Author Topic: when we can no longer wrench... :)  (Read 6345 times)

69Z28-RS

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when we can no longer wrench... :)
« on: March 14, 2014, 02:02:37 PM »
In the recent 'How long have you owned your Camaro' thread, it was obvious that a majority of us here are getting a bit 'long in the tooth'; :)   I can say that since I'm in that category myself.. :)
Last night I had my daughters and grand kids over for dinner, and of course they all picked on the 'old guy' as usual.. :)    My funniest daughter even pulled up an image and said 'This is daddy when he has to go to the nursing home'...   I thought I'd post this for you fellas as you might get a kick out of it too.   :)   *but I bet the beds will all be in great repair* ...

09C 69Z28-RS, 72 B 720 cowl console rosewood tint
69 Corvette, '60 Corvette, '72 Corvette
90 ZR1 red/red #246, 90 ZR1 white/gray #2466
72 El Camino, '55-'56-'57 Nomads, '55-'57 B/A Sedan

69Z28

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Re: when we can no longer wrench... :)
« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2014, 03:29:03 PM »
That is too funny, but you wouldn't find me in a nursing home, at least my kids 'SAY' they wouldn't put me there, but who knows. Now...on the hand, my wife might. She's 10 years younger then me and has a lot more life in her yet to be worried about me. I'm 60 and as another member told me recently, the wheels are starting to come off.
GaryC

'UNRESTORED' 1969 Cortez Silver Z28 X33 D80

z28z11

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Re: when we can no longer wrench... :)
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2014, 07:03:58 PM »
60 here as well. Funny picture -

I've noticed I can't do as much as when I was younger, plus the fact the First Gen Corps (don't pronounce that as "corpse) are getting older by the day. Problem is what you grow up with - they just don't make 'em (and us) like they used to -

Regards,
Steve
1968 Z28 M21/U17 BRG/W 1967 Chevy ll Nova SS 
1969 Z28 X77/M20/VE3 LeMans/W
1969 L78 X66/N66 Cortez/BVT
1969 Z11 L48/M35/C60/C06  1949 3100 5wd 235/6

69Z28

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Re: when we can no longer wrench... :)
« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2014, 07:09:53 PM »
Yeah, getting up off the floor is a big problem for me once I get down under a car. If my son is around, which is not much, he just pulls me out by my feet. During the day I am totally alone, no one to help do anything, so working on my car has slowed down...a lot.
GaryC

'UNRESTORED' 1969 Cortez Silver Z28 X33 D80

Rufcar

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Re: when we can no longer wrench... :)
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2014, 09:40:59 PM »
Im 64 had a heart attack at 60 while in "expensive" care the wife comes to visit and Im down the hall helping the nurses get a 38" bed through a 36" opening, They sent me home next a.m! I was there 36hr!

jvb6648

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Re: when we can no longer wrench... :)
« Reply #5 on: March 15, 2014, 01:55:33 AM »
Come on guys, suck it up, I'll be 65 in June and am still working on heavy equipment, filed for Medicare yesterday.  ;D  Learn to work smarter, if you don't use a creeper lay on a piece of cardboard, you'll slide easier than just being on concrete. Roll on to your hands and knees to get up, I learned that trick when I fell off the creeper. And if you really need help tie a rope to something so you can pull yourself out from under the car. Figure out a way to get it done. My problem is that I refuse to accept my age. I still think I'm 30 something. Seriously though do what you are capable of and don't hurt yourself. We would joke about getting old and rewinding the motors of our electric wheelchairs and adding wheelie bars and racing around the nursing home.
Jim
68 Z/28

MyRed67

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Re: when we can no longer wrench... :)
« Reply #6 on: March 15, 2014, 04:17:32 AM »
I'm 66, and I did Ground-up resto on my car when I was 63 - 64.  Of course I had a lot of help.  Got to say I am in prretty darn good health for my age.  I am a firm believer in "object in motion stays in motion" (hope I got that right)  I really try to stay active, even though I am retired.  I love to help my friends work on their cars.  I consider it "therapy".
1967 Camaro  LOS  11A
Original Engine   Z - Tribute
Mike C.    NW - Illinois

TooManyReels

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Re: when we can no longer wrench... :)
« Reply #7 on: March 15, 2014, 12:49:45 PM »
I agree with some of the other comments that working on cars is getting somewhat harder as we again more maturity and wisdom. However, working and cleaning on our car/toys is a great form of exercise. For example, working underneath a car is like doing push ups and sit ups which strengthens the core. You get to do back exercise by bending over, leg presses/squats by getting up and down, and sometime it can be a complete workout based on what you are doing.

Just don't think about it like going to the Gym, or you will stop working on them.  Make it a part of your weekly exercise program by going out and cleaning on it. Arm movement and walking around a car is a great form of exercise, so make sure you dust it at least two or three times a week. You might even be able to convince your family to come and exercise with you provided you sell it, the right way.

It doesn't work for me, because my wife could care less about cleaning on my cars since she is already in better shape than me. Use this activity as mean to stay in shape just by working on them and continue to be safe.
TMR
Eddie
63 Chevy II SS 570hp 560tq.
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z28z11

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Re: when we can no longer wrench... :)
« Reply #8 on: March 15, 2014, 02:30:30 PM »
There's a point here - I may be 60, but I feel a lot younger when I'm working on my cars - therapy - always have. But it's a fact of life in two directions; Aging is inevitable, and the average age of First Gen car owners is moving along with our age bracket. A lot of us acquired our Camaros years ago, when they were affordable, and working on your vehicle was a lot easier in terms of actually being able to with common hand tools and a piece of cardboard to lay on. I wouldn't envy an enthusiast trying to get into a Camaro restoration nowadays - it's ferociously expensive compared to what it was. My X77 was $1600.00 when I bought it in '73, the Pace Car was not too bad in '94, the L78 was downright cheap in '96 compared to what it's worth today. I sold my LS5 to afford my '68, so all in all it was not bad either. To replicate what I own in this day and time would be out of reach for me, and probably for a lot of people (otherwise everybody would have one in the garage).

Just my opinion -

Regards,
Steve
1968 Z28 M21/U17 BRG/W 1967 Chevy ll Nova SS 
1969 Z28 X77/M20/VE3 LeMans/W
1969 L78 X66/N66 Cortez/BVT
1969 Z11 L48/M35/C60/C06  1949 3100 5wd 235/6

flat tire

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Re: when we can no longer wrench... :)
« Reply #9 on: March 17, 2014, 11:49:13 AM »