How to keep on track with projects?
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Marine Corps Air Station
How to keep on track with projects?
How do you guys/gals keep on track with major projects when problems come along. I know at some point in my up comming project I will want to sell the pile of parts due to problems I won't want to deal with. How do you keep focused? I plan on building my truck from the ground up. The following parts I am going to get: 2.5 ton axles with military style tires(52"), 446 stroker with 8/71 BDS blower, custom springs and mounts for the axles. The rest I will figure out when I get to that point, which is were I expect the problems to start. Any advice to someone to help keep focused?
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Marine Corps Air Station
That makes two of us. I see lots of nice trucks out here but all the older Fords seem to be farm trucks or construction trucks that really shouldn't be on the road. The truck club I belong to has a few nice older F1's but nothing in the 70's era.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Atlanta GA
Make a list, look at it everyday and tick off one item at a time. Even if it is only "sand axle housing".
My truck (which is a daily driver) started with about 120 items just from when the flatbed dropped it off. I still have about 50 items to go, I just did the major ones day after day, like "flare front lines".
Some items such as "rewire rear lamps" took over a month from troubleshooting. Some took only one day (after tracking down the right pump) such as "change fuel filter" when I found the one mickey moused into my truck was just a general odd-ball one someone put in-line and used a fuel pump off some other engine class.
Cab corners and floors are coming soon ...
My truck (which is a daily driver) started with about 120 items just from when the flatbed dropped it off. I still have about 50 items to go, I just did the major ones day after day, like "flare front lines".
Some items such as "rewire rear lamps" took over a month from troubleshooting. Some took only one day (after tracking down the right pump) such as "change fuel filter" when I found the one mickey moused into my truck was just a general odd-ball one someone put in-line and used a fuel pump off some other engine class.
Cab corners and floors are coming soon ...
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Senior User
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From: Marine Corps Air Station
After talking to some guys around here I was given the following advice. "Look at the trucks at car shows". I have always liked car shows but has seeing what someone else has done encouraged you to continue? I refuse to give up on this truck. I'm no where near wanting to quit, I just want to avoid wanting to quit. I quit on my 72 and 73 Challengers and now I regret it. I don't want it to happen to the truck also. I like the list idea, it gives you something to look at so you can see the progress. I'll try that along with any other ideas you folks may have.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,703
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From: Harrisburg, NE
rebocardo's advice is an improved version of "dont look at every thing, the entire garage, just the one thing you need to do next" cardo's advice is probably the best you will other get, but i have one more to add: wrench with a friend! things go faster, your less likely to get mad at the truck, and who knows, you just might have fun!
happy wrenching!
happy wrenching!
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Charleston, SC
I'd do that if I had other friends here that worked on cars. I have one with a non-functional '87 Porsche 924s but he got tired of working on it. And since he said he'd sell it to me for $500 it's getting pretty tempting!
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Senior User
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From: Marine Corps Air Station
I would think that since I'm in the Marine Corps there would be lots of people to help. Truth is most of the ones that know how to work on cars and trucks are busy trying to fix their own so they can get to work the next day. I've only been here a few months and really don't know that many people yet. Maybe I'll get lucky and find someone familiar with Ford trucks.
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Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: S/C Texas
I have a list of things that I need to do. Next to each item I have the $ cost. If I have money in my pocket....I find the item that costs that much or less. Thats the next item to be attacked, then and there, or it'll be next time. Doesnt work to well most the time, but its a plan. 
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Charleston, SC
Originally Posted by muscletruck7379
porsche sounds like a good deal...i've always wanted one
The timing belt blew out and bent a few valves. He changed out the water pump and some other seals while the head was out, put it all back together, and it backfired after starting up. This broke the timing belt a second time. Maybe valves bent, maybe not. He doesn't feel like dealing with it anymore. My guess is that he didn't get everything lined up right or didn't do a good job of setting the tension but at least it wasn't moving when the belt blew and it was immediately turned off.
If things go well here job-wise then I'll pick it up and find some way to haul it along with me.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Charleston, SC
Lol, it'd probably do it... slowly. This truck sounds like it's getting ready to take off once it gets around 60mph so I keep it around 55. I'm not quite at the point where I trust taking it out of town yet so it might get to ride a trailer to where I move. It'll probably be at least 180 miles away.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,493
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From: Great NW
Using military jargon...
...Use "backwards planning." Visualize what you want the end result to be, make a list of how you should accomplish that result, organize it such that you have a realistic timeline of what should be accomplished and when (ex: bodywork BEFORE paint); THEN (and this is the hard part), have the discipline (physically and fiscally) to execute your plan, step by step. It's tough, but that is how you complete your projects. Mad-scientist approaches to projects rarely come to total fruition.
My opinion: Half-assed projects deserve no credit and should be treated with disdain until completed. Exception- Those projects which are CLEARLY on the road to completion (physically and fiscally) due to organization and discipline.
...Use "backwards planning." Visualize what you want the end result to be, make a list of how you should accomplish that result, organize it such that you have a realistic timeline of what should be accomplished and when (ex: bodywork BEFORE paint); THEN (and this is the hard part), have the discipline (physically and fiscally) to execute your plan, step by step. It's tough, but that is how you complete your projects. Mad-scientist approaches to projects rarely come to total fruition.
My opinion: Half-assed projects deserve no credit and should be treated with disdain until completed. Exception- Those projects which are CLEARLY on the road to completion (physically and fiscally) due to organization and discipline.