I May have waited too long. A cautionary tale.

[Lord Warlock]

In the summer of 78 I got my charger r/t se, it was my first car, and I drove it to high school during my senior year, it was the car to beat at my school, holding the reputation as the fastest car at school that year.  My dad wouldn't let me drive it my first year of college, but I did drive it my 2nd thru 5th years of college, and when I graduated, made a deal with my dad to trade it for one of his cars while I was in the Air Force, with the agreement that I could buy it back when I got out.  Which I did.  I've had the car sitting in my garage for over 35 years now, I eventually even had a two stall garage built just to house the car.  The car was very straight, very little rust (back window ledge and lower rear quarters/trunk floor) but it was complete, all the parts were there, and the engine has always run even though I never drove it on the road.  During college I managed to blow up the original matching number 440 and swapped a 383 into it, and a year later another 440.  After the second engine swap I decided I never wanted to do that again, so decided parking it made more sense to me than to risk blowing up the motor I took out of another 69 Charger RT.  Figured I'd never get a date correct motor that if someone looked hard would find it was original to a 69 charger r/t.  So I put it in the garage and I became one of those detested owners that were going to rebuild it some day.  People would see it and knock on the door and try to buy it for chump change and while I would let them look it over, never seriously considered selling it.  Even to the guy that offered 12k for it in the early 90s.  Probably a fair price at the time, even if I thought it was a little low.  

Life intervened, married to my high school sweetheart, after the Air Force, we moved to Jacksonville Florida and settled down, eventually having two kids.  The car became an afterthought, I figured I'd have plenty of time to fix it up and kept putting the family first and ignoring the old charger which waited patiently for me to come back and play with it.  I always had a daily driver that was a performance car of some sort, mustangs, dodge stealth turbo, cobra's and now a challenger r/t.  But always planned on fixing up the charger in the garage.  From time to time, I'd do something minor to the car, but never really accomplished much, stripped off the vinyl top because there was a bubble under it in one spot, and used fiberglass to seal the trunk floor that had surface rust (bad decision).  

Around 2004, my best friend from high school who I had kept up with regularly, and was also into cars and went with me to car shows every year, up and died from a heart attack at 44 years of age, a few months before he was going to retire.  And it lit a fire under my ass to stop putting things off and finally start working on the charger, so I made it a point to begin the restoration of the charger, hoping to finish it in 4 to 5 years, and enjoy it during my own retirement.  I stripped out the interior and the process began.  10 years later it still wasn't done, progress had been made, and as long as I made progress each year, I was happy that I was enjoying the car and learning new skills as I took on each new section.  Even with my friends memory motivating me, I always thought I'd have time to finish the job and enjoy the car again.  I stripped the body down to bare metal, removed everything that I could easily remove and store, started restoring the original grille, took each section apart and rebuilt it as good as I could, if I broke something I replaced it, but if the original piece was roadworthy, I opted to keep it and use the original if possible.  I removed the back glass and started the body work repairing minor rust along the window channel that had leaked into the trunk back when I drove it regularly.  Back then, I didn't have a welder, didn't know how to weld, but did know how to trim sheet metal and rebuilt the ledge that held the window in place.  Back then, I used pop rivets to hold the sheet metal into position, then used epoxy putty to mold and seal the edges of the metal.  When I was done, the ledge looked new, and now the ledge would hold he back glass properly.  That success pushed me to move on to the quarter panels and fix those as well...only this time I figured welding in the replacement quarter made more sense.  Got a welder from my dad who had one he wasn't using, and spent a few weeks figuring out how to use it, spent weeks online studying how to weld panels, and eventually got the quarter welded in.  

One job led to another and I worked on the car on and off for the past 10 years, even taught myself how to paint cars (10 years of practice) fixing and painting other cars in the family till I was satisfied I could do a quality paint job on the car.  Then spent a few years prepping the body and painting the car until I was happy with the results.  The more practice I got, the more anal I became about results.  My resulting paint job now isn't quite mirror smooth, but its better quality than any new car I've had in the last 15 years.  

In 2013, I finished a lucrative contract job as a software engineer for a major client in town, and decided I would take several months off to focus on the Charger and try to get as much done as I could before going back to work again.  during the project I was on, I accumulated many parts I knew i'd need, and stockpiled them (trunk floor, gas tank,  brakes, brake and fuel lines, etc) and between November of 2013 and March of 2014 made a ton of progress on the car.  Not finishing it, but getting it mostly back together and ready to start up again and possibly drive soon.  Still have small stuff to finish like gauges and wiring and a few chrome pieces to replace or rechrome, but overall made positive progress.  

(continued)

[Lord Warlock]

While visiting family for winter holidays of 2013, I started waking up in the middle of the night often to go to the restroom, never had that issue before, but ignored it figuring I was getting older and its a common thing to encounter.  In May of 2014 I experienced blood in my urine one evening, and went to the doctor to have it checked out, a bladder infection was suspected, took antibiotics and it cleared up, but a week later I was pissing blood.  Not a good sign, wen to the primary physician and had some tests done, evidently my prostate had grown to about double its normal size and explained the night time trips to restroom.  Doc gave me a rectal exam and said there was a problem with the prostate and to go see a urologist.  After several CT Scans and a biopsy, learned I had advanced prostate cancer, was immediately started on hormone therapy and lined up several procedures to prepare for radiation treatments. Even at this stage while the diagnosis wasn't good, there was always a 96% chance they'd fix it and i'd be fine.  Although the treatment drained my energy, I no longer had the energy to work on the car.   I spent the rest of the year from Sept through December going to radiation treatments every day for 10 weeks.  3 months later I took my first PSA test to see if the cancer was under control, and while my score had dropped from a 5.9 psa to a 2.6 psa it was still too high so they put me on a hormone blockade to drop he psa further.  That didn't work, and in 3 months my psa doubled to 5.4 indicating radiation didn't work, and the hormone treatments weren't working either.  I was transferred from my urologist to a Oncologist to prepare for Chemotherapy.  Now I am going through my 2nd month of chemo, my life has changed dramatically, I have no energy, and am finding it almost impossible to finish the small work on the charger.  I no longer work, I'm permanently disabled and living with castrate resistant prostate cancer, and am faced with a short life span at what I consider a young age of 54.  There is still a chance that Chemo will work, if they figure out the right approach in time.  But I get to endure an infusion of toxic chemicals every 3 weeks, and deal with debilitating side effects on a daily basis.  I don't know if I'll feel good enough to even take the charger out for a drive again, much less work on it to finish the project.  Who knew that i'd have to worry about this at a young age. 

As it sits now, the charger is still sitting in the garage, and I can't get fuel to flow from the gas tank to the fuel pump, and pretty much too weak to get under the car and work on it.  I may figure it out and get it started, or I may have to ask the local car club to come over and help finish it.  I may never get to enjoy the car like I had planned.  Expected life span with my cancer is 6 months to 40 months average, its incurable, but it can be stalled.  I keep hoping for something to work.  The cancer doesn't hurt much at all, its the treatments that suck green donkey balls. 

A word to the wise, IF you have your dream muscle car, don't keep putting off getting it fixed up, You never know what will happen to your health, it can change drastically from one day to the next.  Don't hold off til retirement to fix your favorite car, I'm finding it more common than not that a majority of us wait too long and never get to enjoy our hobby even if we've owned the car our entire lives.  Get off your ass and get the car up and running.  Enjoy it while you can, don't worry how pretty the car is, just get it back on the road, you can always make it pretty later.  Don't let the family and kids dominate all your time, make sure you take some time for yourself and enjoy your passion.  The kids will eventually grow up and leave you, your car likely has been waiting for you longer than the kids have.  (I love my kids and my wife, but they don't care about my motivations, they only really care about theirs)Go out and enjoy your passion with cars.  The longer you wait, the more expensive it will cost to complete the project.  It will never be as cheap as it is today to get it running and on the road again. 

[myk]

Personally speaking, every member of my immediate family has experienced terminal cancer except myself.  I figure that in my late 30's I'm probably nearing the point where my luck will run out, which is why, at the disappointment of my personal banker, I've decided to throw every penny I have at the Charger; to hell with the future., tomorrow and all that.  After all, you just never know when you're number is up, and the Charger means more to me than anything else anyway. 

I hope you don't focus on the idea of how much time you supposedly have left.  Sounds to me like you're in the company of family at home, friends like us online, and most importantly you have your wits about you.  Thanks for sharing your experience and passing on your realization about time and allowing some for our personal interests.  You've been here this long, so don't give up just yet...

[tan top]

  awwww no !! sorry to hear this !  i'm at a loss what to say !  fingers crossed  it all works out with the treatment  ,  10 years ago my dad had a scare with his , but  , luckily  it turned out to be , something else !  life can be crap at times !  if I were closer would help to get ya charger running & stuff .

[myk]

Yeah I wish we were all closer.  I'd love to help get that Charger running and then go cruising with you, Dirk, Shawn, Bryan, Warlock and everyone else who wanted to come along...

[E5 Charger]

I am so sorry to hear about your cancer and know first hand how much chemo can suck. I pray that the chemo does work and you will have many, many more miles of driving your Charger.

[Nwcharger]

I'm sorry to hear your troubles. Literally bought me to tears. I wish you were closer to me. I would devote my personal time to get your charger going for you at no charge. Just to be able to see another person enjoy there car would bring me much joy. Please try and take care.

[richard parker]

really sorry to hear that you are going thru this my friend. keep your head up and stay positive things will work out. stay strong.

[303 Mopar]

Prayers are with you my brother, and hope you recover and get that sweet Charger running soon!  Your local club sounds like a great place to ask for help, and you can bet any guys here that are near you will jump at the chance too.

I lost both parents to cancer within a year of each other a few years ago, both very young.  This had the same effect as you forcing the question "if not now, when"?   I went out and bought a '71 Challenger and fully restored it only to sell it for a '70 Cuda.  Then my '68 Charger fell into my lap a earlier this year.  While not trailer queens, I am able to tinker with both cars, teach my 3 boys the basics and enjoy many cruises with them.  

There is only 1 who knows when our time is up, so enjoy your life now and live it to the fullest!  

[68pplcharger]

Sorry to hear about your Cancer. I visit relatives every year in Jacksonville for nine days. I could help a few hours each day while I'm there if your interested. I won't be back until June of next year...

[Mike DC]

           
Really sorry to hear this.  You've mentioned your health battle before but laying it out like this really makes it hit home.  You've been one of the long-timers here and I can't picture the place without you.  Hope you're staying with us.  It sucks to get hit so young.




I had a string of unexpected deaths in my family in the 2000s.  It gets to the point where you feel downright fatalistic for a while.  But then things settle down for a bit and you go right back to your old live-forever routines.  It's a hard thing to balance.   

I hope you'll be with us for a while, with or without wrenching on your car.  Keep your chin up.

[Lord Warlock]

I don't post sad info to get sympathy or pity, but I do so to warn others not to put off something like my project (or theirs) thinking that there will always be time later to finish.  Anyone who wants to visit Florida is welcome to come by and say hello, as long as I'm still alive and kicking, i'll be thinking about how to finish my project and once again ride in the car that started my fascination with cars and started a lifelong obsession with speed and the auto hobby.  Everyone needs a kick in the ass sometimes.  My only regret has been that I put it off so long thinking I had 30 or more years left.  My dad survived his colon cancer at 55 and is still alive at 86, and still into his motorcycles and his cars.  My younger brother died of leukemia 7 years ago, got through his bone marrow transplant only to die of pneumonia during his recovery.  I've got one brother left, and I hope he doesn't have to go through what his two younger siblings have. 

I don't plan on dwelling on my illness, I live each day as best I can, and enjoy every smile and every mile.  The charger has inspired me over the years to enjoy my automobiles, and I get to spend a little time out in my garage sitting next to my charger watching tv in my "man cave".  Not many would spend 30k just to protect their first car.  I guess the next owner will appreciate the care I put into making the charger last 40 years in safe and dry conditions.

[Mike DC]

           

Not many would spend 30k just to protect their first car.

Quite a few guys around here would spend big money to protect their '69-Charger-first-car.  You've got company on that.  


BTW, a while back my uncle was told he had about 2-5 years with his prostate cancer.  He made it 15 years.  You never know.

[cdr]

prayers to you & family, kidney cancer & MS was my diagnosis in 2011 and i too am disabled, having my Charger project has been my best medicine, even if all i can do when i am having a really bad MS day,is go out in the garage & stare & dream about things i want to do to my car, I wish i was closer to where you live, to help with your Charger. REMEMBER not everyone has the holy grail car in the garage!!! WE are truly blessed!!!

[myk]

           

Not many would spend 30k just to protect their first car.

Quite a few guys around here would spend big money to protect their '69-Charger-first-car.  You've got company on that.  

Amen to that.  For the FIRST TIME in my life I'm considering home ownership, usually a 30 year contract that's the biggest expenditure in one's life, JUST  so I can have a garage for the Charger; otherwise I couldn't care less about having property.  Honestly, if I could just live in a garage I'd have no problem with that as long as it had a pot to piss in, water and electricity.  Most of us love our cars here...

[XH29N0G]

I hear your message loud and clear, but I am still saddened by your news. 

My thoughts and well wishes go out to you. 

[Stevearino]

My wife was diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer 2 years ago and while she made it through the chemo and has more energy than me on most days her numbers tell us that it is still lurking. I know everyone who has to deal with this does it in their own way but we both got to the point of being exhausted by the worry. Now between check ups we just pretend it's not a problem. I know that may sound stupid but the worrying is a pointless drain and a waste of time. It doesn't change anything.  I am sorry to hear you are going through this but new treatments are coming around every year. Hopefully they will find what will work for you.

[comet_666]

F@#$ cancer. It took my Father, my grandmother and my uncle.

Always tell yourself you can beat it because you can.

Good luck to you 

[ITSA426]

Thoughts and prayers, just do the best you can.

[charge69]

Really sorry to hear this! Stay positive and do as much as you can. If you are too weak, it is certainly no shame in asking for help from anyone you trust to do it.

Your message about procrastination is preaching to the choir here as I am very bad about this.  Although I have recovered most of my abilities from my stroke in 2010, it is still a challenge to do most anything physical to my Charger. Just getting down on the ground to change oil is very daunting but, doggone it, I still try.

Again, stay positive about this and beat that SOB, Cancer!

[rt green]

i pray that you will beat this and be alright.

[green69rt]

I've had a taste of what you're going thru...wife with early ovarian cancer.  She's looking OK but it makes you take a hard look at things and the direction of life.   Don't give up, and if I could suggest, try to get a referral to MD Anderson cancer center in Houston.  I think it's the best in the country.  Saved my wife, my sister in law (multiple myloma) and others.  Seems that new treatments are arriving daily.

[Dino]

Doctors are always very careful in delivering a positive outlook, because you just can't be sure how things will turn out.  But let me tell you that I have seen time and time again that an expiration date means absolutely squat.  People who 'should' have left this world decades ago are still with us.  Keep fighting, they will tweak the chemo when possible so your immune system doesn't go all haywire.  I sincerely hope you will be with us for a very long time to come, and I wouldnt be surprised if you outlive a bunch of us either.

Your attitude is admirable, you're not a quiter that's obvious.  Get your local car club involved, get this beast back on the road, and go take your long awaited drive.  I think you've earned it.

[Baldwinvette77]

F**K im late to this, and i've always been terrible with words, but i hope for the best for you.

[Lord Warlock]

My chemo center IS an MD Anderson clinic, they just moved/opened a new center here in town, and it was the unit I was assigned to by my medical plan.  I'm hoping they can either figure out the right treatment or keep me available for a suitable trial that opens in the future. I intend to fight it and not give up, but you do get depressed from time to time when a major treatment fails and you move on to the next stage. The start of chemo is the same treatment as a majority of others get, sucks to watch your gonads shrivel and your hair fall out, but its better than being dead, so will deal with it.   I was shocked when I got the results of the last PET Scan, which showed it had moved from the prostate to the liver, backbone and lymph system, all in 3 months when previous scans were negative.

Overall, I can't complain, for 50 years I had a pretty good run at it.  Reached a decent level of income for over 10 years, more than average but never enough to go out and buy luxuries, I think the decision to have kids impacted that more than anything else. Had two kids, and raised them well enough to get into college, even paid for their college.  Always managed to keep us fed, housed and schooled, and managed to have something interesting to drive without overdoing it. And got to ride the internet from inception to wide acceptance.  I came to DC early on, but only because I was looking for charger parts before getting into forums elsewhere.  I just didn't post much as I wasn't doing much to the car at the time.  When I worked on the car you'd see me get more active.  I do remember finding the registry a long time ago, not sure when though. 

Life is a learning experience, stop learning and you'll stagnate, I'm not ready to stagnate yet, but I can feel myself slowing to a point where i'm afraid of growing roots out my ass and into the living room recliner, where I can watch tv or surf the internet, (at same time often).  Waiting for good days, which are sure to come, last year or two has been a challenge though.   

[oldcarnut]

Sorry to hear about this also.  My dad went through it.    Because of that I have had annual  checks  since I was 46.  Now 55 I can't stress enough to the rest of you 50+ to get checks annually.  

[orange383]

Thank you for your wise words and advice.

I have a resto project here in the UK and I will now get on and finish it and enjoy it.

I have also sent you a private message.
Best of luck to you!!

[68moparbob]

Thanks for sharing your story. Keep us posted and I will certainly be praying for you.

[Lord Warlock]

Cancer has forced changes on me that I don't care for, like destruction of a healthy sex life, ruination of overall health and fitness and energy, and the medications have made me sickly and feeling poorly most of the time, and losing my good looks i.e. my hair loss situation.  I appreciate inputs from others and any topic is open for me, orange383 suggested eating broccoli ... if I am forced to eat Broccoli, asparagus or cauliflower, I am going to die, because I refuse to eat foods that make me gag to get down just to survive a disease.  Cancer takes everything it can from you, I'm not willing to sacrifice decent tasting food just to live a little longer.  I'd rather die.  I understand that there is a need to eat vegetables for essential vitamins, and the dietitians with MD Anderson will suggest some of these vegetables that we know are good for us even if they are gross to eat.  (I've avoided those three ever since I moved out on my own), and started cooking for myself or with my family.  The wife eats them, the kids had to eat them while growing up, but I refused.

Before I knew that the hormones or radiation would fail, I chose to fix a long standing dental problem that had gotten way out of hand, and ended up having my 16 remaining teeth removed to have dentures made and installed (bolt on's that are semi-permanently mounted to 9 implants) at a horribly expensive price of 22000.00 per arch, or a total of 44000.00.  While the teeth decision was probably the best solution for someone who intended to live another 30 years, it was probably the wrong decision for someone that may not live another 5 years.  Now I can eat anything I want again after not being able to chew steak or other chewy foods (no molars) for several years, and I plan on taking advantage of these teeth while I can.  At least I no longer have dental pain anymore.  But the cost of the teeth probably eliminated my chance of getting a Hellcat I'd been lusting after.  Who really needs a hellcat anyway, when you already have a Charger R/T SE and a Challenger R/T.

Anyway, I appreciate the suggestion, it will work for others, just not for me.    

[skip68]

This is upsetting news to hear LW.      So sorry.   Don't give up.  Keep a fighting attitude.   Wish there was something we could do. 

[polywideblock]

  don't really know what to say , just keep fighting  

buy one of those "nutri- bullet " things and make smoothies with the "other " things disguised by better tasting fruits etc .

cabbage is supposed to be another good one(anti cancer)    . I eat it raw /uncooked (shredded ), way   better than broccoli  that's for sure


                https://www.google.com.au/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4MDNE_enAU504AU505&q=cabbage+cancer+cure
     

[orange383]

I agree. I couldn't eat much broccoli on its own or even with a meal.
But when I heard of the chap in the uk whose wife gave him broccoli soup every day and his cancer reduced significantly I thought I would find a recipe on line and give it a try because there's no way I could it enough of it raw or cooked.

I was amazed that I liked it.

Here's the recipe http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/broccolisoup_76607

Worth a try and if you don't like it poor it down the sink!

I hope I'm not getting on your nerves.
Shame I live thousands of miles away. I would have liked to help you finish your Charger.

Best of luck.

It's awesome that you kept your charger for all these years by the way.
I sold my first charger because I didn't use it much.
I wish I kept it now!

[TeeWJay426]

Sorry to hear this. Sounds like you have the right attitude, which helps. Keep fighting and don't give up. You will get to cruise in the Charger once again!

[AKcharger]

Sorry to Hear that Warlock and wish you the best, but know I hear EXACTLY what you're saying. We all have an appointment with our maker, unfortunately we don't know when. So I make the most of every second of every day.

[Dreamcar]

I'm really bad at these types of things, but we're praying for you. Thank you so much for sharing your story.  You inspired me to just go out there and work on mine and enjoy the moment when my 2.5 year old came out to help.

[ws23rt]

You may have waited to long  ---to realize some of those things we look forward to when we are young. Car projects and plans for them come from our early years and the good times they bring to memory.
Your health is something one needs to attend to before getting back to old projects and plans.

I speak from my 64 year old self and thank you for posting your situation and feelings about it. It's takes a bit of grit to expose one's self about what everyone needs to learn more about in advance--Aging--

A long time project of mine (for example) has been with me for 35 years. If it was completed thirty five years ago I may have enjoyed it more then I feel about it now. We move from the past as we age and the past cannot be recaptured as we remember it.

So-- lord Worlock--I am with you in your current healing. And again thank you for bringing discussion to us and the young uns.

You of the youthful persuasion will be where we are in very short order. It is not a place to fear. It is a place to plan for.

[Kern Dog]

I'm a bit troubled by some of what the OP wrote. Not sure I fully recall, but the theme I got was that his family isn't as attentive or caring as he had hoped for. In addition,  the car project he postponed has sat idle as his health problems mounted. For your sake, I'd focus on repairing the issues with the family if possible. Cars are fantastic, but they will not comfort you in your final days like a loving family.

[Lord Warlock]

My family, at least my parents have been fantastic supporters during my health issues over the past year.  My wife is also a great supporter.  My kids...well, one daughter was so eager to get away she latched on to the first boyfriend she had and is doing fine post college, the younger daughter has been a handful, tried to make last summer about as difficult as it possibly could be, until I finally drew a line in the sand and told her  meet the basic rules we put down to live here, or move out and she elected to move out...all while expecting me to pay for 3 more years of school as well as housing.  School is paid for, did that years ago, but room and board are killing us financially, so I put a limit on 2 more semesters of paid room and board, then she's on her own.  Hate to do it, but if she's so eager to grow up and "do it on her own" will step out of the way and let her prove that she can do it.  So far this semester she's proven she can't, she can do the school part, but not the $$ part.  It will be a surprise for her to find out we (wife and myself) weren't lying and intend to cut her cash flow off in late spring of next year.  

I prefer the quiet house with the kids gone, 20 years of screaming and crying girls was enough for me.  I hoped that each would mature while in school and realize we weren't nearly as strict as they thought we were, we were a lot more permissive than our parents were, but kids never see it that way.  Now I'm faced with never seeing grandchildren, or even my daughter's weddings....one got engaged over a year  ago but is putting it off because they can't afford to pay for health insurance yet.  They are paying their way and figuring it out, just like me and the wife had to when we got married, they are just doing it without the ceremony.  The older one did mature in school and is much easier to live with today than she was before, but she was never considered to be a problem child...like her sister was.  

I doubt I'll be getting much comfort from either of my kids, one would try to visit during the final days, the other quite frankly i'd prefer she stayed at school.  If it would permanently scar her to stay away, i'd let her visit, I allowed her back to visit this month, although she's changed the date twice now.  Can't plan anything with her.  Now I'll be freshly poisoned with new chemo during her visit and probably not fun to be around, I'm a bit better the 2nd week after the chemo treatment.  I'm in the middle of a week 2 right now.  she was supposed to visit this weekend...now it is tentative for next weekend instead.  Next week I get my 3rd infusion. 

I spent a couple hours today working under my 69 charger, fixing a blocked fuel line that got bent too much and couldn't get fuel to the motor, hope I've resolved that issue, tomorrow I plan on pumping air into the tank to push the fuel forward, and hooking up an electric fuel pump near the mechanical pump to pull the gas the rest of the way through the lines, then I'll hook up the mechanical pump and see if I can start the car again.  I have to secure the fuel line to the underbody of the car first, the larger diameter tubing doesn't fit the original tube holders.  

[Lord Warlock]

The car project hasn't been idle as my health deteriorated I just waited too long to get it running so I could enjoy it before my body gave out.  I've been working on the restoration for the last six years, and in the last 18 months I've made substantial progress on it, enough where I should be able to get it started soon.  But working around my health has put long delays in place where Instead of rolling under the car to do something I'd consider simple...like unhooking a fuel line, now I sometimes can't get down on the floor because I can't get myself back up without tearing a muscle, or simply reaching up above my head to turn a wrench manually to unscrew a bolt wears me out in 10 seconds where I could disassemble the entire engine previously.

I'm currently forced to hire contractors to take care of yard projects that are pretty much required if I DO get the charger running and out of the garage where it has sat stored for so long.  Hiring concrete contractors to build an add on area to the driveway, as well as landscape designers to re-fresh the flower and bush beds and getting someone to rebuild the Gate and Fence alongside the property line where the garage sits.  In an early stage in my life, I would have built the fence myself, and landscaped it myself, but I can't leave it to the wife to handle at this point, too much work.   

[wingcar]

Life can get in the way of living at times....we all have our individual battles that we must fight sooner or later.  Just remember that the right attitude is everything....God be with you and your family

[ODZKing]

LW, just joining in here, so sorry to hear.  Prayers with you my Charger brother. 

[moparchris]

Hey man... do the best with what ya got for as long as ya got it.  I have read everything you have written and as a counselor I can say sadly that I have seen other situations similar to yours, especially where the kids are concerned.  What I take away from this is your main point.. GET OFF YOUR ASS AND GET SOMETHING DONE!!!  I can't count the number of times I've told some people in my life the same thing.  So many people think there are going to be virtually unlimited days somewhere in the future to "do all the things I've thought of doing."  Guess what... maybe not.  Do what you can NOW while your still healthy enough to get them done.
I give you kudos my friend for facing what you're facing and for bearing down.
God's Speed.....

[chargerperson]

LW sorry to hear your story.  Thank you for sharing with us though.  Good reminder to take advantage of every day we have.

Good luck

[Lord Warlock]

Progress of any sort is a good thing, this week I forced myself under the car and cut out a section of fuel line that was pinched and rose above the tank more than necessary, trimmed that piece off and reconnected the hose to the tank itself.  I also forced myself under again to attach fasteners to the line itself to hold it in place along the door sills (doesn't hang low anymore).  Now I just have to figure out how to prime the lines with fuel, gravity didn't work, pressurizing the tank with air didn't work either, bought an electric fuel pump, but that would only work if I hook it up near the tank.  I may have to fill the tank more than 1/4 tank or pump fuel from the hose up front to get the lines filled somehow.  I was able to get the brake lines filled but the fuel line is a bit different. 

Like yardwork, things are done in short bursts with frequent rests between.  Have to get seat belts, deciding if oem is best or not, something to think on for a bit before ordering. 

[Dino]

Dump a few gallons in the tank and jack up the rear.  Fuel will come pouring out the front in no time.  If for whatever reason it needs a hand, stick a shop vac on the front of the line for a few seconds and voila.

[birdsandbees]

or a vacuum gun that you'd use to bleed brakes... or old school with a piece of hose and your mouth! 

[472 R/T SE]

Wow, sorry to read this LW.  My prayer list just keeps growing.   

We just found out month ago that my Mom has breast cancer.  They type she has is the most common & most treatable.  Problem was she never had the annual exams she was suppose to be having & the DR. was pumping her full of hormones & my wife said if a Dr. is prescribing hormones that the patient should be getting tests.

My Mom is a workaholic.  This is the only thing that was gonna get her to retire.  As it is now, they're trying to convince her to work 30 hours a week so she can keep her benee's.   I think that's a BAD idea.  I know her & she'll never work just 30 hours a week.  Quarter end or month's end would have her right back where she was.

...to be continued.  Just wanted to jab a post in here so you know you're being thought about up here in this corner.

[Lord Warlock]

my shop vac hose wouldn't fit on to a fuel line sized hose, but I do have a roll of duct tape, that may help. I also have the vacuum gun for bleeding brakes, that was what I was thinking of using to backfill the hose with fuel, then hook up the electric fuel pump and see if it pulls gas from the tank. 

I tried jacking it up in the back, that was what I meant when I said gravity didn't work, I can try again though, it is one of the final steps before starting it up again, making sure its drawing gas from the tank...hasn't done that in a very long time, old tank was very nasty inside which is why I replaced the fuel lines, worry about gunk in the lines so just replaced it all.  Used a bigger diameter tube though, think it is now 3/8, doesn't fit in the old hose clamps that kept it attached under the car, had to fashion newer hold downs (or ups in this case)

Thanks for the warm thoughts, its appreciated.  Just plan on enjoying the charger for a while over the next year or two, more if I have more time.  Strongly thinking about supercharging my challenger also, paid it off recently and may have some car money available near end of year.  Want to buy myself something before spending it on the wife's car.  (she's planning on a replacement daily driver early next year)

[Lord Warlock]

well, pat yourselves on the back.  We have fuel to the fuel pump.  Added 10 gallons to the 3 or 4 that were in there already today, then got out the brake bleeder and pumped it about a dozen times and  I had fuel where I needed it.  So gravity evidently had partially worked just hadn't got it the last 4 feet or so.  One more stumbling block gone.  May turn a key on it this weekend.  

Once it starts and runs hopefully without smoking out a valve cover, I have to go through all the trim and make sure its bolted from underneath, fix trim around rear glass, tighten up the bumpers, then figure out how to get it out of the backyard. 

[472 R/T SE]

LW, may I ask whereabouts you might live?

[Lord Warlock]

Jacksonville Florida, south part of town near St John's river.   

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

Sorry to hear of this. The most expensive thing in life is the cost of regrets. 

Again, sorry.

[ws23rt]

Hey Lord Warlock
I've been keeping up with your postings and am moved by your circumstance and motivation to get your car going.
I am 64 and have had back and neck surgery in the last several months. My condition is not intended to be compared with yours but it does give me a wake up to where I am in the life cycle as you are feeling.
My cars and projects have been with me for at least 45 years of my life. My work has provided for me where I am today but has cost me plenty in times lost with family.
Today I have a son (recently married) and a daughter and son in law with two grandsons. They are moving forward with their lives and If I wait --one day-- I will miss something. My cars however just sit and wait unchanging.
I have no specific point to make. Just an understanding about moving forward.
My next big decision is when to retire and give up my work. I like my work. I am needed where I work. When I stop working at what I do I will need a physical and mental push to keep me out of the chair. ---Maybe my cars are for that?
Don't put off anything that you need to do with family. They are moving on with life and it's a one way trip for all involved.

[b5blue]

  I'm deeply shattered for you my friend. I wish I could help you get that Charger on the road somehow but it's just too far from the Tampa bay area for me.    I realized several years ago just what your caution urges and am just finishing a hard push repairing my car and home to my acceptable standards. (Not restoration, "repair".) I've "cut corners and lowered standards" just to reach operational done across the board and am very close.
  Just last night I fired up the 70 and put a couple miles on it as it had sat waiting while I sorted out home repairs. Do a punch list for operational and focus just that goal because driving the old pal beats everything else!  If I can help in any way don't hesitate to PM me! Had I seen your fuel supply problem sooner I'd advised you to get a sucker gun from Harbor Freight. About 5.00 and the size of a grease gun you attach it at the line that feeds the pump. One pull and fuel is sucked from the tank to the pump safely with no worry.   
   

[RIDELIKEHELL]

Truly sorry to read this LW but you are absolutely right in what you are saying to people. I lost my first wife 10 years ago on October 15th at the young age of 38. It started as breast Cancer & after having her breast removed & enduring chemo & radiation we thought she was out of the woods. Sadly she began having terrible headaches which were caused by the cancer getting into her menigal fluid(it's around your spine & brain). This is a death sentence & she passed within a few months back in October 2005  In her last weeks she told me to go and get that muscle car we always dreamed about so that's how MYOCTANE was born. Sadly it can never replace her but every time I look at my Charger I think of her. So everyone get out there & grab your dreams if you can! I hope to read some positive updates on your condition WARLOCK..take care

[472 R/T SE]

Jacksonville Florida, south part of town near St John's river.   

So we're on opposite ends.  We're in Vancouver, Wa.   

I know for a fact I/we could get your hot rod up & running with my network of Mopar friends.   

[Lord Warlock]

Well, I did make a little progress on the car, I got fuel from the gas tank to fuel pump, so now I'm pretty sure when I start cranking it fuel will feed the carb like it should.  Started checking wiring in engine bay and found one of the red wires from the battery is unhooked, only thing I've unhooked was the connection to firewall where the fusable link attaches, had to replace that. it is the thinner of two wires off of the positive terminal, and is just long enough to reach the firewall, so may be the starter relay wire from firewall, I probably removed it after frying the fusable link wire. 

still have to work out the wires that attach to alternator, my car has the stock fuel regulator on firewall, but appears to have a one wire alternator...which is confusing, it didn't even have a brush connector to the fld connector on the rear side, there is a ground connector there but no fld connector to attach to, and its been that way quite a while because I can't remember when I replaced the alternator last, probably in the 80s.

This coming week will be another trying week to deal with, tomorrow I have to get up and hydrate, then go give a blood sample so they'll have my latest readings for infusion 3 later in the week.  Tuesday I go to the radiation oncologist...not sure why, he isn't treating me anymore.  Suppose its better to keep the line of communication open since I may have to use them to radiate somewhere else once it gets deeper into the bones. Wednesday I go see the medical Oncologist to see what he has to say about progress of treatment, wife will go to this one with me.  Then Thursday I have my 3rd Infusion, and my troubled child is coming to visit for the weekend, so I'll likely have to buy a set of tires for her car and spend time at the shop as they install them.  My dad said one of her tires is marginal on tread so she'll get at least 2 tires, but if I only get 2 she'll put off getting the other two till she has a blowout.  Once that is taken care of, I can wander back to the garage and play mechanic again...if I feel like it, first 3 to 5 days after an infusion is usually a challenge to deal with as it cycles through the body.  My feet are still peeling from the last treatment, my hands lost a layer of skin on both hands.  

Can someone point me to a thread explaining how to adjust the hood properly?  I know how they attach, but there has to be a list somewhere of what each adjustment does.  My hood is attached so the springs hold it up and open, but if I close the hood the right rear corner (as viewed from drivers seat) does not settle flush, and sticks up about an inch in that one corner, other 3 corners are ok, I thought it might be a worn spring and replaced that side but the replacement spring/hinge does the same thing as the original did.  So must be an adjustment.  There are no rubber bumpers currently holding the hood up in the back so know they aren't pushing it up from the bottom, just feels like spring isn't settling into the right position.  I can push the corner down further, but it never shuts clean.  I also adjusted the latch in the front today, haven't checked to see if it holds hood shut though, it wasn't latching on it before.  I moved the latch a little higher.  

[b5blue]

My hood did similar, loosen hinge fender bolts and lower as much as possible down. Pivot pin wear had mine peeking up by spring tension against slop. I had to replace the hinge to get it down all the way the last bit. (Use a Sharpie to mark bolt locations before starting.)
Can you post pics of ALT. setup?   

[Lord Warlock]

I'll try to get alt setup soon,  I took off the replacement year one harness as it appeared to be shorted somewhere and the battery wire was fried.  took the original harness I took off months back and spliced in newer connectors from new to old, and then took it out to the car, but just sat it on top of motor and sat down to rest.  Didn't get done.  I just got a replacement fan shroud that has been missing for decades, and looking at that I'm trying to figure out how to get it on without scratching it unnecessarily.  Looking like its easier to pull the radiator out than undo the fan, will give me a chance to check and see if I put the thermostat back in.  Always one way to delay is to refocus on something else.  I'll get the wiring harness and shroud back on probably next week.  Just had my 3rd infusion of chemo (every 3 weeks I get another infusion) and been kind of out of it last few days.  

Had a spending spree last week, bought several items I'd been putting off for a long time, and a few items i'd noticed I couldn't find anymore, hose guard for heater hose for one, two seat belts for the front seats, aftermarket ones for front have originals for the back seat, fan shroud, and glove box liner.  There will be more i'm sure, considering a new alternator just to be on the safe side, At least i'll know if its single field or what.  Pretty sure old one is a single field since its a roundback model.  I have an old squareback on the shelf also but its nasty looking. 

[cdr]

Thanks for the update, 

[Lord Warlock]

Got the harness hooked up to everything, after swapping some connectors from new burnt harness to old original harness.  Have to put the voltage regulator back on car, but after watching the YearOne harness turn to smoke on me and short left and right, I'm getting gunshy about hooking the battery up.  I made the step this afternoon to briefly attach the battery and look for shorts, the old harness may work after all.  I still have to connect the regulator and one of the fields on the existing alternator which will be replaced within a week, I will probably take it out of the car tomorrow.  Spent about 150 bucks on small items off ebay yesterday, and decided to get a tuff stuff 1 wire chrome alternator, squareback style.  Cost a ton but I wanted chrome, and the roundback I needed was on back order.  100 amps may be too much for what I need, but i'll be investigating how to hook it up while waiting for it to arrive.  In the meantime I get to watch contractors pour a new driveway this week.   Should be interesting.

[b5blue]

Good Luck! 

[DixieRestoParts]

I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Saying prayers for your full recovery! I got my Green R/T SE in '82. So, I know about keeping one for the long haul. I too got side tracked. Life will do that if you let it. Thanks for posting your story. Hopefully, it will help some fellow Charger owners.

[Lord Warlock]

I can only hope that the current treatment, or an alternative in the future can reverse things a bit, I'd like to see some type of remission, just haven't seen much movement backwards, just see progression.  I doubt the current treatment is going to do me in, it isn't fun to go through, and I always wonder now if I can recover to what I was like a year or two ago, doesn't seem like it as I work through chemo.  At least my dad's chemo was for a set number of treatments, mine doesn't seem to have an end, they keep trying till something works...meanwhile I get to deal with the results.   

First week after treatment tends to get harsh side effects, 2nd week it starts to calm down, 3rd week I feel like I can go out and do stuff, so I get a week each month to work on the car do yardwork or some other task.  Most of the charger stuff is tying up loose ends, nuts and fasteners, I think I may crawl under the gas tank again and locate a fuel leak I can smell in the garage, then try to secure the line better in the rear wheelwell. While under there I have to figure out where to mount the grounding strap, since the tubing is larger than stock the strap doesn't really fit on it But I have to put it on, will piss me off to have to do it later on. 

[polywideblock]

think you should look into some of the " alternative ' remedy's to your chemo symptoms 

a few members here "grow there own" so to speak   including yourself       http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,119195.0/all.html

  its supposedly  great for the nausea and lack of appetite  amongst other  things 

[Lord Warlock]

That is one of the forms of alternative medication that I do take regularly.  It'd be a lot less stressful if it were legal in my state, the vote for medicinal was very close last time, if they figure a way to make medical possible without becoming a free for all we could probably decriminalize it here.

Just for the naysayers, it does assist with Nausea, lack of appetite, and pain, so it could be a benefit for those like me in chemo or other harsh treatment.  My biggest problem is the wait between harvests, I usually get enough to last through the next grow, but it doesn't always age well, and it dries out too fast inside the garage.