Late Night Realizations- Automotive Soul Searching

"TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma" (TillTheWheelsFallOff) 03/11/2014 at 01:58 • Filed to: None

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TL;DR at the end if you don't feel like reading all of this.

Today sucked.

The sun was shining, a light breeze was blowing, and class was cancelled. I decided to tend to the pile of parts in my dorm room and maybe install my bumper. Jacked the truck up, unscrewed all of the right screws and tried to remove the grille, it wouldn't come off. After a hour, I said screw it and when I decided to lower the truck. As I was picking my tools off the ground I inspected my mud coated suspension. The UCA was rubbing on my resi line. Well, shit. I fiddled for that for a half a hour and ended up being too flustered to get anything done and wait to use the shop.

Back story: A couple weeks ago, I asked a fellow member of the 4x4 club I'm in if I could use his shop, he agreed to ask, but he has been busy and I've been waiting to use his lift and help.

Sitting here I realized I can't sit my ass and expect that one day I'll get it done. I'm fearful that those previous thoughts are an indicator of an ever rising boredom and frustration with my truck. Partly, I think it's a lack of a good workspace, but ultimately it's my current irritability with every thing(school, roommate). My truck is still my escape, I even drove out of town to find some dirt yesterday, but why don't I love working on it as much as I used to?

Last year, I installed everything in the winter with my Carhartt soaked from the snow and ice, busted knuckles, and a smile on my face , now, in perfect spring weather I swear and scowl. I even miss the summer before moving to school when the Chinese soft top I ordered wouldn't fit on the back of my truck all the while my buddies blasted Christian gospel from the cab to instigate my ever-rising temper.

What is it? I'll figure it out, but I won't be giving up the keys, that's for sure.

Have you ever been there, Oppo?

TL;DR: Frustrated with parts installation. Worried I might be losing love for my truck. Have you been there?

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma 03/11/2014 at 02:06

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Everyone's been there. I wrestle with that on my Audi every time I think I've got something figured out but I don't. My current issue is an inability to get a sensor off because it requires a, and I'm not making this up, a socket greater than 30mm. Gets better, overall depth of the driver + socket can't really exceed about 3-4 inches. That ONE SENSOR has been hours of frustration that is limiting my turbo's boost and engine performance. And this is all before needing new suspension and any drivetrain work.

But, I have faith it will all be worth it. The car is rare, and a TON of fun when it works. I'm also getting a brand new car here soon so I won't have to do work just to have a functioning car. Give it some time. Your car is a relationship, it will have its ups and downs.

TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 03/11/2014 at 02:09

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Textured Soy Protein > TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma 03/11/2014 at 02:10

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Yeah, it's happened to me. I had a '99 Miata that in 2008 needed a new radiator and soft top. Reasonable things for a 9 year old car to need, but I didn't want to sink the money into it and needed a more practical car so I traded it in on a Mazdaspeed 6.

Within a few years after getting it, the MS6 developed rust problems. I had work done on the rear quarter panels and hood. Spent at least $1500. But the rust came back in the rear quarters, and other places like the front strut towers, windshield frame, the rear passenger door skin. I didn't want to spend thousands more to fix the rust and was really getting fed up with the super squeaky and rattly interior, so I traded it in for a BMW 135is.

That's not to say I'll never buy a Mazda again, but I'm a little wary.

TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma > Textured Soy Protein 03/11/2014 at 02:11

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Sucks to hear about your troubles with Mazdas. I hope you're enjoying your BMW!

Textured Soy Protein > TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma 03/11/2014 at 02:15

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I don't blame the Miata—it was old and in and of itself a radiator and top aren't like crazy things to replace. The MS6 though, the rust was pretty bad and that was way too new of a car to have that much rust.

The 135is, it's a lease and BMW has free maintenance. All I have to pay for is insurance, gas and tires. Sure there's no trade-in value at the end but I was sick of dealing with fixing up old cars.

Then of course I had to go and get the idiotic idea that instead of putting snow tires on the thing, I was just going to buy an old SUV and ended up with a '99 Grand Cherokee which...I've had to put some money into. Nothing much, but still. It's a piece of crap and I love it for what it is.

Milky > TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma 03/11/2014 at 02:24

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My car currently hasn't moved for a damn week and its upsetting, so I think I know your feels.

Short story is the water pump went out, I ordered a REALLY cheap one off ebay and it broke bolting it on …. in 3 places. Got a new brand name one coming in but its depressing having the car just sit there.

I think where we differ thug is I'm super excited to get back behind the wheel, I want to go drive sooooooooo bad.

wabbastang > TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma 03/11/2014 at 02:49

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10 minutes till hour ruel! What will come of it??

Lets Just Drive > TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma 03/11/2014 at 04:01

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I fall in and out of love with my car, and different cars, more often than they killed Kenny, you bastards.

It's perfectly normal, and healthy. Take all that passion, take all that contempt, take all that disregard and/or regard, and put it into your automotive soul. This will make your marriage a happy, lasting one (or, at least, that's what I tell my wife).

Yesterday, I wanted these six cars.

Today, I want these ten.

Tomorrow, I may want just these three.

And the day after that I may just be happy with what I have.

TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma > Lets Just Drive 03/11/2014 at 10:13

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That was poetic. Thanks man.

OrangeJuice > TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma 03/11/2014 at 10:18

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This happens to me every once in a while. After replacing my turbo in my 2002 WRX last August, things having been the same. I just had to replace some vacuum lines last weekend, and honestly I've been stalling it out because I don't want to deal with it. I don't want to deal with the rock hard rubber lines that baked in the engine bay. I was just glad that I ordered the hose from the intake cause that ended up snapping right off. All I have to do now is save up for a year or so to afford a newer WRX, so I don't have to go through all of this right off the bat. A part of me is dreading the build that my friend and I are going to do to my car once I get a new one, but at least I can take comfort in knowing that it doesn't have to be done right away so I can go to school and work.

Lets Just Drive > TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma 03/11/2014 at 12:06

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Mr T pitties the fool... a lot.

RotaryLover > TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma 03/13/2014 at 00:54

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I just went there. I have a NA miata that has wayyy too much stuff to fix...and since I don't feel like doing all the work and add a shitload of money on it, I decided to get an NC with everything that I wanted already.