Tolerance, old Age? (or both)

[CarMichael Angelo]

It occurs to me late yesterday afternoon as I'm sliding under the car, tightening one driveshaft bolt, sliding out from the car, taking it out of gear, sliding back under the car, rotating the driveshaft to expose the other bolts, then sliding back out from underneath and putting it back in gear, then finally sliding back underneath to tighten the bolts, that this stuff is a PAIN IN THE ASS.

Now back 30 years, not only would this have not been a problem, I'd probably been in the garage doing this, waiting for the garage to warm up cause its 13 below outside, AND only after I had got back out of bed at 11pm because I wasn't tired yet.

Now I still do all this junk, but I do it because it has to be done, not because I want to. I wonder at what point in my life did that all change?

 

[stykthyn]

I feel you. I was on my back over the weekend hunting down an oil and exhaust leak. Temps were only in the 60s and the concrete was still sucking the life from me.

 

[wythors]

It started for me around 40. I still enjoy working on the cars, but now I have to psych myself up to do it and I'm usually sore as hell the next day from bending over the engine or crawling under the car all day.

 

[Cobra912]

good to hear I'm not the only one. Just bending over the front of my car over the weekend trying to figure out my PTV and pushrod length damn near killed me.

 

[SlammedGT]

Once you start searching for automatic Stangs its downhill from there...lol

 

[CarMichael Angelo]

I see that this is gonna turn into one of these "show me your scars" sessions.
Getting cold from laying on the concrete and being sore from being hyper-extended come with the territory, but I guess we shouldn't complain too much, Otherwise the young guys will try to force us out on some Nanook of the north "ice float" to go off and die.

I'm just glad it's not just me.

 

[CarMichael Angelo]

Once you start searching for automatic Stangs its downhill from there...lol

unless using the automatic is the only way you'll get it down the track.

Let's see you shift gears with this thing in front of you

 

[fiveohwblow]

unless using the automatic is the only way you'll get it down the track.

Let's see you shift gears with this thing in front of you

I'd do it

 

[CarMichael Angelo]

Dude, I wish I had video of it on a pass, at about 60 feet out (1.20 secs later) boost was timed in three stages. staged at 7 lbs, once i'd let go of the trans brake, 25lbs and at 60' 35 lbs. At full boost, it would barely pick up the left front tire and would go down the track basically on three tires. Trust me,......you would not want to do anything else except hang on to that steering wheel.

Hell, typically it would still run 10's in the 1/4 coasting after lifting at the 1/8th.

typical trap speeds were 145-147 mph in the 1/8th

 

[wythors]

Great googledy moogledy!

 

[Snake1]

I'm 69 next month and have been swinging wrenches and drivng truck (Retired Trucker now) for quite awhile,
I love my Mustangs and still love the feeling I get when I'm in them. (Foxes)
With 3 foxes in the yard last year I wondered why am I wrenching all these bloody cars and a boat to boot.
Sold the boat,sold the 81 3.3 Fox coupe and the other 81 fox parts car.
Kept the 88 Fox and my winter car,Momma's vibe and now I'm much happier,less stressed and get more time in the 88 followng my nose down the highway.
LOVE IT !!!!

 

[5.0Droptop]

It started for me around 40. I still enjoy working on the cars, but now I have to psych myself up to do it and I'm usually sore as hell the next day from bending over the engine or crawling under the car all day.

I hear ya! Ill be 40 this year. I love tinkering with my mustang but I have to psych myself up to do any major work and like you said I get sore too.
The worst part is, when I lay on the floor and am wrenching above me, my hands start to hurt and go numb. Im thinking it may be the beginnings carpal tunnel....

 

[wythors]

The worst part is, when I lay on the floor and am wrenching above me, my hands start to hurt and go numb. Im thinking it may be the beginnings carpal tunnel....

Nah. Just age.

 

[5.0Droptop]

Thanks for your words of wisdom...LOL

 

[Jeffs88]

I hear ya! Ill be 40 this year. I love tinkering with my mustang but I have to psych myself up to do any major work and like you said I get sore too.
The worst part is, when I lay on the floor and am wrenching above me, my hands start to hurt and go numb. Im thinking it may be the beginnings carpal tunnel....

I'm the same way....turning 47 next week. Still have to do the front lower control arm bushings, steering rack bushings, u joints, e-brake cables, pinion seal and the UCA bushings at the Diff. before all the snow melts away so I cant get her off the jackstands.....

Super excited just typing this, can't wait to open that brand new bottle of Advil!

 

[wythors]

I'm the same way....turning 47 next week. Still have to do the front lower control arm bushings, steering rack bushings, u joints, e-brake cables, pinion seal and the UCA bushings at the Diff. before all the snow melts away so I cant get her off the jackstands.....

Super excited just typing this, can't wait to open that brand new bottle of Advil!

If you don't already have it, get one of these for doing the rear upper control arm bushings. Makes the job incredibly quick and easy with no loud impact hammers or torches.

 

[mob]

I feel like that now at age 22, but only because I just dont have time. I get home from work at 9pm everyday and barely get a couple hours in before it's already 11 and its time for me to go get some rest.

 

[Shakerhood]

It started for me around 40. I still enjoy working on the cars, but now I have to psych myself up to do it and I'm usually sore as hell the next day from bending over the engine or crawling under the car all day.

It was probably around 40 for me too, I hate how sore I am the next few days!

 

[Jeffs88]

If you don't already have it, get one of these for doing the rear upper control arm bushings. Makes the job incredibly quick and easy with no loud impact hammers or torches.

I was thinking of ordering one of those, but I'm never really thrilled with buying those "almost one time use" tools. Like the spark plug removal tool for the 5.4 motor. $80.00 UGH! So I just this weekend fashioned my own similar tool with parts from home depot.....$14.00. fingers crossed......

Jeff

 

[CarMichael Angelo]

c'mon now!
When I started this thread I didn't once complain about pain.
(other than the reference to how much "work" it actually is) I mean, I was talking about where did the love (for the hobby) go? I'm 54 myself,and some days I'll be sore from the previous days' work, but nothing that mr. Bayer, Motrin, or Advil doesn't have a cure for. I'm beginning to think that If we were to have a meet, and all contributing to this thread were to show up,...the place would reek of Ben-Gay, and everybody would be raging around in the hover round that they lowered from the bumper of their Buicks!