how do you stay motivated with your project?

Things I struggle with most are keeping everything organised and tidy in the shed, and running into an issue which halts progress until you can get a part/tool/info.

I usually have a couple of things going at once so that if you come to a halt on one you can use the time on the other.
Component work like rebuilding a starter motor, alternator, diff, swivel housing etc are nice self-contained jobs that are satisfying to complete.

If you mainly only get out to the shed in the evenings and have close neighbours like I have, a list of noisy jobs that you can get out of the way at a neighbour-friendly hour is a good idea to keep things moving and happy.
Its a PITA to get to 9.30pm after doing some quiet work and realise that you really need to get the angle grinder out for 10 mins to be able to finish it off.

Keeping things tidy and organised is hard in a small shed, but is probably more important than when you have a large area to spread stuff out.
If you end up hunting around for an hour for that bag of bolts you need to finish a job the enjoyment level drops through the floor, and you're likely to walk away to the TV/couch/fridge.

Basically, the more organised you are the more you will achieve and the better you will feel about the whole project.

Steve

I struggled for years with projects ... mainly 'cos I could only afford to have one car on the road ... which meant I always had to have it back together and working by Monday/the next day :eek:

Take piccies of your project and post here. That way you can see the history of what you have done.... this is the one I've been tinkering with for the last couple of years.... 2years of tinkering and it looks damn near the same as it did when I pushed it into the shed :o The main thing that slows me is money, I have next to none to spend on cars.... 3young kids and a house to run is always more important that tinkering with projects. You can achieve a lot without spending lots of $$ though.

Is this the best project car you have ever seen?

Sure is fun to drive.

seeya,
Shane L.

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Originally Posted by jazzaD1

As the title asks:

How do you stay motivated with your project?
Not necessarily land rover related, do you set yourself a deadline? or chip away for a certain time every night? or do you have a different method?

I need to pick up the pace on getting my pre update 200tdi disco back on the road, it needs a lot of little (and a couple of larger) jobs done to get it up to speed, soon it will be in the garage at my place, rather than my parents yard which i hope will make me get out there and work on it more

the light at the end of the tunnel is still there, a camping vehicle, something to go off road in, and something to drive to uni

the tunnel just seems a lot longer at the moment!

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Good timing on this question, I am having the same problem at the moment and funnily enough with the same vehicle. Mine is a 93 200tdi 2dr disco.

I have been putting off getting around to the diff change because I know it is gonna aggravate my back injury. I was hoping to put in a new a frame bearing at the same time, but finances are tight and the one in there seems ok.

So it has been a couple of weeks and I have done nothing.:mad:

Time to follow a few hints here and make a couple of lists and see if that helps.;)

Neale

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Originally Posted by DoubleChevron

I struggled for years with projects ... mainly 'cos I could only afford to have one car on the road ... which meant I always had to have it back together and working by Monday/the next day :eek:

Take piccies of your project and post here. That way you can see the history of what you have done.... this is the one I've been tinkering with for the last couple of years.... 2years of tinkering and it looks damn near the same as it did when I pushed it into the shed :o The main thing that slows me is money, I have next to none to spend on cars.... 3young kids and a house to run is always more important that tinkering with projects. You can achieve a lot without spending lots of $$ though.

Is this the best project car you have ever seen?

Sure is fun to drive.

seeya,
Shane L.

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Never ever had any urge to drive a Citroen but THAT IS COOL!:cool:

I try and get into the shed most nights for an hour or two.
Three things that motivate me are: 1) I dream of driving my project one day 2) I have thought of what my next project will be and am only allowing me to start it when this one is complete 3) I am determined not to be like my dad and have multiple unfinished project vehicles.

I also find that every now and then I need to walk away from the shed for a week or two to recharge myself, and give me a break away from it.

Just keep plugging away at it.

My God, I must be an expert at this. I'm going to clock up a quarter of a century soon of keeping myself motivated while fixing Landies, often during hideous rebuilds in difficult conditions and with most things going wrong. It hasn't gotten any easier but there are some rules I follow:

1) Complete smaller jobs when possible so that you have something actually assembled and finished to look at.
2) It's harder to get out there and start working than to keep working, so just get out there first.
3) Take a break for a couple of days when needed, so that you can't wait to get back at it.
4) Music, or a TV in the background, or naked women assistants - whatever makes the work more enjoyable - helps so that you're not trapped in that infernal shed/carport/open driveway with nothing but your evil thoughts of what you'd rather be doing.
5) A "professional" attitude of getting on with the job regardless helps too.

I know some people love this work, but I'm more interested in driving than fixing so that's always the big carrot at the end of the long, long stick.

I suppose I really should get off this computer and go and work on the Rangie . . . :(

Keeping motivated is easy just get a mrs that nags you and you find hiding in the shed is quite easy.

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Originally Posted by Randylandy

Keeping motivated is easy just get a mrs that nags you and you find hiding in the shed is quite easy.

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In my relationship that just ended, the shed time practically disappeared...

Good to have that back!!!

Still end up spending as much money.... lol

Cheers
Will

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Originally Posted by Randylandy

Keeping motivated is easy just get a mrs that nags you and you find hiding in the shed is quite easy.

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That's my main motivation but I didn't want to put them young people off. :D

Yep having the missus to keep happy plus work etc always seems to keep me away from my projects..................... So I got divorced :p