Nunez 1

Gabriel Nunez

Professor McGriff

Comp 1

Goal Essay:

In the words of the writer Samuel Johnson, “To strive with difficulties, and to conquer them, is

the highest human felicity.” Something earned is always better than something given. I have recently set a

challenge for myself to try and turn a rolling shell of a car into a fully functioning car. I hope to have the

car make the trip to the mountains of Tennessee by April 29 th of this year for the annual Tail of the

Dragon, a road that connects Tennessee and North Carolina that has 318 turns in a 11-mile stretch. To

reach my goal of making the 10 hour trip to Tennessee, I will need to make space in my workshop by

building a shed and moving things into it, inspecting and installing all the parts needed, and test driving

the car for an extended period.

The first thing I need to do is make space in my workshop to accommodate the car, so that I have

space to work in and be protected from the elements. Step one is to get a shed for my backyard and move

all the unnecessary non-car things to it. In order to build the shed, I first need to clear a section of my

backyard from roots and do some basic landscaping. After all the landscaping work is finished, I will

need to purchase the shed kit and some lumber. The lumber will used to build a frame that the shed will

sit on, and then I can build the shed itself. After the frame is built and the shed secured to it, then I can

start emptying the workshop. Once I have a clear and clean workspace, the real work can begin.

To get an idea of the work that will be ahead of me, I will have to tear apart most of the car to see

what kind of corrosion or mechanical problems exists. I start by removing the panels and interior to

inspect the car for any major problems. Once I have repaired any rust and made sure the suspension is
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working properly, I can start working on the drive train. I already have a running donor car that I will be

pulling most of what I need from. Everything will be inspected to make sure it is within specifications.

Once cleaned and prepped for its new home, I can install the drivetrain. Once the drive train is in, I can

start working on the 30+ year old wiring and electronics to make sure everything is working and reading

correctly. Then I pray to the car gods that it starts first try and turn the key.

Now starts the hardest part of my venture, testing the car day in and day out for any problems to

arise. I fully expect to be left stranded on the side of the road at least a dozen times from issues ranging

from weird leaks to full on engine shutdowns. This isn’t my first time building a car from nothing but

spare parts; however, it is the first time I have ever done it with such a short deadline. Having to drive the

car every day and dealing with every issue as they come up will slowly make for a reliable car that won't

try to actively kill me at every turn. I will be focused on dialing in the final details until I feel it's ready for

its first epic journey.

I know things like this seem very strange and bizarre to some people, and I can't blame anyone

for thinking this way. Why put myself into a situation where I stress about meeting a self-imposed

deadline or leave the chance of being stranded so far from home? It's easier to just buy a running car and

take it to the mountains, or just not go at all. Easier isn't always better though. I want to push myself and

see if I can, just because it makes me happy. Benjamin Disraeli once said, “There is no education like

adversity.” I'm excited to see what I can learn about this project and about myself from this endeavor. I

feel that in building the car and struggling to do so will be more satisfying because all the work is my

own.