32 Ford "tweaks" and a few mods

[toddshotrods]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

...Cars are only fun when you're doing it for your own personal satisfaction. Doing it for pay - no thanks... There's only like one Foose for every 100,000
"guys" out there trudging away.

Originally Posted by jy211

That statement is the truth!

Coming from the other side of the coin (one of the "guys" who has been trudging away), that's not always true. The problem is the relationship between owner and builder is a special one and it's probably second only to finding the right husband and wife combo in level difficulty. When you get it right it's (relative) bliss, when it's not it's a living hell for both...

From the (financially) broken builder's point of view, there is nothing better than having a compatible customer who's willing to (financially and mentally) go where you are. It's freedom, because you can pour your heart and soul into the vehicle, and then move on to the next one. For some of us, the "experience" is in the build, not in the "ride". The magic is gone soon after the vehicle is "finished" so having someone waiting in line to do it all over is golden. My problem is my customers were almost as broke as I was.

Greg just got in bed with the wrong one, but I love how he's playing the game. If I was (the builder) on the other side of the table from him, I would just hire someone to come in and help get the car running right, and move on... He's right, you just have to stick a pin in your ego, at that point, and get the issue resolved. I've been there. It hurts a little, but not nearly as much as trying to dig in and fight it out.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by toddshotrods

He's right, you just have to stick a pin in your ego, at that point, and get the issue resolved. I've been there. It hurts a little, but not nearly as much as trying to dig in and fight it out.

Well said Todd.... just get the damn thing done - go over EVERY nut and bolt - kiss my arse with a decent apology and make sure when it goes out the door the SOB is as near perfect as it can get.

If money is an issue -- dude! Just say so and I'm the first one that will reach a hand down and help out. I've been doing that all along... no questions... never played that card by throwing it in their face. I will now because after bending over backwards - I've also been bent over forward and I don't like the feeling of both hands on my hips!

[hifi875]

very interesting and entertaining thread(not entertaining for you though), but my father in-law is going through what seems to me a parallel story to yours with a 67 chevy II. Has a ton of money in it(ls-9,6l90 full tci chasis, paul atkins interior). lots of things that you would take for granted that should work but don't work properly if you want to drive it and beat the *&^ out of it. builder is not receptive to fixing issues. You are handling this very well it seems and could be a lesson for others on diplomacy.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by hifi875

very interesting and entertaining thread(not entertaining for you though), but my father in-law is going through what seems to me a parallel story to yours with a 67 chevy II. Has a ton of money in it(ls-9,6l90 full tci chasis, paul atkins interior). lots of things that you would take for granted that should work but don't work properly if you want to drive it and beat the *&^ out of it. builder is not receptive to fixing issues. You are handling this very well it seems and could be a lesson for others on diplomacy.

Sorry to hear this.

Actually -- I think this happens A LOT... people just don't talk about it. It's like nobody talks about how much these cars cost to build either... I think most of us are actually kind of embarrassed that we could spend so much and get so little. I'm not the "embarrassing" type... I'm quite the opposite -- I try to share my experiences -- good or bad - even at my own expense. Despite being only 3 foot 4 -- I really don't have the little man syndrome - I'm about as up front as a guy can get. I'm the consummate customer everyone would love to have. I want the very very best you can do and ask you what you can do better than that. I EXPECT to pay for that quality. In fact - my discussions on remodeling a house - or doing work for me NEVER EVER centers on the cost. I even remind people "I'm not discussing the cost - don't build my stuff with your wallet... I want you to tell me your very best ideas. Tell me what would be really really cool.... I'll decide if I want it done or not and that decision will not be cost based it'll just be whether or not I think it's cool".

My last house - built in 1923 - was going to be a one month - paint and a little carpet and move in (my friends rib me about this statement to this day!). It ended over a year later with an all walls and ceilings off, complete rewire - replumb - floor structures and wall structures rebuilt cost no object new everything "remodel" (I should have torn it down and built new - it would have been cheaper). I never once asked what any of it was going to cost. Didn't care. Lucky me. I had a great time - enjoyed every minute of it - and it turned out KILLER... Just the way the house I THOUGHT I'd bought should have been. I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. In fact - the house is for sale for little more than I sold it for... and for a couple minutes we thought about buying it back. But then I wouldn't have my beloved shed... and it's the ONLY reason we moved in the first place. Well... that and the shared driveway down to the lake was shared with a coke head multi gazillionaire 2 in the morning electric guitar playing Ferrari driving nutcase! I got tired of the cops coming 3 days a week. Reminds me of something I did one day after one of his super parties - cops and all - I put my speakers on the deck toward his house - and fired up my stereo about 9 AM.... and left the house. He liked Jimi Hendricks - I put on my kids Barney CD and had the player set to repeat. "I love you - you love me.... we're a happy family".

He was foaming at the mouth.... I laughed so hard I peed my pants. He never did it again. Saw him the other day at the grocery store - we actually laughed over our "spats". HE is clean and sober these days (this time around).

[70rs]

Greg,
I just got up to speed on the thread. I hope this has a happy ending for you. (as in driving the car, not the Hwy 99 kind )
I like the 9am Barney tunes blasting the nieghbor.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by 70rs

Greg,
I just got up to speed on the thread. I hope this has a happy ending for you. (as in driving the car, not the Hwy 99 kind )
I like the 9am Barney tunes blasting the nieghbor.

Eric --


I still chuckle to myself every time I think about that event. When I left the house - I was laughing so hard I couldn't hardly get the door locked...

[Blake Foster]

my popcorn is empty?????

BRB

[Bow Tie 67]

Greg,

Thanks for a great read. Yada Yada blah blah all the bad crap. But I love the way you turn this into a positive " lets play ball, dont worry I brought my own glove ( s ) "

Now can I please go back to the picture in my head of you lounging in a red smoking jacket!!

Matt