Quote from fake "Also as far as lifting i could barely replace the rear tire on my C4 the other day. Does any one make a cradle lift to pick these wide monsters up to establish position for the wheel studs?"

You can replace your tires easily by using a shovel under the tire and rock it into place with the handle.

 

Very timely and accurate thread!! I'll be 71 next month,,, After I slipped and fell hard on a a wet plastic tarp I was washing in the driveway last summer,,, I decided to try to replace teh rear springs and all brake lines on my 30+ YO Dodge van I kept for firewood hauling, and to evaluate the injury/recovery.... Did it on the ground, with an OA torch to loosen teh rusty hardware...Took a couple weeks but I did it!!! Took more than a couple weeks to recover, tho!!!
Be safe out there!!! Gettin older each day,,,

 

We need to start a Del-Webb type community for old car guys. Even if we're all old and stove-in, there would be many of us to cheer, jeer, and help out. The place could have a central 'shop area' replacing the usual club house, where us old farts could swap lies, wistfully talk of the past, and, occasionally, actually help each other on our cars. Imagine a placid, safe community, chock-full of senior citizens driving high horsepower cars as if they were teenagers. Where can I sign up?

 

The more I read on this thread, the greater tendency I have to put off the pending projects I need to do. I recently discovered that my 57 is in need of front suspension work, yet I’m already overthinking what can go wrong! After all, car only has a slight shimmy, so probably ok to wait a bit to fix, right? On the other hand, the longer I wait, I’m not gonna get any younger or stronger to tackle it! Oh the agony!!

 

I thought the comic was appropriate for this thread.

I am a bit younger than most of you, I'm only 58, but I was diagnosed with slow progressing ALS four years ago (Lou Gehrig's disease). While I have challenged and rewarded myself throughout my life, I expected more mobility to chase hobbies in retirement. Up to, and shortly after, my diagnosis I was still bicycling 30-50 mile weekends and enjoying 300 mile motorcycle days. That endurance and active job walks ended after the first year, while my official work separation and retirement date was last month. The lack of muscle dexterity and raw strength had me eliminate most of my hobby plans, and has me working smarter rather than harder, with more reliance on others (usually my seventeen year old son). There is no ALS treatment and no drugs to take, so I don't have the medication problems other's do, I just adapt and deal with ALS as it progresses. I can still drive my 63', and get in and out (slowly), but if I fall to the ground I need help to get vertical. I now hang with the wheelchairs and scooter mob at sporting events. My driving day's will end soon, but I can still help other's (where explaining the 'how' to my son keeps me in practice). I am one of the lucky one's that is still alive, and so are each of you. Don't put anything off. Capitalize on younger help when it appears, and pass on the knowledge and experience.

 

Damn. That truly sucks. ALS is cruel. I'm very sorry to hear you've been hit by it. Here's wishing you all the best, and a very slow progression. You've shared some wisdom and good advice in this post. Thanks for that.

Live well,

SJW

 

Wow, that's tough to read. Makes my old age aches and pains a non-issue.

 

My sincere sympathies. I lost a dear cousin to ALS, a horrible disease.

Jim

 

Ditto!

 

I just read 63 340's post. Forget everything I've complained about, healthwise, in this thread. I don't have any problems.

Ed - thank you for giving us all a little perspective. I wish you the best, my friend.

I'm not a Biblical scholar but isn't there something in there that says, "I felt sorry for myself because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet"?

Steve

 

As I said earlier, I count my blessings daily. And after reading this - more than ever.

 

And, I'll second that sentiment. Just turned 70, feel like 50, act like 40. We'll see how long that lasts.

 

This is an excellent idea even from the eyes of a guy a generation behind you. But please, no HOA!

 

I felt sorry for myself because I had no girlfriend until I met a man who had no hands.

 

…. knew it, just knew it …

 

I'm sorry to read this happened to you, 63 340. , .. I wish you all the best having to deal with this disease. My ex wife from a first marriage has ALS. She is 66 and was diagnosed with ALS several years ago. My oldest daughter tells me her mom gets out and about with the use of a wheel chair to attend the grandkids baseball games and other family functions. My daughter says her mom is holding her own pretty well.

We just never know. Soon to be 70, I thought I was cruising along in ok shape until diagnosed with chronic active hepatitis 18 months ago. The doc said a liver biopsy showed I've had this condition for some time. Until a flare up came about (hives, feeling extremely weak), that was the only clue I had something was going on. Before that, I never felt any symptoms. I was getting yearly physical exams, including blood tests. Why this wasn't picked up or what triggered the disease I don't know.

Five weeks ago saw a bad cold cold end up as a 3 day stay in the hospital for rapid irregular heartbeat. Didn't see that one coming.

Doing the best you can for as long as you can.......right on!

John

 

My condolences as well, 63 340. I lost a dear friend 3 years ago next month to ALS. He was 56, and one of the most high functioning, athletic, disciplined, and talented guys I ever met. He went to Europe about a year before he passed, and got to fly in a P-51 Mustang, as well as all kinds of other 'bucket list' stuff. He said he had no regrets....a much stronger and better man than I, I'm afraid. Hang in there, and kick as much butt as you can while you can. My buddy was gone 1.5 years after his diagnosis....we all thought he would have a lot more time. God Bless everybody out here, and take care.

 

I guess it’s old age, I don’t know, I would really like a logical explanation for it. I see fine, going down the road I can read small signs, but I lose stuff all the time and I look and look and finally, there it is, right there on the workbench that I looked at six times! Don’t understand why I couldn’t see it. Very frustrating!

 

Ha,ha, when my kids ask me how my back is I always tell them I have a new pain so I forgot about my back pain and so on.
I do believe you can control most pain with your mind but only to a certain extent.
I just turned 65 and I'm still working, not because I have to but because I'm afraid to quit.
I've been to quite a few funerals lately and most have been right after their retirement.
I have to admit I'm a workaholic. I don't know how to relax for very long. Even when I go on vacation I struggle after 2-3 days of doing nothing.
I have an Auto Repair shop and I have one mechanic that does all the big heavy work. I mostly do the small light duty jobs and run the shop.
On weekends I work on my two homes so I'm always remodeling something.
I rarely drive the Vette any more, usually it's only to cruise nights when I can get out of work early. The traffic is so bad in the Boston area that if I can't leave work by 2pm I won't go.
I know I'm the boss but if we are real busy I feel compelled to stay and make sure the work gets done.

 

Same thing happened to me a few years ago on my 65, had to call a buddy to help me reinstall the trans. Was really surprised how much trouble I was having when I had done this in the past many times before by myself. I still will not outsource anything on the 65 as I just don't trust anyone local to work on this car. I do however outsource my DD maintenance as they are not worth my effort and too complicated.

Disclaimer- I would rather take an *** beating than pull a 4-speed trans out of a C-2/C-3.