Unmotivated.
 

I've been collecting parts to turbo my Rx-7 for years and I always want to work on it, but never do.

Now it's been sitting in my carport for months, and is completely covered it in dust.

I wish I would tap my front cover and put my clutch and flywheel on so i can put the motor back in.

But I rather ride my motorcycle...

How do you guys stay motivated to working on your cars? Especially when they've been immobile for long periods of time?

its hardm i know, mine was down all last summer just after i bought it, and it took alot of convincing but since ive got it running, ive fallen in love with my car, i spend so much more time in the garage now. you just have to get it running and take small steps so its not overwhelming.

i dont want to seem like im down talking you, but the turbo might be pipe dream. i am saying this because i really wanted to turbo mine, and i spent like 2 years collecting all of the parts, but it was more work than i was ever willing/capable of doing. i even bought a welder, and i cant even weld. and im happy now that ive parted, but it took alot of deep thinking to stop lying to myself and realize that its not gonna happen, atleast not anytime soon.

of course you could be completely different, i mean not to offend you.

I would say its having an inate love of the vehicle itself?

I get frustrated with my seven sometimes and more recently wonder why I just don't get rid of the damned thing instead of going through all the trouble of getting a frame to swap everything over to and all that.

But, then I remember how much fun it was to drive and how I enjoyed the way the car felt and I keep my self excited for when I do get it fixed up.

BTW if you live in the East Bay, when I have some free time I could come help you out with your seven if you want?

Its money for me. Being in college and having two projects is tough. But having a motorcycle is tough too. Especially with it being summer...

a lot of it is time. partially money, but mostly time. i own 13 cars. 8 of which are 7's. i can't focus on just one at a time. there's too much to do. i am finishing up my restoration on my 85 S, my 88 10AE is in the garage with the turbo off getting a replacement, and i'm slowly pecking away on my 88 TII. for me staying motivated is caring for my cars. there's always something that i can do that doesnt involve spending money. whether its removing and cleaning bolts, greasing them and reinstalling them or whether i'm replacing a vacuume line or doing an oil change. i always try to do something. i love all of my cars and i just do the best job i can.

Like Dave says, you have to see the end game. The early stages of a project are full of necessary details, drudgery, cleaning and frustrating problems that are hard to get figured out, expensive, or both. Not much return for a lot of effort at this point.

But gradually, as you go through the whole car and get it right and start driving it again, you start to get some pay back. Then the motivation will drive you, not the other way around. You get to do the fun stuff, performance upgrades, going to meets, detailing, fine tuning and DRIVING!

I just returned an hour ago from a 250 mile business trip in my white 84 GSL, which is, after three years of this and that not being exactly right, finally reaching new car condition, in both appearance and performance. The drive, mostly on two lane gently winding Georgia state highways through the country side, was pure pleasure. These cars are way more fun (and safer!) than motorcycles, IMO.

In fact, my white GSL has returned so much motivation that now that it is nearing completion (only the full RB exhaust system to go, coming this week!) I'm now turning my attention to my silver 85 GSL for a total overhaul of that diamond in the rough. It's addicting.

Oh yeah, post pictures, ask for opinions and advice, make plans and get greasy!

Good weather and money motivates me to keep working on my RX-7. Autoxing it helps out too.

autoxing helps out immensely especially when my stock 84 rx7 whoops on several high dollar cars with more than twice the HP

The first step to finishing any project, is getting started. Sometimes things can seem a little overwhelming, and it makes you want to walk away. You just have to keep your eyes on the prize, and remember that it takes time and effort to reach the finishing line.

to get me going is to drink 3 big cups of tea when i get up at 10am because i go to bed a 4am and another thing because every day she is geting closer and closer to get done.

I'll second that, getting started is always the big hurdle, once you're going everything starts to fall into place.
Nothing worth doing is easy so just take it slow and you'll get it done.
I am currently finishing up the resto/mod of my 83 S, including a full t2 swap, and let me tell you, the first time you hit boost in a FB you'll know it was all worth it :)

personally i know when my car is back up and running, it will justify the time and money put into it. my car has been down right about a year now and just recently in more a state of dis-repair than it has been...and i know i'm still a few months out from driving it back on the roads...it sux seeing it sit in the drive way, i walk by it everyday...i miss my car :( but it will all be worth it in the end, from the feel i get of driving it and the few who will comment on it when they see it back out.

best of luck my friend with ur car

for the last month or so i have been so lazy and not wanting to do any thing with the car until today lol. while i was turning at a light this guy in a red Porsche yells out "nice car man".

time to buy some new parts lol.

My motivation is the fact that I have nothing else to get around, besides the bus. I get a ride from my girlfriend everyday, but I do get tired of having to wait for her when she is in "SLO-MO" mode. Once you get a car, then arn't able to drive it anymore, then relying on public transportation (actually not that bad but will never be able to leave to go anywhere whenever you feel like it) will get you back on track.

I wish I had more time to work on mine! I stay so busy now that I'm back home and I don't have the time to wrench on it. My MIG's down now, so I'm hoping to get a couple of days to wrench on her...

for me, the time is there yet I have trouble getting the ball rolling on little tasks. I need to just get off my butt and start wrenching....