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Showerthought: My buddy's comment about my half-finished Fiero actually stung | Garage Project Graveyard - Rigidtalk

Showerthought: My buddy's comment about my half-finished Fiero actually stung

My friend Mike came over last Saturday to grab a socket set I owe him. He looked at my 1986 Fiero that's been on jack stands since 2019, engine half out, and just said "dude, you're just collecting parts at this point." It hit different because he wasn't being mean, he was right. I spent like $800 on a turbo kit and intake manifold that are still in the box. I realized I keep ordering new stuff because it's easier than figuring out why the wiring harness is a mess. Has anyone else had a moment where a friend's honest take actually made you stop and think about your project?

2 comments

2 Comments

lilyb273mo ago

Mike's a real one for saying it like that honestly. That "collecting parts" line would sting me too because I've been there, just stacking boxes of shiny new stuff while the actual car sits there judging me. Your Fiero project is basically a money pit with a turbo dream and a wiring nightmare. The thing is, buying parts is the fun part because it feels like progress without the actual work of figuring out why your car hates you. My buddy once told me my project car was more of a "shrine to the concept of a project car" and I wanted to fight him but he was dead right. Maybe you should crack open that wiring harness before you buy another manifold that's gonna sit in the box with its turbo friend.

mark6113mo ago

The thing that finally snapped me out of the parts collecting loop was forcing myself to do one ugly job before I could order anything new. I had a Mustang that sat for two years with a brand new intake manifold still in the box because I was too scared to touch the wiring. So I made a rule - no new parts until I finished whatever was sitting half done. Once I actually dug into that rats nest of wires, it took me like three weekends but I finally got it running. Honestly the relief of hearing that engine turn over was way better than the dopamine hit from clicking "buy now". Your Fiero will thank you if you just rip the bandaid off and start tracing those wires, even if it sucks at first.