Project creep
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2013
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From: Rimrock AZ
Project creep
Today was tough for me working on the wife's truck. I was working with the hood and the front valance. The paint looks good at 5' but up close it's scratched,chipped and thin in spots. The truck is turning out really nice so the perfectionist in me wants to fix everything..... But when Lois and I started this project we decided Belle would be a nice driver truck with all her imperfections with a modern drive-train hiding underneath. It was everything I could do to stay focused on the goal and not let "Project Creep" set in. Some consolation is the thought of all the money I'm saving 
So have you ever started a project with one thing in mind then had project creep set in and end up going in a completely different direction?
So have you ever started a project with one thing in mind then had project creep set in and end up going in a completely different direction?
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,094
Likes: 654
From: Brentwood, TN
For me a better question would be, "Have you ever had a project WITHOUT creep?". I have a storage barn full of project creep...
Believe Nothing
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,516
Likes: 403
From: W. Central FL.
So, who is going to get closer than 5' and look up close at a "nice driver truck?" Mission creep can be quite distracting. Don't turn it into a show truck or trailer queen. Let your wife drive it as originally intended. I commend you on building it as a driver.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,927
Likes: 135
From: Houston
I rebuild things stock, and I don't like paint and body work, so scope creep is typically tied to finding more problems when I get into something. I thought, "I'll pull the engine, get the rotating assy. balanced, put in new seals, and button it back up". When I tore the engine down the bearings were down through the brass, the bores were worn, and I ended up doing a full engine rebuild...
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Mine is"might as well"
I am in the final stages of "freshening"a 69 econoline van that started out in 2010 as a,fix the rust,and a twenty foot paint job...............picking up the 55 f250 really made me turn up the wick on the van.i want the van done so i can work on the 55
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 794
Likes: 120
From: Behind the wheel, IN
Yeah, my Thunderbird project has a serious case of scope creep. It started with a few minor issues, and the more I dug into them, the more I wanted to change/fix. As it stands currently, my goals are to:
* Take the car back to a "stock" engine, by replacing the 460 that was installed with a 390 (bored and stroked to 431)
* Replace ALL the wiring. The current harness is in bad shape and has been hacked/spliced badly over the years
* Convert to front disk brakes
* Install new seat foam
And that's just the big stuff I can think of off the top of my head. It's been parked for almost 3 years now. I made no progress on it last year because I spent all my time playing with my truck.
My goal now is to give most of my attention to the bird. I'd like to have it moving under it's own power by the end of the year, even if it's only to move it up and down the driveway.
* Take the car back to a "stock" engine, by replacing the 460 that was installed with a 390 (bored and stroked to 431)
* Replace ALL the wiring. The current harness is in bad shape and has been hacked/spliced badly over the years
* Convert to front disk brakes
* Install new seat foam
And that's just the big stuff I can think of off the top of my head. It's been parked for almost 3 years now. I made no progress on it last year because I spent all my time playing with my truck.
My goal now is to give most of my attention to the bird. I'd like to have it moving under it's own power by the end of the year, even if it's only to move it up and down the driveway.
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Phantom of the Phorum
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 5,472
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From: Kentucky
Unfortunately, Project Creep sometimes goes all the way to becoming Quicksand. Then it ends up a pile of parts on eBay or Craig's List. 
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Brett Foote
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2014
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Sounds familiar
My 30 roadster was rear ended. Not to much to repair, a body panel and trunk lid would do it and repaint the rear section. After all it is a driver......a year later I finished a complete repaint+ allot of sheetmetal repairs that were hidden under a ton of bondo. It's incredable how one thing leads to another.
I'm reaching deep to restrain myself from going to far with Mater, my 50 F1 project.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1343912-mater.html
I'm reaching deep to restrain myself from going to far with Mater, my 50 F1 project.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1343912-mater.html
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2013
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From: Rimrock AZ
Whenever I work on something I always fix all other problems I find. As you say I'm already in there. It's the things that don't really need to be done they are just improvements for the sake of improving. Thankfully I have avoided the urge on Belle.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,442
Likes: 256
I think scope creep is just part of the hobby. I like the motto if it's not broken don't fix it. But I rarely follow it and have a shop And basement full of parts lined up for swaps and tear downs! I have not worked in my yard in over three months due to scope creep!
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 2
From: Rimrock AZ
I think scope creep is just part of the hobby. I like the motto if it's not broken don't fix it. But I rarely follow it and have a shop And basement full of parts lined up for swaps and tear downs! I have not worked in my yard in over three months due to scope creep!
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,203
Likes: 146
From: Goulburn, NSW
This project of mine has easily absorbed around ten grand of hard earnt dollars and it's the thought that it will end in misery as an unfinished project on eBay which keeps me going. I reckon it owes me mid twenties and it is far from being on the road. Plus, I sacrificed a beautiful rx7 sport's car to buy my pickup, and that thing cost me 30 grand, so, I have to keep going, or I have lost it all; the truck and the beautiful sport's car.
One thing that has motivated me recently was involving my brother in the project who is encouraging me to follow the dream. He has even offered to help with stuff and I have to say, I really needed the morale support, because there are many many times I just think; why bother? Just buy another sport's car and be damned.
It is the passion and enthusiasm of guys like yourselves that keep me motivated, and when I look at finished projects on here, I really get pepped up.
The creep began after I took it to a panel shop to have a bit of rust cut out. Panel shop took 3 months to start it. In that time I got to thinking about what I really wanted to do with it. I guess it was in that 12 weeks of waiting that my simple plans went out the window.
Bottom line is, I might be sinking in quicksand, but I AM having fun
One thing that has motivated me recently was involving my brother in the project who is encouraging me to follow the dream. He has even offered to help with stuff and I have to say, I really needed the morale support, because there are many many times I just think; why bother? Just buy another sport's car and be damned.
It is the passion and enthusiasm of guys like yourselves that keep me motivated, and when I look at finished projects on here, I really get pepped up.
The creep began after I took it to a panel shop to have a bit of rust cut out. Panel shop took 3 months to start it. In that time I got to thinking about what I really wanted to do with it. I guess it was in that 12 weeks of waiting that my simple plans went out the window.
Bottom line is, I might be sinking in quicksand, but I AM having fun