Who's helping you?
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,636
Likes: 11
From: Crossville, Tn
My only helper is my friend Roger. We met about 7 years ago at the local dirt track, I was the track photographer and he was the sole full time employee doing just about everything at the track. When the track changed ownership 2 years later we were both replaced, so I started dragging him along with me as I was working the NASCAR circuit. He went with me when I bought Edith and the following spring he decided that the truck had to be moved to his place for us to work on it. As a former GM mechanic and race car builder he has a LOT more tools and equipment than I do. The engine replacement on Edith is stalled right now due to the cold and that fact that he headed to Florida for the winter. That fact that he is 72 doesn't stop him from running like the EverReady Bunny.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 6
From: Houston
My wife is the same, very supportive and never complains. No younger help, but I do have a couple of guys my age who occasionally help. One of them I have been good friends with since 6th grade, which is a long long time ago! He is an excellent mechanic, considered one of the best BMW motorcycle mechs in the country (he used to road race BMW's, even raced at Daytona a few times) and has done it all from bikes to 18 wheelers. His son is now one of the top "Drifter" racers in the country. The other is also an excellent mechanic and I lean on both of them as I am not. I know enough to have kept my cars running over the years and have even rebuilt a few engines back in the day. And they even ran 
The other great helper that I have is this Forum, my source for experts on these trucks.
The other great helper that I have is this Forum, my source for experts on these trucks.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,927
Likes: 135
From: Houston
I am the help around my dad's cars and one of our good friends. I grew up around old cars and like working on them. Here is a picture my girlfriend took of us last year checking out a very nice 32 roadster pickup:
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: Upper Peninsula
As much as I like to say that it's my truck, I am always quickly reminded by my husband that it is "OUR" truck! We both work on it, and I am generally the helper when it comes to the mechanical stuff. But he's really great about teaching me about my truck and I get to make all of the decisions about what gets done to the truck.
The dog likes to "help" in his own way...but only as a supervisor. Can't get him to do anything else. Won't even fetch a wrench. Here's a pic of him in all of his supervisory glory:
The dog likes to "help" in his own way...but only as a supervisor. Can't get him to do anything else. Won't even fetch a wrench. Here's a pic of him in all of his supervisory glory:
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,093
Likes: 653
From: Brentwood, TN
The wife named this feral cat "Jezabel" because she is the devil...personally I think that she is a sweetheart and tries to be very helpful around the garage...
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FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,636
Likes: 11
From: Crossville, Tn
The wife and I could not agree on a name, so she is simply "kitty Kat". Every time I open the shop, she scoots in and jumps in the back of Edith and perches herself on my 'redneck kobalt toolbox'.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 302
Likes: 17
My daughter, Samantha, is my helper. Her brothers have no interest, but she's all over it! Greasy up to her elbows, a couple of minor skinned knuckles, she loves it! She's also a daddy's girl, so that might have something to do with it.
Senior User
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 235
Likes: 1
My son and ocassionally grandkids..
My son comes over and helps quite a bit..he can pretty much do anything restoration wise...so I just let him go.. he has helped quite a bit with the bed construction.. I'm sure whe we get into the re flooring of the cab he will be right there with me...We built his first vehicle together when he was 14-16...so now I think he's paying back..
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,130
Likes: 3
From: Hendersonville, TN
My build thread is called "a family affair" because I really wanted to build the truck as a family, something we could all share. Unfortunately, my brother moved to Arkansas a while ago so he doesn't get to be around much, but when he is we end up messing around with the truck somehow. I make all the decisions and spend all the dough, but there is no way I could even have done as little as I have without my dad and brother. It seems on Saturdays, when I go to my dad's house to work on it, he usually has something else to do...but if I start a project on the truck, he always seems to end up by my side, usually showing me how it's done. I'm grateful for that.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 188
Likes: 1
In all fairness, my wife and daughter help with input on what they think would be cool. I wanted them to have some say in what the final result would be. Everyone agreed on the HOK pearl Ultra Orange, and they are always giving me pics of interiors and wheels they think are cool. I have been told there will be a bench seat so all 3 can ride in the truck when it's done. I really do value the input .
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 44
Only one helping me is I look up in the eastern sky. My family is doing their
damnest to make me a street person. They ripped the soul out of me
took all my keys stuffed me in a ten foot closet. I dont even got pictures
of where I came from. Wait till they go to Fla. I dont have time or the will
no more or time for ebay five big jobs all DOT inspected will be driven right
on the recycle scale. loaders backhoes too and theres nothing wrong with
any of them. I'm way too old to give this kid a beaten but I'll have somebody
bust his bones so help me god. when they come back there will be nothing,
at least I'll have a little money to get far away as I can from here.
damnest to make me a street person. They ripped the soul out of me
took all my keys stuffed me in a ten foot closet. I dont even got pictures
of where I came from. Wait till they go to Fla. I dont have time or the will
no more or time for ebay five big jobs all DOT inspected will be driven right
on the recycle scale. loaders backhoes too and theres nothing wrong with
any of them. I'm way too old to give this kid a beaten but I'll have somebody
bust his bones so help me god. when they come back there will be nothing,
at least I'll have a little money to get far away as I can from here.