VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 1941 Chevrolet Restoration Bust

I went and retrieved my 41 convertible from the body shop yesterday. I'm kind of down about that.

Even though I had paid down 2K, nothing had been done on it for months. The nose valence under the grille had a dent that needed straightening out. Well, he did do that plus he took off the left door and unbolted the front seat frame. Let me see...... What else. Nothing that I can think of. That little learning experience cost me 1.4K. I got back just .6K. I feel I was lucky to get even that back. You know.

Where has integrity gone. If y-all see any a-running around out there, let me know. The car is back in my garage now. It needs the floor pans replaced. Already got them and other parts from Cof4s and FS. I'm back to searching for someone who will put the floor pans in. You know, it's like building a house. You need to start from a firm foundation.

This coupled with the usual problems in life: family, health, finances, getting older, etc. tends to weigh you down greatly.

I also got took to the woodshed recently for a post of mine regarding a stuck hood release. Seems my attempt at humor was not well received. Not the first time. But being called "stupid" (twice) and the threat of being ostracized by someone, who I have a great deal of respect for, if I showed my face at Flint has just about done me in. This and the ominous assurance from the disciplinarian in that I should credit him in that the matter was handled privately didn't help much either.

Because of this latter development I have decided to not go to Flint. I had looked forward to it for many months now. Originally, I had wanted to take the convertible but it would not have been ready. I had gathered most of the spare parts recommended for a trip in an old Chevrolet. Next thing I was going to do was put one of my 3.55 rear ends in the coupe and see how far I could get. I hoped for a round trip. A little adventure would have been good for me, I think. Getting away from the many worries that plague me at this stage in my life was to be my 77th birthday (July 17) present from my wife.

The list of events sure looks interesting and I'm sure they will be well attended. The last national five-year event I attended was the one in Indianapolis. Long time ago. Maybe I can put the instant whipping behind me and get over it in time for the next 5 year anniversary meet. If I'm still around for that one.

I'm probably in the wrong forum with this rambling so I hope you will overlook still another misstep from me.

I hope all of you who attend the meet, especially those who drive, will have a safe trip and enjoy the festivities and that all your expectations are realized. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Best wishes,
Charlie

Charlie... Buck up, friend! PM sent...

Hold on Charlie, things have just got to get better.

Sorry about the problems with your car, Charlie. It's truly a shame that integrity is so hard to come by nowadays! A trip to small claims court might get more of your money back, but I'm not sure it's worth the hassle.

As for the silliness on the list....? Is what you said still on the thread? If so, I can't imagine someone going off the deep end over it. I went back to look it up, and it sure didn't seem too off the wall to me. Respect needs to be earned and MAINTAINED, and it sounds to me like someone just showed their true character. My advise to you is let it slide and get on with life. You are up there a little too far in age to let someone like this keep you from attending a special event that you have been looking forward to. If this person is a moderator, you need to go to the person above him and get him straightened out. That is totally unacceptable behavior!

Hang in there and enjoy life to the fullest in spite of those who feel the need to jump on others for something so trivial.

Hi Charlie, Sorry for all your misfortune. I do think you need to give Flint some more thought. I live 100 miles from Flint and you are welcome to come and stay with me, and for transportation I'll let you use my 77 Impala for the week. You could also fly in and stay where your reservation is and I'll meet you at the airport with the 77. Life is too short for you to miss this opportunity, and us Chat guys have got to stick together. Imagine the fun we could have? Take a chill pill, and put today's setbacks behind you. Best always, Mike

P.S. Your sense of humor is contagious, and a good motivation for us all. Sure glad that you share yourself and your expertise with our forum.

hey charlie,
the gloves are off now for sure. you ought to make everyone know exactly what was so nastily said to you. this by a monitor who should be impartial and proved himself to be a disgrace to himself, the person or persons that put him in his position that he has totally failed at. i know you will be ticked at me, but i luv you and the family anyway. i have been consulting with a couple of people in this great club and contacted the man in charge of this whole thread and apparently your not going to flint is something he says is on you in a sense. and has not fired this monitor immediatley for conduct so dang unbecoming, as it is a slap in the face of us all.
as to all of you with the positive comments to my 40 year pal charlie, i have been trying for days with another long term friends advice to get charlie to change his mind. i told charlie i would pay for a t shirt that says "i am charlie hill from north carolina", and if i wasn't so homebound i would wear one that says i am charlie hills old friend.
i read what this monitor wrote and to say the least it is despicable, and so in my opinion is the writer. makes me wonder whether this person puts on pants or a dress, or a skirt.
in any event, ed with the monster truck in the barn, any chance of photos???? by the way, better be careful that this monitor might take the cracka barrel talk as you being stupid as he thinks charlie's comments are. also called his comments and levity a pain in the [bleeped]. is this who you want as a monitor of this chat?????
if not, by gosh speak up or you could be next.
i remain respectfully to you all, a near 42 year member of this great club.
richie

As much as it would serve the person that did this a little right, I am hoping that they remain nameless, and are given the opportunity to rethink how they have spoken to and made a fellow member feel about our club and our event. I certainly don't want to go to Flint, and encounter any drama or hissy matches over who said what on the chat site if this can all be settled with an apology and maybe a cold beer. I read the thread, and like many others, find Charlie's contributions entertaining and amusing. If you are not a fan of his humour, don't read his posts. I understand that some of you are on this forum only for the technical information, and not for entertainment, friendship, or banter that goes with it. If that is the case, please refrain from commenting from those of us long time members that expect a little more from our club. Flint would not have 600 plus registrations if only the 'technical geeks' were made to feel welcome. There would likely be twelve of you there! I really hope Charlie's reservation is held until this blows over, as I was hoping to meet him in Flint. I hope that when I meet the moderator in question, it is with proper apologies made, and this situation quietly swept under the rug, and with Charlie and his wife in the room enjoying themselves... and I certainly don't want to know who did it!

charlies humor brightens the day !

I too like the comments that Charlie (and several others) make, I mostly refrain from joining in though. Also knowing that at least some of the participants have been good friends for more years than Chatter has been around in all cases I hope there is no malice meant, implied or taken. We are all different but I think we have at least 2 things in common (good people and a keen fondness for old Chevs) lets keep it that way if not improve it.
Tony

My daughter is in grade school and they spend numerous hours teaching kids about bullying. Back when I was a punk kid you got taken to the "wood shed" for bullying. The bottom line is bullying is not tolerated in society. We all look through a different window and form different opinions and every opinion warrants respect. I can understand Charlies defeat on having to pickup his convert after expecting it to get worked on. Sometimes when a guy is down the crap keeps falling in as your trying to figure out how to get up again. We all need the wisdom and humbling that Charlie gives us, lets give him some space and hope the window clears for him. Don

Aw, come on Charlie, don't let one persons negative opinion keep you from doing something you have been looking foreward to for so long. Jump in the coupe, hold your head high and head for Flint. You will have many more friends than enemies there! Life is to short to let stuff like that bother you.

Sorry to hear about your bad luck with the body shop. Keep looking, there has to be a good one that will do the job properly for you.

BTW, you can poke fun at me anytime! (of course I might poke back)

Charlie,

Bum deal on the body shop not following thru on your ’41. Stuff like that can be very discouraging. As for not going to Flint; I suggest you go. It sounds like you're all set. Room, tour sign up's, etc. Let's face it, If you don’t go you know that later on you’ll wish you had.

Bill.

Charlie;

I have had my disappointments with some body shops also it's a shame.

Please go or we will all miss your colorful humorous stories.

Regarding the issues surrounding my post in the thread "Broken Hood Release" in the 1946-48 Forum, the other party and I have conferred and mutually agreed to resolution. Let's move on.
Charlie

Great Charlie, glad to hear that. Now all you have to do is find a good body shop to work on the '41 convert!

Charlie,

Where are you located in NC?

I know a great restoration shop in upstate SC (near Spartanburg) which is about 50 miles south of Asheville. They might be able to install your floorpans - he did a great job on my '67 Olds convertible. He specializes in GM's of the 60s & 70s but I know he does others too. His work is top-notch.

Let me know if you need contact information.

If it matters...I still like you

As a rule things will get better. The getting older may be an exception to that rule..

39 Floyd: I'm in Fayetteville, NC. The home of the 82nd Airborne. Geronimo!

Steve: Thanks. Its always good to hear that someone likes you dispite your inperfections, sores and all.
Charlie