5 Exciting Milestones in DIY Projects

There are many points of joy experienced by those who spend their time under the hood, hunched in a wheel well, or practicing that unique kind of yoga that is working under dashboards. Reviving or just keeping project cars running is an art, and like any form of art, it can consume the creator if they are not careful. There are bright spots that come out during those late nights trying to figure out why the cooling fans won’t run and the engine overheats. You just have to know what you are looking for.

Everyone gets reward from different aspects of working on cars, and that’s part of what makes the tasks so great. Regardless of what kind of project car you have, these are a few positive milestones you are likely to experience at least once.

Buying one

The thrill of the hunt is one thing, but if we are being honest, the thrill only comes when shaking the hand of the seller as you transition from buyer to owner. It’s a time of incredible optimism for most of us, with vision clouded by the potential of the project which serves to block out the known darkness that is looming. The struggles of diagnosing problems, fixing what you find, and preparing to do it all again pale in comparison to that beautiful pocket of time when your project car is 100% potential for success.

Getting it running

If you purchased a non-running project, first of all kudos to you for being so brave, and secondly prepare yourself for the excitement that comes with hearing that car run again for the first time. Someone else gave up on that project or generally get it get to the point of no longer functioning and you brought it back. Even when amounts to charging the battery and putting gas in the tank, it’s still decent step forward. A running project serves as concrete and inarguable evidence you have completed something. It might not be mastery, but not all progress is so visible. Have to revel in it when you can.

First drive

Even if you bought a running project, the first drive is one of the key moments that establishes a lot of emotions about the car and what kind of relationship you might have. Is this drive a gleeful stepping stone in an engine swap, or the second monumental step in the resurrection of a decrepit hulk that was previously left for dead? At some point it fails to matter as we all get drawn into the wonder that is the contraption around us function as designed, with the bonus knowledge it was us that made it happen.

Accurately diagnosing a problem

There is always a stunningly long measure of time between diagnosis and rectification of an issue on a project car. While performing the fix, it doesn’t matter how confident you are, there is often at least a tiny kernel of a chance that your effort will not solve the issue. Experience can help stack the deck in your favor, but even with certainty on your side there remains a warm feeling that comes from the confirmation that you not only found the issue, but also solved it.

A hack roadside fix

While a lot of the highs and lows of project cars happen in your driveway, garage, or neighborhood, there are a whole crazy subset that happen while out and about. The first time something goes wrong unexpectedly while on a drive is one thing, but handling the issue with aplomb despite being in the wrong place with the wrong tools. Overcoming the odds is something normal people have to go out of their way to find yet those who choose to occasionally drive questionable vehicles often find the opportunity to rise to the occasion is one that appearw more often than we might wish.