http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6161&item=4526899230&rd=1

Why? I know how much you wanted this car please don't sell it....

Man, that sucks http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/frown.gif

Do what'cha gotta do I guess.

You know if I had the money and space I would buy it, at least it would get a good dry home.

Welcome to the drama that is my life...
It probably isn't going anywhere. I set the reserve pretty high (reasonable but high). I didn't really want to sell it but I guess anything is for sale at the right price.

Basically the wife and I are having a lot of problems right now. Money is the root of most of them but not everything. It's not that I don't have money but we've mismanaged my money so much and for so long that we are in kind of a bad spot. My failure was that I grew up in a house where the man went to work and brought home the paycheck and the wife took care of it after that. We did that (the wife and I) for the first few years but since we've had kids she can't keep a house, manage the kids, and deal with bills and i've been so busy with this startup company that I just haven't had a moment to spare really (ok, that might be kind of an excuse but it has a grain of truth).
At any rate, we need a new roof, things are going to collections, blah blah blah. I never have a spare minute to touch the car, etc.
I'm just feeling frustrated and that car has been a huge point of contention in my marriage. She's said things, i've said things and were teetering on a divorce so with all that going on I can't even feel good about having it. The wife is now freaking out that I want to get rid of it and begging me not to, Not because she wants my personal happiness intact but because she doesn't want to be bothered by my grief.
The problem now is that I can barely stand to look at that car, I worked so hard to get it and now it feels tainted. I get a sick feeling everytime I walk by it.

The reality is that this will all pass, and no one is going to give me what what I have into it but it does make me feel a little bit better to torture the wife while the things on eBay.
I'm sure I am not making a lot of sense, i'm just frustrated. I thought life would be different than it is right now.
Sorry to vent, i'm just so angry right now. I'm feeling a little cheated by the whole marriage thing. I wanted two things in life, literally... a career and a camaro. I didn't really care what else happened after that. I know it sounds stupid but it's true.
I married about 5 years ago and since then have bought her the house she wanted, agreed to have 2 more kids even though I already had two, bought her probably $20,000 in jewelry, bought her the SUV she wanted, allow her to stay home with the kids instead of working, buy all the memberships to the zoo, omsi, rec centers, etc. that kids like these days, we have a nanny one day a week, the list just goes on. On top of that I gave up the career path I LOVED because I was on the road too much to help with our babies. The career thing is still good but not what I would have chosen for myself had it been soley up to me.
I just look at the money I am hemmoraging in every direction (I added up $1400 in starbucks receipts for 2004 the other day). But I have to hide money or get in a big fight to justify purchases every couple of months for that car.
I'm just really tired of the contention, the car was supposed to be all about fun, togetherness, family time cruising, etc. Now it's just a albatross of failure.

Like I said, sorry to vent it's just been heaping up for a while. I'm sure I'll be cool again as soon as I take it around the block again and leave some rubber and frustration behind me.

I'll keep everyone posted on whether some rich dumb millionaire comes to my door or not. But realistically speaking it's probably staying right where it is.


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1970 Base Coupe ~ Under Construction/Rescuewww.projectgofast.com (http://www.projectgofast.com)

Just as Jeff and me figured, something deeper then just money...its okay to vent thats what we are here for. Trust me I have been there and sold one (my purple 73) to spare Jeff's feelings and all he heard about was my grief. When it came down last time to selling the 70 or my Blazer I chose the Blazer because I knew in my heart we would never mend that wound from selling our favorite car. There have been times when I have hated this hobby and it makes me feel guilty to even spend money on it but then I remember at least we aren't out at the bar drinking or chasing tail (sorry to be so blunt) but instead we are at home in the garage spending time together with the kids. If the Camaro needs something I can plan ahead sock away a few bucks here and there and it doesn't have to have insurance on it since its parked.

Please don't get divorced its not your fault and its not hers, maybe try some counseling. I had to learn how to prioritize my life and what my kids truely need and what they want. We live a basic life and struggle with money also but my children have learned happiness can't be bought its earned (it was a hard lesson for me to learn also since I was so young when I got married and just 4 months later had a baby). Do what I have to do sometimes and just take a break from the Camaro thing for a bit, step back and really look at your whole world and your happiness. This is all coming from experience of almost being divorced once over a money and car issue.

Thanks JDB,
I went home at noon to meet someone that wanted to look at it but he called once I got home and said he couldn't make it today. I warmed it up and took it around the block anyway. Left some gratuitus rubber down the street so I can go drive by and look at it later, ha haa.
It was good medicine. I'm going to call that guy back and just tell him it's sold. I'm going to let the eBay auction ride out as the reserve is pretty high ($2995) so i don't think anyone will come close to it. That way I won't have to pay the $40 for closing the auction early.

As far as the marriage goes, I'm just as much to blame for spoiling her the way I did. Overcompensating for my last marriage probably, who knows? whatever... I don't really care anymore. We'll past this like we always do.



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1970 Base Coupe ~ Under Construction/Rescuewww.projectgofast.com (http://www.projectgofast.com)

hmm $2995 for the reserve? :P

Memmert, I agree totally with what Deanna said. Your marriage is the most important thing. The camaro is well...just a car. You can step back for a while until things get better or sell it and get another one later. Do what is best for your wife and kids.

Getting marrital advice on a camaro forum is weird, isn't it?

You'll only owe me one beer in August http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/tongue.gif



[This message has been edited by Jeremy Benson (edited February 14, 2005).]

Yeah Jeremy, I totally agree; Family first.

That really came into perspective Saturday night.
I was on call and had to go into the office and check on some storage arrays that went offline. It was about 2:30 AM and the bars were just closing I guess. A car came out from a side street running a red light and was coming head on in my lane, luckily we both got stopped in time (our bumpers were literally a foot or two apart). I wasn't even really mad, just shocked. I kept thinking the rest of the way into work that it could have "the end" just that fast, all the sudden all the crap the wife and I are giving each other seemed petty in comparison.
After I was done I went home and watched the boys sleeping then gave the wife a big kiss.
As for the asswipes in the honda, a police cruiser saw the whole thing and caught them before they got out of sight in my rear view mirror.

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1970 Base Coupe ~ Under Construction/Rescuewww.projectgofast.com (http://www.projectgofast.com)

We'll see about that beer...
I almost have the motor swapped in the Neon so as soon as I finish that I can start on the Camaro.

The biggest worry I have the door jamb problem but I looked at it this weekend and it looks like a totally easy fix.
It's just two layers of sheet metal and a thick piece of iron (threaded) that the door striker screws into. Looks like a cake walk to cut out and patch.

Tell me if this is a stupid idea... I've been wanting to get my body parts media blasted before putting them on. What if I rented a high power pressure washer and cleaned them up that way then sprayed them with POR15 on the backside to seal them then just block sanded the surfaces?
The plan all along has been that I would tear the car back down in 4 years when I bought a house with a garage/shop so doing a temp fix doesn't bother me for now.

Good idea? bad idea? stupid, gay, redneck???
What do you all think?

I'm not saying I would NOT sell it now if the right price was offered but it looks like I have the backing of the wife finally and my financial situation is not as dire as I thought it was so maybe it will be a good summer after all.

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1970 Base Coupe ~ Under Construction/Rescuewww.projectgofast.com (http://www.projectgofast.com)

Well didn't come close to your reserve, whew http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/smile.gif

I know how feel wanting to just enjoy it temporarily until you can tear it down and do it right. Its what we did for 2 years with ours just drove it as it was and now we have a nice garage it was time to tear it apart. It still won't be as close as I want it to be to the final dream but financially I don't think that will happen realistically for 8 years (the parts I want are expensive lol).

Just don't over do yourself financially or with your family responsibilities. Let your wife know at least your right outside and to come pull up a stool and talk, its what me and Jeff do when he tinkers on the car and I don't feel like tinkering with him. I find a stool and sit out there and we talk about everything, it helps us stay connected as a couple. You will hopefully find your niche with your wife and she will find the patience to let you have your dream.

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by memmert:
We'll see about that beer...
I almost have the motor swapped in the Neon so as soon as I finish that I can start on the Camaro.

The biggest worry I have the door jamb problem but I looked at it this weekend and it looks like a totally easy fix.
It's just two layers of sheet metal and a thick piece of iron (threaded) that the door striker screws into. Looks like a cake walk to cut out and patch.

</font>

What motor is getting swaped in the neon?
Whats wrong with the jamb? Rusted through?
The por 15 idea is ok

Yeah, I finally posted on the auction page to quit bidding as I was going to keep the car. I thought I could get out of paying insertion fees if no one met the reserve, (not likely it would have met the reserve anyway).

I agree JDB there's no reason the "car thing" has to be a wedge between us. I would LOVE it if she came out and just chatted with me when I was working on the car sometimes. She's coming around, I'll bet the first time I teach her how to lay wicked long rubber she'll be a convert.

Regardless, it's still with me for now so It looks like a bright summer ahead.

OK.. The Neon is just a stock motor replacement, I blew the original motor. I think it really nuked the bottom end, I might tear into it tomorrow, if it's cool I will post pics.

The door jamb is the damndest thing. The sheet metal broke in a star pattern around that post that sticks out of the jamb itself. I took the vent out and can see that it's just two layers of sheet metal and a threaded piece of thick stock behind it sandwiching the sheetmetal in between. there are some tangs sticking out to hold the thick stock in place it looks like but Overall it looks like a really simple job of cutting out the broken area and welding in new metal. Since it's a totally flat spot I don't have to worry about curves and corners so i'm anxious to get it fixed next month. As soon as that's done I will start stripping the old funky interior and prepping for the new interior.

Yeah, I think a gnarly PSI pressure washer like 3000 or higher will be more than adequate to clean them up for now. I will probably wait until we sell this house to purchase the big Air Compresser I want since I will have to have a high voltage run installed.

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1970 Base Coupe ~ Under Construction/Rescuewww.projectgofast.com (http://www.projectgofast.com)