Itch To Wrench

[clayton86]

I've been getting this crazy itch to build something. I went to college for auto tech graduated at the top of my class then went on to become a diesel tech teacher. I haven't turned a wrench in years other then an occasional fix when deployed because the guys at the motor pool were clue less.

I've built a 383 stroker, a few 4.0 jeep engines, a couple 5.9 cummins, a SR20, a RB25, VG30 and a few honda vtecs. Some naturally aspirated mostly the American stuff all the Jap engines got turbos and of course the cummins all had 1 or 2 turbos on them.

So lately I've had this itch to build something anything truck, muscle, diesel, ricer, bike, boat you name it I wanna build it lately. Even my nitro trucks have been pulled out of storage and getting some attention.

Now there is the small hiccup of money with all of this but I'm thinking buy a block and slowly put it together then heads and so on. Car or truck can always come later. I've been thinking another SBC probably a 355 I got the room to have a build going on and not be in the way. Since I need a new truck so maybe I'll buy a older chevy and have a spare engine and transmission build in the barn at my moms place.

My inner gear head is coming back out it must be the warm weather.

[tipptruck1]

If you want some thing that will take care of the Itch. Why not a kit car? Race car replicas has about 6-8 cars. They have some old style Porsche. Ferrari, GT40, a open wheel car, and what they call the SLC. That is what I would love to build in a few years. The SLC has been fitted with small 3 rotors all the way up to v-12 motors. Also Factory five has some good kit cars. They mostly have cobras, Daytonas, and a GTM super car. They even have a old 30 something ford coupe.

 

RCR's cars are pretty munch a giant lego set. You don't need to source any thing other then a engine, transaxel, and wheels. The wheels are only if you don't want the factory ones. They use corvette lug pattern. So it is easy to find wheels. The bodies from RCR are gel coat also. So you don't have to paint them if you don't want to. The bodies come in like 12 different colors. While factory Five you have to source every thing. Most of there cars use ford parts. The GTM uses vette parts. They now have a car that uses a Subaru for a donor. I have heard many people spend over 100 hours on the Factory five bodies alone. Vs just a sand and buff job on the RCR bodies.

RCR slc

 

Rcr Razor

 

Factory Five Gtm

 

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I got an old Harley you can work on for me.

[flyfisher]

you can always build up a mopar V8 and then swap it out into my jeep along with Dana 60's front and rear...or i could settle for a diesel swap too  

[tipptruck1]

I got an old Harley you can work on for me.

What good would that do. It will break down again in a few weeks. I kid man. I grew up with Harleys in my family. I don't have one yet. But I do intend to buy one one day. Harleys get a bad rap from mostly the AMF days. Today's EFI ones are just as good as the Jap bikes They might cost a bit more. But hold there value better. You or me will also be able to find parts for bikes in 40 years. Good luck finding parts for a 40 year old jap bike.

[clayton86]

you can always build up a mopar V8 and then swap it out into my jeep along with Dana 60's front and rear...or i could settle for a diesel swap too

Hey if it's your money I'll do it lol

I do have my ranger sitting out front with the need of a new engine. It's solid no rust could always build a 302 and drop it in...... Problem is emissions here in NY it's to new even being a 99 has to be plugged into a computer yearly for inspection by law I can only put a 99 or newer engine in it. Gotta build a 95 or older to avoid that bs

[clayton86]

I've also thought about building a bumble bee clone for my son, paint it yellow some racing stripes autobots badges and a built 355 twin turbo under the hood. I've always wanted to build a twin turbo V8.

I'd really love a 60s or 70s F series with a 460 and side pipes cammed out crazy NA no forced induction though it would sweet to slap twins on one.

[Jigfishn10]

I've been getting this crazy itch to build something. I went to college for auto tech graduated at the top of my class then went on to become a diesel tech teacher. I haven't turned a wrench in years other then an occasional fix when deployed because the guys at the motor pool were clue less.

I've built a 383 stroker, a few 4.0 jeep engines, a couple 5.9 cummins, a SR20, a RB25, VG30 and a few honda vtecs. Some naturally aspirated mostly the American stuff all the Jap engines got turbos and of course the cummins all had 1 or 2 turbos on them.

So lately I've had this itch to build something anything truck, muscle, diesel, ricer, bike, boat you name it I wanna build it lately. Even my nitro trucks have been pulled out of storage and getting some attention.

Now there is the small hiccup of money with all of this but I'm thinking buy a block and slowly put it together then heads and so on. Car or truck can always come later. I've been thinking another SBC probably a 355 I got the room to have a build going on and not be in the way. Since I need a new truck so maybe I'll buy a older chevy and have a spare engine and transmission build in the barn at my moms place.

My inner gear head is coming back out it must be the warm weather.

Just curious why you didn't go back into the auto tech field when you came back from over seas?

 

I've also thought about building a bumble bee clone for my son, paint it yellow some racing stripes autobots badges and a built 355 twin turbo under the hood. I've always wanted to build a twin turbo V8.

I'd really love a 60s or 70s F series with a 460 and side pipes cammed out crazy NA no forced induction though it would sweet to slap twins on one.

My son is a huge Transformer fan with Bumble Bee his favorite character! He's bummed that the Prime series is over though.

[clayton86]

Just curious why you didn't go back into the auto tech field when you came back from over seas?

My son is a huge Transformer fan with Bumble Bee his favorite character! He's bummed that the Prime series is over though.

I think I just got burnt out right out of college I worked for Nissan and a local shop putting in 70+ hours a week. That's when I had my 383 in a 89 camaro. Car was down the road from the shop I bought it on my lunch break then took the flat bed to my house picked up my 383 spent the rest of the day putting it in the camaro then put a 700R4 the boss had laying around behind her and welded up the "frame" to help handle the extra power over the stock V6. Never put the car on the road though just swaped plates off my Mazda when in wanted to joy ride.

I quit wrenching when I joined the army when I got out of basic I started teaching diesel tech. My yearly salary was 11.5k not enough to support two kids and a wife but some how we managed. I got deployed and went from $400 every two weeks to $2500 every two weeks. There was no way I could go back to that pay.

[Jigfishn10]

I think you really need to revisit that decision to abandon the wrench twisting thing, I know a lot of good mechanics that do very well financially!

[bigbill]

I have some International Harvestor tractors you can work on.

I never made good money in the early 70's being a mechanic. When I became a machinist and then moved up to building manual and cnc lathes is when I started using my talents. When I went supporting the engineering group is when I peaked using all my talents and money wise too. Skills and knowledge works everywhere. Never limit yourself.

After being a drag racer and building engines in my younger days I been dying to build one more old school drag muscle car with 750 to 1,000 hp. Just one more time. With two sons my daughter is the gear head of the family she loves fast cars. I would build a car with her and give it to her.

[ww2farmer]

My jeep needs new rear shocks and an exhaust soon. I'll take you fishing. Sounds like a win win to me.

[clayton86]

I think you really need to revisit that decision to abandon the wrench twisting thing, I know a lot of good mechanics that do very well financially!

My first year out of school working two jobs as a tech busting my arse I made 73k then joined the army getting a 20k lump sum bonus. That was the year my wife married me and we filled our taxes I alone brought in 90+ I was 21 with nothing to show for it but a liver begging to be put out of its misery.

I've thought about going back to it but it's been so long.

[Jigfishn10]

Man, if you have the tech, all you need is the passion to get back into it. The peeps that were hired had no experience other than a backyard diploma and came for entry level money. Shops are quickly finding out that they need qualified mechanics.

 

I'm in construction, and my industry is quickly finding that they can't survive on the mistakes and the unprofessionalism that the "cheap" labor is providiing them.

 

Get back to it! 

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Man, if you have the tech, all you need is the passion to get back into it. The peeps that were hired had no experience other than a backyard diploma and came for entry level money. Shops are quickly finding out that they need qualified mechanics.

I'm in construction, and my industry is quickly finding that they can't survive on the mistakes and the unprofessionalism that the "cheap" labor is providiing them.

Get back to it!

That's why you don't hire rats. Cheap labor ain't skilled. Skilled labor ain't cheap. Rat shops don't care about their customers. At least most don't seem to. They hire any trunk slammer or illegal they can find claiming to "know" the trade. Pay them sub par wages and pocket the difference. I've worked for them for seven or so years. I know how they operate. There are some really good ones. However they are few and far between.

Just ask Slonezp he knows what I'm talking about.

[clayton86]

rochester.craigslist.org/cto/4412380436.html

There we go

[Jigfishn10]

rochester.craigslist.org/cto/4412380436.html

There we go

The link isn't linking...

[clayton86]

http://buffalo.craigslist.org/cto/4412411564.html

[clayton86]

That one works