Too many projects. What you got?

[RotaryTech]

I'm sure it happens to at least some of us. Projects start accumulating, then there's list that never seems to go away.

So to start, I have:
Car projects:
-1983 Mazda rx7, this is a "from the ground up" project.
-1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500, complete restoration needed.
-19?? MG MGBGT, rust bucket but ran a year ago or so, needs alot of work, maybe a total restoration.
-1998 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, needs an engine swap (2.2l > 2.5l)
-1995 Toyota pu 4wd, runs but need to figure out why I cant give it any throttle, it just bogs down.
-1989 Mazda rx7, runs, weekend warrior, but needs a new fuel pump fuse block.
-1994 Ford Ranger, daily driver, but needs transmission work, its an auto and drinks fluid.

*breath*

My shed needs finishing.
I have a half pipe skate ramp that needs resurfacing.

My house needs:
Replace carpet.
Paint walls.
Fire place/chimney needs work.
Stairs need carpet or other surface material.
Every light fixture needs to be replaced.
Kitchen needs remodeling.
Master bedroom closet needs remodeling.
Master bathroom needs remodeling to be finished.
Exterior siding needs work.
Front porch railing needs work.
Under the house crawl space insulation needs replacing.

Then there's misc projects that don't really need doing but I want to do, like:
Welding art projects.
Knife making projects.

I should be busy for the next few years.

 

[Playwme]

I wish my list was that simple.

 

[jwh]

Let's see...

Clean out garage, basement, attic
Build workshop in basement.
Install elect sub panel in garage.
Install more outlets in garage.
Install gas line in garage.
Install 2 ceiling fans in garage.
Insulate garage walls and ceiling.
Finish / paint walls and ceiling in garage.

Install motion control lights.
Repair or replace door bell system.
Replace garbage disposal in kitchen.

Build storage shed in back yard.

I'm sure there is more. I'll think of them 5 minutes after I finish this post.

John

Edit: Yep, there's more:

Change oil in Explorer
Change trans fluid & 1 cooler line, F150
Obtain & replace pickup box, F150
Change oil & sharpen blade, push mower
Change oil, replace battery and sharpen blades, lawn tractor
Reinstall carburetor and related stuff, replace battery, change oil, motorcycle.

And I'm sure there's a few honey-dos I forgot.

 

[WWShop]

Change oil in both cars
Finish bottom shelf on workbench
Restore three vises (Not a necessity)
Landscape this summer
Stain deck
Plant new trees
Install new faucet in kitchen
Fix leaking valve in laundry room
Drywall the basement
Seal the driveway

Many more....some are for fun and others need to be done but this will keep me busy for a while.

 

[Bronson]

If I list them all I will get depressed and begin to drink heavily.

Now I'm depressed, I think I'll drink heavily.

 

[T_R]

66 Chevelle frame off. All ready to be be reassembled, frame repaired and painted, floor crossmembers replaced, whole bottom of body bedlinered. I bought just about everything to put it back together.

Home needs a new roof this summer. I'd like to do new siding and windows, but don't have too. One room needs the drywall mudded and paint and carpet.

Now the other day I blew out my knee at work. I'm out for a week, hopefully it's not longer.

 

[Ron_CA]

if i list them all i will get depressed and begin to drink heavily.

now i'm depressed, i think i'll drink heavily.

^^^ t h i s ^^^

 

[rohartman]

Why did I click on this? I guess I was hoping you had more projects then me to make me feel better because of alllll the projects I need to do.....I didn't work

 

[kaymccampbell]

Not much left.
Replace trim on house with PVC.
Side house. Tired of painting.
Recess lift in garage floor.
Tile garage floor.
Cut and split 40 cords of wood.
Put doors on shop cabinets.
Make new kitchen cabinet doors.
New range hood and microwave.
Sand and refinish hardwood floors.
New baseboards and window trim.
Rebuild cupola.
Replace fireplace chimney.
Recap rental property chimney.
Dig out clay and gravel and replace existing and make more driveway with crusher run.
Grind 15 more stumps.
Grade about 1000 yards of fill.
Put in 600 sq ft of brick walk.
Replace the deck.
Grind and paint front stairs.
New treads on front stairs.
Tile front hall.
Plant some fruit trees.
Retire.

 

[cpttuna]

I have a big list also. One day at a time. One speed-SLOW. They get done when they get done. There is always tomorrow if I'm still sucking air. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[DougWil]

I'm sure it happens to at least some of us. Projects start accumulating, then there's list that never seems to go away.

So to start, I have:
Car projects:
-1983 Mazda rx7, this is a "from the ground up" project.
-1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500, complete restoration needed.
-19?? MG MGBGT, rust bucket but ran a year ago or so, needs alot of work, maybe a total restoration.
-1998 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, needs an engine swap (2.2l > 2.5l)
-1995 Toyota pu 4wd, runs but need to figure out why I cant give it any throttle, it just bogs down.
-1989 Mazda rx7, runs, weekend warrior, but needs a new fuel pump fuse block.
-1994 Ford Ranger, daily driver, but needs transmission work, its an auto and drinks fluid.

*breath*

Thanks!!
You make me feel good that I have only one car project, rebuilt and stuck the motor in 3 years ago and have never started it.

 

[DCarr2]

oooh a to do list!

ok here we go....

not in this exact order....

move my house to the new house
move my shop to the new shop
run new outlets in new shop
do something with the ceiling in the new shop and insulate
buy boiler/hotwater tank for floor heat in shop
setuyp said system
run water line and accessory line underground from house to new shop
wire new house for ethernet
replace 2 flues in main chimney
buy/install pellet stove
buy install glass top range
fix wash sink to drain into septic and not into sump
replace water run sump pump with one that works
replace bilco doors
install a real door at bottom of bilco doors
insulate hot water lines
get air ducts cleaned
get oil furnace tuned up
buy 800 gallons of heating oil
have propane tank installed for new shop
fix the broken pole in the new shop
make little ramps so I can actually drive into my new pole barn given the floor is now 7" hiogher than it was
hook up, and begin running airline for the shop compressor
sort all my tools and ****
insulate along sill plate in new house
insulate air ducts
repair mortar for the brick work at every corner due to lack of downspouts from previous owner
acctually attach said downspouts
clean gutters
stabilize and reinforce rear deck
pressure wash, and paint/stain rear deck
fix porch roof sag
finish changing all the locks
remove excess OH door in new shop
frame in new wall and insulate where OH door was
Move man door up, 7'' so it actually opens
have OH door on house tuned up
empty garage attached to the house
add a spicket to the garage, and a heat register to garage
clean carpets
gut master bathroom, start over... yes its that bad.
Fix main bathroom toilet
replace vanity in main bath
finish the dining room
Run a new power line to the office for its own circuit off the accessory panel
build a new shed complete with power and wifi near pond
finn in the driveway with asphalt where needed
add drainage to yard around driveway
clean up where the old barn used to be (was torn down)
fix sump pump drainage lines
rip out carpet from basement
rip out carpet in kitchen, install linoleum
finish new doorway between kitchen and dining room
install the entertainment system in living room
continue the design and finishing and organizing of my new office

thats just off the top of my head

 

[78C-10]

I'm sure it happens to at least some of us. Projects start accumulating, then there's list that never seems to go away.

So to start, I have:
Car projects:
-1983 Mazda rx7, this is a "from the ground up" project.
-1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500, complete restoration needed.
-19?? MG MGBGT, rust bucket but ran a year ago or so, needs alot of work, maybe a total restoration.
-1998 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, needs an engine swap (2.2l > 2.5l)
-1995 Toyota pu 4wd, runs but need to figure out why I cant give it any throttle, it just bogs down.
-1989 Mazda rx7, runs, weekend warrior, but needs a new fuel pump fuse block.
-1994 Ford Ranger, daily driver, but needs transmission work, its an auto and drinks fluid.

*breath*

My shed needs finishing.
I have a half pipe skate ramp that needs resurfacing.

My house needs:
Replace carpet.
Paint walls.
Fire place/chimney needs work.
Stairs need carpet or other surface material.
Every light fixture needs to be replaced.
Kitchen needs remodeling.
Master bedroom closet needs remodeling.
Master bathroom needs remodeling to be finished.
Exterior siding needs work.
Front porch railing needs work.
Under the house crawl space insulation needs replacing.

Then there's misc projects that don't really need doing but I want to do, like:
Welding art projects.
Knife making projects.

I should be busy for the next few years.

I think I would get rid of several of your vehicles, I'd keep the daily driver, a back up to the daily driver, and one toy. Sell the others to finance fixing up the three you keep. JMO. I had to go take a few prozacs after reading your project list. The house is one thing. The cars though I would scale back on. I'm a car guy myself and never understood other car friends who had a bunch of cars that needed work/restoration and always said "I'm going to restore it someday." I yi yi

 

[ddawg16]

If I list them all I will get depressed and begin to drink heavily.

Now I'm depressed, I think I'll drink heavily.

I'm drinking with you......

On a positive note....My 2-story addition is done enough that I got final buy off on my inspections....which means my refi went through...so house is refi'd....3.9% fixed.

Now I have to start on the kitchen mods....that list is longer than this thread....

Lets not even start talking about the garage projects....like the new cabinet I need to make for the table saw.....and more storage....and trim repairs...

Then I need to redo the front of the house.....

And my jeep is sitting on the driveway waiting for the water pump short shaft mod...and I need to finish the Dana 44 Flat top sitting next to my jeep.

Now I'm really depressed.....I need a drink

 

[Cyberbear]

The best way to describe my bucket list is that there are 90 odd things on that list, and I'm better at adding to the list than making it smaller.

 

[RVDan]

I think almost everything in this thread is on my list

Except for the air ducts and furnace stuff, I have electric hear that needs upgrading.

 

[RivennHewn]

My list was getting to the point of being debilitating. Nothing was getting done.

I started selling off projects in order to make space, and $$ to fund the ones I wanted to do.

My list is shorter, my head is clearer, and my stress is lower.

 

[Blazinzuk]

93 chevy dually. Pull motor and trans rebuild trans.

86 chevy dually put motor trans and t case from 93 into 86. Start looking for a Ford Dana 60

89 jimmy. Finish motor reseal trans.

01 grand Prix. Replace struts. Change supercharger oil, change CV joint, fix heater.

Those are things I NEED to get done soon.

My project list is loooooooong

 

[Jarhead0408]

Whoo-boy! This is my kind of thread!

It'd take too much time right now to list what I NEED to get done, but suffice to say, I also own an Rx-7. Mine is a 1987 Turbo II that I got for FREE from the original owner.

 

[DocsMachine]

My projects list is about four times longer than I can be expected to live.

Doc.

 

[MushCreek]

My list has gotten longer and longer, since I have been building our house and barn for the last 4 years. The house is nearly done, although we will have future projects and improvements, such as a bedroom and bathroom in the basement, and stairs down to grade for the back deck.

That still lives a ton of stuff!

Finish the barn, including running permanent power and setting up a shop

Finish a separate portion of the barn as a guest house

1972 F-250- waiting for a fresh engine, brakes, and general road-readiness

Dig my vintage Apache camper out of the barn and sell it

Clean up my boat and sell it

About 10 outboard motors in various stages of disrepair and disassembly.

A number of vintage Cub Cadets, also in various stages of disrepair and disassembly

Oh yeah, the old lady is probably gonna want some kind of a lawn, and other civilizing effects on 7 acres of land.

...and that's just the big stuff!

 

[ms fowler]

Wow! We all have lists. Mine is similar in length. I am semi-retired, so I have the time (hopefully).
One thing I see missing from most lists is any time with family. Not to get preachy, but because I am older than some of you, let me give a piece of advice. "Stuff" gets old and rusts and deteriorates. Yes, it is fun and therapeutic to restore, but people are more important than "stuff", and we all need to make raising our kids, and husbanding our wives a priority that ranks higher than some of the"stuff". Yes, I know that love of family is part of what drives us to do the things on our lists. We want to make the house better--after all it is for our family. Some of the projects also supply bonding and teaching opportunities to pass along skills and attitudes to our families, so that is a good thing.
As I work on my garage, I often recall the parable about the man who tore down his barns to build larger barns and then died. The question is then asked--Who then will these things be?" iow, who benefits from all that work?

Sermonette over. Just thinking out loud, as much to myself as anyone else.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

20k mile 1980 Malibu Classic project "Madge"- too much to list in detail.


Shed- install gable vent fan for generator operation

Snapper 826 2 Snow Blower "Jake"- disassemble and repaint

Snapper P2150 mower- disassemble and repaint (I don't know when I'll be able to do this. I'm too lazy to fire up the heat in the winter when I can afford to lose use of the mower for any length of time.)

Stihl MS 180C chainsaw- chain oiler leaks when not in use


Garage- Littlestown #112 vise- clean and maybe paint

1940 Emerson Electric oscillating fan- disassemble, clean and find someone to balance the blade and maybe paint. Mount on joist and run electric from wall switch.

Relocate hose reel to make wall space for $9 BB&B shoe rack for spray can storage

Install freebie office under cabinet lighting on bottom of wall cabinets above bench for task lighting

Run permanent power to freebie Fostoria loading dock lamp for underhood lighting

Install garage door spring safety cables (I can't believe I never thought of this before)

Figure out how to get Fios to little TV to be installed.


Basement boiler room area- Clean out plastic storage bins and old items no longer used. Make room for freebie folding training table to be used as a hobby/small repairs area

Install more freebie under cabinet lighting above folding table for task lighting


Bar- Install permanent switched and unswitched receptacles. Install power/HDMI box & coverplate for TV behind bar

 

[Kevkx125]

Way to long to list but hopefully I will get as much done as I can!!

 

[egnorant]

I try not to think about the scope of my projects. I came to this site while working on a place to handle my projects and finally got that. I do a lot of work just handling what appears in front of me or jumps up to bit me!

If you wish to feel better about your endless projects, just look at my link below!
I also picked up 3 new project cars just yesterday! 1969 Lincoln Continental Mark 3, 1974 Ford F-350 Super Camper Special and a 1966 F100. Did a lot of trading so we all were thrilled.

My goal this week is finish the winch rebuild, wire the trailer, burn pile and mow.

I used to look at the whole picture, but it caused a form of paralysis and I got little done. My "Something every day" policy and whiteboard list is working.

Bruce

 

[DCarr2]

for those of you who are retired, retiring, semi retired.... dont kid yourself LOL

 

[jekquist]

House :
I have laundry room remodel.

Upgrade panel to 200A

Finish other side of basement

Shop:

New 100A panel
Install lift
More shelving

Little maintenance on the truggy.

89 k5 restore with custom tube frame and links front and rear

 

[volaredon]

My projects list is about four times longer than I can be expected to live.

Doc.

yeah same thing around here. Wish I could get some assistance from my 22 yo son but he does to stay busy elsewhere, when he is here, we are competing for the same tools and same space to work on different things that do not have anything to do with each other.

 

[volaredon]

My list has gotten longer and longer,
That still lives a ton of stuff!

1972 F-250- waiting for a fresh engine, brakes, and general road-readiness

Dig my vintage Apache camper out of the barn and sell it

About 10 outboard motors in various stages of disrepair and disassembly.

A number of vintage Cub Cadets, also in various stages of disrepair and disassembly

...and that's just the big stuff!

Have you overtaken my garage?
Not a Ford pickup but an old Plymouth (my username is a clue)
I have not 1, but 3 Apache popups... one is strictly "parts only" due to storm damage, and lack of a title, along with Illinois' general **** retentiveness regarding license and title. I will eventually be down to 1,
once the interior out of the damaged/title-less one gets swapped over to its twin, and then I can sell the smaller one...

On the outboards I am down to 1 now, the rest sold/traded (but there are a couple at the auction next week that I'm interested in.... )

Cub Cadets, I have my eye on a couple that are "just sitting" around locally, plus my 129, 2 Ariens GT's and my Woods zero turn...
my Trac Vac and my Swisher Trailmower will be leaving very soon.

then there is the Volare which has been sitting, gutted bare, for too long now.
Currently rearranging the garage so that I can pull it out from the corner and start on the body work.

gotta get the 360 out of the machine shop this week, that will be the replacement engine for my wife's Durango, as the original one with 257,000 miles (and climbing) is starting to show its tiredness...

not sure yet if the Durango's original 360 will then get rebuilt for duty in the Volare, or if I will stay with my original plan to put a 318 Magnum that I also have here, into that car. Either will be more powerful than the original slant 6. just gonna be a 3 season cruiser.
Then there's the idea of putting a V8 into my Wrangler, if/when the 4.0 dies... it never ends.
GOTTA get the garage past "obstacle course" status so I'm not tripping over myself, first.
Not gonna even start on what the house and yard need.... not enough bandwidth to tell those stories.

 

[Throbbin Rods]

Diagnose compressor issue
10 boats to rehab and sell
Finish my buddy's motor for him and water test his boat
start fit up of Cast N Blast II, my new duck boat to be
Remove ruined garage slab
Replace garage slab
Hook garage drainage to house drainage to prevent more slab issues
Dig down to drains on house and waterproof foundation walls
Fix rust and repain my old Suburban. I have never done body work so it should prove to be interesting
And about 100 more things

 

[Kevin54]

For the year, I hope to get done this summer......

Stain garage on the outside
Patch panel to put in my Blazer
Two bedside patch panels to put in my '02 Dodge Ram
Set post and build 150' of privacy fence
Add in flowerbeds along new fence
Make a larger opening into crawlspace of house
Rebuild front end in the wifes '64 Cutlass
Pull engine in Cutlass and add in all new seals and gaskets
Paint engine compartment in Cutlass

And I know that there is probably another half a dozen things the wife will have lined up for me that I'm unaware of at the moment.

 

[engineer2]

Written lists get lost, priorities get re-arranged, and to-do lists keep growing so I started using an Excel spreadsheet on a flash drive to keep organized.
I have dates in the left column and list projects and needed items in other columns.
I also throw in future stuff like social events and easily forgotten dates like anniversaries.
I set up extra worksheets for cars, house, appliances, tools, important contacts, etc. I can quickly print a list of stuff I need when I go to the junkyard.
Completed stuff gets moved to a "Done" worksheet. Handy because I can look up when I last fixed or bought something.
It's helped tremendously with scheduling projects, and it's painless once you get in the habit of using it.

 

[ScottsGT]

I feel much better after reading this thread. My short list:
1966 Mustang GT: swap out 9" center section for a good one. Redesign the 4 link
so it doesn't turn the unibody into a tuning fork. Dump the
like new Versailles rear discs for SN95 Mustang rear discs.

1995 Mustang GT (Son's): Car is totaled so I need to strip it of all usable parts and
prep motor to go in replacement car. Along with
suspension and many other parts. Call scrap guy
to haul off remainder.

Cut up old pressure treated swing set in back yard and haul to curb. My youngest
is now almost 17 and doesn't play on it anymore!! Or give it away.....

Basement bathroom: Wife is almost done with demo. Need to motivate her to finish
what she started!

Riding mower: Kohler 18hp is blowing out some blue smoke and goes through oil.
Hoping it is just something as simple as valve guide seals. Has less
than 100 hours on it.

 

[m151]

I learned that I am not good at multi-tasking. My new goal is one thing at a time, done well. If I need 1 washer to complete a project I will drive 10 miles to the hardware store and complete it. Then, no new projects until the workbench is clean! Too many things at once just wears me down with no sense of accomplishment.

 

[CoogarXR]

editing...

 

[66354dream]

1966 Dodge D100, short wheel base and my 1956 354 Hemi.

 

[rburke65]

Wow.....after reading these lists, I feel pretty good! Thanks guys!

 

[mr57]

I have to reclaim my garage - it looks like an episode of Hoarders. I have two vehicles in there in various states of disrepair and realize now that i am never going to be able to get at both of them so I will reluctantly be offering them for sale once i find them under all the ****. Then finish the wiring in there, set up the workbench and so on and so on and so on. Then go look for a finished driver to go have fun with that has a roof and fits the whole family.....

 

[mr57]

I learned that I am not good at multi-tasking. My new goal is one thing at a time, done well. If I need 1 washer to complete a project I will drive 10 miles to the hardware store and complete it. Then, no new projects until the workbench is clean! Too many things at once just wears me down with no sense of accomplishment.

and what he said.....

 

[R-Savage]

hmmm. Get new cement
Get Engine Hoist
Get Engine Stand
Get Heat
Get Electrical
Get Air system
Get some engine blocks
Rebuild for money
Get $h1T for shop