just wondering how many on message board are experienced/ certified techs/mechs and how many are just knowledgeable car enthusiasts?
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just wondering how many on message board are experienced/ certified techs/mechs and how many are just knowledgeable car enthusiasts?
experienced/ certified tech/shop owner for 45 yrs. :whacked: would have to be :whacked: to do this for 45 yrs. :CRY:
reason I asked I been visiting this site for about 2months and always same 4 to 5 people responding to mechanical problems and rest are tossing ideas making simple problems major. I agree that I dont know it all and we all have to learn sometime just kinda wondering where the advice is coming from sometimes
Owned your shop since you were a junior in high school, that's cool:cool:Quote:
Originally posted by lt1s10
experienced/ certified tech/shop owner for 45 yrs. :whacked: would have to be :whacked: to do this for 45 yrs. :CRY:
got to be a smart ass in every group. and yes i was a combination of those things for 45 yrs. 35 as a shop owner. is this what you was talking about COONDAWG ?:rolleyes:Quote:
Originally posted by NTFDAY
Owned your shop since you were a junior in high school, that's cool:cool:
Not being a smart ass, graduated with a bud that worked in his dad's shop from about the time he was a freshman. Wished I'd had that opportunity. :)Quote:
Originally posted by lt1s10
got to be a smart ass in every group. and yes i was a combination of those things for 45 yrs. 35 as a shop owner. is this what you was talking about COONDAWG ?:rolleyes:
ahhhhhh complications!!!!!!!!!!!!! gotta love em
23 years actual on the job experience.
Shop owner, Master A.S.E. Certified 19 years, GM Master Certified 14 years. 43 years old now, wife, son, daughter, cat, dog, couple pistols, rifles and shotguns.......did my resume wander? :)
Been racing since I was 11 so a lot of my advice comes from a different perspective, i.e. lots of experience breaking stuff :).
I was certified when I got out of Motech in '83, but since I've been in the insurance claims biz since '85, I've added the two body certs I needed to satisfy the state.
But I've been an insurance appraiser 20 years, I've run my own race car for the last 10 years, have had two years of body shop experience, 2 years of dealership service department experience, and 25 years of general experience screwing with my cars.
I was a lot faster before working on electronic cars. I can do what I need to do, but I'm not fast at it. I only try to make recommendations on things I know. Have service manual will travel.
Gee, NFTDAY, I've never seen you get Smardarse before but maybe you should check out Mike's (lt1) age one more time. Born in 43, that would make him 17 45 years ago. (if your 17 and still in Junior High, you must be a redneck.) So......... Mike: I hear you bud. And NFTDAY, I am sorry if you think I'm picking on you cause I am not. :) :) :) :) :)Quote:
Originally posted by NTFDAY
Owned your shop since you were a junior in high school, that's cool:cool:
P.S. You might want to know why I realize this.....Well, I'm only three years younger. Hehehehehe
Quote:
Originally posted by Oldf100fordman
Gee, NFTDAY, I've never seen you get Smardarse before but maybe you should check out Mike's (lt1) age one more time. Born in 43, that would make him 17 45 years ago. (if your 17 and still in Junior High, you must be a redneck.) So......... Mike: I hear you bud. And NFTDAY, I am sorry if you think I'm picking on you cause I am not. :) :) :) :) :)
P.S. You might want to know why I realize this.....Well, I'm only three years younger. Hehehehehe
thanks Oldf100fordman, ive been called a redneck and might be one, but if i am, im one the graduated on time. i guess i have a way of making people do things they wouldnt normally do. :HMMM: :cool:
Hell, I thought we was all just rodders :whacked:
Quote:
Originally posted by viking
Hell, I thought we was all just rodders :whacked:
we are, but that guy ant gonna get alot of experience(if he keeps working under that truck). :CRY: :LOL:
Haha, man you had me busting up with the red neck thing, that was funny as hell!!! Hahahahaha :LOL:Quote:
Originally posted by Oldf100fordman
Gee, NFTDAY, I've never seen you get Smardarse before but maybe you should check out Mike's (lt1) age one more time. Born in 43, that would make him 17 45 years ago. (if your 17 and still in Junior High, you must be a redneck.) So......... Mike: I hear you bud. And NFTDAY, I am sorry if you think I'm picking on you cause I am not. :) :) :) :) :)
I was going to post something like this the other night and then forgot about it because my computer froze so I turned it off and went to bed. I wanted to see everyones past history dealing with cars. When I first came here I would look around and see who knew their stuff and who was just following along and didn't know what they were talking about. I got a lot of the smart guys picked out and the others to the side so everything if sorted for me. But even if all the guys here aren't smart a ton in hot rodding then it's cool with me. I still like to chat with most of you guys here anyways. Plus... who doesn't NOT know as much as me? Can't get any more dumb than... ME? :confused: :LOL: :LOL:
I believe I said a JUNIOR in high school because that's what I was in the fisrt part of '60 and I'm 4 months older,8/14/43. and I don't think ducks, pegs, and points qualify as a redneck even if I'm from Ohio. I now see what Tech was refering to.Quote:
Originally posted by Oldf100fordman
Gee, NFTDAY, I've never seen you get Smardarse before but maybe you should check out Mike's (lt1) age one more time. Born in 43, that would make him 17 45 years ago. (if your 17 and still in Junior High, you must be a redneck.) So......... Mike: I hear you bud. And NFTDAY, I am sorry if you think I'm picking on you cause I am not. :) :) :) :) :)
P.S. You might want to know why I realize this.....Well, I'm only three years younger. Hehehehehe
i have about 12yrs experience repairing New Holland and Case/IH tractors if that counts:) i've rebiult quite a few car engines, some trannys and really have done alot of general fixing on them. i've done enought body work to hate that but i will say that they do turn out nice when i'm done. i havent found anything put together with bolts that i'm scared to tackle and i'm very comfortable working with the computers on the tractors, i just wish i knew the cars computers and fuel injection better.:HMMM:
Okay, okay, I apologize NFTDAY. You are right I did miss read that statement of yours. Sorry about that. And the crack about 17 in Junior High/Redneck wasn't aimed at you, but at anyone who would be 17 at that point of life. Once again, sorry!!!!!!Quote:
Originally posted by NTFDAY
I believe I said a JUNIOR in high school because that's what I was in the fisrt part of '60 and I'm 4 months older,8/14/43. and I don't think ducks, pegs, and points qualify as a redneck even if I'm from Ohio. I now see what Tech was refering to.
I consider myself a shade tree mechanic. Grew up on a farm so I became one out of necessity. Therefore I'm no stranger to baling wire and a pliers, Have never had any vehicle in a shop for repair, always do my own. Worked in an engine rebuild plant for a few years. Engine tear down, assembly, machinist for awhile. Certified welder for a few years. Owned my own shop for a few years doing everything from cars, trucks to tractors and combines. Tune ups to complete overhauls of engines, trans. and rear ends. Overhauled my share of T/A's and PTO drives on IH tractors. (That doesn't help much on a hot rod tho now does it) HEHEHE. Built a few street rods for myself and for customers. Built a few stock cars (that was just a natural progression for a gear head from rural Iowa) HEHEHE. And just so you know I really am a "Shade Tree Mech.'', when we first moved to Illinois (Had no garage) I painted my truck behind the house on the lawn. Also overhauled the TH350 on the tailgate on the driveway (Under a tree). Overhauled the engine (Actually did that in my brothers garage so that may not count). Truck ran for 10 years after that when I sold it. Didn't burn oil, trans. didn't slip. Paint held up. So, I'm a shade-treer and proud of it. I'm far from knowledgeable about newer stuff, I guess I know just enough to be dangerous.
Tore apart my first SBC in 1968 as a point of reference. It's really been all down hill from there. :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:
Coondawg,
I think most of us can supply useful answers based upon experience, even if that experience is drawn from outside a strict automotive dicipline.
I have a couple of engineering degrees which I 've found useful in working on my own cars, boats, and bikes. I feel comfortable in offering my opinions and suggestions on very specific topics -- I try to keep quiet, listen to and learn from others the remaining 99% of the time.
Regards, Mark
Pro70, nothing wrong with being a tree hugger... I mean tree mech. Sometimes those guys are better than the ones that actually went to mechanics school because you had to learn from experience by having problems, etc. The ones who go to school (including me) don't know as much mostly because we haven't had problems and had to solve them as much on our own. All depends though I guess. You learn from your mistakes and problems is how I look at it.
I believe that just about says it all and yes I guess I get a little anal when it comes to Tech, I've known him since '57 and he might not of been always right, but he was very seldom wrong. :)Quote:
Originally posted by DennyW
There you go FX. Your learning right along. That paper is for your own gradification of accomplishing something. It sets the basic knowlege of any given subject. From that, working, and learning is where you get your experience. Sounds like pro is a pretty darn good experienced mechanic to me.
My self, and like Mike, have worked on things way before the paper learning. All that time is also counted as experience. I've talked to guys straight out of GM School, that I would not hire, cause they know only how to change parts. No experience learning, finding those little things, and short cuts, so you don't spend all day on one car, but, get it don't right. And, not just changing parts, and hand the bill to the customer. School is for learning the theory, and basic understanding of how things work. The rest is up to the person to push to learn the ins, and outs of everything. I've got all the papers on automotive, painting, hydraulics, management, and more, but, I have to only know how to treat people, and do a good job. That is what kept me in bus. :)
Well, I guess I'd say I'm along those same lines as proZ. Never went to school for mechanics but I rebuilt my first motor at 17 years old (sbc 350). Actually built that motor in my basement:eek: took me and a friend to carry it up the stairs when I was done:LOL: ...guess I was a "hot rodder" from the very start because even though it was my first ever rebuild I built it with flat tops, main studs 461 casting 2.02's and a tunnel ram. Built the motor without anyones help, just used what I had learned from a friends older brother that had a 71 chevelle at the time along with using the book "how to rebuild a small block chevy" from HP publications. That motor ran great with no probs for the 3 yrs I owned it so I guess I did good enough for a first rebuild. (see pic)
Built many sbc&bbc as well as a couple ponchos and a ford 390 in the years following that build. Learned everything I know from people I use to hang around with, books and magazines as well as just plain trial&error. On top of that I'm a certified TIG welder cert'ed by OSHA for welding overhead lifting fixtures and have been a welder/fabricator for the last 12 years or so.
I would rate myself as a "shadetree mechanic" with a decent amount of experiance, but there will alway be someone with more know-how than I, just as there will always be someone with a faster car.
I miss that ol' techie. I need to talk him into comming back like I did with Pro60... :D
I started out in an autobody shop,,,then moved on to the heavy duty trade( Diesel ),,,spent 30 years learning what i know now,,,and i'm proud to say i'm still learning,,i have made blunders,,and i've hit the nail on the head equally as well.
I got my tickets and qualifications but it don't mean diddly on the job,,,and i've learned more from the old timers than i ever learned at trade school.
I find the guy's on this board are a pretty decent bunch and if you add up all the experience they have and share you'll come out ahead every time.
And i happen to like working in the shade of a tree.
:3dSMILE:
Experience?? There's a lot of folks with degrees (and multiple degrees) on here. As for actual experience there's people on here who have never built a rod, and people on here who have done nothing but build hot rods for many years. Opinions are what really abound on CHR!! That's what makes the site interesting, informative, and a fun place to hang out.
Started out in a Chryler/Plymouth/International Truck dealership in 68 (Ahhh the muscle car era).
70-71 Bailey Tech School (Auto Diesel Tech) in St Louis.
About a year in body shop doing frame repair, alignment, mechanical repair.
A 20 year stint in the army with primary specility in Military Intellignece and secondary specility as a Wheeled Vehicle-Power Generator Mechanic (now theres a combination). When I was assigned to the smaller detachments I held the additional duty as unit motor sergeant. Usually lived in the base craft shop in my off duty time building my cars and making a few bucks working on others peoples.
Retired and went to work in a friends independent garage for 5 years.
Opened my own shop specilizing in building, restoring and modifying classic cars, hot rods and Harley-Davidsons for the last 7 years. Was pretty well know in the area for doing Dual Quad and Tri-Power setups.
I've kicked back a little now and work part time for a government contractor and have turned the shop pretty much into my hobby shop so I can get some of MY project cars done while I'm still able.
You should never stop learning, challenging yourself or settling for doing less than your capable of.
Growing up in a family of mechanics it was hard for me not to pick up this trade also. Started with small engines when I was strong enough to pull that starter cord I had to wrap around the flywheel. Never owned my own business, but did enough work on friends cars to make it enjoyable. Did just about any repair job that came along. Nowadays I work as a machinist in a one person shop. I rebuild and repair, and sometimes re-invent mechanical parts that are no longer available. Where could you buy a set of motor mounts for a Moretti, or a set of engine valves for a 1924 Mercedes? Right here. Dealing with "antiquers" wanting to keep their numbers matching cars all original gives me the opportunity to learn something new every day.
Just registered last night after finding this site. Alot of really good advise and not so good passed along.(nice checks and balances) For those out there with busted knuckles, grease imbedded in their fingernails, multiple scars, etc etc. experience comes from doing. Resume's are for those looking for a job, not giving free advise. God I love this site. Just my opinion. 50yrs young and enough arthritis and scars to make it a labor of love.
I have worked as a design engineer designing prototype machinery and automation for 40 years (started as a draftsman with a large engineering company in 1965) 5 year apprenticeship +5 years college night school. I just plain love machinery. I had a nasty uncle, who taught me at a tender age to drink whiskey, play the fiddle, and wrench on old cars (sometimes all at the same time). Got my first car when I was 14 or 15, learned to fix it because I had no money to pay someone else to. I am one of the worlds luckiest men, as I have been able to combine a professional career centered around machinery, and a life long hobby as a hot rodder. I no longer play the fiddle, and I only drink whiskey on odd numbered days, but Damn, I still love wrenching on them old cars.
i guess im a youngin next to the old folks most of you guys got kids my age 04/70:3dSMILE:
look fellas, im not trying to say u guys dont know what your talkin about heck most of you guys forgot more than what lincoln tech teaches new guys ... i been runnin shops since i was 18 average crew size 6mechs, 1 gopher, 1 secretary and i learned 1 huge oak tree and a 12 pack solves more problems than most books ill put 1 shadetree with a motor, mithchell or chiltons manual against a whole team of school packaged "technicians" it aint whats on the wall its whats in your head that counts;) ;) i was just trying to see who was on here and how they react to questions that you dont deal with everyday im one of those self taught rednecks that couldnt afford school or to pay someone to do something i could figure out myself
hmmm.............
EVERYONE learns stuff here even the "older guys." There is great advice here from the knowledgeable and the not so, but still good advice. No need for my resume I already have a job.
"School mechanics" Hmmm, just so happens I AM one of those school mechanics. But that doesnt mean that a little bit of intuiton doesnt work with old or new motors alike. If you want to join the auto trade and actually enjoy it, theres a simple way. Get into cars as soon as possible. Crawl under gm and ford equally. And yes, even mopars. find what you like to work on, and pursue it. Theres no point in learning about pontiacs when you plan to become a ford tech. And a little comp-tech will Always come in handy. Every car made in the last 20 years has a computer on board. It was bound to happen. Even if you only get the basics, youll apreciate it later. Nowadays, youll be hard pressed to find "1 oak tree and a 12 pack" in Any shop. And yes, I'll take that bet.;)
Typical:rolleyes: Arrived a bit late for this conversation, I've been on the spanners for years. Fully quallified in automotive, heavy trade and now on the big industrial diesil gensets. I go by the premise that while you live you allways will keep on learning something new, and if you like your job your happy with it, if not you move on.:3dSMILE:
Seems a bit ironic seeing as how you are so far ahead of us, time wise. You should have been answering this question before it was even asked.:LOL:Quote:
Originally posted by southerner
Typical:rolleyes: Arrived a bit late for this conversation.:3dSMILE:
Im new here so thats an honest question. For what its worth I'm 47 own my own machineshop. We overhaul industrial compressors here daily. have a wife, 2 kids 27 and 18, 1 dog, and 5 employees, lots of guns, and I drive a 4x4 1 ton psd ford crewcab. hot rods are a 71 vette vert with a 468, 2x4, alum heads, and a 6 speed, and a 73 vette coupe 355 auto. I have been building motors sence I was about 10. My grandfather was a wrench, owned his own shop. started racing at about 14. On a open forum like this, a question will get lots of different answers, several ways to do most anything, some better, some worse. You have to be smart enough to pick the good from the bad. cheers robert
Biggest thing is "Learning by Doing" Denny. I can see that you good on the computer now. I remember you telling me a few months back on how you had to learn on that stuff and I bet you learned by doing mostly not by people showing you stuff. As long as your not scared to get in there and get dirty then you will be ok. If something breaks or such then there is no reason to flip out, it can be fixed, it is just your time and money and you live once one might as well experience both sides of losing and winning some.
I tend to forget that not everybody knows what I know. Even explaining things in the shop, I skip over things that are "no brainers" for me. I have to stop and goback with details, this is getting worse as I get older. I think my brain is full.:whacked: way tomany late nights. robert
i am finding myself starting to do that also, ive been working on the stuff for about 12 years and when a newbie comes out of school to work for us i always got to slow down and teach him instead of more or less doing it myself. give a man fish and you feed him for a day, teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.Quote:
Originally posted by grunch
I tend to forget that not everybody knows what I know. Even explaining things in the shop, I skip over things that are "no brainers" for me. I have to stop and goback with details, this is getting worse as I get older. I think my brain is full.:whacked: way tomany late nights. robert