I have been working on this bird for almost four years now. Not a long time compared to some others, but seems like forever to me. It seems that everything I've done, either was a lot more complicated than I thought, or if it was easy, I had to do it over. I've developed a tendency to overlook the obvious. For example, I have finally fired up my engine, after adjusting valves and playing with timing, only to have it start and run for a bit then not start again. After resetting all the valves, rotating the distributor back and forth, pulling the plugs, checking for spark did I finally realize- no gas left in the tank. Okay, I was tired, dirty and p***ed off. Good excuse. But what about when I did the same thing two days later? Can it be the various and assorted fumes that I have been breathing has really killed enough brain cells or the fact that I've passed the half century mark or is it just the nature of a FGF'er to look for the big problem first and eliminate down to the actual cause? (I don't think it's the age, I remember pushing my 66 Barracuda, with a bad starter, along the Long Island Expressway on my way home from National Speedway, with my baby brother popping the clutch probably about a quarter mile before I decided to turn the key on.) Okay maybe it's just me.

I find it best, when going out to work on the car, to isolate myself from thoughts of work, family, school, etc. I don't even turn on the radio if I am working on something that requires concentration or attention, and leave my phone and the dogs in the house. I find that I make fewer errors and am more efficient when I can create a distraction free work zone.

And I ran a car out of gas this spring...it had not run since 1988, got it running, had it idling, it died...checked EVERYTHING, except gas. Gauge read 1/4 tank. Eventually I looked at the clear filter and saw it was empty. It started right up again once fuel was in the system.

It's easy to overlook the simple things when you're busy working on the tough stuff.

If I feel like the Bird is getting the best of me, I take a break and come back later. I hate doing things twice.

As long as it isn't being relied on for daily transportation, it is a discretionary activity. Always just remember that the work on the Firebird is supposed to be fun and a hobby. I found that if I start to get frustrated with it, it's time for a break, maybe even for a few days.

I've stepped back for a couple months now on one of the projects on my Bird. I had struggled with a bolt for days and got frustrated by it. I've chosen to shelve the project for a while and let occasional blasts of PB Blaster work.

And, 50 ain’t old there young man.

Don't feel bad Rocky. For the T/A Nats I wanted to ride my '73 Honda CL350 to the event. I got about ten miles out and ran out of gas. So I flipped the petcock over to reserve. It wouldn't start. After trying to get it started for about five minutes, I looked things over. I was about to give up and call a friend when I noticed I hit the kill switch accidentally.

I then decided to take my KLR650 instead, just in case anything else might happen. And a good thing I did for the weather turned. The little CL 350 wouldn’t have kept up in front of the storm.

I think Vikki put it best. Remove all the distractions when working on your ‘bird. I have a short fuse, so when I find myself swearing I put the tools down and go to the fridge and pour a cold beverage. This gives me enough time to reassess why things aren’t going as planned. And if it still is a problem, like Jim, I give it time. Sometimes it’s best to let it go for a little while so you can do some brainstorming.

Old... who’s old here? Well with the exception of Bjorn maybe.

i find it best to let someone else work on my car

hey ,hey , I resemble that remark!
I`m just old enough to know better! lol

To keep sharp practice Norm's Buffalo Theory:

A buffalo herd only moves as fast as the slowest buffalo. So those are the buffaloes that get picked off by wolves and mountaion lions and other predators. Of course, this is good for the buffalo herd which continuously improves their speed and fitness - by contunuously trimming off the bottom of the bell curve.

It is also well known that alcohol destroys brain cells - and that a brain can only think as fast as the slowest brain cells in it. Therefore, consuming alcohol is good for the brain as the slowest brain cells will get destroyed selectively, before the faster healthier cells - thereby improving brain performance overall for the consumer.

And that's why one always feels quite as bit smarter after consuming several beers.

I'll drink to that!

Seriously though, I don't like to drink a lot while workin' in the garage. Ya drink to much, ya loose intrest. A beer here and there is just fine.

tff man! have popped the clutch on a few cars but not in ol' age. didn't think many people did it any more. normally they just call a tow truck and worry about it when they get home.

OLD AGE would be the key being turned off though.

I was only seventeen when I did that. Many moons ago. I like the idea of killing off those slow brain cells though. Gonna do some of that tonight and I should be a lot smarter by tomorrow.

The key is stopping before you get into the good ones.

DOH!! Too late.