Author Topic: Choices suck sometimes (Read 4497 times)

Don R · « **on:** October 26, 2017, 09:20:23 PM »

There's a 69 firebird I've had since 1970, I really want to build it into an awesome street car and I'm not making progress. As I zoom in closer to 65 years old, I'm not sure I want to wait any longer.
I keep looking at the cb's in the shop and evaluating the $$. At some point I might not need 6 cb750's, a Goldwing and a pit bike. It's increasingly difficult to keep the hoard intact. GL1000's are cheap as are qt50's.

Today, I finished restoring a K0 tach but couldn't make myself crack that NOS Sandcast speedometer out of it's box and bolt it on my K0 that isn't a restoration. That thing could buy brakes for one end of the car.

I better finish the k2 and k7 and get them gone before I have to make a painful decision.
Thanks for listening, I feel better now.

MoMo · « **Reply #1 on:** October 26, 2017, 09:44:50 PM »

Don, my heart would lean towards bringing back the Firebird but..............................sale of 5 bikes might not be able to finance the build. On the other hand the value of the Firebird when done could offset the money. Tough decision you have.. Hope all is well....Larry

Deerslayer · « **Reply #2 on:** October 27, 2017, 06:25:36 AM »

I would love to have that decision to make! (Sorry, jealous)

Bob

ekpent · « **Reply #3 on:** October 27, 2017, 06:33:30 AM »

Lets see an old Firebird you had forever with great sentimental value and potential good value or some old Honda bikes that are always popping up for sale. Maybe keep the Sandcast and another 750 rider and let the rest go towards your Firebird dream before its too late.

Johnie · « **Reply #4 on:** October 27, 2017, 08:20:01 AM »

I hear your pain Don. I wish I had not sold my 1969 GTO a while back. Got the car in 1971 while in high school. Pulled the motor after I broke a ring and completely rebuilt it. Restored the car with new paint, interior, new vinyl top, etc. Then came the marriage and kids. Priorities changed and the rest is history. Still have the marriage and kids, but miss that GTO.

MoMo · « **Reply #5 on:** October 27, 2017, 09:02:03 AM »

^^^nice goat Johnie

...Larry

Stev-o · « **Reply #6 on:** October 27, 2017, 09:23:09 AM »

Quote from: MoMo on October 27, 2017, 09:02:03 AM

^^^nice goat Johnie ...Larry

+1. Get another!

Wish I had not sold my ‘72 Roadrunner or ‘73 Barracuda!!

Don R · « **Reply #7 on:** October 27, 2017, 09:52:42 AM »

That goat is awesome.
My vision for the 69 is a low stance, oversize wheels but not too big, enough tire to survive a pot hole. A reverse Trans Am paint job, dark blue with white stripes. A ram air 3 400 that I have ready for fuel injection, a built Turbo 400, 9" ford rear with my N case 3.50 traction lock, somewhere between a g machine and pro street. A TA hood, fender extractors and I usually don't like a rear wing but on a TA clone I do.
Bedliner on the bottom and in the wheel wells and black powder coat on the frame parts.

kmb69 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 27, 2017, 10:08:41 AM »

Quote from: Don R on October 26, 2017, 09:20:23 PM

.....
Today, I finished restoring a K0 tach but couldn't make myself crack that NOS Sandcast speedometer out of it's box and bolt it on my K0 that isn't a restoration. That thing could buy brakes for one end of the car.
.....

Don,
I get first dibs if you decide to sell that NOS speedo.
I probably have a good rebuildable K0 speedo if you need it.
Keith

scrapvalue · « **Reply #9 on:** October 27, 2017, 11:49:43 AM »

Could be worse and that would be not having a choice.

Johnie · « **Reply #10 on:** October 27, 2017, 02:29:44 PM »

Hey Don I would like to see that 69 Firebird. Can you post up a pic. Does it have the 400 four barrel?

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #11 on:** October 27, 2017, 02:36:28 PM »

When I was a kid in the late 1970's, the boyfriend of my best friend's sister drove a '67 Firebird 400. 4-speed w/Hurst shifter, glass packs, lifted rear end with fat tires on Cragar SS mags. You could here it coming literally a mile away. I remember them taking me, my friend, and his younger brother to an amusement park.

When my buddy turned 16 ('79 I think) he bought the car from him (the sister had married the boyfriend by then). My buddy was a couple years older than me, so I never got a chance to drive it.

MoMo · « **Reply #12 on:** October 27, 2017, 05:11:57 PM »

Quote from: calj737 on October 27, 2017, 12:33:56 PM

Quote from: Don R on October 27, 2017, 09:52:42 AM
That goat is awesome.
My vision for the 69 is a low stance, oversize wheels but not too big, enough tire to survive a pot hole. A reverse Trans Am paint job, dark blue with white stripes. A ram air 3 400 that I have ready for fuel injection, a built Turbo 400, 9" ford rear with my N case 3.50 traction lock, somewhere between a g machine and pro street. A TA hood, fender extractors and I usually don't like a rear wing but on a TA clone I do.
Bedliner on the bottom and in the wheel wells and black powder coat on the frame parts.
Get to it! That's a dream that needs to be realized

Also, don't underestimate the value downstream to your kids having Dad's car as a legacy. Bikes are great and wonderful things to enjoy too, but a car you've owned for that long is more special.

great point Cal

754 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 27, 2017, 07:16:07 PM »

65 hell, I been telling people to start implementing their plans at 60, when the road start heading downhill..
Don't wait too long..
You at one point need to start choosing what is worth the pain of finishing off,
And to balance it against, will I get to be able to enjoy it..

That is why I decided, come hell, or high water.... I am building a custom bike, drag styled chopper.., while I can still ride it and enjoy it.. waiting for 65? ......do You feel lucky ? Well do you ?

Don R · « **Reply #14 on:** October 27, 2017, 08:09:05 PM »

Exactly what I'm thinking Frank. I've been implementing but I needed to realize restoring / maintaining 15 bikes and two cars is no way to go about it. All while keeping a race car going but that's been breaking even most of the time. Great Driver.

I have a friend in the Race Car Chassis business (RJ Race Cars) but this Spec chassis from The Roadster Shop is what I've been looking for.

http://roadstershop.com/product/full-chassis/1967-69-camaro-spec-chassis/

my name is nobody · « **Reply #15 on:** October 27, 2017, 08:48:52 PM »

Hey Don, any plans to use anything from Butler engineering on the 'bird? They build stuff to make the Pontiacs really scream. total modernization of the Pontiac engine, all of the old weaknesses addressed.
Able to run with the big dogs now....Oh man, I miss my old Grand Prix.

754 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 27, 2017, 09:07:18 PM »

The other thing to remember..you may not have lots of time, once you retire..
Many guys get less done being retired, than they did while working....
Sad..but often true...

Bailgang · « **Reply #17 on:** October 28, 2017, 03:39:01 AM »

Quote from: my name is nobody on October 27, 2017, 08:48:52 PM

total modernization of the Pontiac engine, all of the old weaknesses addressed.
Able to run with the big dogs now....Oh man, I miss my old Grand Prix.

It's been a while since I played with Pontiacs and yes I miss my 78 T/A, 65 GTO and most of all my 70 GP but all the old weaknesses addressed? I'm not so sure about that because Poncho's had a bunch that were inherent in the design mainly cyl heads and block. It's been almost 20 years so a lot could've happened since then I guess but it's hard for me to imagine it. I will agree that Butler does build some wicked Pontiacs though. Way back in the 80's a friend of mine and myself were at Union Grove Raceway in Wisconsin with our Pontiacs and spotted a Poncho in the pits with a tunnel ram and seeing a tunnel ram on a Poncho blew my friend and me away. The owner of the car turned out to be Larry Wenzler.

DickL · « **Reply #18 on:** October 28, 2017, 04:08:30 AM »

Its a tough choice. Where do you spend your money? Where do you spend your available time. Im 67,and i know my riding years are not as long as my driving years. I have a 1950 Ford Convertible and a 1950 Ford F1. The car is done but the truck is not. My Valkyrie will be the first to go. Its 900 lbs. Ill probably keep my 1970 cb750 as it will always,remind me of my youth.

Dickl

dave500 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 28, 2017, 04:41:28 AM »

like 754 said,im 59 and the next ten years for me are gonna fly by?i still drive the same car ive had for I think 32 years?i cant imagine retiring and not working,id clear all those bikes and keep your favourite two if that's possible,turn the cash into that car!

72 yellow · « **Reply #20 on:** October 28, 2017, 06:05:20 AM »

Quote from: 754 on October 27, 2017, 09:07:18 PM

The other thing to remember..you may not have lots of time, once you retire..
Many guys get less done being retired, than they did while working....
Sad..but often true...

+1

Stev-o · « **Reply #21 on:** October 28, 2017, 06:51:25 AM »

Quote from: 754 on October 27, 2017, 09:07:18 PM

The other thing to remember..you may not have lots of time, once you retire..

He is retired.

Don R · « **Reply #22 on:** October 28, 2017, 07:25:10 AM »

The time does go fast unless you do something memorable every day. I was lucky to be a union plumber/pipefitter and retired to take another career path that fell through. In retrospect it worked out great.
I just get attached to the story behind a bike. I know some history on most of them. On two of them, I know who bought them new and one I even know who assembled it.

Don R · « **Reply #23 on:** October 28, 2017, 07:40:28 AM »

She's rough, we drove the wheels off it through a lot of Illinois winters. The factory used plastic filler in the roof seam under the vinyl top. It just popped loose with very little rust under it. It was hailed on once, she deserves better, like a faithful dog. There's a new floor under it right now, firewall back to the tail light panel. I'm ordering new rear quarters and mini tubs. tail panel, drop extensions, TA hood, etc.
I'd love to have a Butler engine for it, this is a 72 400 with ported #48 ram air III heads, a comp 292 hydraulic high energy cam, Edelbrock performer intake, I'd like to convert to FI but in case I can't I laid back an almost unused Holley 780 double pumper and an 800 vacuum secondary Holley carb.

my name is nobody · « **Reply #24 on:** October 28, 2017, 08:41:26 AM »

Quote from: Bailgang on October 28, 2017, 03:39:01 AM

Quote from: my name is nobody on October 27, 2017, 08:48:52 PM
total modernization of the Pontiac engine, all of the old weaknesses addressed.
Able to run with the big dogs now....Oh man, I miss my old Grand Prix.

It's been a while since I played with Pontiacs and yes I miss my 78 T/A, 65 GTO and most of all my 70 GP but all the old weaknesses addressed? I'm not so sure about that because Poncho's had a bunch that were inherent in the design mainly cyl heads and block. It's been almost 20 years so a lot could've happened since then I guess but it's hard for me to imagine it. I will agree that Butler does build some wicked Pontiacs though. Way back in the 80's a friend of mine and myself were at Union Grove Raceway in Wisconsin with our Pontiacs and spotted a Poncho in the pits with a tunnel ram and seeing a tunnel ram on a Poncho blew my friend and me away. The owner of the car turned out to be Larry Wenzler.

https://butlerperformance.com/c-1236719-engines-blocks-engine-kits-engine-blocks.html
Scott....just an example......(sorry for the hijack Don, hope the bird turns out well)

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Author Topic: Choices suck sometimes (Read 4497 times)

scrapvalue