Leaving well enough alone

[b4uqzme]

So I recently posted in the Jeeps Rule thread that I finally bought a Wrangler. And I immediatley started adding/changing things to it/on it. I got a box of brand new springs and shocks and tires to prove it. :der:

I'm the same with guns: swapping out sights, grips, etc. with almost every one I own. And I got boxes of spare parts to prove it.

Heck I've beem living in this house close to 20 years and have been fixing/adding/remodeling since day one. And I got a garage full of well-used tools to prove that too.

So am I normal or just crazy? Your input is appreciated. Customizing is part of the fun right? Or am I better off leaving well enough alone like my PM9 that is perfect just the way I bought it?

Thanks

[Bawanna]

Define normal?

Nothing wrong with making something better. Sometimes it's necessary in promoting my # 1 thing which is looking cool.

Sometimes I do see people go beyond whatever the imaginary line is and do things that I think are a waste.

But your guns, your house and your jeep is yours. If you feel the need to do something to it, then it's ok or maybe possibly even normal.

Get back to me on that definition of normal. I'm hoping for a positive answer so I can fit in.

[b4uqzme]

Cool is good. I like looking cool. That's gotta be normal, right?

[Ed M]

I think Bawanna has it nailed - or at least I HOPE so.

Looking in my safes (a clue), there's not one gun in them that is completely stock. Most can be returned to original condition though.

Maybe one day I'll accumulate enough extra "stuff" to build a Franken-gun. That would be interesting. I say, if it makes you happy, go for it...

[b4uqzme]

Note to the budget minded: guns are way less expensive to customize vs, jeeps and houses. Stick with guns. :amflag:

[b4uqzme]

Franken-gun. That would be cool...

[knkali]

I was like you. Not so much now. After modding things to the point that they didn't function as well in many aspects of their intended use as they did new, I decided to take a hard look at what drives me to this behavior. I wont bore you with the psycho babble( hint : its about control), but hit you in the wallet why it isn't such a good idea. Usually when you look at the $ to mod things and the return in investment, it just isn't there. Furthermore, things are made to appeal to a bigger audience of customers. When you mod, you usually will have a more select pool of potential buyers should you sell in the future. Also, as said earlier, the modding of things usually comes at a sacrifice to other functional aspects of the product. With that said, if it floats your boat --keep on keeping on. However, I finally had to say enough is enough and thwart that desire to "improve" everything I buy.
Take the jeep.....yep the tires, shock and springs usually come at a compromise. Perhaps in ride quality or road noise on the freeway or tire wear or turning radius or ????? Then when if you sell, the shocks might not be the latest or greatest or not the springs that a potential buyer would want. If you keep a tally of what the jeep cost, the money put into customizing and the price you get at resale, you will usually lose money big time. My 2 centavos from a guy that modded the snot out of most the crap I bought and had to store everything that was changed until I looked like one of those people on the show Hoarders (Hyperbole intended).

[b4uqzme]

^^^ That advice just makes too much sense for me to follow. ;) Yep, it was the Jeep that got me thinking tho. I was searching online for new bumpers and realized that none of them really worked any better for the "Suburbicon" that is what I'll actually be using the Jeep for (vs. the stock bumpers). They have their place in the hard rock off road world and there's certainly a Bawanna type of cool to them. I'm gonna be happy just to compromise. For now I'll endeavor to keep it simple and mitigate some of the money pit. Is that what older and wiser means?

[knkali]

yep that's what it mean. I'm proud of you!

[knkali]

sorry B4...I got a little heavy there. Where is my glass scotch?

[Bawanna]

Another key phrase shared above was the ability to return to stock condition. I'm rather OCD when it comes to that. Any gun I buy that comes with box and papers, I keep the box and papers, even if card board. The boxes of course take up more space than the guns. But some potential buyer live for that goofy box.

I've regretted selling most every gun I ever sold so I try to avoid that now days. Course now days I usually don't get a new gun unless I part with something else. I'd like to trade my van for a few guns but the wife thinks I still need to work and go places.
No imagination I guess.

[b4uqzme]

^^^^ unless the gun store is within wheel-chair rolling distance... You might be onto sumpin.

[Bills1873]

Boy, you guys get into some cool subjects! That's what makes this forum the best. I'm not so much a modifier, really like to fix broken things. It's surprising how many cheap, broken things are available that, when repaired, increase dramatically in value. That's my weakness, Bill's home for broken machines. My son is even worse, rehab projects everywhere. Man's desire to make it better.

[b4uqzme]

^^^ "if it ain't broke don't fix it"? hmmmmm.

[hardluk1]

deleted .....

[Slugnutty]

You've seen my picture post of the 1989 XJ with the 331.K miles - it and I went through the cool stage, but now in my mid 50's I find function first - looks last - if it works for my intent and does not need to be modified I no longer do it for looking cool sake.
When I wanted a "junk pickup" for dump runs I started looking at 4x4 trucks, and after thinking about it for a week - I can not tell you the last time I NEEDED to lock in with any 4x4 I've ever owned.

I hardly ever go 4 wheeling but bought 4x4 because of the cool factor, I then found that a 1x4 pick up has a far larger load carrying capacity and mechanically simpler than a 4x4...

Sights - stock - I see them the gun aligns to them I pull a trigger and the hole happens where they are pointed.

I just find if it works and does not need extra stuff, I no longer throw money at something to make it do something it is already ding well for me already.
I have more money in the bank now and like that more.

.02

[jeepster09]

High Lift for those deep mud holes.....

http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv276/jeepster09/3k33p03lbZZZZZZZZZ9377f528471ec721aaa.jpg (http://s691.photobucket.com/user/jeepster09/media/3k33p03lbZZZZZZZZZ9377f528471ec721aaa.jpg.html)

[berettabone]

The first modification I did was to sand down the stock on my Savage 20 Ga. It was too shiny and glistened in the sun. Made it harder to hunt. I was about 12. Since then, I've only done 2 trigger jobs, and a couple cosmetic changes, and one sight change in 40+ years of owning guns. I believe in not purchasing a firearm unless it's set up like I want. I won't buy a firearm and spend all sorts of money on them. Grips, yes, everything else no. I see people purchase $400 firearms, then change the sights, grips, trigger, and before you know it, it cost them $800 for a gun that's still worth $400, cause the next guy really doesn't care what you spent, if it comes time to sell it. It's still a $400 firearm to him, maybe less, cause it's used. I think it's kind of a waste of denaro. Why not just purchase a firearm suited to your needs??? But, that's what's so great about this country. If you have the cash, and you want to change something, go for it. Many people can't leave things alone. They like to change, tinker, what ever you want to call it. The most important thing is, does it make them happy? That's all that matters in this big world. I'll be the first to give someone crap about changing things on a firearm, if not really needed. It's your stuff. You worked hard to get it. Do with it what you will. I always try to fix things myself, but I also know my limitations, and will be the first to admit when I don't know what the hell I'm doing. Like everyone else, I have a few choice firearms that I wish I could call back, but they're only material things after all.

[Bawanna]

When your priorities start with anything but looking cool as number one, it's time to nail the lid shut.

[gb6491]

I've never been (and probably never will be) an ardent of "leaving well enough alone". However, I have grudgingly, somewhat, sometimes, accepted that "leave that alone, you'll just make it worse" is a good course of action.

I do try to follow Bawanna's path of cool:cool:

Regards,
Greg

[b4uqzme]

Yep Greg. Your stuff and Bill's passion for resurrecting broken items is an inspiration to us all. Yet I find myself wandering too far into the "change for the sake of change" realm. That's when I feel the need to tug on the reigns a little.

I'll never lose my desire to tinker. It's mainly fueled by the desire to be unique or make things unique. As I grow wiser, I am mostly focused on meaningful change. Your stuff certainly qualifies as meaningful IMHO. And cool. :cool:

[gb6491]

Yep Greg. Your stuff and Bill's passion for resurrecting broken items is an inspiration to us all. Yet I find myself wandering too far into the "change for the sake of change" realm. That's when I feel the need to tug on the reigns a little.

I'll never lose my desire to tinker. It's mainly fueled by the desire to be unique or make things unique. As I grow wiser, I am mostly focused on meaningful change. Your stuff certainly qualifies as meaningful IMHO. And cool. :cool:
From one Tinker to another, I would like to thank you for your kind words....I really don't warrant them, but they are very much appreciated (I must say I'm blushing a bit as I write this).
Regards,
Greg

[b4uqzme]

^^^ it's probably the whiskey... :o

[gb6491]

^^^ it's probably the whiskey... :o
Tekillya out this way;)

[AJBert]

As for the cool factor, and very, very few of us are actually born with it (I can only think of Steve McQueen and myself at the moment), I myself never had to strive to be cool. That is why I have always gone for function over form and usually turned that function into being cool.

Probably why I never got into fads but I have set many of them over the years.


Truth be told, I learned many years ago to never "altar" any firearm from original that could not be returned to original. Not to say I've never done that but I wouldn't do it to an older firearm in original condition. Easiest way to dump the value REAL quick. Something new that is very, very popular? As in a gajillion made every day? Go for it!

And speaking of Jeeps? I saw modify to your hearts content. I've got a 2000 Chevy Blazer that I've modified to my likes over the years, and I bought it new. I've made it more capable offroad which leads to less capable onroad, which is what I wanted and still do. I still have more mods planned in the future but need have the funding approved through the War Department (read as wife). I don't plan on selling it as I have had it for going on 17 years, maybe pass it down to one of the grandkids one day, much that same as my firearms.

So I as do as you please. If you plan on keeping it for the long term, do what you want. If you plan on selling in a few years, cool only goes so far but function holds its value better.