I just turned 37 years old. I'm long past the days of celebrating my birthday or even really caring about getting another year older. Birthday presents for myself personally have never been something that was important either, mainly because I'm a picky ***** and I'm hard to buy for! Lol! But sometimes somebody does something for you that you know will always just stick with ya!

My Mercury is completely stripped down and I'm a long way from finishing. My dad snuck into my garage and took my spindles and sent them to the machine shop and had new bushings pressed in and had them honed and gave them back to me for my birthday. Now to the average person this probably wouldn't sound like a big deal, but to a truck guy it 's probably one of the best gifts I could have gotten.

When I finish this truck that'll be one small part that'll stick out and really mean something to me. It also got me thinking of how important it is for fathers and sons/daughters to spend time together wrenching in the garage. My boys are 8 and 3 and always come help dad in the garage and that will probably be something that they will always remember!

Basically I'm just trying to say, if you can, build these trucks with as much help from family and friends as you can. It'll mean that much more to you when you 're done.

 

Happy birthday!

I agree, treasure the time spent with your family and keep them involved if you can. That was a nice thing for your dad to do, your truck project obviously means a lot to him as well.
I lost my dad in '99 and miss him everyday. Some of the best times we had together were tinkering with some project.
Good for you for letting the kids "help" too...

 

You will always remember your dad having a hand in your truck build. That goes a long way...

 

great story! While my sons don't care anything about my hobby, my daughter (Samantha, age 11) is ALWAYS out there with me getting greasy and dirty... She goes to all the car shows, cruise-ins, and poker runs with me, and those are some of the best memories that both of us will have!

 

Woo, that's a great gift and being it was your Dad who did it for you makes it even sweater. Family is so precious, like Scott mentioned, treasure the time you have together with them.

 

Very cool mate.

 

You have a great Dad! Thanks for sharing.

 

Great story. Funny you should mention this though.
The picture below is my wallpaper and last night my wife said that I should probably will the truck to my youngest (pictured). She has shown the most interest in the truck. She said my two oldest might get mad, but Sarah is there helping.
Hopefully I'm a long way from that time, but no telling what my wife has in store for me.

 

What a great present he gave you! Family is the most important part of life, even before our trucks

 

The girlfriend's dad comes over to help when we are working on it during the weekend. My buddy that was helping out also caught this picture of him. Think shortly after this he looked up at me and said " Front is a little low don't ya think?"


I'm glad he and the girlfriend get to spend time working together on this old truck.

 

That is one awesome picture!

 

Great story and memories. I built a 4 stall barn at our old place with my daughter. My best friend Dan was there every day to help then my oldest brother stopped in one weekend saw what fun we were having and started showing up with his father in law. All the wives showed up to paint it. Most fun I ever had with family. I engraved all the names on the main beam and even though we sold the place my brother and his father in law talk about it every time we get together Do as much with your family as you can they make for great memories.

 

Good thoughts, Darrin.

While my father has been gone for some while, I believe that he is in the garage with my brother and I as we bond over rusty trucks.

This seems as good a place as might be to plug a fellow who shares our attachment to old iron. Anyone that can author a book titled Truck, a love story - even if it is about an International - is worth the read. Truck: A Love Story (paperback) - SneezingCow.com

DW