Ok guys, here it goes, another long sob story about my life and how much it sucks...

My Dads 85 GSL that I am currently driving has developed a nasty problem of smoking out every seam in the exhaust when you first start it cold, and sometimes while starting it hot. My Dads other car, the 85 GSL-SE, has HORRIBLE oil leaks from the oil cooler lines. My car, the 83 GSL has a cracked radiator, broken transmission mount, and no muffler. I just spent a whole crap load of money on my car, and did lots of work with an engine swap and everything and these are the only things I have left to do to it. Now, I dont have a job, and I have ZERO money so I cant finish my car, my Dad wants his car back cause his has that oil leak problem cause he cant afford to fix his, and the one he wants back has problems too. I just dont know what to do. Everywhere I have applied for a job hasnt responded or didnt want me. I cant get money, my Mom changed the locks on me, I have been living at my friend house for like 2 months now, I just cant go on like this, I need out or something . This just sucks...Anyway, Im just venting, I know you dont care. But thanks for listening/reading reguardless...

~T.J.

 

Your life sounds bad but not hopeless. If you have 3 cars and need only 2 then scavange as many parts as possible from one of the 3 like the radiator and what not.

If you can't do that, then sell parts form one of the cars, like the enigne and what not. Use the money to fix the other two.

If the GSL-SE is only leaking from the oil cooler lines, that's a simple problem. Use the oil cooler line (think they'll fit) from the 85 GSL.

Then take that radiator from the 85 GSL and put it in your 83 GSL. ALso put the muffler on your 83 GSL. These are all simple things to do if you have basic tools or borrow the tools.

You have all the parts you need, just tackle each problem one at a time.

Good luck

 

I've been in your shoes. It Sucks. I don't know your whole story, and I am sure it's private anyways.

At 18 - I left for the Marines and have Never looked back. It changed me forever, and I learned more there about the "right" way to do things than anywhere else.

I've been back to civilian life for many years now, but the lessons I learned there have carried me forward through life. I am the youngest of 4 brothers, and for the last few years - My family looks up to me as the "head of the family". Weird and Ironic, but I don't mind. I look after all of them, my brothers,my mother, my dad, Wife's family, everybody.

I am not saying it's necessarily your solution, but it was for me. I definately needed a "break" from the shitstorm that was my life at the time.

Good Luck -

 

They are different.

 

Damn my haynes manual. Well, I'd trade for them then. Either way, I'd get them ASAP. If that's all that car needs, then I'd fix that before anything.

 

The 85 GSL and the 85 GSL-SE are both my Dads cars, and he doesnt want them taken apart. The oil cooler lines are different anyway, the GSL has a water to oil, the -SE has an air to oil. Its not a matter of not having the tools, just not having the parts .

~T.J.

 

Hmm, if you can't part out the 85, then you could put the radiator from the 83 into the 85 and the engine too if you have the hoist.

If not, you'll have to scrounge up a muffler from a junk yard and see if you can borrow the radiator from the 85 for a little while. It's only about an hour to remove and replace the radiator. I just did that about 3 weeks ago.

 

I did something similar to Alex. I had my own place @ 14 but by 20 still was drifting with no real point to anything, si I joined the Canadian Forces. They trained me first to be a soldier, then to be an electrical & mechanical engineer. Beaucoup disposable income and some valuable life lessons (not to mention jumping out of planes, driving tanks, etc.)

The army isn't the answer for everyone, but the point is do something outside of your rut when your rut sucks.

Good luck to you, buddy. I wish you the best whatever you do.

 

man, all i can say is this: try to keep your head up, because if i haven't ended it yet, then you shouldn't! i'm not going to sit here and tell you all the corny **** that my parents and others lay on me, like things can only get better, and have faith, and you aren't given things you can't handle, and good things happen in time! i'm damn near 30 - living with my moms ... it don't get more pathetic than that!!!!! i got laid off in April because my company thought it would be cool to send my division to India and the Philippines for cheap labor. i haven't done half the things i wanted to do in life yet ... but i'm trying to make a better day.

do like what the guys said ... try to build 2 good cars out of the third one. use that to get you through and just try to find a way to better times. and if you need help or advice as to which parts to transfer where, i'm sure that i can speak for at least some of the other guys when i say "we're here for you!"

chin up bro'!

 

oh and by the way ... it's true that we may not know each other, but when i see something that hits so close to home, then yes ... I DO CARE! so you're not alone in this ...

 

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the support, its just that I dont know which way I want to go. I was in the Navy ROTC in high school, and I was considering the armed forces, but I just dont think its my cup of tea...About the cars, the 83 is the best off. It just needs those parts and shes on the road again. I have an 84 parts car, but the radiator in that one is bad too, and the broken transmission mount came from that car to begin with. The muffler from that car is in SAD shape too...The whole car is toast, shes gonna go the the dump soon . Basically this is why im in the situation I am...None of the cars are getting taken apart except the parts car. My Dad says no to the -SE and the GSL, and I say no to taking apart all the work, sweat, and blood I have put in to the 83 so far, not when Im this close. I got that thing from a junk yard and have been nursing it back to health, got a new (used) engine, new clutch, rebuilt tranny, RB exhaust (header & pre-silencer, but no damn MUFFLER!!) new oil pan, gaskets, thermostat, radiator hoses, electric fan, etc...

~T.J.

 

You could always ***** your *** out at a local gay bar..... Altho... I don't know if that'd be very pleasant....


goodluck.

 

You might as well borrow the parts from the 85 since they won't take more than a day to do. Besides, that 85 wont do you mucxh good when it dies and leaves you stranded somewhere.

 

Haha, thanks man...That would work, if I was gay, lol .

~T.J.

 

I would if I could...I will ask my Dad again later, seeing as the smoking engine is a new development since the last time I asked him...

~T.J.

 

I do not know your situation, but it sounds like you are overwhelmed and down. We all have been there before, it is just a matter of picking yourself back up and moving forward. Do not give up hope.

There has got to be some sort of work for you nearby, even if it is fast food or something. Money is money, and a weeks check from McD's will pay for a radiator or muffler. Even if the work sucks it will get you back on your feet and something better will come along.

As long as we are plugging the armed services here, I have to recommend the Air Force. You will learn a trade that applies to the real world and they will pay for school.

Just remember to keep your head up and that everything will turn out all right.

 

My friend just went in tonight. He had all the papers signed and approved two days ago. I just dropped him off at the recruting station so that they could take him to some place to get him all ready...Im still thinking about it...But im not sure what I want to do yet...I took too many different classes in school (I like everything), so now I like doing so many different things that its killing me. I want to go to some sort of college too, but I dont know how that will work out either. My Mom says that if I want to go, I have to pay for it. Plus I cant get any scholarships that I know of, cause I didnt graduate HS (made it through 2 1/2 of 3 years though), I have a GED, but no diploma. I did that cause I suck in school when it comes to doing the work. I love to learn, but I hate to work, lol. Anyway, enough with me...

~T.J.

 

The Canadian Forces, underfunded as it is, had the forsight to amalgamate into Combined Forces. Sweetest posting I ever got was to an Airforce Base. Being one of only 15 or so army guys on the entire base, the women saw me as a 'real' man, and the guys were afraid to talk smack to me. I had my own room (with a sink and mirror in it! luxury accomodations by Army standards), worked 8:30AM to 4:30PM monday to friday, and ate in a combined mess hall - so whatever the Wing Commander was having for supper is what the rest of us got too. My take home pay was still $2,400 per month, with food, accomodations, and work clothes included at no charge Best part is it was at what was then CFB Moose Jaw, the airbase that trains our countries Air Demonstration Squadron, the Snow Birds (sorta like the Blue Angels, but in slower, more maneuverable aircraft)

easiest 6 months of my military career.

 

jeez, now you've got me thinking about it too... Only six months? What did you do?

 

Also look into the Air National Guard and the Reserves. In Texas, and several other states, the Guard covers tuition at any state school, and some jobs have a monthly bonus if you attend school full time. The GI bill pays me close to a grand a month, plus the state pays me another $350, and I do not pay tuition.

The downside? You can be sent to Saudi for 3 months, but most do not have to.

The best thing I ever did for myself was to join the military. If I had known more about it at the time, I would have joined the ANG instead of active duty. Think about it.

 

The posting to the airbase was only 6 months. My total time in was just a whisker under 8 years, according to my discharge certificate

I was Electrical Mechanical Engineer, Vehicle Specialist. Basically a glorified mechanic though a large part of my duties was finding ways to make vehicles stronger, or more efficient, etc.

In the Canadian Forces everyone's a soldier first, tradesman second so we all run around in the bushes with scoped rifles (one shot, one kill and all that jazz) for at least a third of our career.

 

I have to agree with the guys here. Any branch will do just Fine, I joined the Marines because I wanted to be a "hard charger".

The Reserves is a GREAT way to get all the benefits without the same headaches. You will get the G.I. Bill and everything, and have veteran's status when you look for employment. After all, you do have the same training (boot camp) and other schools as the Active guys.

One Weekend a month, two weeks a year - it can be pretty fun, especially if you make good friends. If you like it, you can always switch to Active duty, but not the other way around.

Go for it Dude!!!

 

How about loosing your job with two small kids and a pregnant wife. Lost my apartment, sold my mint 69 camaro project car for grocerys and diapers. My life was in shambles and I didnt know what to do. I was out everyday looking and nothing. One day I responded to a job at a local car dealer as a salesmen, decided it was BS and applied at the service dept a week later and got it. Worked for about three months and a local Architect called and I was interviewed and hired on the spot. The funny part about all of this is the firm designs nothing but churches and everyone here was at the same point in there life as me when hired. Six months later I handed my life over to the LORD and now everything is going terrific. I just bought a new car, a house and I still have my rexs.

Moral of the story:

When life hands you lemons, make lemonaide.

peace

 

Awesome!! Same here.

 

No matter what you do, you can pull yourself out of it. My wife and I went through some pretty rough times(we lost our child) and I know we will go through more in our lives. Just keep your chin up and keep "digging in the trenches". You actually have a great opprotunity! Just think....you can do ANYTHING you want right now, you have no ties!!!!! Be smart, think hard at what you want to do and set your mind to it. Dont be a pessamist(sp), be optomistic(sp)!!! look at every problem as an opprotunity. You mentioned you dont like to work but you are going to have to dig in and work. Work as hard as you can now so you can be lazy and play with cars later(you can still play while working hard....I do).

and always remember my sig.

Steve

PS
Ditto on the Lord!!!!