The good, the bad and the lack of time... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Fulcrum525 · #1 10-13-2011, 08:45 PM

Ok I need a bit of advice. I'm in a position where I have too many projects to handle and very little time to do them all in. I typically work 48 hours a week and winter is fast approaching so the days are getting shorter and shorter. I'm hesitant to take any days off as i'm still fairly new with the company. I spend most weekends and the odd weekday with my girlfriend so that also cuts into what little free time I have to work on projects. Currently I have 4 going on outside of the normal day to day stuff.

1st problem (The easy one)
I'm an officer in my local MBCA club and i've been tasked with planning an event that's coming up on the 22nd. All the planning has been done so I just need to call the restaurant and our stops tomorrow to finalize the plans (I also need to polish up the scavenger hunt but thankfully the aforementioned darling girlfriend is going to help me with that)

2nd problem (Also easy but every little bit cuts into my time)
I'm still helping my friend with the sale of the 280CE. Thus far we've had some interest but no one has yet come to see the car.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-cars-sale/304023-fs-1980-280ce-euro-central-ct.html

3rd Problem (Much more time consuming)
The 300GD repairs are coming along but it's a process like any other. The bigger mechanical issues have been resolved. However some of the wiring is giving me quite the headache but i'm hoping that cleaning all the grounds will solve most of the issues. From there it's a matter of replacing the transmission fluid, fixing the soft top and registering it. I only have time to work on it when I get home from work which leaves precious few daylight hours. THANKFULLY my father has been helping me fix things on it.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/open-discussion/305584-search-has-finally-ended.html

4th Issue (The nightmare of "Now when am I going to get this done?")
I bought a 300SEL in August as a parts car. The idea was to slowly pull it all apart over a matter of weeks and haul the frame to the scrap dealer. I meant to have the 300SEL stripped a long time ago but my father thought it could be fixed so we hauled it to my indy who found out that a piston was screwed up. It's still there and we need to get it back here but space is now very limited. I could still fix it for $1,500 but then there would be little if any ROI. I also still want it as a parts car but my hands are already full with everything else. Storage space for all the stripped parts is also a MAJOR concern as all of our sheds are nearly full to the brim. I could park it way in the backyard and gradually take it apart but i'd rather not have it sit for the winter even if it is just for parts.
W126 Gas VS Diesel-Greatest Part Commonality?

I need some advice on what I should do. I figure that in order to do everything i'd need a good 100 hours.

Hatterasguy · #2 10-13-2011, 08:55 PM

Prioritize what's important, fix the G, dump the E on your friend and say you don't have time to deal with it anymore, and bring the SEL home in the now free space the E once occupied.

Fulcrum525 · #3 10-13-2011, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Prioritize what's important, fix the G, dump the E on your friend and say you don't have time to deal with it anymore, and bring the SEL home in the now free space the E once occupied.

The E is sitting at her sisters house (Conveniently two doors down) The winter street parking ban is fast approaching and they need the space as well.

TylerH860 · #4 10-13-2011, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fulcrum525

The E is sitting at her sisters house (Conveniently two doors down) The winter street parking ban is fast approaching and they need the space as well.

Let it fly on ebay for whatever it goes for. Whether it brings $800 or $1800 who cares.

All your stuff seems manageable. Rather than a few big things to keep track of I seem to have hundreds of little things, a few always slip through.

The most recent one is I forgot to pay my quarterly HOA dues and they promptly sent it to a collection agency. Its not a bill I thought about and I thought I had opted for paperless billing. Checked my junk mail pile and there it was.

Hatterasguy · #5 10-13-2011, 09:03 PM

Than ebay add, no reserve, its gone in 10 days or less. Worked like a charm on my SD.

Fulcrum525 · #6 10-13-2011, 09:05 PM

The 280CE is the least of my worries really.

Getting the 300SEL stripped and the parts stored however....that's a worry.

Hatterasguy · #7 10-13-2011, 09:12 PM

Pull it into your backyard, throw a cover over it, and deal with it in spring.

Fulcrum525 · #8 10-13-2011, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Pull it into your backyard, throw a cover over it, and deal with it in spring.

That's what i'm leaning towards. At the very least I should be able to pull the interior out before the snow get's here. I also really need to tell Teresa that I need at least one day during the weekend to deal with everything in order to get it all settled before winter. (I really don't want to do that to her though.) A day off from work on a nice sunny day would also help out....a lot. (Again, i'm hesitant to do so.)

Hatterasguy · #9 10-13-2011, 09:18 PM

Well you have a bit over 2 months left, the weather *might* stay pretty good until the holidays. I'm kind of hoping it does to since I currently have a massive dirt pile open need to put in 3 foundations, and finish an addition.

I wish I had time to work on cars, I had 5 minutes yesterday to check out a 2001 E55 AMG on a car lot.

The extent of my wrenching lately is dropping my truck off at the dealership for oil changes.

Fulcrum525 · #10 10-13-2011, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Well you have a bit over 2 months left, the weather *might* stay pretty good until the holidays. I'm kind of hoping it does to since I currently have a massive dirt pile open need to put in 3 foundations, and finish an addition.

I wish I had time to work on cars, I had 5 minutes yesterday to check out a 2001 E55 AMG on a car lot.

The extent of my wrenching lately is dropping my truck off at the dealership for oil changes.

Yeah lack of time sucks. Definitely get the foundations done ASAP!

One of the things that irks me a bit is that I worked as a PA again earlier this year and that guy was never able to keep my busy to any extent but I still had to be there many hours a day. Shoot if I had an assistant right now there would be a never ending stream of work to be done. (Even picking up a part at the dealer right now is a hassle even if it's only 15 minutes away)

Brian Carlton · #11 10-13-2011, 09:58 PM

I have no advice, but I sure can commiserate.

I find that I have three months to get all the projects done............September, October, and November. After that, the cold makes it impossible.

Saturday and Sunday are out............GF takes priority............

1) Do delivery valve seals on the SDL
2) Replace monovalve on the SDL
3) Do front brakes and rotors on the SDL
4) Put a diff and a speedometer in the SE
5) Replace the oil burner at one of the rentals.
6) Sell the 1989 Dodge van
7) Install new taillights in the 740iL
8) Repair the odometer in the SD
9) Change two glow plugs in the SD
10) Adjust the rack damper in the SD
11) Rebuild the casement window at one of the rentals.
12) Replace the washer at one of the rentals.
13) Install a radiator with zone valve and wiring in the kitchen.
14) Clean the furnace and install a new Extrol tank and air bleeder
15) Get the valve body modified in the SE
16) Sell one of the SDL's
17) Replace the right headlight lamp in the SD
18) Replace the right taillight and rear markers in the SD
19) Wax the SDL
20) Install a TC lockup switch on the dash on the 2002 van
21) Replace the blower motor on the 2002 van
22) Replace the blower motor resistors (for the third time) on the 2002 van.

After that list, I still have not addressed the CA SDL that has been sitting here for four years.

So, yes............I can commiserate.

Fulcrum525 · #12 10-13-2011, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

I have no advice, but I sure can commiserate.

I find that I have three months to get all the projects done............September, October, and November. After that, the cold makes it impossible.

Saturday and Sunday are out............GF takes priority........

After that list, I still have not addressed the CA SDL that has been sitting here for four years.

So, yes............I can commiserate.

Spending time with loved ones on the weekends. Its fantastic but it does have its draw backs. I think I really need to let Teresa know that I need to get these things out of the way but once they are done it will be back to every weekend as usual. (Which is a given once it gets cold anyways)