Need some opinions on "bragging rights" .

[jrbonds]

For those that know me, know that I have a 65 Mustang. I recently decided on a stroker motor build for it and have almost completed it other than finishing up the wiring, brakes and actual start up. And it was just out of plain exsperation of the wiring that I gave up in June. So a built motor sitting in the car, everything bolted up, ready to go.

Quick history of my car:

I got the car when I was 16, and I've owned it 15 years now. Being a girl, I didn't want a "wuss pony car", so in the beginning my Dad taught me how to rebuild the 302, and HE stuck a tunnel ram on it with two Holley 425 cfm carbs on it. It ran good, but lacking power, so my father and I have a disagreement about it and I told him he is never allowed to touch my car again. Shortly after that it got a 9 inch rearend with 3:90 OR 4:11 rearend gears (can't remember now), really woke up that tunnel ram.

After the rearend, I met a guy, got married. He tried messing with my car, wanting to do this and that to it. Its mine stay away, we bought him a 91 5.0 that runs low 11's without nitrous. He still tried screwing with my car. I at some point in time wanted the tunnel ram gone and a 351W installed. We do it. 351W needed rebuilt. Husband wouldn't leave well enough alone and so one afternoon while he was at work, I took the engine out, the wheels off and all kinds of other things and scattered the parts between my friends house and my grandparents house.

Fast forward 6 years...

I stockpiled any new part I could get. Had my 351W gone over at the machine shop in preparation of the stroker rods and crank I bought for it. It sat there almost a year because he charged me way more than he told me.

Then in April of this year, I started in on the build. Assembled the block in my kitchen, had my friend use a boom truck to get it out of my kitchen and into the car. I fabricated a 5.0 radiator, tranny cooler, the serpentine belt system, 17 inch wheels were put on it. New leaf springs, new shocks, i rebuilt the carbuerator cause it sat so long. I took the new cowl hood on and off debating whether it was too big for a 65 mustang. The boyfriend flushed it up.

So my question is, I had lots of "muscle power" to help me with the things I couldn't accomplish or didn't understand. But I still did 60% of the work. I rekindled my relationship with my dad, and the last couple of weekends he's been helping with the brakes and wiring. (But horribly SLOW because of the stroke that affected him)

Did "I" build this car or did "We (boyfriend, friends & family) build this car?

This became a great debate with a few people in the last couple of days. How do you guys see it? How do I respond when asked? Whats the proper response so not to hurt anyone's feelings and give credit.

[SMWS6TA]

You had help - sure, doesn't mean it wasn't your vision, direction, and $$$ plus add in all the time you put into it. Very few ppl can do everything on a car by themselves. Even the pro body shops have teams of ppl doing a build and yet the owner of the shop gets most of the credit.


So in my opinion I believe you can claim most of the credit as long as you give some credit to those that helped and that would be very fair.

[FasstChevys]

Interesting story - even though there have been feelings hurt throughout the whole time, maybe it's best to just leave them in the past. (probably where they belong)

I'd turn the other cheek, and just be happy, and give your Dad some credit - I'm sure he'd be happy with that.

Take the time and just pat yourself on the back, and don't worry about waiting around for someone to do it for you. That way, you won't be disappointed. You know what you've done.

[KahanaReef]

You had help - sure, doesn't mean it wasn't your vision, direction, and $$$ plus add in all the time you put into it. Very few ppl can do everything on a car by themselves. Even the pro body shops have teams of ppl doing a build and yet the owner of the shop gets most of the credit.


So in my opinion I believe you can claim most of the credit as long as you give some credit to those that helped and that would be very fair.

I agree When I did my Chevelle, that I also owned for almost 15 years, DD, I had a lot of help from my husband at the time and our friends, machine shop, etc... But, overall, it was my car, my vision and my hands got dirty the entire way through. So, I had a huge hand in that restore and build while learning a ton from helpful friends. Always give deserved credit to those that take the time to teach and help

[jrbonds]

From day 1 this was suppose to me and my Dad's thing. Lord knows Grandpa helped too!!! I'm proud of my car and all the help and guidance I have received on it over the years. Some people were trying to make the BF take credit for a lot of it and being very hateful about it to him, then he in turns has great debates with me

I know lots of shops and even those t.v. shows that build cars and then one person puts there name to it and its seems like the normal thing that happens. I guess if I were a man, nobody would question me or who and how I was helped.

[KahanaReef]

From day 1 this was suppose to me and my Dad's thing. Lord knows Grandpa helped too!!! I'm proud of my car and all the help and guidance I have received on it over the years. Some people were trying to make the BF take credit for a lot of it and being very hateful about it to him, then he in turns has great debates with me

I know lots of shops and even those t.v. shows that build cars and then one person puts there name to it and its seems like the normal thing that happens. I guess if I were a man, nobody would question me or who and how I was helped.

You got that right!

[SMWS6TA]

That gives you more of a reason to say I did it! Like KR stated do give credit to those that took the time to help you.

When ppl ask me if I did all the work on mine I say yes, along with my niece and son. They help turn wrenches when needed.

[jrbonds]

You got that right!

What happened to the Chevelle? Pics?

That gives you more of a reason to say I did it! Like KR stated do give credit to those that took the time to help you.

When ppl ask me if I did all the work on mine I say yes, along with my niece and son. They help turn wrenches when needed.

Unfortunately, I am lazy when it comes to the TA. Been letting the BF do most of the grunt work. Altho I do a bunch. I wish my kid would get involved.

[KahanaReef]

What happened to the Chevelle? Pics?

URG! It's a long ass story Had to sell it back in 2000. In a bit over 14 years, it was stolen two times, as well as an unsuccessful attempted theft. The last successful theft ended up with it coming back on a flatbed after a police chase. At the time, there was no way I could afford the repairs on it and ended up having to sell. It was a horrible day. All I have left is the bow tie off the grille (which is now on my billet grille on the Camaro )and the front license plate. I have pictures somewhere in the rafters in the garage. I really need to dig them out. When I get a scanner that will work right with Vista, I'll get up there and look.

I think I have one of it on one of my hard drives before paint and motor rebuild. I'll look.

[SMWS6TA]

KR do yourself a favor....upgrade to WIN7 and get away from Vista. (it's a POS!!!)

[KahanaReef]

KR do yourself a favor....upgrade to WIN7 and get away from Vista. (it's a POS!!!)

I've been considering it lately. But, not sure if the old computers are worth it and can't put a new one in the budget right now. I've been talking to Z28Thunder about upgrading or doing a fresh install of Win7

[KahanaReef]

Found it. Pre paint and rebuild. 1987 after losing the Craigers and getting my Centerlines and had painted the vinyl top black, it was white. I was the second owner of this one. Actually bought it from a little old lady in Pasadena after my other Chevelle was rear ended by a Corvette at an estimated 60 mph while sitting at a stop light. I had it jacked up with air shocks (I know, but it was the cool thing to do back then ) He hit me on an angle and went right up underneath my back end. The front of that Vette was sitting in the drivers seat He was alright somehow as well. I had two babies in the back seat too! We were fine but the frame was tweaked... So, got this one




I've got a few pics of some of the build and after the paint and interior. But, not very good ones. It was before digital and didn't have a 35mm. I've got tons more pics of my Camaro over the last few years then I ever took of either of my Chevelles in 15

[FasstChevys]

what a bummer Kahana

[0rion]

I agree When I did my Chevelle, that I also owned for almost 15 years, DD, I had a lot of help from my husband at the time and our friends, machine shop, etc... But, overall, it was my car, my vision and my hands got dirty the entire way through. So, I had a huge hand in that restore and build while learning a ton from helpful friends. Always give deserved credit to those that take the time to teach and help

this is where the OP is going wrong.....you have to view it as a group project almost and let everyone have some credit. I am a guy and I almost ALWAYS have buddies help me when I work on the car. I also ALWAYS make sure to give them credit when we're around people talking cars. Truth is I owe my one buddy a ton.....without him it would've been almost impossible to do some of the work I've done on the car.
Back when I was doing headers he came over and spent the afternoon under it putting it all back together. At one point we were under the car yanking around on the exhaust and my wife and another buddy of mine start screaming. We come out and they said the whole car was rocking 6" side to side on the jackstands. I figure if he risked his life with me helping with the car then I can at least give him some credit for helping.
Same goes with your dad.....I'm sure the stroke not only makes it harder for him to do things but it also makes him remember the things he used to be able to do without help. I'd say he's earned some credit.

[TLS_Addict]

Whos car is it?
Whos vision was it for the car?
Who performed most of the work?
Who paid for the materials?
Who helped?

I agree to give credit if someone helps you and you should but thats as far as it goes. Every time you talk about the car you dont NEED to mention them. If he starts treating it as his car when speaking to people and about how he did the majority of the work just cut him off from sex. It will stop in about 2 days.

[jrbonds]

Found it. Pre paint and rebuild. 1987 after losing the Craigers and getting my Centerlines and had painted the vinyl top black, it was white. I was the second owner of this one. I've got a few pics of some of the build and after the paint and interior. But, not very good ones. It was before digital and didn't have a 35mm. I've got tons more pics of my Camaro over the last few years then I ever took of either of my Chevelles in 15

Its still beautiful!! And you have your memories and the Camaro to create new ones in. Maybe one of these days another one will fall in your lap.

this is where the OP is going wrong.....you have to view it as a group project almost and let everyone have some credit. I am a guy and I almost ALWAYS have buddies help me when I work on the car. I also ALWAYS make sure to give them credit when we're around people talking cars. Truth is I owe my one buddy a ton.....without him it would've been almost impossible to do some of the work I've done on the car.
Back when I was doing headers he came over and spent the afternoon under it putting it all back together. At one point we were under the car yanking around on the exhaust and my wife and another buddy of mine start screaming. We come out and they said the whole car was rocking 6" side to side on the jackstands. I figure if he risked his life with me helping with the car then I can at least give him some credit for helping.
Same goes with your dad.....I'm sure the stroke not only makes it harder for him to do things but it also makes him remember the things he used to be able to do without help. I'd say he's earned some credit.

This time on the 65 is the first "father/daughter" time in about 7 years, the last time we spent any time together was at the gun range for about an hour couple years ago. I can tell you though, he is so happy to be able to be down there and helping. Also, stroke or not, he was always slow when working on cars, I've learned to be patient with him. He knows his stuff though.

Whos car is it?
Whos vision was it for the car?
Who performed most of the work?
Who paid for the materials?
Who helped?

I agree to give credit if someone helps you and you should but thats as far as it goes. Every time you talk about the car you dont NEED to mention them. If he starts treating it as his car when speaking to people and about how he did the majority of the work just cut him off from sex. It will stop in about 2 days.

Whos car is it? MINE
Whos vision was it for the car? MINE
Who performed most of the work? Me, dad, ex hubby, BF
Who paid for the materials? ME
Who helped? Me, Dad, ex hubby, BF, and tons of friends, drunk or not


I am so happy to give everyone credit for what they did, I remember everyone that has worked on it and what piece or part they did. I remember all the times my buddies came to work on their cars when I lived with my grandparents and they ended up drinking and laughing and watching me.

The problem was with the BF's parental unit, who was upset I invited my dad to come help instead of giving my BF the "job", which he needs to finish the TA.

Just drama I believe.

[TLS_Addict]

Give credit where credit is due.