Two weeks ago, my son Zach (our only child) told me he would like to buy a project car. He has shown no interest in working on my trucks. He knows how to check the fluids on cars it that is about it. He has helped me when I needed an extra hand doing something in the garage. So this really surprised me.

He is a great kid, if a 23 year old is a kid. If you have seen the pics of my truck in our Christmas cards you've seen him. He graduated with a dual major in math and computer science, made the Dean's List every semester and graduated Summa *** Laude.

He has a great job now as a computer software engineer. He bought his own car and now has been very diligent about oil changes and such since he commutes 30 miles one way and it is his car. So he is taking care if it.

He found a one owner 1995 Honda with 40,000 miles on it for $800. It needs a head gasket. He talked the guy down to $600. It is inspected until July 2016. Him and a friend are towing it back home and he is borrowing that kids torque wrench and some of my tools to replace the head gasket. I am impressed.

He might show an interest in old trucks next.

 

Abe,
It sounds like a good start. I have 2 sons, one super mechanical and one that is more artistic. The artistic son has been getting much better, the best incentive is the need to maintain a vehicle.

 

Careful what you wish for! One of my (3) sons went way beyond an "interest" in cars. He's settling down now, but just dragged home another $500 project.

 

I think that you will find that his new interest in cars has been born from his new group of coworkers. Now is when he will find that all the exposure he got under your wing will come in handy!

 

Part of his new found interest is that he likes to save money. He wants to make sure his new used daily driver lasts several years so he is taking care of it. He hopes to use this 95 Honda so he doesn't put so many miles on his other newer car. Or he will flip it and make money. Before he makes a decision he researches stuff on line and has already looked at YouTube videos for the head gasket change.

 

When my son was 16 his first car was a 67 Mustang. He broke things as fast as I could fix them. Lucky for him dad was a mechanic and had access to many free parts.


I would start out "helping him" and end up doing the work until I got tired of it. He just wouldn't listen. He wasn't driving the 4 speed like he should and I tried to tell him how and told him he was going to cook the clutch.


Two days later the clutch was toast. I told him he had to buy a clutch and install it. He about died when he saw how much it was going to cost. He actually listened and spent a little more on a performance clutch.


It took him two days to install that clutch. I just told him what to do and handed him tools. Two days of busted knuckles and cussing. He said, "I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO THIS ***** FOR A LIVING!!!". I told him he better learn or get a job that pays enough to pay someone to do it for him.


He's a pretty good wrench now @ 32 years old and a lot more careful with his vehicles. You can see the pride when he troubleshoots and gets it fixed himself. Really appreciates his skills when he sees how much others pay shops to do the work.


Most importantly........You're more MANLY when you can fix cars!

 

Two weeks ago you say Abe? Would that be about the time you had all the soccer team babes in your truck? I think This is a good thing for you. I know 1 year ago my sons couldn't put on a 2 screw door ****. Now they tear anything apart, curve metal and weld it in, and repair anything that's broken. Thats a great feeling to see that.

 

When my son was young he showed no interest in cars or trucks even though I was heavy into street rods all my life. My wife and I took him to rod runs and car shows as a toddler. However, by the time he was 18 he began showing some interest as his first car was a 57 Chevy 210. He's 40 now and buys and sells classic cars full time. I guess the impact was greater than I thought. You never know...

 

Hey Abe,
I also have a 23 year son - named Zach!!! He gripes a lot - then get's
after it - he enjoys the quick pay off projects. He's not near as happy with multi-week efforts - tends to get distracted if something with a skirt on walks by.


Congratulations on your Zach graduating & finding a good job - I'm hopeful
but we aren't there yet.


Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

I think like many in this age group.....after half a life chasing what they were told ( by their schools) has built the world we live in ( computers etc. ).....it takes less than 3 days in the workplace to understand vividly that modern western businesses are simply shuffling the money already made by our forefathers......making real stuff like cars........

 

My son got the 95 Honda back to town. It looks pretty good for a 20 year old car.... interior is good, a few dings and small scratches. But there is cancer rot behind the rear wheels.

So now he wants to try his own body work! Amazing. I said go for it. I told him the best way is to cut out the bad metal and replace it. He asked about putty. I said that is a cheap fix that won't last and it is not for a big dprust hole. He asked about a metal or plastic screen and then putty. I said that is better but still not the best way.

I asked if his buddy or his dad can weld. He is checking on it. There is no hurry as it is inspected until July 2016.

 

Abe,
This may be a good time to get introduced to panel bonding adhesive...here is a nice setup to get started with:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/3M-8116-PANEL-BONDING-ADHESIVE-W-8571-APPLICATOR-/251886849150?hash=item3aa5a04c7e&item=251886849150&vxp=mtrCut out the rust, cut a patch panel with about a 1 inch flange/overlap, sand the bonding surfaces, apply the adhesive and clamp. No fire, no warpage, no special skills needed.

 

Hmm, good idea. Will tell him to look into it.