Kadett Chronicles 9: From crap to cool – a process

It’s all about the project management. The strategery if you will. This is where I can be exceedingly helpful to this project since that’s basically what I do for a living. I like to get things done. I think it’s important to explore this part of the process because, let’s face it, if we lollygag around for the next few weeks, we’re not going anywhere. I also think that this might be the post where you sit up and pay a little more attention since it’s stuff you can apply to your very own “crap to cool” project of passion.

Here we go…

Make a list. Make several lists if you have to. Lists will save you!! Well, they help you prioritize the project anyway. And work backwards. I call this “Blue Skying”…in a perfect world, if you could complete everything that can possibly be done for this project, what would that look like? Write it all down in one giant to-do list. This allows you to figure out your priorities since you can see all the things that should be done laid out before you in one place. Then pare back and organize from there as necessary to meet your deadline and still be happy with the end result with your sanity intact.

In our case, we have 5 lists that I shared in an earlier post: things we need to buy; things we need to get out of storage that we’ve been saving for a rainy day or a project like this; things we need to pilfer off of other Opels that The Gearhead owns; things we need to make (like door panels); and finally, things we need to install to put the Kadett back together again once and for all.

Plus, lists also give you the added bonus of being able to cross things off the list as you complete them which is all kinds of satisfying. But that comes later.

Set your expectations. Talk through your project idea and your priorities to understand and be completely content with what you want to get out of it when you’re done. After all, why go through all the work to be angry in the end because you committed to too much in the beginning? No one wants that.

To alleviate that, I tend to work in phases…Phase 1 is the essentials. In our case here, our focus is that the engine runs and maybe some seats and windows are installed since that would be nice on a drive to halfway across the country. Does the car HAVE to be painted? No (chagrin!). Do we NEED door panels and headliners and radios? Those aren’t really all that integral to the trip. The criteria for Phase 1 is simple: if we don’t do it, we don’t go anywhere. Then it’s just a matter of prioritizing what comes next for Phase 2 and beyond. For The Gearhead, it might be installing the under-dash; for me, it might be installing cup holders. Go ahead and negotiate as necessary on what is important to you and any partner you have with you on this journey.

Decide on a timeframe. You need a deadline. Not that the deadline couldn’t be flexible (in our case it’s not, but you may have more time on your hands), but you need to be accountable for showing progress or the project will never get done. This is especially important if you are taking on this project by yourself. There’s no one there to prod you if you’re lagging so a deadline is a nice reminder that can help keep you going. The priorities you end up with from your lists will help to inform your timeline (and budget too).

Plan, plan, plan. Did I mention that I’m a planner? This is extremely helpful. You need to be able to look into the future to see how this project gels with other commitments you have for yourself. Then you can adjust your timeframe to accommodate your busy schedule. Or you can adjust your busy schedule to fit your timeframe. Either way, something may have to give and you need to know what that has to be.

But don’t forget to be flexible!! This is the trap that most of us get ourselves into when we plan big projects or trips. We get so married to the plan that we can’t adapt. And frankly, we just get cranky with ourselves, each other and the situation. Where’s the fun in that? That’s where the phased approach comes in so handy. In the end, as long as the car runs, we’re on the road, remember? Baby steps. Small victories. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Insert any other quote or adage that makes your heart stop pounding and makes you enjoy life a little more. It’s too short for getting too worked up about something that’s supposed to be fun for you!

Evaluate. Choose certain intervals of the timeline to stop and check out your progress. Are you on track? Do you need to change things up a bit? Do you need to re-prioritize anything? The key to successful projects is being able to recognize progress and lack thereof – and be willing to make necessary adaptations to keep the project going. Plus this gives you a chance to take your own temperature as it relates to the project. Are you still into it? Do you need a break? Are you getting frustrated with your progress? Are you overwhelmed? Are you cranking things out and can step up the pace? How do you feel? In the end, that’s a great gauge for staying sane along the way too.

Enjoy the end game. Don’t forget to revel! You did it! Remember that your journey doesn’t end with the completed project. We get to drive a snappy new vehicle around long after the car show blows outta town. And every time we do, we can relive the process it took us to get there in all its glory. Booyah!

Anybody have any other project management tips to share?

Kadett Chronicles 7: Of lists and men

I’m not sure what it is with guys and making lists. They just don’t do it. Or, to be fair, the men in my life sure don’t. And it’s not even that they dislike said lists…they do appreciate them if the lists happen to be around. They just don’t create them. Or, more accurately, the men in my life don’t write them down. They just like leave the lists up there in their noodles to marinate around in there for a bit I guess.

Since that just sounds like a casserole that I wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole, I usually take it upon myself to jot down the list for them. Plus I love lists. I put lists right up there with babies and strawberry shortcake and skies of blue and all that is right with this wonderful world. That’s normal, right?

So here is our list for this project. You’ll see there’s lots to do and some of it is already done, but I wanted you to get the full effect of what is involved in this manic race. Enjoy the insanity!

The Shopping List (I have mentioned the fiscal ramifications of this project to you before, yes?):
Buy window rubber
Buy door rubber
Buy seatbelts
Buy new taillights
Buy sound deadening material
Buy center caps for wheels
Buy new fuse box
Buy new washer pump
Buy new shocks
Buy carpet
Buy fabric/vinyl
Buy door panel materials
Buy touch-up paint
Buy new cigarette lighter

The Storage List (this is all the stuff we have that we need to find):
Find windshield gasket in storage
Find headlights in storage
Find gauges in storage

The Pilfer List (other Opels will be a bit more naked soon):
Get heater
Get door handles/openers
Get shift knob
Get steering wheel adaptor
Get visors
Get steering column/ ignition switch
Get front spindles/brakes
Get door window

The Make List (yep, this projects crafty too!):
Make new door panels/side panels
Make headliner
Make rear shelf cover
Give the seats a good cleaning

The To-Do List (once we have all the above, we need to do all the below):
Take windshield out
Take engine/transmission out
Take doors apart and get windows out
Get the car painted
Paint bumper brackets
Replace ignition switch
Install new cigarette lighter
Install new fuse box
Install sound deadening material
Install carpet, door panels, rear shelf cover and headliner
Install seats and seatbelts
Install dash and under-dash
Install gauges
Install window rubber
Install door rubber
Install new washer pump
Install windshield, rear window, and door windows
Install headlights and taillights
Install door handles and window handles
Install center caps for wheels
Install new front spring
Install sway bars/suspension bushings
Install new shocks
Get new engine running
Make tow bar brackets
Check wheel bearings
Inspect/fix brakes
Basically put Humpty back together again
Register for the show
Book our hotel
Decide on my outfits for the show

Kadett Chronicles 4: Progress report (4/19-23)

In the week that we’ve had the car in the garage, we’ve done the following…taken everything off the car, right down to the Opel logo on the hood. The car is almost completely stripped down to its chilly steel frame. The Gearhead has started on taking the engine out and that's near done too. We'll have it all complete by Monday so don't lose any sleep over it.

Beyond that, we made an exhaustive list of all the things we need to do in order to roll into the car show in style. It took a while too and I’m not naïve enough to think that we got everything on that list either. So when we remember what we forgot, we’ll augment the list and carry on.

Also….what’s the adage? Any project you estimate will end up costing double? Yeah, something like that. I for one was ill-prepared for the fiscal ramifications of this project. I mean, I knew it would cost some coin, but auto body shops are apparently not feeling the effects of this economy since paint jobs are not to be found on the cheap. But we shall forge ahead! Anything for The Gearhead. Given extensive budget calculations, we should be able to get a good return on our investment if we ever sell the car. Not that we’re selling it. I just need to know that the possibility is out there in order to better justify my spending. My accountant would be proud.

Oh and btw? As a general rule, by “we”, I almost always mean The Gearhead. Just so we're clear. I'm into full disclosure.