Thanks I separated about 12 yaers ago, when alot of places and saw alot of things and some thing too close like this



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+1!!! [sm=icon_rofl.gif][sm=icon_rofl.gif][sm=icon_rofl.gif][sm=icon_rofl.gif][sm=icon_rofl.gif][sm=icon_rofl.gif][sm=icon_rofl.gif]

Like many others here, I learned at a young age from experience (and because we were too poor to have a "real" mechanic do anything). I still remember as a kid having to press my hand against the distributor cap in order for my Mom to be able to cold-start her Camaro in the morning - damn that thing would wake me up real well with a shock in the morning!

 

I also learned at a young age building cars and computers with my dad. I spent 13 years in the computer field, and I realized that it doesn't excite me anymore. Six years ago, I opened my own automotive restoration shop.

 

And where is that shop?

 

been there done that!

just couldn't make it into the marines, bad bady parts[] and over all, pops (an army man himself) told me when i brought it up, "if you ever so much as talk to a recruiter, you will have more to worry about from me, than from any war." i think that was mainly cause it would have killed my mom to see me go and worry if i'd ever come back.

and i used to get in trouble constantly for taking **** apart. i ruined 3 vcr's and a turntable trying to figure out how they worked. took my bikes apart, old lawn mowers, went to voc and instantly was drawn to the motor sitting in the corner. just sat there and stared at it. above all tho, i have always felt an attraction to old cars, most of all, stangs. i need a 69 fb and a 73 mach before i die! LOL!

 

Started with the farm tractors and implements, lawn mowers and anything dad didnt want to mess with around 8 or so. Got my first car at 14, a 67 Cougar paid $450 for it that I made selling sweet corn I grew and picked. The year I got my Cougar was 1983. That cor was my first trans swap, first timing chain and first nightmare. Still got it sittin at dads and it hasnt moved half an inch in 15 years. Its gonna move this weekend I think. I built a bunch of 351C powered Mustangs when they were still plentiful, and a few 302 Mavericks and things like that. I have owned around 100 vehicles, raced every car that had a V8 in it, and got into GTO's and Firebirds as well as Fords. None to fond of chevy, but the Pontiacs go fast on the cheap because they got big engines.

Did the USAF thing from 88-92, got a super fun vacation to the really large beach, then had to get out. No job for me cuz of the draw down in 92.

So after that I used my GI Bill to go to school. Auto tech of course. Worked a fulltime job as a CNC machinist while doin the school thing. After 5 years in the factory, and getting married with two kids and a mortgage I had had enough of the sweatbox that was 130F in summer and 95F in winter when it was -15 to zero most of the time. Started work at a shop, got him caught up and nobody came back. No customers for three months. Alot of sittin around lookin at eachother and wondering where food would come from. While workin in the factory I built a few race cars, transmissions, engines, rear ends, and did a fair share of bracket racing. Built some 5.0L Mustangs, did blowers, nitrous, strokers all that stuff.

Started my own business in Feb 98. Got goin pretty well after a few months, but had issues with chasing people down to pay the bill, and people taking the vehicle with the second set of keys. Built some more cool rides for people, a blown 68 camaro, a couple V8 vegas, did some tunning on other guys street/strip rides. Got tired of being broke and enlisted in the USAF again in 2000.

I used my ASE Master Tech Certs to get second jobs, build cars, and have fun untill I went to korea for a year in June 02. WhenI got back the war was full swing and the workload was a bit much for a guy my age and it wiped out my knees. I was a Cargo guy, C17's C141, C5 etc. I loaded planes, pushed pallets of cargo, trucks, tanks, whatever went on the plane. Well last year I was medically discharged and ended up in Northern Michigan where I have a shop and a bunch of projects to finish that never had time to do. So now the only limitations are walking, standing, and gettin up and down..lol. its slow goin but its still fun.

Its fun being someone who knows old cars and the new computer controlled stuff, and doesnt have to rely on it for a living. That means I can play with my toys and it doesnt matter what year or flavor they are, I can fix it. Currently the Mustang in my avatar is the nightmare project. It is the rustiest mustang I have ever worked on, but I dont have anything better to do. The only thing I will not have done to this car is the machine work on the engine, because I am not buyin all that equipment and I dont know anyone who would let me use thiers.

Its just something you learn by doing, reading, and studying. I learned the most before the internet was available to us. Now I use it to help guide people and see if they can avoid making the same mistakes I have. No matter what I was doing for a job, the reason I was doing it was so I could have my hotrods, go racing, and keep my old junk running. Cars are really my life, everything else is just family, a distraction, or a means to support my car habbit.

 

cheers to that brother! [sm=icon_cheers.gif]

i don't think i could me a mechanic to put food on the table and still actually enjoy my project. for me it's a hobby. i def learned alot in three months a pep boys. i would hangout and talk with the master techs and mechs and ask questions, one of them was a real dick, but man, if you needed help, he had the answer. and if you really need to know, or need something done cheap, find a privately owned shop, swing by with some brews, and chat! LOL!

i am kinda interested in opening up my own shop, mainly so i can have a place to work on cars and hire people to make money for me! LOL!

 

Blackjokr, I felt the same way a year ago when I got my car and had literally zero knowledge of cars other than an oil/filter change every 3000 miles.

I read about 10 Mustang forums and post only on 2 but these guys astound me. I soak up every bit of knowledge I can from them, asking questions from the mundane to the very stupid, but I learn from every post they make.

I was always a computer geek but now am well on my way to being a full fledged gearhead.

 

yay! another female gearhead!


sorry, but a chick sliding out from under a car in a pair of dickies and used motor oil smeared on the side of her face is a very *exciting* thought!

 

I wont run a shop again. Too many headaches. I will build a car for someone if they let me do it and dont call me every 20 minutes.

My biggest problem with working in a shop or owning it was being burned out on working on minivans, escorts, hondas and crap like that. I woudnt feel like workin on my toys so they all sat unless I wanted to go racing that weekend. racing was like a vacation for me, even though I was more tired after a day at the track than a day at work.

My friends say the same thing, they just dont want to mess with thier stuff after doing it all day. Go to work, come home, go to work, then go to sleep. Its too much for most. That is why most mechanics are driving something that barely runs and has more than issues, it will have entire volumes.

Hotrods are MUCH more fun to play with than daily drivers.