George Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 I know all about the stress, the ups and downs of a project but what about the other stuff behind the scenes that rarely gets mentioned? The stress, financial and emotional, placed on your partner and/or family members. How do/did you deal with it? What are your experiences, your regrets and tips having completed (or are in the middle of) a multi-year project? Quote
sydney mike Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 My experience doesn't relate to a "project" as such but in a way I guess all our Zeds are in a way projects because we continue to improve them all the time. When I put a deposit down around 7 years ago on HS30-00233 my wife and I had a big blue on the way home. The next day I called the owner and told him to keep my deposit and I couldn't go through with the sale. He was really good about it, being married himself and refunded my money. The rest is history. For the last few years, having some family health issues and last Nov I got some not so good news regarding my health (I'll live) and I started a fire sale of some of my other hobby pieces and unwanted Datsun and Zed parts. I actually wrote the ad to put my Zed up for sale but my missus actually talked me out of it. She also gave me the green light to spend some money on it. So I guess better late than never, I might start a Zed journal for RS30-015093. cheer, Mike. Quote
Riceburner Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 I'm sure these plenty of us who'd love to see the journal Mike! I only did a short refresh on my car but it still got the better of me a few times. I'd definitely say with any build schedule in some regular car free time, get away from it and refresh the body/mind. You'll come back with more enthusiasm too. Quote
dat240z Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 My Mrs pushed me to commence the 240z build as she knew we how much the car meant to me. I am 30, and shes 25 (been together 6yrs), the z and I have been together 10 yrs! . Together we have 3 properties, no kids and have done a lot of hard work to get where we are at. I guess she saw ive done the 'sensible and hard slog' and that lifes not all about smart investments and counting coins... its about moderation, having fun, doing the right thing and enjouying yourself. Since I began the build its been a rollercoaster of excitement when new parts/ideas arrive/completed tasks, disappointment when things go missing, dont work, and frustration that some stages are taking forever!! In all though, a project should be rewarding and enjoyable... thats why we do it! Im sure we all agree the end results will be worth it!! My advice is plan it three times, do it once. Dont skimp on quality parts or people (you get what you pay for), and budget wisely! My experience suggests whatever you spend on parts, double that for labour and misc and you should be close. Or learn some skills and DIY to save $$$$ Quote
AussieZed Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 My wife has always loved the idea of me having a project, and through the tough times was the one that stopped me selling up. I reckon as long as you are willing to put the dust cover on it whe the family needs time and don't spend $$ you don't have, then a big project is good... gives you something to dream about when the job, mortgage, hairline etc are all getting you down. And being a happy chappy makes me less of a pain in the whasit to the family. Quote
1600dave Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 My wife sends me down the shed when I annoy her - just look on it as marital stress relief. Hmm, maybe that didn't come out right.... Seriously though, we both have hobbies that the other doesn't partake in, my project has been going for 7 or 8 years so the financial burden has been spread over a long period, I only spend what we can spare, and I don't put the project ahead of the rest of the family's needs. Being able to down tools when needed is probably the most important skill - I haven't touched mine for over 12 months now due to family illness (parents with Dementia). I'm lucky also in that I enjoy doing the work as much as the finished project, so I don't feel the pressure to get it finished just so I can drive / enjoy it - I enjoy the tinkering in the shed. Quote
peter t Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 My Z took four years to get on the road and a lot of dollars that the wife thought was going to be a project and a hobby so I could have something to do in my retirement. Alas I am not a person to start something and not get it finished asap. So now we have a car to enjoy and drive around whenever in a much faster time than was anticipated . Down side, spent a lot of dollars. Up side, I have a car that I, sorry we can enjoy and the funeral insurance is taken care of. As long as someone out there will buy my Z off my family when I kick the bucket. Quote
be-zed Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 Sorry Guys, there are no Long term Projects .There are just projects and they last as long as you are a Z owner. As for your love Ones . You got to make them think it is their idea to do all this work and that there is money at the end of it. Problem is at some point they will catch on there is no end. It is simple enough , you start out buying your childhood dream of a sports car(not quite what you were hoping it would be) and set yourself a list of things to do and a time table to do it in. First thing you do is burn the time table because that will never work.This is followed by the brillant idea of getting a donor car for the project . Problem with that is you can not bear to pull it apart and decide it is worth fixing as well . Need a wreck! By this time you come to the realisation I NEED A BIGGER SHED. But it doesn't matter because you will find that no matter how big the shed is . It will always need to be bigger.Shelving ,racks, over head crane, hoist ,none of it you can afford . But hay got to have it.So now you have an engineering complex and filled it with 2 1/2 dead Z's .Now you decide you need a working example as a guide to restore the dead bodies piling up in your shed . Ten years have gone by now and you might have 2 cars working .You take at least one along to an event .First thing you see is other peoples projects and think to yourself .I COULD DO WHAT THEY DID and the whole process starts over again. I have seen this happen to so many times.Is this you! Quote
Brabham Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 Hahahaha be-zed is right! You then decide it would have been far cheaper and easier to buy a working zed but by this stage you have no money left! Quote
PeterAllen Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 ... and the funeral insurance is taken care of.... I agree Peter, the funeral cost won't be my concern when I'm gone. George - If SWMBO isn’t onboard then don’t even start, however, there are ways to encourage her to walk up the gangway. I mentioned things like the two of us cruising through the Hunter vineyards and The Great Ocean Road and Tassie, whilst listening to Andre Rieu – I failed to mention there will be no audio system fitted! All good relationships are give and take so I encourage SWMBO to also ‘do her own thing’ and she is a season ticket holder with The Sydney Theatre Company where she goes with a girlfriend (hers) and she had a two week holiday in Italy with some friends. This means that car funds are limited but still flowing. I’m not afraid to remind her that it’s a two-way street and each time she returns from the hairdresser with a $200 cut, or whatever they call it, I remind her that’s the same price as some widget for the car. There seems to be a general rule about projects; - very carefully plan a schedule and costing, - revise with a very pessimistic focus, - multiply you final schedule and costing by four, - live with it. Quote
sydney mike Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 I'm sure these plenty of us who'd love to see the journal Mike! Cheers Gareth, I'll start work on it! Mike. Quote
peter t Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 Hahahaha be-zed is right! You then decide it would have been far cheaper and easier to buy a working zed but by this stage you have no money left! Trouble is you buy a working Z and then the bug hits. ;D Quote
George Posted February 1, 2014 Author Posted February 1, 2014 Appreciate all the comments. Peter, it's not that my wife is not on board, I'm just trying to make it as stress-free as possible for her. She's excited for me but I'm concerned this might put a strain on our relationship at some stage so I'm trying to learn from those who have done it. Strange that you mention the Sydney Theatre Company. She loves the theatre so I'll have to look into that. Mike, look forward to the journal. Your car is an excellent survivor! Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.