When to stop with "while this is off, may as well fix that too"

[Ptero]

The saying, "If it ain't broken, don't fix it" has been on my mind lately. You pull apart one thing to fix/replace and see 3 other things that could be replaced as you're already this far in dismantling things. Those other 3 things may not even NEED to be replaced yet but it's going to be so much work in the future when you do need to do them so you might as well do it now.

I can't be the only one feeling this with our old cars. How do you guys deal with this? Ignore things until they need to be done? One thing at a time? All or nothing? Wait for available funds?

[Mikes Z car]

That is a big problem for me made worse by the fact I like working on the Z car. Most of what I think I need to do doesn't really need to be done as it is fine for now, with the possible exception of a paint job. If I can just stay focused on that I will be able to enjoy driving the car more while working on it less as a co worker pointed out. I sure hope someone has a solution.

[rcb280z]

You've got it bad when you "tinker" just about every day like ME. I love the Zcar also and am always doing something to it. And my wife is very understanding when it comes to my hobbies. She thinks it's great!

[Stanley]

My opinion that "If it ain't broke.." phrase only refers to the situations where there's a chance you could end up with a basket of parts and a car that doesn't run. Definitely doesn't apply to maintainance or engine/suspension tuning. Why didn't I replace that hard to reach fuel hose by the tank when I did the easy one ? Now I gotta crawl under there again. Yeah the cars can keep you busy. Can't believe it's time to clean the SU pistons and domes again - FSM says every six months.

[conedodger]

You finally stop when you realize you've owned for a decade and only driven it less than 100 miles...

[EuroDat]

You finally stop when you realize you've owned for a decade and only driven it less than 100 miles...

I second that. Ive decided to stop looking, put my tunnel vision glasses on and try to finish what I started.

[mjr45]

I got big in to "while I'm here" and realized I had to stop when "while I'm here" got to the point of replacing parts that didn't need it. To hard on the wallet. Now I just work on simple things, like wiring HA!

Edited February 19, 2013 by mjr45

[bartsscooterservice]

mmm.. I think if your going for a complete restoration, you wonˊt have any worries for a long time to come, but on part―resto zˊs there always will be something to do?

[gnosez]

After taking the tail light bulb out I found it wasn't the bulb but the maybe it could be the socket, then the harness itself or perhaps the fuse box and then I was taking apart my multi-meter because it didn't seem to function correctly. At this point I put the car back in the garage and went upstairs to watch TV.

[grannyknot]

I'm in the "all or nothing" camp, I don't feel like the car is mine until I have torn it down to the last bolt.

If it ain't broke, it soon will be.

Chris

[siteunseen]

They keep me out of jails and hospitals.

[Pomorza]

This past weekend I redid my exhaust manifold gasket. Well "while I was at it" if figured I might as well do the valve cover gasket and the thermostat housing gasket. And hell since I replaced the gasket on the manifold I might as well do the gaskets on the pipes. I have learned a few things with older cars, if its not broken I haven't looked at it yet.

But in all reality I've come to the realization that I need to do ONE project at a time and once I finish that ONE I can move on. Its a hard lesson I learned when I owned my jeep - started by just replacing the water pump, ended up doing a timing chain - it was a fun experience and cost me an arm and a leg (along with a very pissed of father (I was 17 at the time)). Did it need to be done, um no it was fine, did I learn how to dismantle half an engine in one weekend...yes

Edited February 20, 2013 by Pomorza