Need Kind Words of Encouragement
 

Well, I spent the weekend in the garage, cleaning, rearranging, hanging cabinets, and piddling with the Cobra......


got a lot accomplished on the garage and a little on the car..... :eek: .............set the body back on for a couple of things that need to be done with it on...hopefully when I take it off in a few weeks it will be the last time I have to take it off.... :JEKYLHYDE :JEKYLHYDE


Well, today, I LOOKED at the COBRA..... and then I proceeded to put Christmas Lights up...:D ......boy I "HATE" walking/sliding around on that metal roof............:JEKYLHYDE ...............then I LOOKED at the COBRA some more...........


Hey guys, I'm getting discouraged.... :( :( :(
It seems like every time I turn around (I know, quit turning around :D ) there is a new problem.. :CRY: **) **) ....is it that way with every BUILD???????????????

I NEED ENCOURAGEMENT :JEKYLHYDE :eek: :p

Just do ONE thing every day and before long you will be driving it.

Funny, when I saw your parts for sale and then the title of this post I thought something happened that put an end to the Cobra build...:CRY:

I am pretty relieved that it isn't a family or health issue, for what that is worth.

I think these projects are more abandoned than 'finished'... even when they are on the road there is always something **) .

What you need is a nice Fall outing in Northern Ga to pick up your spirits...;)

And if it helps... I am jealous that you are likely farther along in a build than me...:LOL:

-John

Every thousand mile journey begins with the first step. I guess to finish the journey it will take step after step after step. Look back, and see how far you have come, and then just take the next step. The end will come soon....

I agree with WTM442, try to do one hour a night. You will not only begin to see the progress after a week, actually doing something will keep you in a positive frame of mind, as opposed to just thinking about things, which will inevitably lead to a bad mental state. And yes, every build has problems, but as problems go these are not bad ones to have, as they can all be solved with work and persistence (and maybe some cash :)).

I am in a similar spot; hit some hardships in some key areas but I keep reminding myself that there are a million other items I can work on while my mind sorts out the other issues...it got so bad for me that I rewired my harley....now I am hoping back on the build.

Warren is right!
Pace yourself and make sure you move ina positive direction. Think about the plan and take action. For example, before I changed my radiator I had it all planned out in my head. It was frustrating and time consuming however I spent a small amount of time each night on it. As things come together it will become more satisfying every time.

Just don't over kill the project. Never go backwards, you need to always move forward.

Best of luck!

Sounds like you're going through the same thing many of us do, I know I went through it. You received good advice so far & now I'll give you my two cents.

I've been building mine for almost 6 years now. I've had a lot of help from 3 of my friends & this forum. Without those things, I don't know if I would be so close to finishing mine. However, I did feel the same way as you early in my build but soon realized some things:

1. If this was easy, everyone would do it.

2. Take time to look back at pictures of what you have accomplished.

3. Think of your build as a valuable learning experience.

4. Stay focused on your ultimate goal. For 25 years,I wanted a Cobra so I had something Cobra related in plain view in my house to help me focus on that goal. I believe in visual cues.

5. Don't set completion goals as I did, since many times, other more important things get in the way that caused me to miss that goal, thats when the frustration sets in.

I try to look at it this way: Building a Cobra is like eating an elephant, you got to do it one bite at a time.

Even though it has taken me almost 6 years, I hope to have many more years than that to enjoy my Cobra. :D

So, stay focused on the prize, enjoy your accomplishments, have fun & press on one bite at a time. ;)

Randy

In time you will find out that the journey was as much fun as the destination!

Like Warren said - try to do something everyday, no matter how small.
Once you start driving it you will realize you are never quite done - there
is always some little thing you can do to make it just a bit better.
When you look back on what you have accomplished you will enjoy it even
more.:)

Earl-- count your blessings.I'm 62 years old, a Bermudian living out here on the "Rock", and have wanted a Cobra since the first time I rode in an AC Bristol in 1964. Can't wait to wind up my business here, move to Georgia with family already resident,and build my car. I also do the obligatory house maintainance, but, alas, have no Cobra to gaze upon. BOY!!! are you lucky

Don't plan too much, just do it. Because everything you do will be redone in time. Hey, that sounds like a T shirt. P.S. Just be glad you dont have to deal with the California DMV. That would discourage anyone !!!

I like making a list to check off hang it on the side of your car and another in a prominate place so you can see your progress at a glance and lets you jot down thoughts that wont get lost in the hussle bussle of daily life. Be happy you have one to work on:cool: the joy is in the doing and thinking about doing comes in a close second.Have fun :D thats what its all about!!!Keep up the good work.WB3

Hey, Steve, I first purchased my Cobra when it was a "completed" car. It ran great for about 3 months. Since then I have replaced the engine, transmission, drive shaft and U-joints and a short list of other stuff. If I wasn't so fussy I could've gotten by with less, but then I wouldn't have had all this fun! Keep on persevering, it will be worth it. But don't worry, you won't ever be "through" workin' on it! I hope mine is back on the road for New Years! :p Rich

Earl...I understand COMPLETELY.

I have JUST finished an 18 month build and was telling someone this weekend that there were times when it seemed as though I got NOWHERE for weeks at a time. I was privileged and lucky enough to take 15 of those months off completely with no need for a full-time job, just to indulge my desire to build one of these inspirational and beautiful vehicles. Like EVERYONE who has gone through this, there are times when it was one step forward, two steps back...frustration ruled at times, and sometimes I thought I would NEVER finish.

After an AMAZING 300 miles of driving, I am still dealing with 'teething' problems, thinking of things to add or improve, and fretting about things I wished I'd done first time round, but just to reiterate some platitudes of others in this thread...

1) If it was easy, everyone would do it!
2) It REALLY IS about the journey, not the destination. Enjoy every single knuckle-skinning, swear-word ridden, sweaty, grimy, oily, frustrating minute of it, because YOU are doing something that very few people are capable of even starting...dear god man, YOU ARE BUILDING YOUR OWN COBRA!!!!
3) The sense of accomplishment, of wonder and of satisfaction that you get the first time you drive THE COBRA THAT YOU HAVE BUILT, everything that went before will be a source of pleasurable memories for the rest of your life. I am sure the ladies among us will complain here, but it's a little like giving birth...once the COBRA pops out, all the pain and frustrations are forgotten and all you can think of is DRIVING and polishing the heck out of your shiny creation.
4) Just take it one step at a time and don't worry about what you still need to do tomorrow or next week or next month...take satisfaction from the little things you do each day. Every bolt you tighten today, or every adjustment you made yesterday is something you won't have to do tomorrow, and is one more step in the journey.

Relax, breathe deeply, open a cold one and stand back admiring WHAT YOU HAVE DONE ALREADY!

You are part of a small, select group of people...

...YOU ARE A COBRA BUILDER...shout it out !!!

Good luck

Glyn

My advice and approach is this...Remember your not doing it because you have to, it's because you want to. And lastly NEVER do anything unless you have the time and patients required to do it right and carefully. I seem to create more problems and work for myself (eff ups) when I just spontaneously decide to just pop something in or off. It doesn't have to be finished by morning so you can drive to work tomorrow. Good Luck!

I knew better for myself and bought a car already drivable...I am in the process of slowly upgrading and maintaining. A big enough project for me.

John

Who's Steve................LOL............I'm sure there is one out there thats in about the same boat as me, Earl, so I thank all of you for your kind words of encouragement, from me and Steve....LOL

I've been "looking" at my car for more than a year now, w/o any progress being done except for buying parts as I find them. Other house projects, work, personal life has put it on hold but as soon as the garage is finished, the build starts again!
Just tell yourself what I tell myself; "The race starts once the car is complete, not before". It helps, trust me!
Larry

Earl...sorry for the 'Steve' address...rofl. I changed it...Steve's on his own!!!!

:)