I've been thinking about this for a while. A hands-on pay cl*** for say 4-6 people wanting to learn about basic to mild stuff, say engine rebuilding, MII suspension, brake upgrades, etc. I'm a certified Technical Instrutor (have a 2 year degree in giving technical instruction, no particular subject) through the USAF, have four years cl***room experience in carpentry and masonry (two years), and sheetmetal and welding (two years), plus over 20 years experience in general fabrication and hot/street rods and restoration. I've got enough experience in general mechanics to be comfortable guiding someone through rebuilding an engine. Of course there would have to be disclaimers, and I wouldn't mis-lead anyone about my skills. I'll be retiring from the military in about 18 months, having a 30x50 shop built now. I figure a stock rebuild on an engine that just needed refreshing, or was well worn but still running, would take maybe 2-3 two hour sessions for a tear-down and inspection, then 3-4 two hour sessions to re***emble. No machine work in the shop, will be going over what a machine shop does for you, like the typical backyard builder. So we're talking 10-14 hours of time working on 1-3 engines. I haven't thought much about ch***is work yet, like brakes and front suspensions. I don't have much experience with straight axles, but do with all kinds of IFS, including Chrysler torsion bars (both types). I'm not an expert in all, but familiar enough. I can rebuild an auto trans, but definitely don't have enough experience there to teach anything but removal and installation! I DO know my limitations. Would one of you have paid at one time or another to take such a cl*** from a reasonably experienced gear-head? I'm thinking $150-200 for an engine cl***, one (or more) of the students supplies an engine and parts (they select parts, cl*** discusses their selections), and students required to bring a basic tool kit with engine owner a torque wrench. All they'd get in the end is a rebuilt engine with an experienced guy looking over their shoulder, and a certificate that they took the cl*** (which wouldn't mean much, unless I developed a killer rep over time.. ). I'm thinking either having 2-3 Saturday sessions, or two hour sessions twice a week for 5-7 weeks. Opinions??
Yes,I think Theres probably a market for your cl***es....I sell "HowTo"- instructions "for chopping your own top"- on my site,and they are well recieved. A little good information would have been good when we started out-right?
I think cl***es like this are essential for the continuation of culture in general, from pinstriping to metal fab. However, never start a 'How to Roll 5 inch Cuffs' cl***
I don't think they had cl***es in the old days. Don't be afraid, just try it, and if you don't suceed, try try again.
You know those computer labs in high schools with the high cielings and skylights and big roll up door? They usta be "shop cl***es"! That's where "we" usta learn how to make things rather than just learning how to E mail CAD-Cam programs and product orders to Shanghai.
My boss does cl***es like that. 2 nights a week, 12 weeks for $250. The cl*** is tailored to newbies and repeats depending on the mix and the projects they bring in. One guy is building a whole car while taking these cl***es. He usually has 5-7 students.
I started out when I was maybe 10, if you count starting sweeping the floor of the local dirt track racer's shop as starting! My brother and I used to hang around the front of the shop just to "sneak a peek", and one day the owner called out that if we were gonna hang around we should be useful! An invitation to come in? Who cared if it was to sweep the floor! By the time I was 14 I was helping put engines together, though he took care of the bottom end and I just snugged things to be torqued up (like heads). Was tearing down the blown engines at 12 or so. T-man, your boss just teaches out of his shop kinda like I'm thinking about? I know I'll have to come up with a lesson plan, but have the experience of doing that for the USAF! Thanks for the encouragement guys! I thought about applying as a local vo-tech or continuing education college, but they prefer a batchelor's degree (two ***ociates won't add up to a BS... ) AND an ***ociates in the area you're teaching. I might could get by that last one with experience IF I had provable work experience for many years. Of course if I'd been a mechanic in the USAF, I'd have an ***ociates degree for that AND probably wouldn't want to mess with cars any more!! Maybe I'll get lucky and some guy wanting to build a T kit or something similar will want some private instruction. Hmm... take a few of those and a 30x50 shop won't be big enough...
We are doing that on a somewhat smaller scale in conjunction with Hot Rod Ch***is here in Chicago... http://www.chromeczars.com/hotrod101/index.php
I do a "Basic Vehicle Restoration" cl*** at a local Technical College, and have done so for a number of years. Although a majority of guys are resto's there are a couple of us into rodding. It has provided me with direction for things I have wanted to do on my own cars, and has allowed me to fabricate a pair of cab rear 1/4's for my sons A RPU, as well as replace the lower skins on his doors. I think these cl***es are great, although out here the administrators see it as a cash cow to cover what they want to spend the funding on. I would like to be able to do a proper welding course also, however can only afford the one cl***. Michael
My buddy Mick (G***toveBolt) does this for a living, teaches high school kids shop. Only problem is, most of the kids don't want to be there! Too bad. I think he might have a comment on this, I'll try to give him a heads up. As for me, my dad taught me lots of the basics but never rebuilt an engine or showed me how, I wish he would have. Go for it!!!!
Sad, but very true. As of Jan. 2, 2006 my "metal and wood" shop cl*** will be history. One of those "tech labs" is replacing it. So I am retiring after 33 years.
I guess someone would pay for it. Is it necessary, well I guess if you're not inclined to take someone less experienced under your wing then I guess it is. I'm not sure that I would be willing to take a cl*** from someone who admits to not haveing any experience in the subject being taught. But that's probably just me. Give it a whirl and see what come out of it.
Wait a minute Pork-n-******! I DO have over 20 years experience in hot rodding, just not TEACHING engine/hot rod stuff. I DO have experience in teaching various technical subjects though. Now if I'd never built several engines of different types and power ranges, or many other rodder mods, like the Jag rear axle install (built all the mounts from scratch), rack and pinion conversions, various brake upgrades, etc., I'd be leery too! I haven't done a lot of sheet metal work except for relatively simple body mods (relocate gas filler) and repairs, so I won't be teaching that. One of my projects will involve sectioning a body and welding the door and fender seams so it's smooth down the side (climb in!), but I haven't started that one yet. I can weld sheet metal pretty good, but won't go there either. The welding cl***es I taught were mainly basic gas and stick (SMAW) welding, with a little TIG (I demoed TIG welding for the cl***). Really good welders aren't taught, they're experienced! I see how you could have interpretted the post to say I have no experience though. Let's put it this way -- you know engines pretty well, could you teach a newbie (say some 20-30 year old who never did more than add oil, wants to know more) about cars? Sure! But having teaching experince in any field would help you structure the cl*** instead of just teaching as things pop up. The trick is not to get in over your own range of knowledge. That's why I'd stick to mild performance bolt-on parts. I can do more, but want to stay in territory I'm positive I can stay ahead of anyone thinking about taking such a cl***. I know enough about mild turboing that I want to set a car of my own up with one, but I haven't done it yet or dug into it. So I know enough to have an idea of what I want/need to do, but not enough to explain why/how it all works to someone else. I still need to do a bit more research before I start putting a system together! Like so many out there, I may never get to the turbo thing, other than swapping the turbo four I have in an early sixties small Rambler. It's not that I'm not willing to take someone I know under my wing, I have a nephew that will likely be over at the shop a lot. I won't be charging him! As OldsGuy says, in high school shop cl***es the kids take them because they have to be in school and figure that's the easy way out, they don't really want to be there. If someone pays for a cl***, they tend to want to get their money's worth. If they think they did when they leave, I'll have accomplished something and will get more business. If not, well, I won't be out much, just won't be doing many (if any) more! Django, I thought your seminars were MORE than what I do when I first saw the site, then I read it all. Seminars is what they are, no hands on. Sound like really good things though! michael037, something close to what you're doing is what I intend to do. More or less private instruction broken down into basic areas though, starting with engine rebuilding. Cl***es only 4-8 at a time. Should be cheaper than tech colleges (which are 1.5-2 hours away from my location, but lots of people live out there then commute 1-2 hours to work), more convenient, and I can be more flexible as things come up. I'll advertise a certain number of hours at a price, but won't care if things go a bit over. I'm more concerned about finishing and giving good coverage than keeping strictly to the time limit. If it takes another cl*** or two so be it! I like to get my money's worth, want to make sure someone gets theirs from me! Yeah, I think you guys have convinced me to go for it!
I didn't say not to go for it. i just said i would be hesitant to pay for a cl*** from someone hwo admited not haveing any experience teaching the subject. I had a math teacher last semester that was a chemistry teacher most of the time. he'd never taught a math cl*** before. Was he an educated teacher, of course. The highest grade in the cl*** was a C. What's that tell you about the quality of the teaching? he just wasn't familiar enough with the subject. Not math in general, just teaching math. Everyone needs to make a liveing. go for it.
I think it's great. I love the Hot Rod Ch***is/Chrome Czars thing too. I've learned most of the little I know from being broken down and poor and I could stand to learn a WHOLE lot more. I've been hanging out a neighbors shop a few nights a week. He builds pro/stock stuff but engine work is engine work and sheetmetal work is sheetmetal work. He's cool enough to let me hang out and learn and that doesn't happen often enough for most guys. I say do it. If there isn't a market, it will be obvious pretty quickly.
I too think that is a swell idea. If there was cl*** nearby and I had the means I would be there. I'm sure it could render me a fair share of mishaps down the trail I gather. Good luck there Mr. Farna
Good luck with your clases. I would take a cl*** if one was available in my area. I have thought about taking some sheetmetal fab cl***es but waiting for one closer to me.
Thanks guys. Okay Pork-n-******, I see your point now. Orignially you didn't make the distinction between "no experience" and "no experience teaching that particular subject", or at least I didn't see it! I intend to take the time to carefully plan things, but the first cl*** could be a bit shaky. I have no problem telling the guys that this is the first cl*** and there might be some unexpected things come up, but they'll get what they paid for. Worst thing that could happen is I find I could have went over something better during ***embly, but since it's a hands-on cl*** I don't see where anything to bad can happen. I intend to inspect everything before the engine is "****oned up", including double checking torque on at least a couple bolts. If I find one off spec I'll loosen all and say "start over"!! If I didn't cover something good enough we can stop and "gather around" for more instruction on the spot, or stop and go back to the cl*** room for a bit. Then I can make notes for the next cl***. And if I have to take longer or add something to the cl*** I'll do it without worrying about the time. I'll leave adequate time between cl***es to cover this kind of contingency. It really doesn't matter how many times you teach a tech cl*** though, some student will always seem to come up with something new! I'd have 2-3 cl***es go through with no problems only to have some kid come up with some question or do something that would throw a monkey wrench in the works! Unfortunately I didn't have to much extra time to cover things in those concise cl***es with one following right behind another. Right when you think you're a well greased machine...
The Jalopy Journal
