Art & Inspiration Shortage of Shops to work on Hot Rods

Trades in schools were closed by shortsighted ignorant educators that believed automation would replace all hands on trades

 

Trade schools are mythical anymore. I make more than the smart a**es that told me I needed to go college to make any money! And my job will always need me. Unless AI and autonomous trucks rise up tomorrow.

 

Trucks are on the way.

I see two companies with rigs under testing almost daily.

 

I guess I’m a mythology instructor

 

Someone has to do it.

 

I love helping the younger guys, and don't fault them in the least. My comment was aimed more so the owner.

 

I see more shops doing some form of apprenticeship.
Bout the best way to get a good tech
Seems it disappeared for a while.

 

This has been a most interesting thread, to say the least.
I was born in 53, so I caught the tail end of the good old days of our high school having shop cl***es, such as wood shop, metal shop, auto shop.

I was even more lucky than most, because my dad and his cousin were partners in a wrecking yard and automotive repair business, so I grew up around all of that environment.




Being a bosses kid, I knew I was never going to advance past gopher, sweeping the floor, doing all of the trash runs, and cleaning out the grease pit, so I went to work after school, down the street for my dads compe***or and good friend Vern Wilhoite, the owner of E&H Garage.

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I learned more working for somebody else, other than my own family, no regrets about that at all.
I also had the valuable experience of working at Lud's Auto Parts, working the counter leaning how to use those big catalogs, and also driving the delivery truck as well.

After I got out of the military back in 75, my military experience was that of being an oral surgery tech, in the Army at Fort Sill Oklahoma. It was a great experience and it kept me out of the Viet Nam war as well, it paid to do the extra year, to get a good job. My draft Number was #46, so there was incentive!

After the military, I started to gain experience by going North to Alaska to work in the fishing industry, on what was known as the BEACH GANG, at a big cannery on the NakNek river in Bristol Bay Alaska, and that experience really taught me a lot about how to be resourceful and to apply my mechanical skills and basic common sense, to what ever needed to be done.

I learned quickly that to get better jobs back up north each year, on the off season, it was wise to go to community college and take various courses, that would be helpful to me when going back up North.
I enrolled in the Marine Engineering course at Seattle Central Community College, and the cl*** room was close by on the Ballard Ship C****.

Over the years, I also went to Renton Vo Tech to take the boiler operators cl***es, and later on to the Brudvick refrigeration school, to learn about HVAC as well.

I also did 12 years at Ballard Transfer Co, here in Ballard, as a TEAMSTER Cl*** A, CDL, HAZMAT truck driver and rigger and machinery mover. I would say that those 12 years really taught me a lot about how to work with cranes and other riggers and how to move big machines in places that require a lot of other skills, that are not taught in any schools.




These days, its pretty hard to get any kids that are out of high school, to get interested in the mechanical trades, such as steam fitter, elevator techs, anything to do with the Marine industry connected with Marine Engineering.

The jobs are out there, they are not glamours, but the various trades that no one really ever considers, do pay well, and the element of being in a Union, can be very beneficial when it comes to retirement in the future.

This little book by NEIEP, which is an older publication, but still very relevant, has great information in it that is used in the elevator trades. A kid I knew a bunch of years ago, who wanted to be one of the elevator operators at the very cool Smith Tower down town, asked me, if did I have any tips for him on how to get hired there.

I said here, take this book home and study it from front to back, get to know the terms of what makes the elevator work and function.

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He did, and purely because of him knowing some of the terms and some of the principles of how the various components work and what the definition was, of the various pieces, the interviewer was impressed, and the kid got the job!

He later went onto an apprentice program for the elevator trade and he did very well in that trade
So knowledge is power indeed.

So to all of you fellow HAMBERS out there in the vast H.A.M.B. Universe, when ever you get a chance to encourage the younger generation, to consider a future in the trades, do so, its a great feeling when you can turn a kid onto, something other than just texting on the phone, or a boring cubical job where you have to wear a tie.

Every ones results may vary.
Thanks from Dennis.

 

@nosford

In previous HAMB posts, there are mentions of the majority of teaching cl***es in automotives from the local school districts. Most campus curriculums have done away with automotives or "shop" cl***es. The local school district still maintains one high school automotives shop for the whole South Coast area schools. Other big school districts in So Cal have also maintained the automotives programs and now the local Long Beach City College has one of the most advanced automotives program. So, that is going in the right direction.

Hello,

One day, I made a pretty good round about road trip from the ocean to about 30 miles inland for a nice photo shoot day. I was by myself and knew of several old hot rod shops along the beach communities. But, not all were still around. The ones that are still around are/were good back then and still can be found on the internet searches.

The ones inland several miles to 30 miles are also still around and are well known. But, the buildings were old and a pile of hot rods were ****tered all around the lot(s).

The ones still around have always had good recommendations and several of them are always mentioned in magazines. They don’t always have to be going for the “Riddler” award status. If one looks around, those smaller shops and the so-called, “famous” shops can be useful for your builds or partial builds. So Cal is famous for those shops, but not all want to go there or want them to build a hot rod.

Jnaki

If we were to get a project again like we did when we were 20s-30s, we would do what we could. But, these days, it would be better to have a shop do what you want done and get it right. It is their reputation on the line and for a lot of shops still around, a good recommendation goes a long way to continued good business projects. They are still there and still do good work, one just has to decide who is available to do the work. Search and visits are the most productive…

Even though one has the skills, is it worth it to spend the time doing the same thing as other professionals and good skilled craftsman can do? Cost should not be a factor. It is quality and reliability that counts. There should be parameters set at contract time, but don’t be in a hurry to get something done. YRMV

Note:
Automotive Technology

The Automotive Technology Program at Long Beach City College is committed to preparing students for employment in the automotive industry. Our cl***es provide students with a strong background in automotive technology, hands-on experience, and an understanding of the automotive industry’s requirements for employment.

In addition, LBCC Automotive Cl***es offer automotive industry certifications NC3/Snap-On Tools and prepare students to p*** the ASE Certification Exam.

DEGREES & CERTIFICATES

Automotive Technology, ***ociate in Science (AS)
Automotive Technology, Certificate of Achievement (C-ACH)
Automotive Engine & Transmission Service, Certificate of Achievement (C-ACH)
Automotive Engine Performance Service, Certificate of Achievement (C-ACH)
Automotive Maintenance Service, Certificate of Achievement (C-ACH)
Automotive Quick Service, Certificate of Accomplishment (C-ACC)
Automotive Quick Service, Certificate of Completion (C-COMPL)

 

Wow! I didn't know I would open such a can of worms when I started this thread but I obviously touched a nerve. My background was as an Automotive Instructor for Chrysler Corporation in the Portland Oregon area training dealer technicians. After 25 years there I retired to stay at home and play with my old cars and not worry about the newest transmission or fuel injection emissions breakthrough that happened this week. I especially despised learning about electric cars! That is what really convinced me to get out and quickly. So this thread was to mention NOT this newest whatever technology is out there this month but just to get repairs done on our HAMB friendly junk. I work on my own stuff but every week I keep getting asked where one of our club members can take his car to get worked on. There is about two repair shops that can work on old stuff that are reliable but they are booked solid for months. Many, many shops that THINK they can work on a carburetor or an overdrive transmission but the car leaves on a hook. Most schools teaching high school or even College level automotive courses shun doing anything over 20 years old because they are trying to train the kids to get jobs in shops that don't do old cars. Again, I am not talking about doing a restoration, just everyday repairs. Mark

 

There's no money in it to be able to keep a shop open with the cost of overhead these days, and not enough decent customers even if you wanted to push through the cost of keeping the place open. Old cars is a recreational expense for most, as soon as gas prices go back up the customers put their cars back in the garage. Not a simple problem of young dumb kids.

 

I thought part of being in a car club was working on club members cars. Or helping each other.
The old car guys can’t fix their own cars?

sounds like this might be the reason there isn’t enough old car repair places in that area.

 

I think super KONR is onto something, but there is a couple shops that seem to stay busy and be booked up for months. And anthony myrick, there are a lot of members in our car club that drive their cars to a lot of car shows and other events but are not able to work on them for one reason or another, some don't have the knowledge or tools, others are just too old to bend over a fender for too long. Yes, I would say the HAMB people are the exception as I suspect a much higher percentage of people here do most of their own work. Not a simple problem with one simple solution and as a lot of you have said may not be a problem where you live. Mark

 

Sounds like car club guys need to step up.
I’m not in one (officially anyway). I do sometimes help a couple local club members.
A lot of those members are up in years.
Seems they are starting to add a few younger members.
The exclusiveness of many clubs seem to have caught up with em. Too many chiefs, not enough Indians to p*** along tribal knowledge/wisdom.
the lowrider scene seems to have escaped that conundrum, or it seems that way to me anyway
Every time I look at this hand held shop manual, I see folks younger than me doing amazing work.

 

Young kids aren't dumb.

Far, and I do mean FAR, better money can be made elsewhere, and for less hard work.

Nothing about that sounds dumb.

The middle-aged guys in the car shop across the street from my shop struggle to make $65k.

The robotics programmers at CAT Robotics (yes, the heavy equipment company), which is exactly next door to that shop make over $200k. No college degree required.

 

I think I'd be taking that short walk!

 

Is that an Opel Manta?!

 

me too @anthony myrick we are the fourth largest trainer of apprentices in Alberta and we have had record numbers of students this year, someone should tell them they are mythical.

 

If I’m a mythical character I’d like to be Thanos


But I’ll settle for Floyd the barber.

 

That photograph was taken many years ago, when this cl*** of cars were known as "Limted Sportsman"
That car used to race at the Merced Speedway, back in the 70's.
During that time, the bodies of the cars were what ever would fit the frames as they were usually bodies of cars that were shortened and made more narrow.
I cant say that what you see is, or isn't an Opel Manta, but knowing Vern back then, I am pretty sure it was an American made body that was heavily chopped and modified.

 

I know who Floyd the Barber is.

 

Actually, I was thinking of the Opel Kadett.

 

built elevators for a few years starting in 2000 and ending when the economy tanked and everyone got laid off. people were not hired for what they knew but who they knew, friends and family first. a great many elevator constructors don't even have a screwdriver in the kitchen drawer. no mechanical ap***ude whatsoever.

 

I due paintless dent and light metal work for a GM dealer and there is money to be maid in the auto trade, a guy can make six figures doing PDR and the heavy metal guys make six figures the painters are up there too. Over on the mechanical side there making very good money but as GM goes away from gas to electric its going to be hard to find a tech to work on your gas vehicle as there training the new guys on the electric cars and trucks. Up here the young guys are starting there own shops mostly tuners some restoration shops.

 

I would have to agree that the body, is a Chevelle, and certainly not an Opel Kadet or Opel manta.
Thanks from Dennis.

 

As far as running a shop goes these days the only way to really be able to make it without killing yourself in the process is to take over the family business. The people that are busy have probably been in business for a couple generations and have already paid off their overhead. The family business I worked for as my first job started out because the man's father owned a wrecking yard in the area so everyone knew them already when the son started the machine shop. Unless you happen to be born into it I don't see it happening very often. This is just what I've seen in my area so take it with a pound of salt.

 

Here's my 2 cent rant on this:
The problem with "old cars" are not the cars it the people. Why would a small shop, just trying to make a living want the headaches of working on something that is "more" than a car. We all know there are really only 2 types of hot rod owners that will come into your shop.
One is the I built everything myself and hate paying anyone to work on my "baby", Two is the I wrote a check/cash for this 200k+ status symbol and don't know anything except were to put the key and gas (not always sure about the gas part).
The first won't take kindly to you pointing out the reason that you can't get his car to go down the road straight is because the frame was welded up wrong. Or maybe the guy can't remember what Brand brake caliper or rotors he used, because he was so cool he used some weird POS he found at a swap meet. Maybe no one wants to try and find parts for motors or ******'s that haven't been built in 50+ years, that when you do find them you have to mansplain to the guy why the NOS part for his 1900's whatever mobile is 10x more expensive than what he paid for it in 1972. Also the only reason he ended up in your shop in the first place is that he tried everything he could think of to fix the "problem" before bringing it to you and tells you how you don't have to "look" at this, that and the other thing only for you to find out is both this and that causing the problem.
The second spent so much money on the car he can't believe it actually broke when he used it, but because he has the 850hp latest and greatest create rocket and computer controlled ****** that no amount of Snap On tools is going to fix because the ECU for the system is a one off, created just for this car, and oh ya the Custom Hot Rod shop that built it has gone thru 10 techs that do the programing in the last 3 years since you bought the car so they can't even straight out the issue.
Anyone not in one of the two categories would not be bringing their "baby" in for anything other than maybe a state inspection sticker or new tires (but just the tire and wheels, certainly not the whole car)
Why would anyone want to operate a shop of horrors like this would be. As someone who's family has it's full share of old grease monkeys in it, I can tell you, it's a S@#T TON easier to work in a clean modern dealership, make a good living and go home at the end of the day and fix your own "baby" with out the added drama of other peoples lives.
Don't take this to seriously just giving a couple examples of what it "might" be like out there for someone trying to decided if working on antique machines is for them or not.

 

I don't fancy yours!

 

I think there are a bunch. A whole lot of 'em. Just offhand, I know of one car stuck like that. It's an OT 70's car with two Webers on it. My buddy owns it and he's never rebuilt a carb. It has an intermittent stumble/rich condition. He's asked around and has yet to be told where to take it. Really? It probably just needs the carbs rebuilt and he can't find a reference. I offered to help him through a carb rebuild (sounds like it's the rear one - back 3 spark plugs are fouling, front 3 AOK.) Seems to me he should have been told by now "Take it to Biff's, dude knows his stuff." Well, Biff died about 10 years ago and I don't know any other old school shops.

 

The thing there is that the circle of friends he's asking must also have recent need for the services or maybe are in some social contact with the owner or workers.
I used to live in another area. I have no idea who is still good there.