Don't get old guys.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,850
Likes: 142
From: Tampa, Fl.
Those were the days!
Had the Muncie out, recently,... seemed heavier than that old T10.
Face it guys, we see more of our life in the rear view mirror as opposed to the windshield.
Enjoy each and every day, cherish your loved ones, accept and respect your limitations.
Now, get out there and get some grime under your fingernails!!!
Chuck
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 987
Likes: 7
From: Surrey British Columbia
52 here and I don't think I suffer from getting older so much as having to payback for all of the youthful indescretions I exerted upon my body.
I have arthritis in my left foot from when I broke my big toe as a goaltender in hockey. I had (not so much now after surgery) lower back pain and cyatica from my football days as a running back. And I have an artifical finger joint in my right hand after a line drive crushed my fourth finger as a shortstop. All of these things make me groan when I try to get out of bed in the mornings.
If I could go back and relive those days, I'd have spent more time driving the Corvette with one pretty girl in the right seat, rather than trying to impress lots of girls with my so-called athletic prowness.
I have arthritis in my left foot from when I broke my big toe as a goaltender in hockey. I had (not so much now after surgery) lower back pain and cyatica from my football days as a running back. And I have an artifical finger joint in my right hand after a line drive crushed my fourth finger as a shortstop. All of these things make me groan when I try to get out of bed in the mornings.
If I could go back and relive those days, I'd have spent more time driving the Corvette with one pretty girl in the right seat, rather than trying to impress lots of girls with my so-called athletic prowness.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 94
Likes: 5
From: Woodstock GA
I started reading this and thought, boy i can relate. I'm 53 and even just a few years ago would crawl under the car and just slide the 4 speed out, lay it on my chest and slide it to the concrete floor to do a clutch job. Two weekends ago i aquired a new project, a '71 Nova 4 speed. The throwout bearing was making a little noise, so i figured i'd just pop it out and back in. Boy i couldn't do it like i had before, had to actually get the tranny jack out as i couldn't press it like i did only a fes years ago. damn.
Don
Don
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,616
Likes: 350
From: No Where USA
I started reading this and thought, boy i can relate. I'm 53 and even just a few years ago would crawl under the car and just slide the 4 speed out, lay it on my chest and slide it to the concrete floor to do a clutch job. Two weekends ago i aquired a new project, a '71 Nova 4 speed. The throwout bearing was making a little noise, so i figured i'd just pop it out and back in. Boy i couldn't do it like i had before, had to actually get the tranny jack out as i couldn't press it like i did only a fes years ago. damn.
Don
Don
Thats what I mean. I laid on the floor and went to pick up that 4 speed and my brain said pickup and my arms said are you kidding. I got it in. Instead of using my brawn I used my mind and figured out how to get it in with the least effort. I always said that I would not let a machine beat me.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 225
Likes: 1
St. Jude Donor '12
Well, I turn 60 next month and after two heart attacks I am now drawing SS Disability and Union Pension with Retirement but I've got no complaints cause up to now it's been great. I've got three Grand Baby Girls who think I hang the moon and I get to spoil them rotten which aggravates my kids (ain't it great to get to still make them mad at us and have someone love us for it). I still manage to work on my Vette projects and am making good progress on my 73 project. I sure can't do the things I use to but I really enjoy the things I can. So for you young people, enjoy, life is great, even with all the restrictions.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,865
Likes: 1
From: I may be getting old but I refuse to grow up
I started reading this and thought, boy i can relate. I'm 53 and even just a few years ago would crawl under the car and just slide the 4 speed out, lay it on my chest and slide it to the concrete floor to do a clutch job. Two weekends ago i aquired a new project, a '71 Nova 4 speed. The throwout bearing was making a little noise, so i figured i'd just pop it out and back in. Boy i couldn't do it like i had before, had to actually get the tranny jack out as i couldn't press it like i did only a fes years ago. damn.
Don
Don
I benched the 3 spd auto back into my Gran Prix some years ago, at 53 I wouldn't even try it today.
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 465
Likes: 18
From: NorthEast
40 and a city firefighter, and because of my job and pride I keep myself in great physical condition. Retired from the military last year and on my last PT test I scored a 95 out of a 100. I beat all the youngsters hands down, I had to ask them where are all the "come on old man" jokes now. 
I will say this I'm not as quick off the truck as I was when I was 19, I have lost half a step, but I have learned technique will beat out bullish strength anyday. Only 18 more years and I retire. My 16 & 17 year old sons that think they can take the "old man" learn very quickly what dad strength is. Now if I could only remember where I parked my 'Vette...........
I will say this I'm not as quick off the truck as I was when I was 19, I have lost half a step, but I have learned technique will beat out bullish strength anyday. Only 18 more years and I retire. My 16 & 17 year old sons that think they can take the "old man" learn very quickly what dad strength is. Now if I could only remember where I parked my 'Vette...........
old age and treachery, beats young and dumb, everytime
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 3
From: Lehigh county Pennsylvania
At 62 I still managed to R&R that 70 something pound Muncie on my creeper last year but it took me 2 tries. Ever since, I've been thinking about installing a removable cross member as that was the sticking point...not the weight but wiggling the input shaft into the Lakewood bell after shoving the tailshaft over that cross member.
Now that I think back on that McLeod dual disk clutch install, it wasn't so much the trans that was tiring but dialing in the bell.
Position the dial indicator at 12 o'clock, crawl back out, get off the creeper, climb onto a milk crate, turn the engine over 1/4 turn with a breaker bar on the crank snout, get back on the creeper, slide underneath to check the dial indicator reading...times 100 until I got it within .005" TIR.
Before I do all that again I think I'll have to get a trans jack and a remote view camera!
As an old Veteran once told me, "Son, it's no fun getting old." I'm getting to know what he meant.
Now that I think back on that McLeod dual disk clutch install, it wasn't so much the trans that was tiring but dialing in the bell.
Position the dial indicator at 12 o'clock, crawl back out, get off the creeper, climb onto a milk crate, turn the engine over 1/4 turn with a breaker bar on the crank snout, get back on the creeper, slide underneath to check the dial indicator reading...times 100 until I got it within .005" TIR.
Before I do all that again I think I'll have to get a trans jack and a remote view camera!
As an old Veteran once told me, "Son, it's no fun getting old." I'm getting to know what he meant.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 279
From: Olmsted Falls, Ohio
I agree!
Turned 70 this year and for the last year or so I've had to ask the wife and/or stepson to help me lift things. Embarrassing to realize that life is not what it used to be!
Turned 70 this year and for the last year or so I've had to ask the wife and/or stepson to help me lift things. Embarrassing to realize that life is not what it used to be!
Pro
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 543
Likes: 10
From: B.F.E....Bowling Green Kentucky
hmmm... I disagree with that somewhat, I'd love to go back to my young and dumb and carefree days, just for the day. All I cared about was 1. What am I gonna do this weekend? 2. Do I got enough $$ to do it with?
And even if I didn't, I could always find something to get into. No bills to pay, no kids to raise, no house, just had one old beater Mustang to feed gas and upkeep, didn't care if I held a job, none of this 'responsibility' stuff I'm trying to teach my own kids (that's best learned the hard way). Didn't have a pot to pee in, but life was so much easier. And of course, no aches, pains, or stress. It's not all bad, I have a bit of pride when I look around and think, wow, I did this all by my self! Then when I get too greedy long for those things I don't have, I have the older generation tell me to be patient, thats what they worked all their lives to achieve. Guess that's one way to look at it! My mind says GO GO GO, my body says WHOA!!
And even if I didn't, I could always find something to get into. No bills to pay, no kids to raise, no house, just had one old beater Mustang to feed gas and upkeep, didn't care if I held a job, none of this 'responsibility' stuff I'm trying to teach my own kids (that's best learned the hard way). Didn't have a pot to pee in, but life was so much easier. And of course, no aches, pains, or stress. It's not all bad, I have a bit of pride when I look around and think, wow, I did this all by my self! Then when I get too greedy long for those things I don't have, I have the older generation tell me to be patient, thats what they worked all their lives to achieve. Guess that's one way to look at it! My mind says GO GO GO, my body says WHOA!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 3
From: Lehigh county Pennsylvania
Bruce sang it best:
Now i think I'm going down to the well tonight
And I'm going to drink till i get my fill
And i hope when i get old i don't sit around thinking about it
But i probably will
Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture
A little of the glory of, well time slips away
And leaves you with nothing mister but
Boring stories of glory days
Glory days well they'll pass you by
Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory days, glory days, glory days.
And I'm going to drink till i get my fill
And i hope when i get old i don't sit around thinking about it
But i probably will
Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture
A little of the glory of, well time slips away
And leaves you with nothing mister but
Boring stories of glory days
Glory days well they'll pass you by
Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory days, glory days, glory days.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,487
Likes: 83
From: Titusville Florida
I am putting a 383 in my 80. The car has a 4 speed. It seemed to come out easy but when I went to get it back in....
The last time I had a 4 speed car I was 25. When I changed a clutch I would just pick the tranny up, while laying on my back and slide it in.
29 years later I am putting the trans in figured I could do the same. Went to pick up the tranny while on my back and my arms couldn't pick it up. Had to jack it up and jiggle it in. It don't get easier.
The last time I had a 4 speed car I was 25. When I changed a clutch I would just pick the tranny up, while laying on my back and slide it in.
29 years later I am putting the trans in figured I could do the same. Went to pick up the tranny while on my back and my arms couldn't pick it up. Had to jack it up and jiggle it in. It don't get easier.
, 40 years later I'm even worse
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Growing older has meant a lot of things, including losing a wife to cancer. My '71 has a place in my time with her is part of getting the car up to speed. Yup, there are aches, pains, and heartache, but it's the love I choose to remember. Wouldn't have missed that for nothing.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,487
Likes: 83
From: Titusville Florida
Growing older has meant a lot of things, including losing a wife to cancer. My '71 has a place in my time with her is part of getting the car up to speed. Yup, there are aches, pains, and heartache, but it's the love I choose to remember. Wouldn't have missed that for nothing.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 281
From: New York
As I get older, I try to be smarter. Yep, I used to put the tranny on my chest and wiggle it for hours until it finally went in the pilot bushing. Now, the smarter way, you get a clutch alignment tool and a jack for the tranny. It goes in, no sweat.