Growing older
 

One of the disappointments of growing older is recognizing that one's reflexes are not what they once were; and thus beginning to dispose of one's toys of which the heirs have little or no interest. I was/am so proud of my Dad, who gave up his motorhome when he no longer felt competent to drive it as it should be driven.

I recently sold my 1974 highly modified GTO.

So, excepting my plastic model and diecast collection, I am without a GTO for the first time since 1970, and without a Pontiac for the first time since 1962.

But one of the joys of such a loss, if one is lucky, is selling the car to one of my best friends for the last 40 years for his wife. She plans to both drive the car, and show it in local and regional car shows. They have been a bowtie family forever, and she liked the body size and styling of the Nova. My friend told her Novas were everywhere, but she would have the only 1974 GTO at the local and regional shows. After inspecting the car, she liked it better than the Nova, and bought it. So have enjoyed welcoming my friend and spouse to the world of Pontiac.

At my suggestion, he plans to detune the engine somewhat (it has too d*** much power for the street anyway). The RAIV (original) intake with removed crossover, and the 850 CFM Carter race carburetor will be replaced with a stock Pontiac intake and Carter 800 perforance carburetor; and the aluminum flywheel will be replaced with a stock one (I had a complete spare engine). These modifications will make the car easier to drive (and save the rear tires).

So we now have some new (somewhat younger) members in the Pontiac family.

Jon

I'm glad your GTO is in good hands and near you, AND enjoyed by the new owners.

I'm not sure the carb and intake will detune it very much, might make it more user friendly though..

I pray ypu and family are well!!!

Are you still gardening???
Jeff

Jeff - we still did a garden this year; but uncertain at this time about next year. Weeding is more difficult than it used to be, and bending to pick green beans grows more difficult annually.

As the spring rains forced grass mowing about every 3 days, this year we mowed the yard with a mower with a bagger attachment, then dumped the grass on the garden. About 4 inches on the ground where we had tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and zucchini cut down on the weeding significantly.

I really detest giving up fresh vegatables that we grew, but may have to buy vegatables from the Amish next year.

As to the detuning, the carb and intake will detune marginally, but the aluminum flywheel will make a HUGE difference. This engine was built for RPM, not torque.

I realize that the experience I had with the 1974 was quite different than most GTO experiences; but that car was a 28 year fun project of research, study, finding parts, and building. Lots of really good memories.

Jon

Getting older sucks, at 74 I am slowing down alot compared to what I used to do. We have 11 acres and we spend most of our time mowing and upkeeping the property. I don't really drive my car as much as I would like, and thankful my health is pretty good except for my bad knees, can only go for about 5-6 hours before I have to call it a day outside working. Thankfully one of my sons has a want for my car when I decide to finally quit driving it altogether.

Yeah, i wish we could live at least till like 150. Because I didn't know crap till i was 35. Then from 35 to 55 wasn't able to indulge as much as i wanted to on my car or the hobbie in general. Now i'm that i'm finally able to work on my cars and afford to spend a little. I'm feeling it. I call it muscle mystery. I wake up and try to remember what i did the day before that would explain why my arm, ankle, knee, etc hurts today. Lol

Yes slowing down. Thinking I can do that!! Then next week comes and it's still not done! As most know lost the wife suddenly 4 yrs ago after Norwalk.That left me grieving and some things dont matter. Lately Dr been watching lymphoma grow for 2 yrs. He recommended immotherpy in the spring. With lymphoma my energy level has dropped. However the therapy fighting the. cancer seems to be bringing slowly back my energy.

The events of the last few weeks have really left me questioning what I want out of life.

I recently turned 68, and I keep getting whacked across the head with something new that is wrong. I spent a couple of weeks rebuilding our deck, which was interrupted by a bout of trigger finger. I ended up with cortisone shots in both hands, which are helping but things but I'm not back to normal yet. Earlier this year, I found out I have gall stones. Not bad enough to require surgery. But the MRI also showed I have some small kidney stones that aren't causing a problem yet. For 20 years, I hobbled around on a bad hip. I finally replaced the worst hip about 7 years ago, and I'm scheduled for hip replacement on the other hip in about six weeks. It seems like something new is always popping up.

I went to a funeral today for a fellow Pontiac enthusiast. He wasn't big on surfing the web, so he never showed up on this forum. He passed away unexpectedly at 59 yrs of age, and his family was totally unprepared for his demise.

After the funeral, I went by to visit another friend that I've known since my early 20s. He's 66, and is retired. He was an athlete, and practiced martial arts. We got talking about health, and he said had a heart attack five or six years ago. He's been on a strict diet and made a serious effort to de-stress his life. For years, I've been saying I'm going to retire and down-size my cars, but I keep on working and keep holding onto all of my projects. Recent events have me really thinking about whether it is really worth keeping around all of the old iron that I've stashed away over the years.

Your diet, along with genetics has a ton to do with how you handle aging.

I've recently started modifying my diet and seen some really good outcomes from it. I started watching you tube videos from Dr Eric Berg and found a lot of hints from him in how following a better diet can have a astounding effect on your health and longevity. There are a lot of everyday foods that can really help aging along with taking certain natural supplements.

After the bad rap that eggs have gotten over the last 2-3 decades he talks about 2 + eggs everyday in your diet are one of the most perfect sources of nutrition there are, and have no effect on raising bad cholesterol.

Many of the foods we eat everyday cause inflammation in the body and just basic selection of certain foods can quell a lot of the inflammation that grains and food dyes, etc. stir up. I recently started eating a couple of small helping of walnuts and almonds and the swelling, and pain in my arthritic joints has receded noticeably. One of the tips I got from Dr Berg.

At my current age (72) instead of leaning on the medical community to fix the things we have brought upon ourselves, I choose to do some preventative maintenance on what I can to stave off the bad end results using many natural foods and supplements. YMMV..........:D :2cents:

Is good to keep your original joints. Avoiding inflamatory foods is the key.

Watch the nuts. I had problems years ago. The nuts I didnt chew throughly ended up cutting digestive track somewhere causing bleeding and infection. Spent a week in the hospital with ivs. Not pleasant. Anyway I eat nuts now but chew them thoroughly. Also I've read a couple of books that are older. 'Living Right For Your Type' This Dr Peter J.D'Adamo and his father studied blood types and what foods help and foods that are not beneficial for the different blood types. Interesting read. If I follow his recommendations I lose weight and feel great. Cutting out pasta, breads,etc. Is hard though.

I can relate, Jon. You helped me on my 455HO build on jetting, still appreciate. Like you, I am Pontiacless now. I sold the Bird because it didn't fit my life as I age. Like yours, it was full tilt radical. If I do a Poncho again, it will be a more moderate 400, streetable and better mannered. My advice is focus on life and simplicity. I still am a personal trainer and recommend keeping active and in motion. I like helping the over 50/60/70 crowd and one might be surprised at fitness gains over 70. I just got an 82yo off a cane. I am 2 years past cancer TX and I look at life differently now. Simplicity and stress reduction and energy rationing are key. I wish you well in your new approach. Keep active and find joy in the simple things.

I'm diabetic so I've also noticed that my blood sugars have dropped down, and I'm loosing weight slowly, yet consistently. Blood sugars in the AM have dropped from 130-150 to around 80. I've lost roughly 10 pounds and the notches on my belt are at the last notch. Middle around the waist fat is hard to get rid of, but mine is slowly melting away.

I'm trying to get at least 7-8 hours sleep every night, which along with diet modification gives me more energy to get things done during the day. Energy levels have definitely improved.

Bob, yes nuts can give you digestive troubles, but I chew mine up thoroughly to sidestep that problem, I also limit how many nuts I eat to about half a cup per day.

Bonus being one of the female store clerks at the Sheetz convenance store where I commonly eat lunch guessed my age at mid 50s...LOL. I'll take that 2 decade mistake any day......;)

The changes that I've made are mostly from watching Dr Berg's videos, he's quite knowledgeable in dietary changes that can make a big impact in someone's health and well being.

Obviously he believes more in homeopathic remedies than what your doctor prescribes for you to pickup at the pharmacy. The common side effects from medicines that are supposed to help us, but in reality can cause more problems down the line are what have steered me to natural means to keep my body going as I age. So far I've achieved better results than prescribed medicine has yielded.

My only problem is that I wished I had pursued this avenue sooner because for me, it is working.

I am considering selling the Tempest for something with more comfort. It's tuned down from its most radial form but even still, my wife doesn't like driving in it anymore (you know...happy wife etc :)). Years ago, my aunt gave me her 79 Bonneville that had its 301 ready to blow, all sorts of noises in the bottom end. I easily swapped in a 75 350 and that became a damn nice car. Now i wish I had it back. Thinking maybe a later model LeMans 73 - 77. or a 76 - 77 GP.

I hear you Jon, and salute you for passing the GTO on to a good friend. Sounds like she’ll really appreciate and have good times in her life with it!

I’m turning 65 myself soon, and know that I will have to face that decision as well. Not an easy one, when I’ve had at least one Pontiac in my corral at all times since I was 18!

I’ve been blessed with very good health, other than some joint issues. I had one knee replaced three years ago and I’m facing replacement for the other fairly soon. Trying to hold that off until I finish the Firebird project.

I agree that eating right and living a healthy lifestyle really helps so much with keeping our bodies in shape. I cannot run any longer, but I am a big cycling fan and try to get out riding at least every other day in season. Couple of long walks with the dog every day helps also!

Seen on a T-Shirt:

EAT HEALTHY
EXERCISE

DIE ANYWAY!

The Reader's Digest says "Laughter is the best medicine"

I certainly agree with the eating healthy and exercise, and have been eating healthy (but sometimes too much LOL) my entire life, and exercising my entire life.

But even if you do everything right, eventually, you lose.

Thanks to all for the response in this thread.

Jon

At nearly 74, I am quite fortunate. While I am technically diabetic, it is well-controlled. I have had a pacemaker for the last 10 years but no limitations with it. My joints are still pretty good and because I am religious about lifting weights, my muscle mass is holding up pretty well.....I'm actually stronger this year than last. Still able to do extreme hiking and climbing....hopefully for a few more years. I eat "fairly" clean these days but not fanatical about it.

Decades of body building and powerlifting have caused me some aches and pains recently, but Im good with it. I still train hard, but for health purposes now. Still eat fairly clean. The only thing I really miss is my youthful perfect eyesight! Glasses have been a major PITA.

Guess I'm fortunate. At 68, all joints good & most all senses very good except close up vision. Many cheaters laying around here. Distance vision great, as good as it was when I was a kid (20-15, once I hit 20-10). To this day I know this is the reason NJ State Troopers never get me from behind. I'm overweight though, as most men are anymore. Unfortunately, my strength has lessened a bit. Back in 2021, I was still keeping up with my son's friends during his last move- up and down stairs with couches, dressers etc to the dismay of his future in-laws. Not that strong now, oh well.

Welcome back! Missed reading your post this past year and you should get another Pontiac. Everyone needs at least 1. Lol

Reflexes not what they used to be? Pay no attention to my eye that's swelling from the pop fly baseball that I caught with my eyebrow about .5 hour ago....