I haven't driven my car in approx. 2 years life has at this point gotten the better of me I did contemplate on selling but couldn't bring my self to do it, between moving & building which is coming to an end I have somewhere to keep my car in a safe place, my own garage, all this just i time for our summer which has motivated me to drive it more often.

 

I hope I can finish my car before i get too old to enjoy it. Could go either way.

 

It happens. My 57 didn’t get much attention this summer as I focused my efforts on a project that was gonna be drivable sooner.

It’s taken some time but I’m starting to get some momentum on it now. Honestly, where I usually lose interest is when a car no longer needs me. That milestone isn’t close on either of my cars 😂

Hopefully you can rekindle your interest and enjoy the car

 

I took my '55 Chevy and my '54 F-100 for a 35 mile drive yesterday. Hard to believe they had not been cranked in 2 months. Life got in the way but all is good now. Felt good to see and hear how good they were both running. Last shakedown before Cruisin' the Coast Oct. 5 - 12. Drive 'em every chance you get! Steve

 

It is easy to lose interest, at times. I know in my circumstance, it is magnified by not having anyone else to cruise along with me to shows and cruises. I used to be the youngest to go along to shows, now i`m pretty much the oldest in most cases. In the last couple of years there has been several of our guys pass away. Then there has been a couple move away to be closer to their kids. It just isn`t a much fun to cruise to shows by yourself. That said, i put 1,100 miles on the 57 last year. I`ve done put more than that on it this year and am going to shows for the next 5 weeks at least.

If i had a convertible as good looking as your i would HAVE to get it out quite often.
Terry

 

I'm now thinking about starting a company that "exercises" vintage cars for clients.

 

I was just thinking that Carmine could "winter" his car at my house. Rarely ever snows, no salt on roads. And I would take it out and exercise it for him.

 

I'm glad you are getting the bug back Carmine . I usually take the car for a last cruise in November and I'm good for the winter . If I get another cruise in that's gravy . Unfortunately I haven't had my car out in over a year due to family issues but I'm getting it inspected tomorrow as it expired in march . Keep the bug and hopefully we will both get plenty of enjoyment next season . A trip to the Nationals always helps as well .

 

Carmine: Your car looks super in that photo.. GO DRIVE IT!

 

Thank you everyone for your responses and sharing. Very much appreciated.
I've always enjoyed owning and working on cars since I was a kid. That's been more years than I want to count. It was just strange for me to distance myself from my car and anything to do with it. It wasn't even a gradual thing. The desire to associate with it, just never developed. I even toyed with the idea of selling it. Let someone else enjoy it. But, if and when I came out of this funk, I would have nothing and I didn't want to start over again. So, that wasn't such a good idea.
I'm looking forward to the next month or so for some shows and cruise ins. I'm also going to try and take it out for a few mid-week rides to nowhere. Just to do it. My driving season is winding down and that might be the impetus needed to get back on track. Over the Winter, there are a few things I want to do to the car. It has factory power brakes which I'm growing less fond of all the time. I just don't like the treadle vac single line. I'm going to research changing it out to a more modern power brake system. Problem is, I also have factory power steering. But, that's all for another thread, Carmine.

 

You know people are starving, don't you? LOL.

 

Hi everyone. For some reason, I loss interest in my '55 and taking it out. I parked it last Oct-Nov and that's where it sat. I have no idea why I didn't care anymore, but I didn't. Very unusual for me. It's not that I was busy with other projects and didn't have the time. I did have the time on almost any given day. Just didn't have the feeling for it. I knew for a while that there were some nice shows coming up soon, but that didn't influence me either. This past Friday, for some unknown reason, I decided to see if I could start the car. It was somewhat difficult. I ended up pouring gas down the carburetor throat. It started and stayed running. I let it warm up and back it out of the garage. About 1 quart of transmission fluid on the floor. No surprises there. The inspection was 10 months overdue and I took it to my mechanic who did the inspection. About a 20 mile round trip. The car ran and drove flawlessly. Returned home and cleaned and dusted it off. Put the cover back on. Today, Sunday, I decided to take it to a cruise in type car show. No trophies or awards. Just honorable mention. Peoples choice. Some real nice cars there. About 100 or so. I stayed 6 hours and it felt good to get out with it. Returned home and back into the garage. There is another show next Saturday and then a big 1200 car show in October. About 1.5 hours from me and I would like to take the car. I just think it's so reliable. Not afraid of break downs. I've never seen a motor this old idle so smooth as this one. I bet it's turning about 450-500 rpms. Remarkable to me.
I believe I'm starting to recapture the spirit. I know my driving season is coming to a close. I didn't get out with the car at all over the summer. That's my fault. Has something like this happened to others??
I took a pic of the car. Thanks for looking, Carmine.

View attachment 467628

It takes some self "brainwashing" , and certainly not easy,

but, while car cruise ins and shows are fun,

try and make your car(s) daily drivers, weather permitting.

Keep it safe, mind where you park, and keep an eye on the weather.

Driving your car keeps you engaged, as well as making you look really cool.

 

... and when you're cruising by your own self.. hot gals see you stopped at a light and hop in and give you a big kiss? ... Hey.. it happened to Mike!

 

Gary, just like you,

I know how to make a woman blush.

It starts with the car..........

 

I have gone thru the period of leaving the car alone on every build I've ever done. They all got to a point where it seemed I was making no progress at all, even though I was spending time on them. I'd leave them alone for a month or two, then get back at it and it seemed like they quickly came together. Probably just me.
I'm lucky enough that the last couple of builds, I had another car "cruise ready". While I worked on my 56, I had my 66 Chevelle to cruise or take to shows.
As far as going to shows, I agree, it's more fun with friends along. My friend Al goes to shows with me in his 55 Handyman. We went to the Nat's together this year, 3550 miles.
I took my son-in-law with me to shows and he liked then. I got him hooked when we went to a Good Guys show. I stopped for gas, and asked if he wanted to drive. He now has a 67 Chevelle and a 69 Camaro.
We took my Grandson to a Good Guys show when he was 12. He told me he loved El Camino's. He's a good kid, honor roll kinda stuff. Surprised him with an 82 El Camino for his 16th birthday, so he drives his own ride to the shows now. He's looking forward to driving it to Del Mar, CA with us next spring for the Good Guys show. That'll be the furthest distance for him to date.
Now that I've got my 2 cars road ready, I can enjoy them, which I never lose interest in. And I've got my 71 Chevy BBC pickup to play with too. Life is good!

 

The build phase to me was always a love/hate thing but now that mine is (we'll call finished, but never are) I don't have the motivation to really get it out. Would be nice if there were some cars and coffee things going on but our local car club has no interest it seems. Excuses like too much trouble to get the car out or I'd have to clean it up after I get back home, gotta take the cover off then put it back on blah blah. Wife always, even though she is retired, always has something else to do and not much fun just driving around by myself. There are tons of places that are a nice day drive and back we could go but can't ever agree on a day so it sets. There are 2 movie drive ins within a couple hrs that would be cool to go to but again can't seem to make time. I'll be back to work on it this week as I bit the bullet and am installing a vintage Sears cruise control I found on eBay for 79 bucks, never been opened. It may not be the best but will give my foot a rest when on the highway.

 

I neglect my rides whenever I finish a new ride. The new girl gets all my attention for awhile and then I look at the older builds and feel guilty that I've ignored ones I loved just as much when they were done. I jump in one and remember why I like that one too. I drive or even start my old '69 Suburban so rarely that I had to install a battery disconnect switch so the battery wont be dead after sitting 4-6 months without being driven.

 

IF I had the space for another I'd like to build a cheap rat rod just for the hell of it. Something fast and loud just to play with.

 

Something fast and loud just to play with.

For now, you got to play with what you got..........

 

Would be nice if there were some cars and coffee things going on but our local car club has no interest it seems.

IF I had the space for another I'd like to build a cheap rat rod just for the hell of it. Something fast and loud just to play with.

My intention when I started working on my 56 was to build a daily driver (reliable but not fancy). Well, after driving my 57 for 13 years, it's now my daily driver.
There is a Friday night cruise in every week in my neighboring town year round. Some friends and myself just started a mid-week, mid-day, "Classic Cars and Brown Bags" cruise in a few months ago and it's growing. We meet at a local park and bring our lunch.

 

Cruise Ins are my preferred type of event. Meet some folks, look at and talk about cars- good times. Still fairly new to the area, so it’s a good way to meet people with some similar interests. I enjoy the big shows; I’m going to Good Guys later this week. Not taking a classic, though. The 57 is still under construction and the Super Bee isn’t compatible with a happy wife and a 5 or 6 hour drive.
To the original topic- I think friends are key to enjoying this hobby. My wife tolerates it (usually), but can’t say she’s enthused. The garage time alone is good for my mental health, but it’d be great to work with somebody else sometimes.
Come to think of it- lack of local “car friends” is one of the things that keep me coming here.

 

Problem occurs when you’re not driving a 67 Camaro, there’s only one cure.

 

My guess is you have had something else on your mind lately?

 

Hi everyone. For some reason, I loss interest in my '55 and taking it out. I parked it last Oct-Nov and that's where it sat. I have no idea why I didn't care anymore, but I didn't. Very unusual for me. It's not that I was busy with other projects and didn't have the time. I did have the time on almost any given day. Just didn't have the feeling for it. I knew for a while that there were some nice shows coming up soon, but that didn't influence me either. This past Friday, for some unknown reason, I decided to see if I could start the car. It was somewhat difficult. I ended up pouring gas down the carburetor throat. It started and stayed running. I let it warm up and back it out of the garage. About 1 quart of transmission fluid on the floor. No surprises there. The inspection was 10 months overdue and I took it to my mechanic who did the inspection. About a 20 mile round trip. The car ran and drove flawlessly. Returned home and cleaned and dusted it off. Put the cover back on. Today, Sunday, I decided to take it to a cruise in type car show. No trophies or awards. Just honorable mention. Peoples choice. Some real nice cars there. About 100 or so. I stayed 6 hours and it felt good to get out with it. Returned home and back into the garage. There is another show next Saturday and then a big 1200 car show in October. About 1.5 hours from me and I would like to take the car. I just think it's so reliable. Not afraid of break downs. I've never seen a motor this old idle so smooth as this one. I bet it's turning about 450-500 rpms. Remarkable to me.
I believe I'm starting to recapture the spirit. I know my driving season is coming to a close. I didn't get out with the car at all over the summer. That's my fault. Has something like this happened to others??
I took a pic of the car. Thanks for looking, Carmine.

View attachment 467628

I took my 55 apart to add power steering. Complications stopped progress. Then, customer work, medical stuff, and life just kept me from it. So, this year. I got the steering box almost where it needs to be and found the headers interfered. Eventually, I got exhaust manifolds. The box and column are now aligned. Now, I need to make the exhaust pipes reach the manifolds. But, I bought a battery, connected the fuel line and got it crunk. Oops, customer work pause. Next week, I get back to the exhaust, replumb the a/c and put the front end back on.

 

You sound like you are 'exhausted' from working on the 55. I typically pace myself. Work on it enough to keep it running and keep the checking account in the black. I do the majority of my work over the winter when I know I can't drive it for the better part of 6 months.

 

I spent most of the time for past 3 years over at Corvette Forums while redoing my 78 Pacecar. Car was finished and driving last April. Drove it around the block a few times and made some mental notes what needs addressed. Then stuck it in my back garage. Needed a break, I guess. Or ready to start something new. Likely will get back to it next spring/summer. For now am proceeding forward on the 56 sedan.

 

A couple years ago the carb on my 56 wagon was giving me trouble and I was considering going to fuel injection. I was given a fuel injection style gas tank by a friend whose nomad project went a different direction. That inspired me to purchase the Sniper kit. I figured it would be about a three day project but I swear every single step was problematic. About two weeks later I had it together and was able to drive it only to find the gas tank leaked at the seam in spite of the fact that I had used por-15 sealant. The new tank I bought wasn't oriented the same which required rerunning lines etc. By the time I got it all squared away I didn't want to play cars anymore. It's only recently that I've started driving it again.

 

Do you think the transmission leak is getting to you? I know that can be disheartening. You have a beautiful car Carmine, and I'm sure you'll get your joy back.