j-roadtatts

I am officially the father of a cheerleader!

<--- grew up eating sandwich spread and miracle whip. Is about the most white trash food ever created. LMAO

Can't say I have ever had a straight tomato and mayo sammich. I have eaten alot of avocado and tomato sandwiches though. Avocado seems to make a good mayo replacement IMO.

Working in a restaurant you do NOT put food in the fridge or freezer before cooled. I have seen the health inspector show up more than once and temp the food in the walk-in freezer.

I won't let you down my friend.

My point is be mentally prepared, by having ALL the tools you can to deal with any situation. Above ALL else stay open minded. Don't let your pride and ego trip you up. Be honest with yourself by admitting when you didn't know everything. Is the best way to be humble and learn.

The definition of success is for each person to determine on their own. The thing is that opportunities are presented to us daily, we are just not always present to see them. If you are hung up thinking about tomorrow or yesterday, the opportunities in the present will pass you by. The ability to stay focused on the present is without parallel. Generally when somebody is stuck in a lull in life it is because they're not practicing this. The past is gone and the way we deal with the present will dictate the future. I will tell you "HOW" I do this. Approach each day being Honest, Open-minded and Willing. This is the "HOW". Be honest with yourself about what is working and what is not, be open-minded to suggestions, and be willing to follow through. The answers are all around us, it's just that ignorance is bliss AND we are not present. Is the same as how we call somebody that dresses nice, "dressing for success". Only this is being prepared for success on a cognitive level. I equate everything to efficiency. An example would be laying bricks. If I take 12 motions or steps to lay one brick, and the guy next to me is doing it in four motions. Who is doing it more efficiently? This is why it is agonizingly painful for me to watch most people work. They do not understand the control points, and are like a monkey fucking a football. The lack of preparation and focus sabotage the execution. It's not their fault as ignorance is bliss. But if you know better there is no excuse. Remember knowledge is knowing something, wisdom is knowing when to apply it.

This is some of the most meaningful writing I have seen in a long time. Well said Jared.Also makes me want to reevaluate things as well. J Wow, guess I went on a tyrant. Still pertinent to the discussion though. (Hadn't smoked yet to dull my senses)J, you should always reevaluate life. Often if not daily. I try to reevalute where i am in life a few times a year at the least. It usually happens when something significant occurs. The main issue is deciding what needs fixing, and what is good as it is.J What works for me is writing down my goals, plans and just general things I have to do or want to accomplish. I make the lists on my phone in the notepad. I can Get everything written down and out my head, then I can focus on one thing at a time. I reflect on the lists often. This helps me stay in touch with my short and long term goals. Also not being afraid to admit when something isn't important, or is not working anymore, and being about to cut my loses. Keeps life organized and is efficient.I may try this out. Sounds effective as hell. J Reflecting on the lists helps me to prioritize what I am doing with my time. Hell, sometimes they just give me a perspective change, and thats all I need. When nothing else can change, then change your perspective is my motto. Honestly I have you to thank for that train of thought Matt.

That's just stupid good luck that dude still had it after a year. Vehicles are a labor of love for us to go though so much to get them how we want them. I can't see bigger brakes being a bad thing either. IF I pull the trigger on the painter I have lined up, I should have it done in 3-4 months. We stall see who wins as anything is possible.

This is some of the most meaningful writing I have seen in a long time. Well said Jared.Also makes me want to reevaluate things as well. J Wow, guess I went on a tyrant. Still pertinent to the discussion though. (Hadn't smoked yet to dull my senses) J, you should always reevaluate life. Often if not daily. I try to reevalute where i am in life a few times a year at the least. It usually happens when something significant occurs. The main issue is deciding what needs fixing, and what is good as it is.J What works for me is writing down my goals, plans and just general things I have to do or want to accomplish. I make the lists on my phone in the notepad. I can Get everything written down and out my head, then I can focus on one thing at a time. I reflect on the lists often. This helps me stay in touch with my short and long term goals. Also not being afraid to admit when something isn't important, or is not working anymore, and being about to cut my loses. Keeps life organized and is efficient.

thank you everybody for being my soundboard. I cannot tell you guys how much I value your input.

This is some of the most meaningful writing I have seen in a long time. Well said Jared. Also makes me want to reevaluate things as well. J Wow, guess I went on a tyrant. Still pertinent to the discussion though. (Hadn't smoked yet to dull my senses) J, you should always reevaluate life. Often if not daily.

Thanks for you input Mike. What is a guy to do? I have bought most albums on cassette, then CD, and now I just end up buying downloads. Really tired of paying for the same music over and over. I own all the staples I listen too, but have tried holding off on buying a bunch of new stuff I have found myself listening to. So what is a guy to do to expand his media collection without spending more money? I was going to start a topic on the subject (and still may), but what do people collect their media on? Strictly phone and PC? Maybe a memory card? What will the next storage and listening experience be?

I guess i see it like buying a brand new 65 mustang in 2015, for 25k.

About all I do is work Sean. I work 40 hrs a week tattoo'ing and could work ALL the hours my body can stand beyond that. I also work 20-40 hours a week gardening. Yes I make more money gardening then tattoo'ing. I hit the ground with my feet running most days and do not stop until 9-10 at night. So to answer your question, I honestly would be putting in about half the days (not hours) as the painter to reach the dollar sum. Not to mention I don't have alot of freetime. As far as being a perfectionist, it would not stop me from using the car. Yes it will hurt alittle more that first few scratches, but thats about it. As far as supports, I already welded in the subframe connectors and added all other possible bracing. Time vs money is a great topic in and of its self. I am getting to an age I realize the less shit I need, the less I have to work. Now just to minimize all the bullshit. Of course that requires reevaluating my needs and eliminating anything wasteful. (harder said than done with a family) Guess you could say I got wrapped up in lifes BS, woke up and realized I was just another sheep in the crowd, going through the motions. What a dis-attached, vague meaningless life 95% of the ppl around us are living. I am to the point i really just want to button up all the things I am committed and not take on anymore pointless projects. Get on to enjoying my time, and get out of the hamster wheel. LIFE is a limited time engagement. I try pack it with as many meaningful experiences as possible.

Your killing me Sean. My father said the same thing. Both people who's opinions I highly respect. So let me give some more insight into my reasoning before you cast your final stone. The biggest factor is the fact the mustang was designed poorly, and has alot of body flex. Any one of these cars I have seen painted without fully stripping to bare metal, have cracks in all the same places. This is the reason for the media blasting. I can do a chemical strip myself, but i will get to my reason for not doing that. I can do the dissemble and reassembly myself also. As far as the actual body work, yes I can do it myself. Hell I can even do the spray myself. This is not in question. The other big factor is the car was W's gma's and is an ode to her. The car will never be sold. So onto my reasoning. I can do ALL the work myself. Would probably take me 1.5-2 times as long for two reasons. Is not my trade and i would not be efficient. Secondly I am a perfectionist and would over think EVERYTHING. Is a trait I am aware of and try to use to my advantage, but know I would still waste un-needed energy. Ok then I would be buying a bunch of tools I would only use once. Would be a learning curve the whole experience is about the ONLY plus I can see. I am deathly sensitive to painting chemicals, As I was exposed to them too much as a child working for my father. (can you say child labor laws lol) And yes my dad values money more than just about anything. Charged me full price for a breaker bar. No, i'm not bagging on dad as he installed MAD work ethic into me. But we have different values. Ok, so it takes me 400 hours, instead of his 200 hours. My theory on the relativity of time vs money is this. I can spend 400 hours doing the car or 200 hours tattooing. I make the same an hour as what I would pay the painter. I value time WAAAAAY more than money. So why would I waste 200 extra hours of my time?

But what lens do you recommend for indoor close-ups of tattoos? I realize light and backdrop is a big part of it, I should be on the lower end of the number spectrum though correct?

I would do it right the first time. If you regret not doing it full tilt, what happens? You either live with regret, or spend the money to re-do it. If you do it to the full amount, and look at it and say you could have skated by with just the paint, your out less than re-doing it.Plus if you decide to sell it later it increases the resale amount, and it would show great at the car show. J Just got off the phone with them. The total is 14,065 for show quality. I honestly have put so much work into this car, I know I would regret it. So ya, pretty much just pulled the trigger. Will have it media blasted by next Thursday. The dude don't mess around, and is on my level.I think that was the best decision. Local guy? Reputable?J He Is the best in the area. He specializes in restoring old cars, not collision repair. I have seen quite a few of his jobs, and he came highly recommended from several people I trust.Oh, and after talking to him, I know he is doing it correctly.

I would do it right the first time. If you regret not doing it full tilt, what happens? You either live with regret, or spend the money to re-do it. If you do it to the full amount, and look at it and say you could have skated by with just the paint, your out less than re-doing it.Plus if you decide to sell it later it increases the resale amount, and it would show great at the car show. J Just got off the phone with them. The total is 14,065 for show quality. I honestly have put so much work into this car, I know I would regret it. So ya, pretty much just pulled the trigger. Will have it media blasted by next Thursday. The dude don't mess around, and is on my level. What about doing some of the labor yourself? To me that would be tripping over a dollar to pick up a dime. I am not trying to reengineer the process or the guys job. The headaches involved could easily be avoided for a few dollars more. I picked a very competent painter for that very reason. I do not want to have to micromanage the job, just keep a hand in there enough to know the pulse. You have to remember I'm in the service field, and understand the creative process. Me trying to micromanage it is only going to fuck shit up.

I would do it right the first time. If you regret not doing it full tilt, what happens? You either live with regret, or spend the money to re-do it. If you do it to the full amount, and look at it and say you could have skated by with just the paint, your out less than re-doing it. Plus if you decide to sell it later it increases the resale amount, and it would show great at the car show. J Just got off the phone with them. The total is 14,065 for show quality. I honestly have put so much work into this car, I know I would regret it. So ya, pretty much just pulled the trigger. Will have it media blasted by next Thursday. The dude don't mess around, and is on my level.

Something similar to this, only lower and with an LS motor!

I talked to a competent painter this week and I got a quote. To have the car disassembled, media blasted, metal patches welded in, painted and reassembled, is around 12k before parts. The other route is to not do a ground up restoration, and just get it painted. That's still 6k to do right. I am on the fence, I would love to do it to the 9th°. But realize a lot of the effort would just be in vain in my eyes. What do you guys think?

Found a Snap-on 24" breaker bar at my dads pawn shop. He only charged me 50 bucks for it.

I am chomping at the bit to get started on the interior. At this point though is more productive to do the paint before I get to far. A test fit of the new back seat and side panels. Need to rebuild the door hindges and window regulators before anything.

Tilt steering and factory steering wheel FTW!