No Motivation

[Mike T]

I know the feeling. I get too many projects going on at once (maybe a little undiagnosed OCD or ADD) and if something is not working out to my expectations I'll abandon the project until I can resolve what's not pleasing me about it. The other thing that motivates me is when I'm finally so sick of looking at or thinking about something that is unfinished I'll usually just force myself to drop everything and finish that one project perfect or not.

It took 7 years before I forced myself to get my GN back on the road but when I made up my mind to get it done it was on the road in 1 week.

 

[6cylboost]

mine has been sitting for 14 years. ugh

 

[Nasty Wendy]

mine has been sitting for 14 years. ugh

Wow! You still have Kenne Bell parts on it. What chip is in it? ...a Thrasher?

 

[TexasT]

mine has been sitting for 14 years. ugh

you need to get busy.

 

[dynoman]

mine has been sitting for 14 years. ugh

I don't feel so bad now . I'm a little over a year on a motor replacement . It's like while I have the motor out I might as well fix my cross over pipe , then ceramic coat the headers & down pipe . Then I think I'll switch to E85 , oh yeah I need new injectors , chip , wideband , DP fuel pumps & braided lines and jeeze what else can I buy........... I think I'll just work with what I have now !!

 

[turboplow]

Just finished my car this year. Took 7 years to get it running again. Never did a project like it before and couldn't have done it without
the help of friends. Never worked on cars before so there was a lot of learning. What helped me was to have a list and stick to it. I too did a lot of staring at my car too lol.
When I get stumped it is easy for me to get frustrated and give up so having somebody there helped me out a lot. You are going to love E- 85.
Boost at 24 and 26 lbs no knock and pulled like a freight train. Just make sure you do everything you want to and don't rush cause once you get it running you will
not want to tear it down again. Awesome feeling to drive the car again.

 

[CzyKats44]

........... I think I'll just work with what I have now !!

I've come to this realization myself, I have plenty to keep me busy. Little expenditures and hardware not withstanding I don't really need much material to keep productivity up. Gotta remind myself every so often especially when recreationally parts shopping with no money. Good luck to you Sir, Carry on!

 

[broke86gn]

It must be the color combo. Im having the same issue.

 

[GBGN1]

Ah you'll get through it. Especially when you start smelling the spring air. I always get the ich around then . I'm building 2 buick's right now with working 50 hours a week. Talk about no ambition. Lol just thank god you don't have 2 pains

 

[6cylboost]

It must be the color combo. Im having the same issue.

ha! mine also is the same 2 tone grey and black. thats what it has to be.

 

[Bruce Urie]

I've been having the same problem.....so many projects are apart, waiting assembly again....i.e. my Grand National, my '69 Corvette, my new Gibson SG Standard.....all apart...all in pieces....but my problem is my mother is dying.........it's been a pure hell of time this year just trying to keep her alive and in somewhat good health.............I've found every thing I work on recently, I screw it up, or I just do like you do, just stare at it......I've just been so stressed out, upset, scared, hurt, sad...all of that and more.....it sure affects one's life....greatly.

So, my point is, just count your blessings.....you have your Dad and your health.....you don't have this horrible type of period that I'm experiencing. Believe me, watching your mother slowly die is even too heart wrenching to talk about.......

Thus, you now have a clear head......set a plan of order, a plan of attack, start with the first one on your list, and only that first one.....do it until you're finished............take a break, and go back to part two on your list.....

Your motivation should greatly increase when you realize that you're not feeling the awful pain I've been feeling this year........my wife and I still have not celebrated Christmas nor my birthday the day after...........we had to rush mom to the ICU at the hospital on my birthday, but first we had to make the 100 mile drive to her home again to get her help......we've only been home one day.......she's still not home yet. I haven't a decent night's sleep in months..................

So, you are free and clear to get a plan together and start at the top , work your way down until you reach your goal.....which is finishing that beautiful Grand National of yours.

Just count your blessings.............you're not at a time in your life at this point which we all must face.......losing a beloved parent. Get started while you can.....free and clear.

Good luck with it.........just get going! If you start to bog down, just think about Bruce's situation......that should get you back up to speed..........

Bruce '87 Grand National

 

[dynoman]

Thanks Bruce for the encouragement , hope your situation gets better soon . I think about my parents all the time since both are 88 , and not looking forward to that painful time ahead . Going to work on my car today !! Thanks again , Sam

 

[DCVING 6]

Working on mine right now... I'd love to push it out in the street and light it on fire

 

[xpander343]

When I had mine painted it sat in about a million pieces in my Dad's garage for 3 years. I was so angry with dealing with the body shop that painted the car that I hated it and had zero motivation. Finally after the 3 years when I had gotten over the anger and wanted to put the car back together it looked like a massive under taking to put it back. The thing that motivated me the most was one of my few buddies that is into cars hounded me mercilessly about getting it done. It was a hassle working on mine cause my parents are an hour's drive away. But with some help from my buddy and a ton of help from my Dad I slowly started reassembly and it actually started to be fun again. The closer I got the more excited I got about driving it. This past summer was the first time in 8 years I actually had the car sitting at my own house.
So keep chipping away and you'll get it done. As they say, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time, also beer helps.

 

[Jerryl]

You have parts, a nice garage with lift, knowledge and health. As stated, small bites at a time.

Make a list what needs to get done, and a list of things you want to get done. Balance the need to and want to list. Pick a small project on the list that will give you satisfaction and finish that. The small successes will get you motivated for the bigger one. Just my $0.02 Good luck.

 

[TexasT]

Yep, I set the goal to drive it back n forth to work. In the last month I had put in a water and fuel pump, last summer(pretty much the last year or so) we overhauled and installed a trans. Before that it was a head gasket and a hydroboost to fix the things that weren't working.
Now it needs A/c, some new speakers, an above dash piece that is all sun ravaged and cracked. And the steering wheel, and the seats, and the head liner and the carpet. My I do have a big list . Just one thing at a time. Like the movie meet the Robinsons, keep moving forward.

Posted from the TurboBuick.Com mobile app

 

[2QUIK6]

I had a car that stayed broke for almost 18 months, would fix it, and it would break again….has made me completely dislike working on cars now. It used to give me so much sense of accomplishment after completing an upgrade or install of something. After that '95 TA breaking all of the time I could care less anymore…maybe age, don't know. I bought a set of new plug wires at the GS Nats 2 years ago for the GN…still haven't put them on! (The ones on there are fine, just don't match anything since they are red).
So I sold my nemesis, have lots more time now, but now my '99 TA is starting to cause me problems…time to sell it also along with a few others and buy me some new cars that have no issues….much more relaxing to go hop in the SRT8 and haul ass and not worry about it breaking now. There's another new car or two I'd like to get and give up on these old cars, although I will always have my GN!

 

[ttaowner]

I wish my recent project was only working on a car bolting a few parts on. Try having a garage of 3000sqft big enough to fit about 18 cars in it and have it filled floor to ceiling with parts and shelving and pallet rack. Have a 2nd garage full of cars also 3000sqft and try to make most of it fit all in 1 garage. Had to move 5 cars elsewhere. Lots of handing things several times. Motivation was tough luckily I have a great group of friends that urged me on and helped when needed. Lots of stuff got thrown out but you gotta do what you gotta do. Things will be harder to find now but life should be less stressful now. Should of done this a year ago.


1 So write a list.
2 set goals
3 get help/ motivation if needed
these are my suggestions coming off a huge project.

 

[dynoman]

What I need is just have someone there to shoot the breeze with while I'm working , they don't have to help , maybe hold or get something . I would even supply food & beverages !! I think that is more of the problem , not having anyone to share the progress that understands these cars . My wife loves to ride in it but not work on it . I envy you guys that have TB friends near by that stop in and help ............ The heat is on in the garage , going to work on it now !!!!!!!!!

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

What I need is just have someone there to shoot the breeze with while I'm working , they don't have to help , maybe hold or get something . I would even supply food & beverages !! I think that is more of the problem , not having anyone to share the progress that understands these cars . My wife loves to ride in it but not work on it . I envy you guys that have TB friends near by that stop in and help ............ The heat is on in the garage , going to work on it now !!!!!!!!!

Turn the radio on, thats what i do, with the radio i can be at it for hours the second there is silence "Thats it i am done" i have a few friends around but if they show up the shit talking starts and the tools stop moving.