My pal Larry collects Social Security checks (as do I).
He just completed a project I wouldn't have tried when my joints were supple. But then, Larry brought a 1954 Moretti back from the dead in the 1980's. Including paint, wiring, and interior.
Last week he replaced the shocks, struts, and springs on his '03 Ford Focus. Alone. In his garage. He used high-performance parts, including stiffer springs that lowered the car an inch and adjustable camber/caster plates for the struts.
Larry has a Focus File going. It includes items as small as a tower brace on up to (I suppose) some demon engine from Ford Racing. He's mulling a rear disc conversion--no small matter of cost, time, and problem-solving.
Although a daily driver, the car is mostly rust-free and cosmetically sharp. He likes the crisp handling he just installed. "Plus" wheels and tires may be next. Larry is a thorough, thoughtful researcher. He gets a lot of bang for his buck.
The point is, he's building quite a little canyon carver for not a lot of money. He'll spend less on parts than the first year's depreciation on a new hot hatch. With--what?--160 h.p., his Focus can already leave routine traffic behind. It may not terrorize HSAX track days, but he's building a Dragon Slayer, one project at a time.
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