Posts by oyy0
1 - 6 of 18 Posts
At first, I stuck to my specialty... Imports.
Eventually I took any job I could get, even a vintage at one point.
Soon, the shop wasn't worth my pain nor the stress, so I sold the building and sold the big tools/equipment. I still have all my small tools and some equipment.
I did a couple of custom turbo systems, all simple designs. I did ECU tuning but that stopped quickly, people around here don't want to pay to do the one thing that can really benefit their car more than anything. I even did decals/stickers.
I welded some things for people (TIG) but even that was too much for most and I know I did it cheaper than every machine shop around. In the end it was all too much for me to want to worry about so I gave it up.
How long have you been in business?
Eventually I took any job I could get, even a vintage at one point.
Soon, the shop wasn't worth my pain nor the stress, so I sold the building and sold the big tools/equipment. I still have all my small tools and some equipment.
I did a couple of custom turbo systems, all simple designs. I did ECU tuning but that stopped quickly, people around here don't want to pay to do the one thing that can really benefit their car more than anything. I even did decals/stickers.
I welded some things for people (TIG) but even that was too much for most and I know I did it cheaper than every machine shop around. In the end it was all too much for me to want to worry about so I gave it up.
How long have you been in business?
You are speaking the truth. Rather than quality work/parts people settle for what they can get the 'cheapest'. I tried to make people understand cheap and 'cheap' but to no avail. I would explain the difference between a good part and a part they buy from ebay that looks good. I even kept parts that broke due to cheap manufacturing and cheap quality materials. Guess being a new shop didn't help and they must have thought I was just trying to make them spend more money or something. I lost a lot of work because I wouldn't work with some parts I knew were just not going to last... it's a small town so I know many of tuners around here and I am glad I didn't take most of those jobs. In the end it wasn't worth the pain I was going through, mostly physically. I had dreams haha. I was in the works of trying to get a dyno and flowbench but after about 8 months I saw it was not going to be worth the effort at this point in time. I still work on my cars and I get people always asking me to do things for them.
I own a FD3S, AE86, DC5 and now my IS-F... I just love all kinds of import cars. =)
Good luck to you, sounds like you don't need it but keep at it... glad to see good shops still out there. You have all that work for a good reason.
I own a FD3S, AE86, DC5 and now my IS-F... I just love all kinds of import cars. =)
Good luck to you, sounds like you don't need it but keep at it... glad to see good shops still out there. You have all that work for a good reason.
Those are some nice looking Corollas... maybe 2nd Gen?
I haven't seen one in over 12 years, last one I did know about was stolen.
Guess demographics do play into this a lot also lol, as well as geography because in my town there are only 2 Supras, 2 FD's and very little high grade cars like the Evo VIII or STI's. I know of one GTR but the guy hardly ever drives it and is always out of town on work. He lives down the street from me.
That's a nice looking FD you had, looked like it was a beast on the track. Converted to single turbo, v-mount and Apex'i PFC are the main things I have done to my car. I have taken the interior apart because most of the plastic pieces were breaking. Since I closed down shop, I lost a bunch of my extra money and the poor car has been sitting there for a good year now, going to get on it soon once I recuperate some.
You have had to work on some nice cars, I am jealous. I worked on some nice cars but nothing extensive.
I haven't seen one in over 12 years, last one I did know about was stolen.
Guess demographics do play into this a lot also lol, as well as geography because in my town there are only 2 Supras, 2 FD's and very little high grade cars like the Evo VIII or STI's. I know of one GTR but the guy hardly ever drives it and is always out of town on work. He lives down the street from me.
That's a nice looking FD you had, looked like it was a beast on the track. Converted to single turbo, v-mount and Apex'i PFC are the main things I have done to my car. I have taken the interior apart because most of the plastic pieces were breaking. Since I closed down shop, I lost a bunch of my extra money and the poor car has been sitting there for a good year now, going to get on it soon once I recuperate some.
You have had to work on some nice cars, I am jealous. I worked on some nice cars but nothing extensive.
1 - 6 of 18 Posts
