Looking to change careers...drastically. I haven't had much luck finding hotrod schools in AZ. Sure, there's the UTIs and such which are great but I was hoping to find something more specialized. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks! Michael
I don't know of hotrod schools here, but there is always aviation schools. Chandler/Gilbert Community college, I am adjunct there in the aviation department, is the best known school here in the valley. I worked part time at a place, since out of business, where we made the equivalent to hot rods. We would restore Luscombe airplanes and some was heavily modified. They are winning a lot of awards at air shows. There is a place south of here that does a lot of the same type of work, but on all types of planes. Good luck. Mark
Rather than pay for school, consider getting an entry level job at the type of shop you want to work at. It's going to mean you're sweeping floors and doing dirty work to start, but experience in a real shop and working your way up is how you learn this trade. I hate to bash on college, and I'm sure many will disagree with me, but I think UTI and similar "hot rod" schools are a racket. Very high tuition, and at the shop I used to work at, the guys who "went to school for it" thought they were worth a lot of money and didn't know how to do shit. I'm sure there are exceptions. But I think your time would be better spent either building a project from the ground up and using it as a driveable-job-application to take to shops, or just start working at a place doing menial tasks and working your way up, without a student loan.
if one guy showed up with a piece of paper from Hot Rod school and another guy showed up with a CD full of photos of his work which guy would you hire?
As a former Wyoming technical institute grad (long before they became Wyotech) I couldn't agree with this more. I learned more from a basic community college auto body program and getting that entry level job than I ever got from wyotech...the program was horrible and so dumbed down that I had to relearn how to perform in a real production shop environment. Get a some basic build skills and get a job where you'll have the chance to learn what you can, you'll beach further ahead in the long run. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Nailhead has a very good point, seek out a general autobody program, a votec center or community college often have them, the type of education that will lead to an ASE certification. This would be the foot in the door that will get you started above the minimum wage floor sweeper position. Never be afraid to invest money in yourself, just do it wisely.
Find a shop that will let you come in and appentince for free. Use the money you would have spent for overpriced tuition to BUY TOOLS.
^^^^^^ this is pinpoint perfect. When I had a shop, guys from tech schools could never understand why I wasnt impressed with a piece of paper.
True enough. When I ran shops, I did plenty hiring. One thing I learned to do was to go out and see what the applicant was driving. Junk, work in progress, mamma's car, etc. Learned a lot.
It appears WyoTech is going to go out of business, unless a buyer steps in... http://www.vox.com/2014/6/24/583588...r-profit-college-chains-is-about-to-go-out-of
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