The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Throwing in the towel & calling it quits:(

It's a sad day in the Stovebolt neighborhood:( My dream is over:(
I am having to call it quits on my 57 project truck as well as my 55 due to health issues:(
I will post them soon for sale with pics.in hopes that someone will finish my dream truck:(

smitchell,

Very sorry to hear this. Take a breath, regroup, and find some facet of the hobby your health will allow you to enjoy...don't quit, make a course correction. Good luck.

Stuart

That,s too bad Mitch. I know how much fun this hobby is. Stay on the websight with us. We will like to hear from you. Good luck also. George

Well if your health is bad i am sorry you are suffering...We do enjoy your company and input though...so stick around...please

Because of health conditons, I had to part with my best friend "It Is Painted" to a great bolter in Montana some months ago.
On Aug 30th after a stay in a VA hospital they gave me 1-2 weeks to live...
Fooled them, and still here to read the posts from many great people..
Hang in there my friend..
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand,strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming..
"Woo Hoo, what a ride!"
Shooper

smitchell, would it be possible to sell your trucks and buy a nice, restored truck to tool around in? My father-in-law is considering buying his dream car, a '32 F**D Deuce Coupe. He just wants to run around in it and will get one that's already done. Is that even an option for you? Either way, I agree with the other guys, stay plugged in here and keep us posted.

Shooper,
You brought a smile to my face, as I read. I hope all is well with you.
Wizard50.

I don't know your health concerns but I have had major back surgery and took a lot of time off.In addition to my family this site and the knowledge that I had my truck to work on kept me going. Good luck and God Bless.

Shannon,

I agree with Stuart 100 percent!

You have options!

Not sure what else to say that others above have not, except to sieze the day!

I'd buy a finished truck to fool around in... good luck.

I "retired early" due to health reasons and the very first thing I did was drive 500 miles to pick up a rusted out panel truck to keep me busy. Health is holding and as long as I am physically capable I plan to leave this world doing something I like and really want to do. My wife keeps telling me she is afraid she will find me lying out in the garage under the panel or my 37 pickup. I just tell her to please smile. I wouldn't have any other way. She understands. Someone suggested selling two and trying to buy one, if possible, and I would even add collecting model trucks if its to your liking. Please, please stay in touch and do NOT quit. When we sign on as a bolter its a lifetime committment. Let us know how things are going and good luck and God Bless.

mitchell,

take care and stay in touch with us

best of luck and health my friend

Hobert

I do not know you sir, but you are in my prayers. If you need an ear, I am here. I am very sorry for your illness,please take care and consider the advice about buying one ready to roll. When I'm tooling down the road in my 63 C-10, "I'm grinning like a mule eating briars" It sure takes the edge off my day's troubles, hell I'm preaching to the choir!
God Bless, Pete

Sorry to here that smitchell,Shooper and achipmunk have got it right. And from a new bolter to a more expirianced one I sure hope you can stick around the site.

Sorry to hear your health is not good. Wish you a speedy recovery. I am just starting out on my first restoration, and will be posting for help along the way, maybe you can help me get my truck in order.

SMitchell, I too had to give it up, or take a
final ride in a Cadillac.. However, I did
get to complete My truck.. I am improving though
and hope one day I can get back to it again...plus
getting to be an old geezer don't help alot either.
If its not to be for You, as some of the others have said, " Maybe You can get into a stovebolt that is a driver." If it s not possible
then hang with Us....BB

Hello smitchell,

very sorry to hear about your health issues. On one hand, I would have to agree with Stuart (atomarc), you might be ready for a correction of course. But, on the other hand maybe you aren't.
Just like we put on our pants one leg at a time, we live our lives one day after another. My advice to you, would be to not do anything drastic (such as selling or discarding anything yet).

Most of our trucks have been sitting for years to be brought back to life, I would suggest doing nothing for several days, weeks, or even months, and then take the time re-evaluate the situation. If then you draw the same conclusion, then so be it. Maybe then you can somehow rationalize a way to keep part of the hobby intact.

But, I say it's not over, until the fat lady sings, and I strongly recommend that you don't hang around any fat ladies. No pun intended, but the key is to remain positive. Sometimes we have to take a lot of baby steps to get across the rough terrain. Then we can pick up the pace again. Maybe you are just at a rough spot in the road and it's time to slow down for awhile and catch your breath.

Either way, you are the only one that knows what is best for you. So, don't let anyone talk you into or out of anything. I truly believe that to remain healthy, we have to have are hobbies, or projects to keep us going. If declining health circumstances do put an end to your truck rebuilding pursuits, that dosen't necessarily mean that you have to abandon all aspects of the hobby.

Regardless of your abilities to perform the work, as already mentioned over and over, we all sincerely hope that you remain active with the Stovebolt Community.

Hang in there, I wish you the best.

John

Hi Mitchell,
I think I know how you feel. After my last bout with cancer and chemo and all that, I was ready to sell my truck. All my "stuff" seemed like burdens that I could not enjoy. I couldn't even look at the truck and feel good about it anymore. After I recuperated though, the first thing I had any ambition to do was tinker with the truck. So for the last two years, I've been fixing this and that on it. Last year it won two trophies. It was the first time I had ever entered it in a show. I have had that truck for 40 years now and I think I'll hang on to it for a while longer. Also let me say that finding this Stovebolt website has kept a smile on my face and given me hundreds of new friends and all the help fixing my truck that I could ever dream of. But Mitchell, know that whatever you do with your trucks, it will be as you are guided and will be for the best for you. Hey, how about some pictures anyway? We always like pictures here!
Kind Regards,
littlebuddie

Hey smitchell, Sorry you are not well. I too encourage you to keep your toys. They are PART of what make us happy. If you get to feeling better in the future then they will speed up the recovery process for sure. I wish you well, and you will be in my prayers.

Someone called it quits on the trucks you are restoring, but YOU came along and kept them from the crusher. PLEASE do the same for yourself!

smitchell,

Thanks for sharing with us. I parked my '41 in the garage about 12 years ago and started tearing her down. Being very modular, a large portion of the truck ended up in the attic of all places.

Like so many projects, this one stalled out for various reasons, one being health. Recently, I decided that the truck deserved either restoration or being passed along, as it just wasn't right to have it sitting there as a storage bin and constant reminder of my negligence. After admitting to myself that there was no way that I was going to do all of the work myself I found someone to take care of the bodywork and painting for me (Part of that hurdle was just accepting the reality of what I could and could not do).

I've found that my time spent here at the Stovebolt, researching on the internet, and pouring over manuals and catalogs has been quite restorative to this bolter. You don't necessarily have to "call it quits" as there are other ways to keep on truck'n.

The day is near when I'll proudly drive the '41 down A1A again and imagine that the young girls are turning their heads to look at me and not the truck.

Hang in there our friend,

I wish you well. As much as I love the old stove bolts, they will last beyond our time in the hands of others who share our passion. I know that others will carry on what I and other bolters have started.

Best wishes and get well soon.

What my brother said, goes for me too.


Cliff59

Sorry to hear about your health issues. We all wish you the best. As for your trucks, everyone has said keep them. I realize that sometimes due to financial reasons thats not possible. I went through that back in 2000 due to a heart attack. Still have the bad heart, even older, and not as fast, but now have a 51 to work on. Next health issue for me I think I will keep this one and just look at it and imagine how it use to be in the early 60's. This is one of the things that keeps me young. Good luck to you.

Jon

sorry to hear the news on the health.. hang in their. pray that all goes well,

sorry to hear about your health situation but i echo everyone else - stay hooked up as long as you can. maybe a "good neighbor" will get it running for you and you can cruise with him or her whatever the case may be.

another thing.. I dont want to ever get hauled around in a cadillac.... I want to get hauled to my hole in the ground like my cousin Sterling.. in the back of my 'bolt!!!

smitchell, It is a sad day to hear about your health situation. I wish you well and my prayers are with you and your recovery. I agree with the others as well, don't sell your bolts, there a part of you. Even if you can work on them right now you might be able to later. If any thing it nice grab a lawn chair and sit with a friend and vist and just look at them. Even if it's not completed it's a beautiful thing. Please keep talking to us all on the Stovebolt. Some of us guys (me) need all the help we can get. Get well and take it one day at a time. Best Wishes

smitchell, I too am sadened to hear of your illness. Please don't do anything rash such as selling your bolts. Seek the best medical attention you can afford. Remember the one unbeatable thing we all have is the human spirit. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers, I wish you well.

Sorry to hear of your health problems & wish you the best. Hope you can find some way to keep stovebolting. Best of luck to you.

I too am sorry to hear of your health troubles. I remember 4 years ago laying in a hospital bed recovering from a major operation, thinking about how to repair the rust around the back glass of my 70 Nova. It gave me somthing to think about and stay pluged in. Now the repair is about half done and I went a bought a 69 C10 cuz I needed another project like a hole in the head. I wish you the best and hope you can keep bolting.

Sean

Dear Shannon,
I too am sorry for your illness and understand your loss. My 4 year old daughter, Paige, died on July 30, 2005 from a very rare brain tumor. It is very difficult to continue life and focus on daily activities, but I know I don't have any other choice. People will tell you very nice things, but I know it won't take away your pain or fear. Paige was very brave through the end and is an example to my wife and I. I hope that you remain brave through your fight and I will think of you often. Take care of yourself.

If you have a chance, stop by and visit the website that I set up for Paigey, www.paigeyfund.com.

From this side of the pond most of my thoughts and advice has already been said. I'm in a similar situation but still have my motors and when well, try and do stuff. Took 18 months to rebuild my C10 after a supposed 'friend' stripped it to help me rebuild it ! after paying him 3000$ for his time I realised time to call it quits.
She's ready to go but at present I'm not - brain haemmorage in march 06 slightly re-wrote my plans a little, Remember my friend once you shake hands with the man with the scythe, Nothing is important.
Sieze each day, if its a bad one tough it out , if better do a little on the site or even in the workshop any motor that fires, even if not on all six is better that a non-runner. Travel safe, Chris.

All of my fellow bolters have offered the advice I would offer, all I can say is hang in there and please do stay with us. I have grown to love this always helpful and entertainingly quirky bunch of men and women. Hope things take a turn for the better.

Kyle

Smitchell
I don’t know what your situation is but I would say stick in there and keep your knowledge flowing. Keep us posited. A man told me once "you don’t stop loving something you just change the way you show it."

SMitchell -- ditto on all of the above. Do what you need to do and only you know what that is. But as the others have said, no matter what else you may decide to do, we will be here for you -- all you have to do is just lurk and enjoy the company.

If there's more we can do, all you have to do is ask. Whatever it is, I'm sure between the 13,000 of us, one of us is bound to be able to help.

Good job, Gang. Well done. Keep it up.
John