Greg, why don't you just sell it to the Dr?
Then you can move on and get what you'd enjoy driving...
That'd be a horrible end to this story. 
The only way this story should end is with Greg behind the wheel with a big thumbs up! 
Greg, I see your dilemma and my only advice is that you should not compare the newer cars you mention you could be driving instead of the Replica Speedster as a decision on weather to keep/finish the CMC. They are are apples and oranges. If you think those newer cars will fill the void then go ahead and do it.
However, your love for all things vintage VW/Porsche is obvious, and I think after you put 10k mikes on the newer Boxster ($65K plus) it may come to fruition that you should have just spent the 10K or whatever it will take to get your car roadworthy. Drive it for a while and then see how you feel. You can always sell it. The new Boxster may not be the cure. I can speak from experience that it did not work with me.
Greg I think you know my story...I have gone back and forth...speedster to Porsche back to speedster, back to Porsche And now back but to a spyder. Do yourself a favor and finish this car and have a little fun. I loved all my P cars, Boxsters, 911, powerful, sexy as fuc$ but I keep coming back to these little cars. If you aren't satisfied then at least you can sell and chances are make a little extra for a different toy...
Yeah, you're never, ever going to get a thumbs up from another driver whilst driving around in a Boxster, let alone a Mazda, but you'll get several per hour in a speedster.....
I'm jus' sayin'.......
still standing by . . .
three-oh-one, 7oh6, four seven nine 2 -- mobile.
It's kinda like waiting for the Floridian Vatican to blow black or white smoke , I'm just say'n..............
Not gonna happen. I have it on good authority (well, maybe the "good" part is a stretch) that an old gypsy, angry at Greg for resisting her advances, put a curse on him that said if he should ever finish that car he'd be finished as well.
what we need is some mojo voodoo stronger than an old gypsy. I think all the SOC together can chase that old hag away . . .
I've said it before, he's afraid of speedsters...
Come Greg (I know you're reading this) what's it going to be? $hit or get off the pot!
Someone needs to enjoy your speedster, why not you?
Greg is hanging onto the CMC for now and may finish the build, he has an open invitation here in PA. for me to have me finish it or I'll buy it... as is, when ready.
Boo? I'm waiting for first good northern snow storm then I'll get some help down here! Offered my now vacant beach front 3 BR condo for Nov to several Yankees. No takers yet. It still has basic furnishing but hoping to re-rent soon.
In just a few hours, I think I can get engine running - which will definitely motivate me. If it is bad from sitting too long (rings/springs or leaks) - hoping to find local guy to work with me dismantling and refreshing it. It's a basic 1641 with CW crank, light flywheel, 041 heads, 110 engle cam and dual Dellortos - do have couple T4 spares though. After all these years - just can't admit it got the better of me. I need to find and post photo of it being unloaded at my house from Miami delivery in 1989.
I had an eye exam this morning. This was a good read while waiting for my eyes to un-dialate. I think I can almost drive home now.
Rich , you can always go by feel.... 
aka the Braille Blvd :~)
Greg, I will post a few motivational speedsters photos this evening ...I have three (3) in my shop now...........YOU can do it !!
Isn't that why they put those bumps in the middle of the road? So, blind people can drive also...
I assume you did the Marvel Mystery oil thing.... if you can turn it over with a wrench and plugs out, check for rocker movement and button it up and crank it with no coil wire until you have oil pressure then fire it up, you just may get lucky~
Greg,
I know you want to "do it myself". That is ingrained in your DNA, and I get it. But I am telling you as a friend and as a casual observer: you are a fool to turn Dr. Clock away. This is the right way to get this car functioning. I have been listening to your "just around the corner" ambitions/excuses since I got my car in '06, and nothing really has changed. Except you are now in Florida vs, VA. Sorry, just some tough love there.
Wishing you the best, really.
Why do it today when you can put it off till tomorrow
The road to failure is paved with good intensions
Ok FESS UP - who sent me the "DO IT" patch and eye ball one? I'm guessing message is they have their eyes on my progress and it better take on wings! Still checking the northern weather forecast for snow --- trouble is once it snow it's hard to leave town.
This Larry guy keeps leaving messages on my cell too - what's with that?
So whats happening on this subject? Is Greg going to jump on the offer? Or are we expecting more excuses so this poor project waits to be finished.
Greg we are hear to help you get this done, Its not going to finish itself. And after owning the car for many many many years, don't you think its time to try a different strategy
jUST "dO iT"!
Greg's Motivational Poster.......
L to R
"Joe's CMC" New top 1/4 boot, side curtains, steering box and carpet.
Red CMC with new headlight grills, wheels and tires w/ still to do: full service, driving lights, and 1/4 boot cover........ A nice solid run and drive speedster.
Right silver CMC: Driving lights, 1/4 boot, luggage rack, P', nipple caps, exterior trim and scripts. Came with fresh 1776 motor cam & lifters etc etc........ This speedster was stored unfinished for 17 years with 20 miles on it and has a beautiful Lexus Artic Silver paint.
Hey if you guys want, for my 65th this January, have Chip Foose build by dream machine along with Henry, Carey, Kirk, Kevin Coolrydes" Coolrydes chassis/ suspension, GTI motor, roll up's, real heat & A/C too :~)
VERY nice work Alan. You have a great skill set for the speedsters..Now we have to get Greg to see this and come to terms with it
Good thing for Greg the fiberglass body does not rust, otherwise it would be rotted to the ground from sitting idle
C'mon, Greg! I remember sitting with you at the Italian catering hall(sardined we were, but great food!). That was a long time ago.
We all want to see you with your own SEG!
I never met Greg, so I don't know if this is right down the pipe or high and wide, but I'll make my pitch:
I get it. Of anybody on this site, I get it. You are a mechanical guy, and have a lot of "this n that" you'd really like to be incorporated in your build. You'd like to be able to step back and say, "I did that". Having somebody else do it for you seems like admitting defeat.
... but sometimes a tactical retreat is by far the best battle plan. Your engine, so lovingly assembled is now an unknown commodity because of the time that has elapsed. Stuff you've already done is going to need to be redone because of the time that is slipping away.
This project has moved from a mid-career diversion up north to a retirement albatross down south. It's taunting you.
Alan has the time, a network, and the experience to finish the stuff you really don't want to do (or you would have done them by now). If you want to add "this n that"-- focus on those things, and supply Al the parts or assemblies to incorporate into the car he is building for you. There are soooo many options.
I'd really, really like to build an entire car... but I know I'd end up right where you are-- obsessing about teeny-tiny details, while the entire project languishes. My advice? Get it on the road, then set about tearing into it with abandon. The stuff you really don't want to do is getting in the way of the stuff you do like to do.
I did this in '05, and it's been a good plan for me. During the build, have Al do the stuff that can't get done any other way. Get the paint and interior you want, trim it out the way you'd like to have it. I had a bundle of extra wires run from under the dash to the engine compartment, because... well, you never know. I've used them all. I had an extra line run from under the gas-tank to above the transaxle, because someday I might go EFI. I had relays and wiring added for driving lights because... well, you never know.
I've stayed very, very busy monkeying with the car for 10+ years. It's been therapeutic, rather than a millstone on my neck. Pay Al to get it on the road, then make it your own. That's my .02, which is worth exactly nothing.
I wish you well.
One of my favorite engineering axioms is "Perfection is the enemy of good enough." I occasionally have to remind some of my engineers of that little fact, particularly when a deadline looms. C'mon Greg, let's make this happen. I've kidded you about it for several years now, but you have at least one workable option. I'd love to see that car here in March for the SE meet.
One of my favorite engineering axioms is "Perfection is the enemy of good enough." I occasionally have to remind some of my engineers of that little fact, particularly when a deadline looms. C'mon Greg, let's make this happen. I've kidded you about it for several years now, but you have at least one workable option. I'd love to see that car here in March for the SE meet.
My version is, "if a job is worth doing, it's worth doing imperfectly". When I was a young man running pipe in a chase, obsessing about being 1/4" out of plumb in a 20 ft run. My journeyman told me, "we're not building a watch here, son".
True that.
Yet us not overlook : " Molding will cover a multitude of sin "
I will hereby add the weight & sentiment of my imperfections to this thread. Good is no one's enemy, and perfect is Godot.
I'm still "Waiting for Godot".......
But Vladimir is getting anxious......
I used to have a small sign posted in my office in one of my jobs, that simply said:
"There comes a time, in any project, when you have to shoot the Engineers and go into production".
Too true.
I also had one, some years later, that was a one-liner from Ogden Nash that said:
"To sit, is to Rot"
I still live by THAT one...
Gordon---both are perfectly true sayings!
