Above 1200 Sq/FT The Warthog Hidey Hole

[rixtrix1]

I decided to go back a bit further- great grab on the Viper! That's the best body design and color, IMO! I did get to drive one of the ACR models and have to say it was the most brutal factory car I'd driven. A neighbor had one he only drove on track days and the maintenance costs were enormous- Clutch $7500, brakes $2500/corner twice a year, 2 sets of tires/year for another $7000. Gotta pay to go fast, and he did all the work on the car himself, When he turned 75, he replaced the Viper with an LS1 Honda S2000 Hasn't had to replace anything but 2 tires in 2 years....

 

[jbmatth]

Checkin back in after forever, JB. Chair and "new" truck look great

Back when the old cars weren't that old, my cousin had a '68 Mustang GT. We swapped a 610" Boss-429 he got from a tractor puller. Didn't really need a transmission with that one, but the toploader was fun. However, under full go the front end was so high and got so light at around 100 that's all we ever took it to, momentarily. College for me was 110 miles away on deserted 2-lane state highways. I wasn't working that year so money for gas was tight. I put a 2.73 rear in my '66 Chevelle and after putting a piece of 6' wide flat at a 45 degree angle under the front bumper, the car got extremely stable at 120+. With some 60 mile of open road, I'd let her eat and get home quick, but a roommate had me beat. He had a '69 SS396/375HP and was 350 miles from home in South Dakota, For school, the M-22 came out and was replaced with a Saginaw 4-speed with an overdrive from a Saginaw 3-speed stuck on it, and the same 2.73 rear. We added the front spoiler to his car and immediately it became a joy to drive at speed. While acceleration wasn't it's forte, he would blow away my Powerglide equipped SBC. Both cars were heavily modded and would pull 6000 RPM which is crazy fast on farm store tires, but we had much less worries back in the early 1970's!

I had hoped the highway gears in the '66 Mustang would contribute to better MPG, but that has not proven to be true. I have only put two tanks through it and haven't even gotten up to 15 MPG yet. It is almost pointless to shift into 5th gear before 65 mph (~110 kph) as it just lugs the engine.

I decided to go back a bit further- great grab on the Viper! That's the best body design and color, IMO! I did get to drive one of the ACR models and have to say it was the most brutal factory car I'd driven. A neighbor had one he only drove on track days and the maintenance costs were enormous- Clutch $7500, brakes $2500/corner twice a year, 2 sets of tires/year for another $7000. Gotta pay to go fast, and he did all the work on the car himself, When he turned 75, he replaced the Viper with an LS1 Honda S2000 Hasn't had to replace anything but 2 tires in 2 years....

If he had the carbon ceramic brakes I could see why, those are astronomical in cost. So far on the Viper I've only had to change the tires, oil, and that failed power steering pump pully.

All,
I've done some odds and ends around the shop but due to life right now I likely won't be doing much more there. I'll explain more in a few months.

JB

 

[Finallygotit]

All,
I've done some odds and ends around the shop but due to life right now I likely won't be doing much more there. I'll explain more in a few months.

JB

Well that sounds a bit ominous.

 

[zanyad]

due to life right now I likely won't be doing much more there. I'll explain more in a few months.

Hope things work out well in the end. Hang in there!

 

[jbmatth]

Well that sounds a bit ominous.

Not entirely, don't you worry, the cobra is still going to be with me for a very long time, likely the Viper too, I took it on an 800 mile trip this weekend, I'm falling head over heels for it too.

Hope things work out well in the end. Hang in there!

All good, well not all good, but will be better in the end. If a problem can be solved with time and money is it even a problem?

JB

 

[bowtiguy]

you alright over there in that flyover state?

 

[MrPink]

you alright over there in that flyover state?

From what i am understanding JB got a new gig on a oil field and will be busy for a while.

 

[jbmatth]

you alright over there in that flyover state?

@bowtiguy, I'm doing as well as I can, I'll update everyone eventually but not just yet. I have been able to get the cobra out for a few little drives but nothing crazy. No fun projects, just oil changes and replacing spark plugs in the Saturn that burned nearly all of the electrode in 25,000 miles (40,000 km).

From what i am understanding JB got a new gig on a oil field and will be busy for a while.

@MrPink, I'm still basically doing the same as I was for the last 15 years, in a refinery not the oil field so much steadier hours but life has handed me a curve ball so working through that slowly. I and everyone in my family are healthy so no worries there.

Keep Moving Forward,
JB

 

[Finallygotit]

Thanks for the brief update JB. I was getting a bit concerned.

 

[jbmatth]

Thanks for the brief update JB. I was getting a bit concerned.

Of course, I'm glad some have checked in and shown concern, it has been a humbling experience. I am still trying to keep track of others threads but don't have anything to post on my own.

JB

 

[zanyad]

hehe...

 

[Finallygotit]

Well sufferin' succotash!!

 

[jbmatth]

hehe...

@zanyad,
I've heard and seen that before, it is pretty entertaining once you see it. Also just to spread a little more info the Viper emblem changed throughout the years, here they are:

So my 1999 has the Sneaky Pete emblem as can be seen in this photo from I think last year:

Well sufferin' succotash!!

Complete honesty here, I always thought he said suckerin' succotash, I may have to look into that one. hmmm

JB

 

[jbmatth]

Well I've hinted at it long enough I feel like I need to come clean. I'm now over 8 months into getting divorced, to say it is a pain in the backside would be an understatement. I moved out late April and have been in an apartment ever since, I have a 1 car garage so I can keep some tools handy for doing small jobs. The majority of the big stuff is getting sold in an auction, I'll put the link below. The ex is keeping the house, land, and most ranch related equipment. I'm keeping the cobra and the Viper along with my blue truck, the Saturn, and my grandfather's 95 c1500. Because I now live 1.5 hours from where the children go to school I have every other weekend and holiday with them which is nice as I finely have dedicated time to be with my daughters whereas I didn't before. Anyway, here is the new garage setup, definitely not set up great for now:


Auction link if anyone would like to buy some of my our marital property:
Auction Link

JB

 

[zanyad]

Oh man, that *****. Sorry to hear.

 

[jb3]

Yeah, wow. Everything else is just stuff, but
time with your girls is priceless. That will be hard on them having you far away.

Welcome to the club though, life does improve pretty quickly once you wade through all the mess

 

[Mr.zippy]

Wow, that is so sad. I hope this will be less painful very soon. Keep your head up!

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Well that's a bummer JB, but glad you're getting time with your girls. Keep pushing forward!

 

[XJSuperman]

Sorry to hear that man. Best of luck moving forward. Hopefully you'll come out ok since she's keeping the property etc. Usually that means a tradeoff as I understand it (I won't pretend to know). Anyhow, we'll stand by for shop and vehicle updates.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

Really sorry to hear about the divorce. Been thru that - it's the pits.

 

[zmotorsports]

That ***** JB. So sorry to hear that you have had to go through that. Best of luck going forward.

 

[jbmatth]

Oh man, that *****. Sorry to hear.

Yes it does, but is for the best all things considered.

Yeah, wow. Everything else is just stuff, but
time with your girls is priceless. That will be hard on them having you far away.

Welcome to the club though, life does improve pretty quickly once you wade through all the mess

I am doing much better now, the first few months were very upsetting and tough especially how I interpreted (CYA statement) the way she was handling matters. The absolute best part of the divorce is I get to have a much more personal relationship with my daughters that I wouldn't have been able to have before.

Wow, that is so sad. I hope this will be less painful very soon. Keep your head up!

It is a ton better now than it was and keeps getting closer to being complete.

Well that's a bummer JB, but glad you're getting time with your girls. Keep pushing forward!

Even before this one of the motto's I used was keep moving forward and that still holds true.

Sorry to hear that man. Best of luck moving forward. Hopefully you'll come out ok since she's keeping the property etc. Usually that means a tradeoff as I understand it (I won't pretend to know). Anyhow, we'll stand by for shop and vehicle updates.

Yes I'm planning to use the value of the house to help offset my retirement she will be dipping into with an excavator bucket and pulling out a load of money. I suspect this thread will just be used to keep tabs on some things going forward until the divorce is finalized and I can buy another house and start my next shop/garage buildout.

Really sorry to hear about the divorce. Been thru that - it's the pits.

Yes, yes it is, but it will be worth it in the end.

That ***** JB. So sorry to hear that you have had to go through that. Best of luck going forward.

Thank you Mike, I'll get it all sorted out and be back to better than before.

JB

 

[taumac]

Sorry to hear about your troubles. All the stuff is just material things. The only thing that matters is the girls. On bright side of things a fresh start can be a good thing. Best of luck going forward.

 

[Finallygotit]

JB, I'm sorry to hear that you have to go through this. As others have said, been there, done that. It was an absolute terrible time in my life that didn't have to be.

You mentioned that you will be back better than before. That was one of the thoughts that kept me going as I went through my divorce and it came to be true.

We'll be here if you need to vent.

Take care!

 

[Grizz1963]

Still here for you 24/7 @jbmatth

Hang in there.

 

[jon72vega]

JB,
As others have said, it *****.
No great words of wisdom here, but keep your head up and keep moving forward.

 

[jbmatth]

Sorry to hear about your troubles. All the stuff is just material things. The only thing that matters is the girls. On bright side of things a fresh start can be a good thing. Best of luck going forward.

It is all just stuff, I found, bought, and rebuilt it once, it can be done again except now I'm older, wiser, and more skilled. I had the girls this weekend and I had a good time visiting with them even if they were a bit under the weather.

JB, I'm sorry to hear that you have to go through this. As others have said, been there, done that. It was an absolute terrible time in my life that didn't have to be.

You mentioned that you will be back better than before. That was one of the thoughts that kept me going as I went through my divorce and it came to be true.

We'll be here if you need to vent.

Take care!

I do truly believe that I will be back better than before and will have a much better experience this time. I'll hold off venting on a public forum until there is a signature on the dotted line.

Still here for you 24/7 @jbmatth

Hang in there.

Thank you Grizz, you have been a huge help through this and I can never express my true appreciation enough.

JB,
As others have said, it *****.
No great words of wisdom here, but keep your head up and keep moving forward.

None needed, my chin is high and as always when I faced adversity the only real option for me is to keep moving forward.

JB

 

[jb3]

Keep an eye on your girls. The advice was given to me when mentioned i divorced on here, and it was good. It was about a year after that my daughter started having serious trouble in school, all related to the changes in her life and it ballooned into quite a big problem for her that we are still dealing with.

By then my ex wife and I had a routine worked out and were both pretty settled and comfortable, but we were focused on our issues, not hers.

I would get them counseling now, so they can talk to someone who isn't one or the other adversary.

 

[jbrentd]

Sorry to hear this news. Hoping for a smooth transition for you and your girls and brighter days ahead.

 

[MrPink]

Sorry to hear my friend, I went through that in 2017. My life changed a ton, but things went nothing but up since I met my now wife.

 

[TMcCay]

Sorry to hear about the divorce. It may be hard to see at the moment but things will get so much better in the future. Best of luck, JB. Been there, done that. I have the best relationship with my daughters now that they are grown and am able to see through all the bs. that was feed to them. And the grandkids are a blast!

 

[jbmatth]

Keep an eye on your girls. The advice was given to me when mentioned i divorced on here, and it was good. It was about a year after that my daughter started having serious trouble in school, all related to the changes in her life and it ballooned into quite a big problem for her that we are still dealing with.

By then my ex wife and I had a routine worked out and were both pretty settled and comfortable, but we were focused on our issues, not hers.

I would get them counseling now, so they can talk to someone who isn't one or the other adversary.

Thank you for bringing this up, it is something I've continued to look out for and so far they are both handling it okay, but I know it could be better. I do agree they need to either have counseling or therapy of some kind to help their transition as well.

Sorry to hear this news. Hoping for a smooth transition for you and your girls and brighter days ahead.

Already headed there, well after this cold winter **** is past, I'm not a winter fan but at least I won't be out fighting a cold tractor, breaking ice, and putting out hay when it is 10°f out.

Sorry to hear my friend, I went through that in 2017. My life changed a ton, but things went nothing but up since I met my now wife.

Good to hear and I'm confident that things will work out much better for me as well, I just have to get this divorce done and over with, it takes way to darn long.

Sorry to hear about the divorce. It may be hard to see at the moment but things will get so much better in the future. Best of luck, JB. Been there, done that. I have the best relationship with my daughters now that they are grown and am able to see through all the bs. that was feed to them. And the grandkids are a blast!

I've been told this a lot that my daughters will have a strained relationship with me for not only the divorce but also they are teen/pre-teen age and that is to be expected as well but they will come around and see how much I've done to help and prepare them in life.

JB

 

[Finallygotit]

Good to hear and I'm confident that things will work out much better for me as well, I just have to get this divorce done and over with, it takes way to darn long.

Try three years and one month.

It will be over soon for you.

 

[jbmatth]

Try three years and one month.

It will be over soon for you.

Man I hope not, there is no reason it should take this long, it is very frustrating.

JB

 

[jb3]

If people fight over stuff it can take an eternity.

Mine was super quick, about 3 months to get it all said and done. That's about as fast as it can officially be done with all parties not fighting.

The minute two people want the same lamp though, let the legal trumpets sound, to battle!

 

[jbmatth]

If people fight over stuff it can take an eternity.

Mine was super quick, about 3 months to get it all said and done. That's about as fast as it can officially be done with all parties not fighting.

The minute two people want the same lamp though, let the legal trumpets sound, to battle!

So far the biggest holdup on timing is the long delays in replies on the other side. My lawyer and I seem to want to get this done sooner than later. Sometimes our request, or questions will go weeks without a reply, other times there will just never be a reply until we ask for a second or third time. I just hate that it feels like my life has to be on hold until decisions are made that are completely out of my control.

JB

 

[don long]

Merry Christmas JB

 

[jbmatth]

Thank you @don long I certainly appreciate it, this year has been a tough one and full of major life changes that will be for the best in the end. It was a weird feeling waking up on Christmas morning and having a tree full of presents and no children there to open them. They will be with me starting Friday until they return to school in January so I have that to look forward to.

Merry Christmas to all.

JB

 

[don long]

I just skimed thru this last page to get caught up and can so relate. You are right keeping the thought close that things will be better.

You do know that we share some things (like a viper) Mine is a 96 before they put the top on them. I bought it new and spend much more time cleaning it than driving it, but still very much enjoy it

 

[jbmatth]

Thanks for the note Don, I've enjoyed my time with the Viper and hope I can keep it around for years to come. I'm staying positive and look forward to when I'll have a new shop to work on and in, but that is still a ways off.

JB