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yfz450_0569 11-12-2008 03:33 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
my dad owns a trailer manufacturing business and he is doing his best not to lay off employees, hours cut back a little, and some went to west texas for a few weeks/months until things get better. this is also the same reason my truck is on slow go now. i just got out of school and i'm thinking about getting a job elsewhere than my dad's place cuz it's so slow right now and could use some more money

tinlid 11-13-2008 10:05 AM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
Going back to school is always a good idea. I did that when I was 50. My daughter and I both were in college, comparing grades. Graduating with an associate degree and on the deans list the whole time doesn't do much good with the attitudes in the companies. At 50, with a fresh degree, you are competing for employment against young graduates, and guess who is hired? Not the old guy. The 2nd go at school, the CAD3D jobs left the country before I graduated. Fortunately our house is now paid for. We are able to live ok off what my wife makes and my part time jobs are used to complete projects in preparation for retirement. New high efficency furnace last fall. Roofed the house and garage this summer. Had time to do it myself and save a bunch. Next summer is new windows, siding and insulation. Our 95 Sable gave up this summer and at a good time I guess. Gas was at $4 and I got a ripping deal on a 2004 Impalla SS Indy Special Edition that I could pay cash for from the part time jobs. I do miss the income from some of my past jobs but I must admit that I am doing more of what I enjoy. I don't buy the new crate motors or boxed new transmissions but I have fun. The 70 C10 is my driver so it will be a slow, as I drive, build. Plans to go thru a 350 I picked up over the winter and add tuned port. I have the Camaro T5 and will locate an S10 tail to move the shifter. I located good, used, 2 1/2" and 3" coils to drop it. I will do my own body and paint and also do my own upholstery as I picked up a commercial sewing machine at auction and have been practicing sewing a straight line. I am fortunate. While income is way down the fun factor keeps going up. We never bought a new car, don't own the biggest house or flat screen TV's. We were never overly interested in eating out except at rod runs or on vacation. I built the 24 X 30 garage in back and it's filled with tools I bought at auctions. I will be adding a 20' covered car port in front and attached to the garage and may enclose it one day to extend the garage but I need it to pull my drivers under to wash/wax and do maintenance as the garage is full of my 28 Ford and tools. The 40 Plymouth sets outside under a cover. Paying down debt is the most important thing you can do. While working and making a good income, double or triple up on house payments making your regular payment and 1 or 2 months principle extra. If you have a car payment, when its done, pay that payment to your savings so you have cash for the next time. Life doesn't end when the job does. It just feels like it. My C10, 28 Ford, 40 Plymouth will never win best of show anywhere but they have not been, and never will be, in someones shop to pay for someone elses work. I find satisfaction in that. My first chop on a car was done by me with my newly purchased, at auction, welder. Once I was quoted a price for the chop and figured out the price of a welder, there was no decision. Buy a welder, preferably used, learn to use it and do the chop myself. I got a slap of realization last fall. My wife had a knee replacement. I was home to take care of her for a month. No job I ever had would have allowed me to do that. She will have the other replaced this coming spring, and again, I will be home to take car of her. There is immense satisfaction in being able to do so. The 2 part time jobs are on as needed basis and the 2 are great to work for. When they knew my wife was having surgery they seemed to come up with a bunch of work before the operation, and had no problem with my not being available for a month. The owner of the machine shop gave me my own key 2 years ago and I have permission to use his equipment any time. So I am slowly becoming a machinest and will make parts for my own projects but never be good enough to be a full time machinest. Life is really good, just not rich in bucks.

Scott Webster 11-13-2008 11:06 AM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
Work is slow all over I guess. I was laid off in October, worked for 3 weeks and laid off again last week. I'm a union sheet metal worker though. If it weren't for the rain, I'd be outside right now installing the header on the DS and tooling around town. If I had some more tools like a plasma or waterjet table and a tig welder, I don't know as if I'd go back to work for anyone. Don't get me wrong - I love my job. It's the people I sometimes work with.

The truck looks good. Do what you can around the house and keep looking for the next job. You'll bounce back. Anyone that owns one of these trucks is worth hiring. It should be on our resumes lol...

68gmsee 11-13-2008 11:17 AM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
My daughter works for a large financial firm in NYC. Many months ago, she told me she was surprised at how the country was being made to believe the economy was the worst in the history of the nation by the news media and politicians. She figured this was fueled by the high price of gas, but the figures didn't support that at that time --her company and others were doing real well. She said the country was in a mild recession (which happens periodically), but nowhere near what we were being told.

Then, she noticed people starting to hold on to their money. She said they were opting out of buying stocks and were selling what they had. She noticed more small and large companies were preparing for 2009 by not investing in large scale upgrades. This of course means less borrowing and less spending or hiring.

Now, we have almost full scale panic because of uncertainty. It's amazing the power of the news media... I guess they got what they wanted.

yfz450_0569 11-13-2008 12:07 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
I agree with it being mosly in the media, I'm sure if the media said that it was all going better, people might start spending more and we would probably be back to normal soon

ChevLoRay 11-13-2008 12:58 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
Earlier comment said we're in a depression. Before I was laid off, we were in a recession. After I got laid off, I was in a depression, regardless of the balance of the economic sector.

Enough of this depressing chatter. You're truck looks good and I think it would serve as an example of what you can do, whether or not you've had the formal training that some think you may need. Getting a vehicle ready to paint is the hard part. Painting is just icing on the cake. You can't see what kind of cake you're getting until you cut into it. The way you sliced and diced that Edsel dash and fit it into the cab of your truck, and the fabrication that you showed on the chassis, cab and everywhere else, makes me wish the guy supposedly going to do my truck was showing me he had already done on mine.

Hang in there. Draw your unemployment, if you can. You can weld. You can fabricate. You got me beat.

schwoch1 11-13-2008 01:02 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by yfz450_0569 (Post 2972656)
I agree with it being mosly in the media, I'm sure if the media said that it was all going better, people might start spending more and we would probably be back to normal soon

I agree 100% with that...... People are really holding onto their money because everyone see's on the news that we are in a recession and that we may be starting another great Depression. I say get rid of all the so called experts on TV and get some money flowing again and things will straighten out!!
I hate to say this, I run an independant auto repair buisness and our business has been gangbusters, we have had record months since all the sh!t supposedly hit the fan. Nobody wants to buy new cars, so they are spending money on the older cars to keep them going for longer.
Good luck ya all, it will get better soon I hope!!!

Mike

Jtrux 11-13-2008 01:36 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
I work for the railroad and I hear threats everyday about layoffs. I've got my fingers crossed right now. I was considering buying a house but I might hold off. I'm working on my resume right now just in case.

mr48chev 11-13-2008 02:12 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
I've been through that a couple of times once via being riffed once because the company was bought out and the buyer brought in their own people.
A seasonal job with UPS slinging boxes or at Costco or another box store might not pay exceedingly well but it might extend the unemployment bennies for a couple of months after the first of the year.
At the airport where I work we had an Airline that came in a year ago drop service because of lack of passengers but my feeling is that they priced themselves out of the business of their major group of customers. You could actually buy a round trip to Austin Tx through the Salt Lake city hub for over a hundred bucks less round trip than you could buy a ticket to just go to the hub and back. There are plenty of people in this area who would have made "that" trip on a regular basis if the price had been friendly.

Being just a few years short of retirement (actually i could retire next week if I were able and draw ss) It's a bit late for me but If I was a young guy just out of high school and headed to college I think I'd seriously consider the medical fields.

My plan 20 years ago was to be able to retire after 25 years of teaching (riffed at 13) and build and sell a couple of rods/trucks a year to keep me busy and make the extra cash. With the economy the way it is I don't think that will work, at least in the way I had hoped.
I'm lucky in that I should be out of debt by this time next year if I stay to my plan. I won't be buying a lot of goodies for the trucks or other projects and not many people will run into me at rod trots or other events but by throwing all my extra cash at one bill at a time starting with the smallest and then the next smallest should put me in pretty good shape.

I just wish I would have bought that portable soda blasting setup 15 years ago when it was offered to me and no one in the area was doing it. I think I could make a good living around here just doing on call graffiti removal for businesses with the car hobby guys serving as extra profit to boot. But then I'm the guy who got out of the Army in Texas in 1969 and didn't look into going to work for UPS when they were just starting up there.

Brock 11-13-2008 02:29 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by leddzepp (Post 2971068)
On the contrary, having a college degree DOES help you out. Construction jobs are the first to go. If you are unfortunate enough to be laid off during this time, try to take advantage of it by pursuing another career and going back to school.

Sorry to hear about everyone's job issues, I heard this morning that the "recession" could get as bad as in 1929 with the depression just starting to kick in...Hopefully this won't be the "even greater depression". Maybe a change of president will help. one of the platforms i think was working on the country's infrastructure so maybe construction layoffs could get picked up.

I completely agree with going back to school. BUT pick something that is gonna be depression "safe". Teaching, doctor/nurse, Jobs that HAVE to be filled...I'd stay away from accounting

68gmsee 11-13-2008 02:59 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by mr48chev (Post 2972780)
..... It's a bit late for me but If I was a young guy just out of high school and headed to college I think I'd seriously consider the medical fields.......

I have a couple of nephews and nieces that opted out of the medical field even though they had the grades. They said that primarily it was because of the national health care agenda that is being touted. They don't think they can get their costs back if this happens.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock (Post 2972790)
........ Maybe a change of president will help. one of the platforms i think was working on the country's infrastructure so maybe construction layoffs could get picked up.....

I don't want to get political, but I believe that the "change" may have been what a lot of us are afraid of. I and a few friends are thinking of taking our 401k tax deferred savings out because of talk of taxing them next year. No reason to have them in tax deferred accounts if that happens. And that's what a lot of financial firms use for loans, etc.

stepn67 11-13-2008 03:04 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
RIF... I hate that friggin acronym...Reduction In Force, to me it's a term used by big corps so they won't look so bad. I guess I'm a little bitter because I received my "Release Letter" stating that I will be RIFed in September '09. What Tinlid said really hits home for me, as I'm in that 50's group, making it extra tough for me to find a replacement job. A little old to be looked at fairly by employers and way too young to retire.

69ROTROD 11-13-2008 03:36 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
At my last unit we hired a guy who was 56 years old...don't rule out government employment...

http://www.usajobs.gov/

My father in law is a carpenter in NE Ohio and he's feeling the pinch right now too. It makes me wonder if I should ever get out of the military...

leddzepp 11-13-2008 03:40 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
[QUOTE=68gmsee;2972818]I have a couple of nephews and nieces that opted out of the medical field even though they had the grades. They said that primarily it was because of the national health care agenda that is being touted. They don't think they can get their costs back if this happens. QUOTE]

I have been in the medical field for almost 17 years. Never had a reduction in pay, never worried about losing my job. Far and away the most "recession proof" jobs you can get. Just have to have the stomach for it.

ProStreet83C10 11-13-2008 03:54 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
i know whats ya.ll are goin through.....was laid off from a job on Dec 14th 07, didnt get another job until May 08, laid off from that on Sept. 11 and now have nothing again.

68gmsee 11-13-2008 05:32 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by leddzepp (Post 2972889)
....I have been in the medical field for almost 17 years. Never had a reduction in pay, never worried about losing my job. Far and away the most "recession proof" jobs you can get. Just have to have the stomach for it.

I agree. I have couple of sisters that were nurses and nieces and nephews in medical fields but I was referring to 8 years from now... With the cost of schooling skyrocketing (I heard medical school debts into the 250K plus) and not knowing which direction we're going with health care, it's getting iffy for some.

Some change is good, but not knowing is the catalyst behind all of this turmoil.

67ChevyRedneck 11-13-2008 08:10 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck (Post 2969525)
Yes, I work for a civil site design firm. I dread every Friday. Every firm in Greenville has been laying off over the past 6 months. If I did get laid off, I have no idea where I'd go.


I've been dreading the wrong day... I should have been dreading Thrusdays...

toomanytoyz 11-13-2008 08:28 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck (Post 2973228)
I've been dreading the wrong day... I should have been dreading Thrusdays...

I Sure Hope that Don't Mean what i think it Mean's..........

Rick

Huck 11-13-2008 08:38 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
So sorry for everyone with the laid off notices. I've been there and know the feeling. My father lived through the depression of 1929--he was 25 with a wife and child. Many people learned back then that the only safe employment was via government jobs--low pay but good benefits and no lay offs. Today, NO industry is safe. Education can be helpful but it is still a crap shoot as many high tech jobs went overseas. If anyone thinks the Media has been creating the problem---you need to get out and drive through the country side and see all the small manufacturing plants closed down---thousands of business gone with good paying jobs!! All because of corporate greed based on short term business goals---maximum profit NOW.
Employee value and loyality is all BS today. I worked for IBM for 32 years and they laid me off in 95' and hired me back in 97' when they realized their spinoff idea was costing them millions---I got rehired to help fix the problem they created which was kind of cool. Now retired and slowly loosing the ability to fix and play with trucks they way I used to---I realize that going back to a full time job is beyond my physical abilities. Just got notice that my health insurance for my wife and I will be $888. a month and that supposely includes $7000. that IBM pays annualy---hummmmm. My retirement planning never included this kind of expense!!
So how do YOU handle lay offs and support YOUR family---YOU realize that YOU may have to relocate to where there are jobs!! YOU change careers to one that has a better future---no overseas job transfers ie. railroads, oil fields, trades (electrician, painter, handy man, plumber helper, semi truck driver, construction, HVAC, military, etc.) Tell everyone you know you are looking for work---and be willing to WORK HARD but also be quick to WORK SMART but never assume an employer is loyal as that concept is long gone. Self employment can be very interesting ( I have a guy coming in tomorrow to do some tile work for me--he gets $5.50 per square foot plus material) How many 12x12 tiles could you install in an hour and how much did you last job pay you per hour??? Huck

67ChevyRedneck 11-13-2008 09:34 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by toomanytoyz (Post 2973242)
I Sure Hope that Don't Mean what i think it Mean's..........

Rick

It does. I'm just another additon to a very long list of unemployed engineers in greenville.

Where the hell is my companies federal bailout money? The owner completely cut off his own salary months ago and cut every employees hours to 36 (even the high ups.) I wasn't the only one. They had to let 4 of us go.

leddzepp 11-13-2008 10:20 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by 68gmsee (Post 2973045)
I agree. I have couple of sisters that were nurses and nieces and nephews in medical fields but I was referring to 8 years from now... With the cost of schooling skyrocketing (I heard medical school debts into the 250K plus) and not knowing which direction we're going with health care, it's getting iffy for some.

Some change is good, but not knowing is the catalyst behind all of this turmoil.

Agreed...I am not talking about going to med school to become an MD. All of the docs I work for and with said if they had to do it all over again (and in this day and age) they would go the RN route, RT, Resp Tech, etc. Doctors do not make nearly what they used to. Community college is peanuts, and you will be debt free upon completion of your schooling. The demand for RN's and ancillary hospital staff will never cease. As the population continues to grow and age, the demand only gets greater; it is inevitable. If the government decides to socialize healthcare (I hope they don't), then we all work for the government and still maintain our job security. When I started, I was hired in the midst of the early 90's recession. I had no problem getting a job. Even today, I have job postings in my department and can never seem to keep it filled with enough staff.

revn67 11-14-2008 01:39 AM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
well i was let go today from my job..i worked in aerospace as a CMM operator/inspector and unfortunately i only have alittle over a year of experience and all the aerospace companies around here are laying off and cutting hrs. i was just about to purchase a house too. back to the drawing board for me i guess, goodluck to everyone else who has lost their job! good looking start to a truck by the way! least yours is running!

72-c20 11-14-2008 10:19 AM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Huck (Post 2973252)
If anyone thinks the Media has been creating the problem---you need to get out and drive through the country side and see all the small manufacturing plants closed down---thousands of business gone with good paying jobs!! All because of corporate greed based on short term business goals---maximum profit NOW.

Manufacturing plants still have to have people buying thier goods. just because a larger company can make 'em cheaper, you still need to have people willing to buy the product, and people are going to buy someplace they can get a product cheaper. why? because that means more money for the family, etc.... maybe because they bought their good cheaper, they can save enough money to buy a house.

There's way to many different things in play in the growing global economy. People just target the big corps becasue they make an easy target.

The media has essentially scared people into not spending money, which then forces companies to lay-off or close down because their not bringing in any money. Then with less employeed workers, there's less money to spend, and more companies fail, etc....

see the pattern.

I'm blessed with a decent job still, and I've not curtailed my spending at all. and I try to keep my business local to help out the local economy.....

68gmsee 11-14-2008 10:35 AM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by 72-c20 (Post 2973991)
The media has essentially scared people into not spending money, which then forces companies to lay-off or close down because their not bringing in any money. Then with less employeed workers, there's less money to spend, and more companies fail, etc.... see the pattern.

I agree... We the people have more power than we think we have! Look at the gas prices... Everyone cut down on unnecessary driving and look what's happened. People stop buying suv's or big trucks and GM and Ford are in trouble. And, when we are scared into believing there's going to be a depression type economy, we stop spending and start cutting costs. Without the flow of money all sorts of businesses feel the pinch not just big corporations.

It trickles up, too.

ChevLoRay 11-14-2008 11:46 AM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by stepn67 (Post 2972825)
RIF... I hate that friggin acronym...Reduction In Force, to me it's a term used by big corps so they won't look so bad. I guess I'm a little bitter because I received my "Release Letter" stating that I will be RIFed in September '09. What Tinlid said really hits home for me, as I'm in that 50's group, making it extra tough for me to find a replacement job. A little old to be looked at fairly by employers and way too young to retire.

Amen. We all know that age discrimination is taboo, right? So, you fill out a job ap and have to list your former employers. For me, the one at the top of the list took up 27 years. The second one took 3 years. Prior to that, military. It didn't take a mathematician to figure out what age group I was part of. I also didn't want to work the night shift, or weekends, so I took myself out of those possibilities....WallyWorld, O'Reilly's, Home Depot, etc.

The service industry was supposed to be the ticket to stable employment. But, for having a job that is supposed to enable one to ride the ups and downs of an economic roller coaster, think: pharaceuticals, auto parts and groceries. People will always get sick. Keeping their older vehicles will mean having to buy parts to keep it running, in lieu of buying new or incurring a recurring payment w/o adequate income, and they will eat. Everything else will wait until their income will support a change. Change....yeah, it's coming if it hasn't already happened at your house.

As for blaming the media for the lack of spending, I disagree. At my house, a the wallet gets the blame. Our global economy certainly gets publicized when there's a newsworthy item. My 401(k) is depleted somewhat, but I got the bulk of it into an annuity a couple years ago. The balance is in a fixed income category that still hasn't lost any money, but not made much at all. I am lucky. Many, many more are not. My house isn't paid for, due to having to refi for medical reasons, but I'm not upside down like a lot of others are. I avoided the ARM option, even though my payment is more than I wanted it to be, but I'm not having to stand in the firestorm that resetting ARM's can bring about. Yeah, the media has brought all this and many other economic issues to our front doors, but it is up to us to sort it out and see how much of the news really makes us cut back. Like Bob Dylan sang, "you don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing". For me, it's only necessary to reach and grab the wallet and see what is left.

...If only I had the finances to have to depend on the news to tell me how I am doing.....

stepn67 11-14-2008 11:56 AM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by 72-c20 (Post 2973991)
People just target the big corps becasue they make an easy target......

Big corps have lost their loyalty to the USA. I am being "RIFed" by a large corp, who I've worked over 20 years for, because it is moving all of it's manufacturing from the USA to Taiwan, China, & Malaysia. And this is not an isolated corporate move, it's become the standard among large corps. In the neart future, there will no longer be any manufacturing type jobs in the USA. So really I can't see how the media is influencing big corps into making htese decisions.

tinkerdad 11-14-2008 12:19 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
If you were the CEO of a pharmaceutical company about to launch a billon dollar per year drug would you manufacture it in Ireland where revenue is taxed at 11% or USA at 35%? I can validate the actual decision made; Ireland. Same company is developing another product at labs in the US. Manufacturing will be in Austria. Target market is in the US. No wondering why manufacturing jobs are going over seas

ckhd 11-14-2008 12:20 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
Well, a couple things from a Gubbmint employee's perspective:

1) I have no problems hiring 'older' people. It usually means they are looking towards retirement, which means they aren't too likely to job hop. I just hired a guy that's pushing 50, if he's not there already. I've gone through 7 'young' people in the last 2 1/2 years, and I'm sick of constantly training people that are looking at me as a stepping stone. The guy I just hired just got 'riffed' after 23 years at Motorola. I'm glad to have him. Picked him over about 20 well qualified young people.

2) Government jobs aren't all fun and games. I'm a county slave. I have WAY more work than I can possibly get done. I get paid MUCH lower than I can get paid in the private sector. After 10 years here, I'm almost up to the pay I was making at my previous job. Why did I leave? I wanted to get out of the 'big city'. I almost left about a year back, but I just didn't feel right about the job, even though it payed a LOT. They were a mortgage company and have handed out thousands of layoffs. The ONLY plus of having a gov't job and being there for 10 years is the stability. Right now, that's worth a lot.

3) Government jobs aren't recession/depression proof. In fact, we are implementing a hiring freeze here shortly, and they are talking aobut layoffs. If people aren't spending money, the government isn't collecting taxes. No taxes means no money. While the federal government feels they can spend money when they don't have it, smaller governments can't.

4) If you want a truly recession/depression proof job, go into the legal field. That's the company I left to come work for the gubbmint. Any time a recession hit, our business BOOMED. People get sue happy when they have no money. Become a lawyer, paralegal, a legal secretary, something to do with law. My biggest bonus at the law firm came the year the country was going through a big recession.

5) That pickup is nice! You have some very sweet vehicles. I hope things turn around for you (and the others that have lost their jobs) and you don't have to sell it.

72-c20 11-14-2008 12:25 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by stepn67 (Post 2974109)
Big corps have lost their loyalty to the USA. I am being "RIFed" by a large corp, who I've worked over 20 years for, because it is moving all of it's manufacturing from the USA to Taiwan, China, & Malaysia. And this is not an isolated corporate move, it's become the standard among large corps. In the neart future, there will no longer be any manufacturing type jobs in the USA. So really I can't see how the media is influencing big corps into making htese decisions.

shareholders expect returns on their capitol investments (Stocks).
if they don't see the profits they want, they usually sell their stocks, and "bad earnings" or losses posted by the big corps, or "media frenzy" about how the economy is tanking, usually trigger stock sell offs (at a loss for some), and dropping stock prices. if people see stocks dropping, then it's a bad image for the company, and people are less likely to buy their products, so sales drop, corps then counter with trying to cut costs. move stuff offshore, etc....

it's the same problem as the little guy, just on a larger scale....

it's all in the "global economy"... I fear it will downward spiral until the "standard of living" is equalized among the working class (around the world)...

and "money" is no longer backed by anything.... no gold or silver, that has universal "value" around the world...

there's unfortunately not any easy answers....

Richard Dobson 11-14-2008 01:28 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
Everything was going great last year. I had bought a donor truck with a 396 rebuilt engine and turbo 400 trans to put into my 68. I was having a ball getting ready to go full out in getting ready to swap out with the 250 6 cyl that I had sold. Then I got laid off as a design engineer after about 23years with the company. It put the truck on the back burner behind all the other necessities. Hope everything works out for everybody. Better things are ahead, let's keep our heads up.

70rs/ss 11-14-2008 03:38 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
This is kinda scary on a couple of levels for me, my Niece just entered ASU in engineering, and I am trying to guide my math smart daughter that direction as well, but now I am wondering?? I too have a job that seems stable (education for the last 13-14 years). I hope to retire at the 20-25 year mark, we'll see. I am wondering if the guy in Tucson works for honeywell (used to be Allied Signal?? My neighbor was a corporate brown noser with them, as every move meant move lay offs he kept moving up, I wonder if he is under the knife by now?? I think it'll all wash out in the rain, but be strong, don't give in and most importantly stop spending like there is no tomorrow (I need to take my own advice under advisement here too!)

OP, nice truck, scary how the situation has fueled the thread more than the project? Hope you can keep it, it looks like a great start!

68chevy68 11-15-2008 01:27 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
I have been off for a week now and got a lot done on my truck.

replaced a rear wheel cylinder.

swapped carbs that I have been meaning to do, no leaks now and runs better.

Placed the vacuum line for the brake booster.

got the windshield wiper motor working.

notched one of the bed supports to clear the blazer fuel tank and put the bed on the truck.

cut a part out of one of the doors gettin ready to smooth it out.

put a piece of all-thread where the door locks go to open the door for now, shaved door handles so needed a way to open it easier.

Installed the two front brake lines and got some fluid in system.

made a trip to the parts store and ordered some lugnuts, and rear brake shoes.

did some grinding on some welds,

That was all monday..just kidding. I can get a lot done when I have an entire full free day to do it in... In the meantime , I have to polish up my resume too. I seem to have lost the cd containing the electronic copy.

smoked68 11-15-2008 03:16 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
Hey man sorry about your job. I am fortunate in that I work for INA bearing, in the prototype shop, I'm a QE and we are booming. All the auto folks are doing new designs to try for better mpg and hp at the same time, interesting stuff. Anyway theres a temp co. called AeroTech in our area, (Charlotte, NC) and I think they are nation wide. I have worked with some of their people before, and they seem to have work. Maybe try them out till you find full time. Also some of the companys do hire the temp. Just a thought and good luck brother. Also its doubfull the big 3 will get the money. Congress is full of dems. and they are whining about the big 3. Basically that bailout does not fall into their perview of the socialist America that the Democrats invision for us. Wecome to the United Socialist States of America, God help us all...

Indyuke 11-15-2008 03:34 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
I guess this is what I miss out on by not listening to the media. Both my wife's and my job has stayed strong throughout the last several years, hers for the last eight years. Hers is more stable because she's a senior teacher, while I'm in construction.

Used to work in aviation as a mechanic for years until I got laid off one too many times and decided construction was more stable. And it has been during this time of tight times. Bought a house two years ago, another truck a year ago, got a healthy cushion in the bank, investing money elsewhere, etc. Someone said Dave Ramsey has got it nailed. I agree. Been following his concepts and we have everything we need... and more.

Granted we live in an area that has mostly been high growth for years so that helps, but honestly the only thing I've noticed is that it's harder to sell a house and that gas has gone up then gone WAY back down. Makes me feel freer to drive my truck more. :metal: Love that!

I disagree about a being in a depression much less a recession, only because a recession is defined as six or more consecutive months of negative growth. We've had no NEGATIVE growth as a nation... certain areas of course... we've only had slowed growth. The Seattle area for example has seen an average of 8-12% growth for years until these last two years when it's been somewhere between 4-8%. Nothing to be alarmed at.

Technically an economy growth of 3-4% is healthy to keep only slightly ahead of inflation. Any more or less will cause a bind somewhere. I think the media has been partly the cause of mass panic though, and things are being blown out of proportion.

Let capitalism alone to work. Start regulating it to make it more "efficient" and problems start multiplying. That's been proven the hard way by dozens of nations this century. They eventually just crash and burn and you see stuff like revolutions, dictators, etc. Not fun.

smoked68 11-15-2008 04:55 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
Anyone ever heard of "REGANOMICS", it worked then a fellow by the name of "Slickwilly" got in the hen house and its been down hill ever since. Bush just inherited the problems that started in the last admin. Now with the crooks in office (on both sides) I am afraid for this country. "I'll keep my freedom, My money, and My guns, You keep the Change"

ChevLoRay 11-15-2008 05:18 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
Reagonomics, is what some people want to go back to. I gotta tell you that my portfolio made more money when SlickWilly was in office, than it has ever done since. But me? I'm an IndeRepubliCrat. Just can't seem to find anyone running on that ticket.

Geeze, I hope we don't start arguing politics on here.....that wouldn't be good.

Huck 11-15-2008 07:41 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
One thing I think we can agree on---I'd like to do SARAH!!

tinlid 11-15-2008 07:49 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
Sarah huh? Too bad McCain didn't win. I had the job as her intern lined up.

70 net440 11-15-2008 09:39 PM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
We own a small garbage company and recycling yard. We had two guys quit last summer and only hired one guy to replace them. Also had to lay off one of our recyclers. Last month we were selling our bailed newspaper for $180.00 a ton, got a call a fews days ago, the price is now $10.00 a ton. That won't even pay for the fuel to send it out. Our plastic and cardboard vendors have asked us not to send them any product for a while. I think they are all panicking, but what can you do?

Jcentsr6 11-16-2008 12:36 AM

Re: Laid Off.......
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by lowriden58 (Post 2971312)
sorry to hear it man, but October 13th the GM/Mazda/Volkswagon dealership i worked for closed up without any warning! :lol: ive been out of work ever since, just living off of unemployment.. which isnt much :uhmk:

of course that same week, my built motor in the 71 crapped out on me due to a failed rocker arm. wiped the cam and bearings. but its just time to upgrade again :metal:

Marlow Heights right. I run the service dept. for Annapolis Mazda. I am sorry to hear about what has happened. What did you do there?

Times are tough in the auto market.


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