A few more weeks and everything Charger will have to go on the back burner

[Dino]

Grad school starts May 3rd and as much as I'd like to keep working on the car, it's just not in the cards.

I knew all along that this program would be time consuming, but after talking with the current students in the program, who are about to start year 2, their clinical rotation year, I have solid confirmation on that!   

School is year round starting with a didactic year. 8 to 5, 5 days a week. Add to that anywhere from 3 to 5 hours of additional study time each day, and 8 to 10 hours study time every Saturday and Sunday. That's just average days, it gets a bit more intense at times so at age 42 I hope I can function well on a few hours sleep when the work load gets really high.   

There's roughly 1 exam each week in addition to weekly case studies and presentations.

Obviously there is no car time here which is why I wanted it done by May, but alas I didn't make it. I'm still trying to get engine, trans, and the bare necessities of suspension done so those at least can go back in the car. I will probably make it but it means I'll have to do a lot of work on this car from now until May. If I don't make it then it won't be for lack of trying though!

I won't be here much anymore in a few weeks, but I'll try to squeeze in a few minutes of DC.com time when I can.   

These are scary times in a way. I've never had to do anything as intense as this. I'm excited, nervous, scared out of my mind at times, but I'm also aware that I'll get this done and I will be a PA in 2018 and that's something to really look forward to.

[charge69]

Sorry the Charger couldn't be done in time but, Priorities have to be established and it can certainly wait for your dream to become a reality!  Just keep looking forward and make school a top priority and things will work themselves out!  Being apprehensive when starting such an important step in your life is natural. Good luck in this endeavor and you know what you have to do. Just do it!

[440]

Bummer on the car and good luck with school. Big life changes are always scary, exciting and everything else you've mentioned. I look forward to seeing more updates on the car and how school's treating you, sounds like it will be intense.

[new2muscle]

Good luck in your academic endeavors....


BUT....


Never use a word like Didactic in the forums..... 

   

[Dino]

Hey come on now, we're supposed to educate people, not keep them ignorant.   

I'll be sure to keep in touch and let you guys know how it's going, or how close to living hell I get!

Any car updates will of course be mentioned so if I have the time to bolt on some small part, you'll be the first to know!   

" you know what you have to do. Just do it!"

This pretty much sums it up and it's what I keep telling myself. The next two years won't be easy but that's not the point, they're supposed to be productive and get me to where I need to be.   

[stripedelete]

Yes, at 42 you don't have the same energy level as the twenty-something next to you.  But, you have 20 times more focus.   Focus wins.

Cover up the charger and forget about for a few years.  It will be like getting a new toy when you get back to it.

Enjoy this new chapter of your life.

[440]

Is it easy to focus with 20yo chicks sitting all around you wearing hardly anything

[b5blue]

 Take pics and log notes then burn to CD for backup. Tag the crap out of big stuff and box/bag store anything lose as you work now. (Sifting through stuff.) Do not pile stuff in the interior of the car but do block off any way rodents can get anyplace. (Even engine, exhaust...anywhere!)
I put my car in storage for what was going to be about a year, six years later I got back to work on it. You'll be tempted to buy stuff for later.....don't do it, don't even think about it. It adds to storage/tracking problems (The "where did I put that" and "what the heck was I thinking" issues.) and you'll have no way to verify what you bought is any good.
The nice thing is Chargers will sit for extended times and make no demands on their owners other then wanting you to sit in the drivers seat and make VAROOM noises now and then. 
You got this!

[myk]

Your car and we here at DC.com aren't going anywhere.  We'll always be waiting to hear about your next Charger task or whatever else is happening with school, family, etc.  Time is on your side, your life is evolving and progressing, so these may be scary times but they're also exciting considering what's in store for your future.   Go get 'em Dirk...

[Dino]

Thanks guys   

It's getting hard to work on the car and trying to get ready for school. There's still a lot to do to get the engine and trans in place and honestly I don't know if it would be even wise to try it.  I'll get both painted this weekend for sure, but I may end it right there.

I wanted my brake lines in place since access will be limited once the engine is in, and of course I had to rebend the lines to fit the hydrobooster and master which sit quite a bit lower than stock. In my hurry I had the bending pliers the wrong way on and when I bent the line I put a sharp kink in it. Not much later the line snapped ...I'm about ready to throw in the towel.

Sure if I push on I can get all this done but that means stressing every day to meet this deadline which is time I should spend relaxing before school AND spend some time with my wife. I'll barely have time to spend any time with her during the program.

I'm pretty bummed out about it, but I think it's the sane thing to do. I'll just have to stick the engine and trans in the corner of the garage and forget about them.

In hindsight I should've stopped working on it a while ago, but I had to try...

[ws23rt]

Our hobby is just that.  
A career is first and provides for a hobby that cost money to be possible. (not to mention all the other financial needs that just happen to come up ).

[Dino]

Yep and right now it's not being a hobby but a pita, and that's not the idea!

I've also just bought valve covers (set #2) that I can't use so that's something else I won't be able to get on the engine. It's just not working out right now and it's frustrating because I worked my tail off to get all this work done.

I'll have the engine and trans painted this weekend, they just needs degreasing and warmer temps to paint. The K member has been painted., only the LCAs have to be redone.

I may end up sticking the bare engine and trans in with the bare K member, well the sway bar is installed on it but nothing else. I wanted to mount the whole thing before getting it in the car but I just don't have the stamina for it anymore. I can always mount the engine parts while the engine is in the car. The grille frame, and radiator are out so I do have some room there.

Getting the engine and trans in would at least clear some garage space.