitting in my garage. All are around 4 foot long.

Frank

 

I've had about $8k in boxes in my apartment since April. I'd love to have some spare time for the miata. I need a vacation too. Travelling 80% for work pays rent just fine, but it sucks for a personal life unless chasing drunken ****** is all you care about.

 

Drunken ****** FTW! So many hobbies, so little time...

 

never enought time for the miata, i havent touched it in two weeks almost and it is not running...but i do dream about working on my car, really i do lol

 

oh yeah, and now that I'm moving everything is on hold again. I wanted to get this car on the road before track season this march to get everything dialed in. Things are not looking good for the schedule.

 

Not enough time, not enough energy, not enough heat, and not enough light. Its always something that prevents me from doing what I need to do or finishing what I start in one shot. I got pretty lucky though, the only reason I got all the stuff accomplished so far is because my GF wasnt here for 2 two week periods, and I had whole days those weekends to spend in the garage. Otherwise weekends is my only time, and when she's here its out the window.

Sometimes when I think about it, I get so upset that I started this because a part of me thinks it will never get done in a reasonable amount of time.

 

i was just looking for sonotubes... 15" though. where'd you get em?

I'll probably still build my motor. Worst case is I have to put it all on ebay for $45,000 reserve.

 

That won't work unless you slap on a ugly body kit with a custom paint job, gold plated rims, and claim 300+hp with no dyno sheets to prove it. Come on now. :gay:

 

LOL, same boat man. My car runs great, and makes good power. So you'd think I'd leave it alone....

 

that and you have to say you are a missionary and if you dont get the money you cant go to your mission or whatever, lol

 

God I hope so.

 

Having time becomes an issue fast. I barely get home at night with enough time to do the gym/volleyball/hang out w/ the girl. Maybe one weekend a month I get a day to do something to the car, and since I have no garage its either weather pending, or do it in the rain. I considered selling the car at one point but boosting around with the top down during the summer makes it worthwhile.

 

work night and the trippels are too $$.

btw, you guys should come check this place out:

http://dcist.com/2007/08/08/dr_granville_mo.php

awesome selection of belgian beers. mmmmmmm.