Frustrated... Options

[boxerboy]

While you are spending time away from the car I'd like to recommend a book to read. No, not a "how to fix your 914" type of book. Check out "Zen and the art of motorcycle repair."

While the title suggests this may not be what you are looking for you will see that this book really talks about any type of mechanical repair. Again, it's not a "how to" book but more about the psychology of doing your own repairs. Very enlightening!

[boxerboy]

Oops! I checked my book and the REAL title is "Zen and the art of motorcycle Maintenance" not repair. Anyway, check it out.

[Jake Raby]

I get to feeling like this too, sometimes. Its not normally a car as much as a tuniung issue or a combo that has to come apart 5 times to ever get it right..

When this happens just walk away- do that as long as you need to before coming back to it.

[Rusty]

Thanks for the words of advice and support. I think it's just going to sit for the winter. I can't keep screwing with it and hang onto what little bit of sanity I have left.

Maybe when the roads clear, I'll drag it out to John in KC.

Oh, and I offered to fly Brad out for a few days... that kind of fell through.

-L

[Jake Raby]

Smart move.. I use the forums to take my mind off BS problems. Some days I get pissed by noon and walk away with the tool box closed.

Today I goot pissed in the first hour, maybe I can go back to it after lunch time..

[Michael J]

I know that feeling of frustration. I have only owned my current '72 for a couple of weeks so have not gone after it with a hammer yet. Winter is a rotten time to try to work on anything in my garage. It's 40 degrees, raining, my fingers are stiff and I feel stupid when I have to keep going back to the Haynes manual to figure what goes back where. But the memory, ah the memory. I bought a '75 2.0 new and remembering how that car handled will keep me coming back to the garage.
Spring will also help when the sun decides to show it's face again.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) Hoping for spring

Mike

'72 stock adratic blue 1.7
& the memories of a'75 lt ivory 2.0

[Bruce Allert]

.....and I feel stupid when I have to keep going back to the Haynes manual to figure what goes back where.
Mike

Nah, don't feel that way. I have the Haynes manual at my desk and one in the shop. I look at it as having my memory on hard copy. No way I can remember all the stuff that's in that Lil'car.

Welcome to the Club (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

....b

[J P Stein]

I walked away from my goatfuckugly flare job last weekend, but my punishment has not yet begun. I have 10-12 folks coming over for a PCA AX meeting in the shop today. I expect to collect some major league ragging......then the healing can begin (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

These are the times that try men's souls.......

[Joe Bob]

Walk away...have a beer...a shot of Jack....go get a massage....hopefully one with the "happy ending".....

[Tom Perso]

I have the same issue...

After my 914 leaving me stranded with no car to drive my newly wedded wife away from the church (we used my mothers slightly dirty 2004 Acura TL).

After that mess was fixed, I got one lap in on my first Auto-X before I sucked 1/2 quart of oil or so down the carbs and fouled all the plugs.

It about had a "FOR SALE" sign on it... But, I packed it away in the garage and I'll look at it again.

Walking away is the best thing to do.

Later,
Tom

[John]

I'll be glad to help out a fellow 914 here in the midwest. We kinda need to stick together. Do you ever make it to Topeka?

We run our track events at Heartland Park.

Unlike some, I actually do LIKE working on 914's (almost as much as driving them).

What year/motor is in your car (so I can dig around for parts)?

So you are a WILDCAT?

Talk to you soon.

[Eddie Williams]

Get Zen here. You can either read it online, or download it in *.pdf.

Relax have a homebrew!

[IronHillRestorations]

Bummer Lawrence (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) It's a machine, and eventually you'll win the war!!

From my experience, a engine that used to run good, then sat for awhile, and then developed "timing problems", usually means carbs. Ask any experienced Porsche mechanic and he'll tell you that 60% of "timing problems" are carbs. The fact that the car sat for sometime, points the big finger of blame in that direction for me. There is still that other 40% though that will make you pull your hair out, if you let it. IIRC, you've got your hair cut fairly short, so that's a plus for you (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Too bad you aren't closer. If it wasn't 500+ miles, I'd say drag the bitch down here, and we'll slap a can of fixit on her. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

PK

[Trekkor]

Perry's right. My SIX sat for at least 4 years before start-up. It kinda ran. Idling on three. Cleaned it up and rebuilt the carbs. Good now.

Clean the jets. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blowtorch.gif)

KT

[Root_Werks]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Oh man, I don't like hearing about fellow teeners getting that frustrated. Sorry to hear it. Yeah, been there myself. Just step away for a while. If I was close enough, I would come over and help out. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) You will get it, just takes time.

[ClayPerrine]

Ok.. sounds like we need to do an intervention... Everyone who can needs to converge on Rusy's house and we can tag team his 914 and get it running. Then he can take it for a drive and that will alleviate any negative feelings he is having about his car...


I am volunteering to go there after the holidays... anyone care to join me?

[red914]

Lawrence, i am sorry that you are frustrated, but you have done an enormous service by posting this. i had no idea that the gurus ever feel this way. i am not being sarcastic, by the way. being a novice, i often am overwhelmed by the simple acts required to maintain my car, while amazed at what many of the members of this forum do on a daily basis. hence, my 914 is still on jack stands awaiting a brake caliper rebuild. even with excellent technical advice from Perry, Dino, etc., i haven't been able to start.

i have every confidence that you will get if figured out when you have more time, fewer distractions, and unwind a bit more from your recent deplyment. don't underestimate the effect that you time away may have had.

thanks for the encouragement, even though you may not have intended it that way.