I WAS ASKED.....

[grumpyvette]

I was ASKED......
"Ever started a job and then realised... You probably have neither the skills or the tools required to complete it?'"

I almost CHOKED LAUGHING at THAT!!!!


THATS CALLED THE LEARNING CURVE
theres not a serious hot rodder that does not find himself in that predicament REGULARLY, THATs the REASON this HOBBY is so ADDICTING , you GAIN BOTH, REAL AUTOMOTIVE SKILLS AND ACQUIRE TOOLS OVERCOMING THAT PROBLEM and GET a HUGE SENCE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, and as a bonus you EVENTUALLY get to drive a customized car thats significantly faster than anything you can buy at nearly the price level AND have increased your skill level to levels you thought you would never reach!
and on the plus side you get to fix a wide range of other cars when your friends realize you have those skills and tools

 

[vette-dude]

I was ASKED......
"Ever started a job and then realised... You probably have neither the skills or the tools required to complete it?'"

I almost CHOKED LAUGHING at THAT!!!!


THATS CALLED THE LEARNING CURVE
theres not a serious hot rodder that does not find himself in that predicament REGULARLY, THATs the REASON this HOBBY is so ADDICTING , you GAIN BOTH, REAL AUTOMOTIVE SKILLS AND ACQUIRE TOOLS OVERCOMING THAT PROBLEM and GET a HUGE SENCE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, and as a bonus you EVENTUALLY get to drive a customized car thats significantly faster than anything you can buy at nearly the price level AND have increased your skill level to levels you thought you would never reach!
and on the plus side you get to fix a wide range of other cars whhen your friends realize you have those skills and tools

I have always said that if you ain't learning, your dead!!

Randy

 

[rascal_rascal_99]

I was ASKED......
"Ever started a job and then realised... You probably have neither the skills or the tools required to complete it?'"

I'll admit to being in this situation one morning when I was trying to assemble a bowl of fruit loops. I'm pround to say that after several attempts, I finally succeeded and since then have made several bowls of fruit loops and even a couple of other types of breakfast cereals. Not only that, but I've even moved on to being able to make toast...well....sometimes it still comes out blackened and smoking, but I'm getting better. Soon I think I'll even be ready to learn how to butter it!

 

[Mac]

Soon I think I'll even be ready to learn how to butter it!

Whoa there, cowboy! That buttering stuff involves a knife. The skill level required goes way up and I'd hate to think what might happen if things went wrong.

-Mac

 

[rascal_rascal_99]

Whoa there, cowboy! That buttering stuff involves a knife. The skill level required goes way up and I'd hate to think what might happen if things went wrong.

-Mac

Thanks for the concern...yea...knife...I hadn't totally thought that through I guess and I am about worried about grabbing the wrong end of it. Do you think I could manage with the squeezable kind of butter and spreading it with a dull spoon since I've been getting pretty good at operating one of those, or should I just put it all off until I can find someone more qualified to help me out?

 

[Sharondippity]

Or you could alternate licking the toast then the butter. Your safest bet.

 

[rascal_rascal_99]

Or you could alternate licking the toast then the butter. Your safest bet.

That definitely sounds safer, have you tried this method before? Can I expect the same quality and performance from doing it this way as opposed to actually buttering the toast first?

 

[geekinavette]

Or you could alternate licking the toast then the butter. Your safest bet.

You are just entirely too efficient!



Bill

 

[JohnZ]

Use a paintbrush like the restaurants do - you can't stab yourself with a paintbrush .

 

[Sharondippity]

That definitely sounds safer, have you tried this method before? Can I expect the same quality and performance from doing it this way as opposed to actually buttering the toast first?

Uh no, and no. But you really can't hurt yourself this way. I don't think!

 

[vette-dude]

Or you could alternate licking the toast then the butter. Your safest bet.

Wouldn't it be better to lick the butter first, then the toast? It would prevent the dreaded Tonguerashatotsis disease (commonly found it persons that have a phobia about using knifes). Using this practice, the butter would serve as a lubricant.:crazy Gee, I wonder how long (how many licks) it would take you to dissolve a piece of toast ??:W How long does it take Sharon??

Randy

 

[Tom Bryant]

Grumpy,

I look at every job as a chance to learn new things, buy new tools or just to dust off the old tools and skills. I wouldn't know what to do with a finished car but I would sure like to learn some day.

Tom

 

[BigMike5]

licking

I just got a headache reading this thread. Outta here.

 

[grumpyvette]

"I just got a headache reading this thread. Outta here."



yeah, its sad ,when a potentially good/useful thread turns to banter with little value

 

[Mac]

"I just got a headache reading this thread. Outta here."

yeah, its sad ,when a potentially good/useful thread turns to banter with little value

Sorry about that, grumpyvette. Folks do like to have fun.

That sense of accomplishment after having overcome a problem which seemed impossible does make this hobby worthwhile. Another common feeling (at least for me) is the "that was easy... why was I so worried?" feeling when something scary turns out to be easier than anticipated. I don't know which I like better.

-Mac

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

"that was easy... why was I so worried?"

The next time you get that feeling can some of it and export it to Euro-land.

:WLast Thursday I tried to buy a new vacuum gauge. (Ours are in England or France) After manager at the 3rd auto parts store looked at me like I was from Mars I ended up using a Carb synchronizer to check my manifold vacuum. That is the European way… modify and possibly damage a $300 instrument to do the job of a $9.95 tool.:eyerole

We own 5 sets of every thing that Snap-On makes but when the team is on the road the tools are scattered across Europe and whoever is stuck at home has to fare for himself on the local economy. Last week I made a valve spring tester out of some bits of steel and a torque wrench.

BTW We managed to get a 3rd and 2nd at Silverstone this weekend. Now we are on break while the big boys are on your side of the pond at the Indy F1 and the Canadian Grand Prix. Break means testing at Paul Ricard which is only 20 min. away from my favorite wine maker.

Or you could alternate licking the toast then the butter. Your safest bet.

If there are any Irish here they know the difference between a miracle and licking the toast on the wrong side.*otflotflotfl
*2 jokes, both too dirty for this forum.

 

[BarryK]

I was ASKED......
"Ever started a job and then realised... You probably have neither the skills or the tools required to complete it?'"

I almost CHOKED LAUGHING at THAT!!!!


THATS CALLED THE LEARNING CURVE
theres not a serious hot rodder that does not find himself in that predicament REGULARLY, THATs the REASON this HOBBY is so ADDICTING , you GAIN BOTH, REAL AUTOMOTIVE SKILLS AND ACQUIRE TOOLS OVERCOMING THAT PROBLEM and GET a HUGE SENCE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, and as a bonus you EVENTUALLY get to drive a customized car thats significantly faster than anything you can buy at nearly the price level AND have increased your skill level to levels you thought you would never reach!
and on the plus side you get to fix a wide range of other cars when your friends realize you have those skills and tools

good topic!
I can attest to that fact.

I just started working on my own cars less than a year ago. Practically EVERYTHING I do on them is new and involves a learning curve. Sometimes I messed up and did something wrong so you take it apart again and redo it until it's right but it's all part of the learning.
I only started with the most basic tools and as I went along if I needed something I ran out to Sears and picked up the tool I needed.

Some days went easily and other days got frustrating as h*ll, but that all part of learning something new.
At the end of my projects the sense of accomplishment was a GREAT feeling.

Each time i take on a different area of the car I keep learning more. Of course as I learn more and more it makes me realize how much more I really have to learn before I truely have a clue about what I'm doing but with determination I manage to muddle thru my projects and so far the cars keep running afterwards so I guess i'm not messing up too bad!

That first engine pull in March and than the eventual reinstall had me more than a bit nervous.....glad to say the car is running awesome now though

 

[G Winter]

I have been working on my own cars since I was 17 , lets see that's 41 yrs ? ,,,, yep I can still subtract. Anyhow every time I get a diff car the learnng curve starts all over. I keep most of mine at least 4 yrs and by the time I get another, things have changed. Even with it's age the Vette has been a real learning experience. As of last night my worst fears were confirmed, it is clutch time. Even with all the drive trains I have completly removed and reinstalled this one makes me a bit nervous do to the clutch operation being a bit diff. than all the others. What's worse is the cost of the dual mass settup.:ugh I hate to have a costly education by getting it together wrong.
That toast,, put the butter on a plate and rub the toast on it. Inexperience personal shouldn't own a dangerous tool like a knife.

Glenn

 

[Eric]

I got into the do-it-yourself thing with cars a little late like Barry. Aside from oil changes, spark plugs, and a stereo here and there, I never really did much until I purchased my old 71 ragtop back in 99 (I think it was 99). I never wanted to take it to a shop for anything, mainly because I was suddenly very car-poor. Thanks to this board and the old NCRS board I got through every job I tried, most of which involved myself and no one else. My pholisophy was that if I broke something on the Vette it wouldn't have any big impact on my daily life since it wasn't a daily driver.

After replacing the gas tank, brakes and lines, ignition/distributor, intake, headlight bucket guts, and lots of little gremlins I found the nerve to get more agressive on my other cars.

And have I ever run into snags? Heck yes but I've managed to get through all but one and it was one of those where I needed a tool I didn't know about. All the money I've saved us has been great leverage for some of the add-ons I've "needed" on the 98 - ROFL.