Geezers with a wrench

[NewArt]

I was just talking to my older brother today. I see him maybe once a year and talk to him maybe 4 times anually otherwise.
As often happens, we ended up chatting about cars. Our lives are worlds apart. I spent years in university, never had a regular job but created business deals and did pretty well, while he never finished high school, worked at Ford for 30 years and did pretty well for himself and his family. My interest in cars and my ability in mechanics comes at least in part, from him. When I bought my first Porsche, 4 years ago, I wasted no time in digging into it, dropped the motor, replaced the chains and ramps, fabricated my own cam timing tools, and all. My brother, on the other hand, rebuilt his '47 Mercury, welded in panels, replaced motor, transmission, added power steering and brakes, and a lot of other stuff. I am in awe!
I asked him what will he do when he finishes his paint job (the last step). He says, "Oh, I'll sell it and look for a mid sixties convertible"
Well, he's getting closer to my field!
Sometimes I think it would be nice to work on a mid sixties car. It's like a walk-in closet! So much room!
Any of you older wrenchers relate to this?

[Gelbster]

Regardless of our age,it is very convenient to have space around an engine for human hands. A feature of older cars I love. My XKE is a joy in that regard.

[356Guy]

Ever installed headers or changed a starter on cars with headers?

[BOOTLEG]

Still wrenchin' at 66. MGB V8, Boxster S, 2 Miatas and a C5 Corvette all to maintain diversity in my garage.

[jcslocum]

Dude, all DIY guys are somewhat project addicted. I have just gotten to driving my Turbo Esprit after 1 year of work and have 3 cars in line; '72 GTV, '67 Mini Cooper and a '76 911 and I'm trolling CL for stuff that is "interesting". It's much cheaper than a divorce and keeps me out of trouble....

[flouese]

62 YO and I am in the beginning stages of a top-to-bottom rebuild on my 66 912.

[bwdz]

The simplicity of wrenching on older cars is something that is unfamiliar to many. My brother recently got rid of his 66 Corvair, it was funny to work on car that you literally could take apart most of with a 1/2inch and 9/16ths wrench and there was not one metric bolt on the whole thing. I recently replaced the heads on my 94 Mustang GT convertible. Forgot that back in the day I used to think that some things on that car had tight access, now that I am used to all the newer stuff I kept laughing how easy it was to take it apart and how much room I had on that old V8. Funny thing is that car is part metric and part standard bolts, most of the engine stuff was still standard sockets as the engine design dates back to the 60s while everything else attached to it was mostly metric. Kind of a transitional era car for the domestics where some standard sockets are still used.

[Oldcarguy]

61 yo and I've been wrenching since I started working in my dad's motorcycle shop in the late 60s. The 550 Anniversary 986 I bought in February is the first car or motorcycle I've ever bought that I don't plan to modify because I want to keep it the way it came from the factory (except for unseen upgrades like the 987 front motor mount, brake vents, muffler, etc).

Regarding cars, I much prefer to work on the mid 60s - early 70s muscle cars. So much room and straightforward everything.

My current project (there's always a project) is a complete front to rear rebuild of a 2013 DR650 dual purpose motorcycle. It only has 513 miles on it, but I'm taking it down to the frame and rebuilding it as my vision of a (relatively) light weight adventure bike. The DR is as simple as a rock and it is a pleasure to work on. Many of today's bikes are as complex as today's cars. I could have bought a ready to go KTM off the showroom floor, but what fun would that have been?

[Timco]

Originally Posted by BOOTLEG

Still wrenchin' at 66. MGB V8, Boxster S, 2 Miatas and a C5 Corvette all to maintain diversity in my garage.

MGB V8??? I have a 64 MKII that I'm debating this vs stock.

45 and I do all the wrenching I can.

[NewArt]

Originally Posted by BOOTLEG

Still wrenchin' at 66. MGB V8, Boxster S, 2 Miatas and a C5 Corvette all to maintain diversity in my garage.

Man, your garage is a lot bigger than mine!