how many pay for major work done to thier rides?

[jablack]

Just curious as to how many of you guys build your own and how many of you pay to have your trucks done. I'm from the Birmingham Alabama area and I am thinking of a career change so your input is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[albertarose]

I liken it to having a woman ..we all pay for it one way or the other

[jablack]

Aint that the truth. I ask because I'm always having people ask me to fix thier stuff but it's usually a blue oval, a billy goat, or foriegn.

[jablack]

I'd much rather work on old chevys. I see to many good ones around here go bad..

[TravisH]

I'd think just by the nature of a forum your results would be pretty heavily skewed towards the DIY crowd

[jablack]

I bet. Ever since I started driving I haven't wanted anyone working on my rides. It's about as bad as taking my wife for a spin. I'm definitely not trying to piss anyone off, just wondering if I should open the doors to my own shop.

[albertarose]

yep I agree too ..some things Im not good at have no help learning I am happy to pay.especially to a small buisness .compared to price of new plastic computer crap!..its worth it now to paint em up and make a buck if you so desire

[albertarose]

takin her to bact to CA. where I bought it 18 years ago shold be fun visiting body shops and talking price...( I hope)

[jablack]

I wish I could go to a car lot and by an old chevy updated with new stuff. I don't think I'm the only one out there though. And if people want it, I could be the one building it for them..

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

In the long run there is really not allot of money in it. My advice do it on the side for a year or two. You'll find that it is more of a second job then a primary one.

Don't mean to be a downer but unless you are the best at it now and want to retire to a 1 man shop it's hard to make a go of it.

esll.

[jablack]

That's what I've been thinking. But hell, I'm seeing people getting rich off stuff I thought of years ago and I believe I need to get off my ass and do something about it..

[68K20 x Drill]

If I can't fix it, i get a different vehicle.
kind of an extension of what ESLL said, the cost of being a legit business is really high.
If you own a vehicle, and happen to sell it at a good profit, there is a ton of liability that you avoid.

[jablack]

That's so true. It's a nice dream though. that's why I asked so all could bust my bubble..

[bad68bowtie]

With my truck I try to do as much of the work myself as I can, but I'm also not too proud to admit when something is over my head or I feel unsure about the right way to go about fixing something. At that point I'll take it to the shop I work at and let the master mechanic I work with take care of whatever I need. I'd much rather submit to the fact that I have a limited and growing knowledge of mechanics and what not, than try to tackle something beyond my capabilities and royally screw something up.

I'm generally always of the opinion that it's far better to spend the money and have something done the right way once than cut a corner, save a few dollars, not have it done right and then have to fix it again on down the road. Of my friends who have old cars and trucks I have a couple buddies who will never admit when they don't know something and will refuse to take let a pro help them out, needless to say the quality of their rides reflects that.

I think in a metro area like Birmingham you would have the potential to be successful if you open your own place. I grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta and I found that typical life there doesn't always work out with having time to wrench on your hot rod. My buddy and his dad have a '69 Camaro and a '69 Mustang and they were like me in that they'd do as much of the work as they could to their rides, but sometimes the only option was to take it to a shop to have something done.

[bad68bowtie]

As a side note, the place where my buddy and his dad get their cars worked on is a specifically vintage car shop (name of the place is Vintage Mustang) and the shop is fairly successful and has been there a while, but the owner started the business out as a side project restoring Mustangs in the basement of his brother's house. Then it grew to where he could fully open his own place.

[70GMCer]

I have always restored/built up my own stuff except, rear end setups, michine shop prep, and making seat covers. But, with the age thing creeping up, don't think that I will be doing as much as I did before.

[hdflstf]

Originally Posted by jablack

I bet. Ever since I started driving I haven't wanted anyone working on my rides. It's about as bad as taking my wife for a spin. I'm definitely not trying to piss anyone off, just wondering if I should open the doors to my own shop.

Pretty much agree with that sentiment.. My problem is that I'm slow and expensive

[dave3156]

I pick and choose what I want to work on. I have someone else work on my truck for two reasons. One is complexity. As stated earlier if I am not sure how to do something I will look at how to do it and decide if I want to mess with it. If not then I have it done. The other reason is convenience. I have a job, kids, a house, other vehicles, animals and everything that goes with those things. My time is limited. Sometimes it is just easier and quicker to take it in and pay for the repairs. I have a friend who has a shop and he does the work when I don't want to do it myself. He has a lift which makes alot of the work easier.

[LockDoc]

-
I do as much of my own as I can. I don't care for the body work very much so I trade work as much as I can on that. I'm lucky though, I have a friend that likes to do the body work so he helps me with that and I help him with his mechanical stuff. I do the cut out and weld in if any of that needs to be done then he helps with the finish work.

I decided to paint the '70 I'm working on now myself so we'll see how that goes....

I would build the vehicles yourself and sell them to avoid all of the hassles (taxes, paperwork, insurance, etc.) of owning a business. If you buy projects and finish them out you should be able to make some decent money.

Just some thoughts.

LockDoc

[70cst]

Well unlike most on this board...I am mechanically challenged. I can to the basics but not the body repair, paint and engine rebuild etc. I have two occupations so time is also a valuable commodity for me and my wife. My one occupation is in sales so I tavel off and on during the week and the other occupation ties me up on Sunday morings. Pay isn't that great but I have a great retirement package. My hat is off to all who have the talent and time to build up your own trucks. I have always been impressed with those who have that ability. For me I am having a body shop restore mine so it will be a very nice DD hopefully by next spring/summer. I am on this board to see projects being built, read posts about our trucks, and i enjoy the good natured ribbing we give each other. If I was judging two identical trucks sitting side by side and one was restored by the owner and the other was restored like mine (Paid to have it done)...I would choose the one that was restored by blood, sweat, and tears of the owner. So much for an annotated response.

[Woobie]

There's a guy where I work that is a full time aircraft mechanic and rebuilds vintage trucks on the side. Usually takes his time to do a quality resto/rodstoration, whichever the customer is after. He does beautiful work, makes some GOOD side money, but again, takes his time at it. At this point, don't know if he could make it work full time, his A/C job pays the bills, the trucks are his passion. That's how he likes it.

Regards,
Paul

[67ChevyRedneck]

The only time in 10 years my 67 has seen a shop or garage was to have the A/C system charged.

[jkaylor68gmc]

I do not have a garage just a place to store the '47. I do all my own work that i can do in the driveway on the '68 but heavy fabrication and welding on the '52 I take it to my buddy greg and he lets me come down and help.

[toomanytoyz]

Originally Posted by jablack

I wish I could go to a car lot and by an old chevy updated with new stuff. I don't think I'm the only one out there though. And if people want it, I could be the one building it for them..

I Know there is a Market for it, Due To Health Constaint's I'm Purchasing a Truck from another Board Member That is Being built to My Spec's.........

I Have no Clue as too whether or Not this would be a Profitable Business Venture for You, Just wanted to Respond with 1st Hand Knowledge that there is a Market for this Service...........

Good Luck with your Adventure if you decide to Persue it, Rick

[Luvlegs]

Don't forget the numerous legitimate tax write offs from having a home business. It is the most often recommended tax relief strategy. Not only that, if you "lose" money, it can be offset against your total tax burden. Done correctly, you can take a loss off, back 20 years! A business has to make a profit and within 3 years is also a non-fact. As long as it is a legitimate attempt at commerce, you can lose forever...(hopefully, STILL saving you on your tax burden)