Club Homepage Forums Classified Ads Buy & Sell - Everything But Airplanes Some guys have NO clue.

Carl, sometimes selling off projects that may never be completed is a very good thing. I had a basement full of old motorcycles I was going to restore/modify. One was going to get a turbo for the street, another was going to be a 1/4 mile bike, etc. I finally realized that some of these were never going to happen because of time and money, or lack thereof. To my surprise, I made so much money on eBay parting the stuff out, that I bought more bikes to part out. This in turn helped to finance flight lessons and the other projects that did come to fruition. Don't be afraid to decide which projects are important and realistic, then dump the rest. You might be glad you did.

A wise man once told me: "Don't get sentimental about junk. And if it doesn't breath, it must be junk."

My version of that quote is "Never get emotionally involved with inanimate objects."

Better yet, don't get emotionally involved with anything.

But where's the passion to fly?

Having your time and money spread too thin can prevent you from pursuing your passions. It sounds like he has more than one plane, all of them in the project stage. It can be overwhelming.

Me? Yeah! Exactly right.

On the surface, I have plenty of time to do everything, but the reality is, very little of the time do I feel well enough to stand on my legs and work. Leg, knee, and back pain is disabling, and I can't do what needs to be done by sitting (which also becomes painful after awhile, then I have to stand up). Money? Federal retirement pension!

Projects? By priority:

Septic system repairs (temporarily operational.)

1992 Plymouth Van brake and fuel system repairs, new tires. (Driveable, primary transportation, at the moment.)

Water to air heat pump repairs (water shutoff valve failed open).

1998 Ford pickup engine overhaul. (Mama wants this done... It'll have to wait!)

Swimming pool repairs/restoration.

Install more insulation in old house. (No income. Rent pays the mortgage.)

Install new heat pump system in old house.

150K restoration.

150C taildragger conversion.

1973 Helsen 22 Sailboat restoration.

150M project plane/part out/restoration (registration problems).

Insulate and heat hangar.

Complete 800 square foot apartment over hangar.

Karmann Ghia frame off restoration. (Backup transportation, for now)

1970 Beetle restoration, engine overhaul.

1973 Beetle restoration, engine overhaul.

Myers Manx dune buggy assembly.

1972 Honda CL175 restoration.

1973 Honda CB160 restoration.

1970 Karmann Ghia restoration/disposal.

About 100 smaller projects/repairs.

Collectively, right now I have a hangar full of useless junk!

My gosh Carl, I thought I had it bad! We are ALL insane ... some more so than others!

I feel for you Bro, I've been going down that path myself for a decade or so, and now have two houses with a myriad of repairs/remodel projects, a half a dozen cars in the family in various states of semi restoration, a flying airplane with serious cosmetic issues, another with mechanical issues, another half built experimental.

It really is just crazy crazy crazy. We need to start some kind of support group for us guys who get our self worth from tackling projects that we never quite finish, and instead just start new ones. Lately I've been eyeing some classic motorcyles on eBay (stuff I used to own in my youth) and I think "Hey, wouldn't it be cool to buy that and fix it up..." NO NO NO, it wouldn't! I have more stuff to fix up now than I ever will have time for.

We need help.

I like the group therapy idea. Hello, my name is Russ and i too am a project optimist.

Fellows,

Most work can be done with one finger. Use a phone. It helps if you establish at an early date in the marriage that you are incompetent mechanically. (Although that does tend to make her leery of flying with you.)

Installed: Master cylinder, 92 Plymouth Van, about $32.00

Savings over services: $100-$150.

Bought:

Effluent pump - $156.00
3/4" PVC Irrigation valve - $10.99 (works fine on W/A heat pumps)
2' x 2" PVC pipe - $2.53
2 ea 2" PVC couplings @ $.81 - $1.62
2" PVC universal coupling - $1.04
Handi pak PVC primer/cement - $5.96

Total, including tax, tag, and title - $190.61 to Home Depot

Savings over paying for services: $600 - $800, minimum, and maybe as much as $1,500!

Tomorrow we get new tires!