Crazyeights Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 Last Tuesday was my last day as a Master Technician - Shop manager. I was at the same location for 29 years - that was over half of my life. I have had many long-time customers calling me over the last two days asking what I am going to do I would appreciate any positive thoughts or blessings while I look for 'direction' and a new shop to spend a few more years helping people. I have several options in the area and many contacts. Thank you, Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooner Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 Wow, 29 years, that is impressive and most of my age haha (33 years.) I hope you find what you need and want. I think we all deserve that, never know, sometimes things happen that seem like they might be bad but in the end was for the best. Wishing you good luck! Levi 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazyeights Posted April 11, 2015 Author Share Posted April 11, 2015 Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loyale 2.7 Turbo Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 Dear Friend Jeff, Despite that seems Sad to lost a Job, where you've been for so many Years, you must Never forget that each time a Door is Closed, God will open a Better one for you; you'll find your new Path soon. Don't forget to see this event as an Opportunity, maybe you can Start your own Business, or maybe meanwhile you find another Job, you can do several things that you have not done due to the Lack of Time; and spend quality time with your Family and Friends, finish some projects, etc... Kind Regards & Blessings. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crawlerdan Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 well said jeszek. couldnt have said it better. good techs that are honest are few and far between. youll find home soon. if i could afford you youd have a job here brother 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazyeights Posted April 11, 2015 Author Share Posted April 11, 2015 The support from folks here and my customers is amazing. It is the "little things" mean the most To quote the words of a good friend "Your kind words are appreciated" 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moosens Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 Best of luck ! I'm sure there are too many ideas in your mind right now but of course I'm going to offer the thought/suggestion that single bay rentals in existing shops are out there. Maybe do that for a short stretch while you are afforded some in between time to hunt out offers. Guys like you will have plenty of work from word of mouth. And if possible throw a bone to your old service writer. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazyeights Posted April 11, 2015 Author Share Posted April 11, 2015 (edited) Best of luck ! I'm sure there are too many ideas in your mind right now but of course I'm going to offer the thought/suggestion that single bay rentals in existing shops are out there. Maybe do that for a short stretch while you are afforded some in between time to hunt out offers. Guys like you will have plenty of work from word of mouth. And if possible throw a bone to your old service writer. Thank you. I was my own service writer and salesman. I was also the only tech for (2) locations! Things at work had become SO tense that I used my spare time to set up an S-10 Blazer as a temporary mobile shop to work out of for the last few months. I tried to use one of my EA82 Wagons for this but it just couldn't take the the extra weight. The Blazer even feels heavy. The back seat has been removed. The inside back is loaded with most everything I need. It took some thought as to how to tie it all in safely. The back end has a slide out drawer that I rigged up with a old Blue-Point box on it bolted up to the factory cargo tie downs. Just open the rear gate, roll out the chest and go. It works pretty darn well. The box doesn't actually even touch the tail gate, it JUST clears it Of course this is just temporary mobile tool storage until I relocate. I WILL NOT be 'shading' out of it if I can help it, lol. Obviously I am still working on it. I'll have plenty of time to finish it up now I guess The top two drawers are not installed in these pictures. -Jeff Edited April 11, 2015 by Crazyeights 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bendecker Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 All I can say is I wish you lived closer! Best of luck in all your endeavors. And, a master tech on here is a godsend! (Not that I want to hit you up for free advice or anything... no, I'd never do that! :-)) Welcome to USMB. It's a great board and forum. Lots of good people. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loyale 2.7 Turbo Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 This Setup you did, is... ...... ...Beyond Awesome! A little of topic, but some years ago, one of the Projects that a friend and I finished (for Him), was to Swap a ' yota 22R + its Manual Trans, onto a similar Blazer, which was a Gas thirsty, V6 Automatic: I really like your Mobile Shop Setup, is really Great. Kind Regards. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lstevens76 Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 You wouldn't be "shading" you would be "backkyarding" and that isn't bad. Sounds like you might consider setting up your own shop. It seems you already have most of the knowledge. Just find yourself a good accountant first if you decide to go that route. Shadetree mechanics do partial jobs, jobs not done right, etc.... backyard mechanics just don't have there own shop to work out of. And then there is the mobile mechanics. Some of those guys are the best I've ever worked with. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazyeights Posted April 11, 2015 Author Share Posted April 11, 2015 (edited) Again, you guys are the best I also made sure to keep my certs up over the years. Here are some of the ones I am proud of. This test is pretty difficult, 48 out of 50! I'll take it Thank you, I am humbled. Edited April 12, 2015 by Crazyeights 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Loyale Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 Have you ever considered teaching a program say like the community college? Be sure to post here if you decide to do your own business either in a fixed location or mobile. Sounds like you already got lots of customers that know you are trustworthy. That is an asset as they are clientele you can use to start your own gig if that is what you want to do. Maybe a youtube channel dedicated to repairs and such? Best of luck. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazyeights Posted April 12, 2015 Author Share Posted April 12, 2015 (edited) I'll have a chance to review some of my old jobs - projects now... SHO Taurus Heater Core And an early Toyota Camry XLE Quad Cam V6 that turned out really well; Probably to be continued as I find more photos, if anyone is still watching Edited April 12, 2015 by Crazyeights 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subarutex Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 Lame! Hoping you land somewhere good.Have you hit up Eric @ Brodys?Thanks again for the crossover pipe. Let me know if you are looking for any side jobs, I can add your name & # to my recommendations list. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmarvelous Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 (edited) You wouldn't be "shading" you would be "backkyarding" and that isn't bad. Sounds like you might consider setting up your own shop. It seems you already have most of the knowledge. Just find yourself a good accountant first if you decide to go that route. Shadetree mechanics do partial jobs, jobs not done right, etc.... backyard mechanics just don't have there own shop to work out of. And then there is the mobile mechanics. Some of those guys are the best I've ever worked with. That Scotty Kilmer guy on youtube is a backyard mechanic and he does a pretty good job. I mean if you have a garage there is no reason why not to do it. One of my family members does it with the stand alone garage next to the house. Does pretty good for himself and he is in a more rural area. Edited April 12, 2015 by capmarvelous Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmarvelous Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 (edited) I'll have a chance to review some of my old jobs - projects now.. Probably to be continued as I find more photos, if anyone is still watching Mesmerized right here, keep them coming Jeff. I am going to follow this topic and I agree with BumbleBeast. You will do great. You have the skill set that few people out there can match. Just call up your old customers and give them your new location and set up shop in your garage. You can also do a little mobile work also but if you can bring the work to your garage its better. Nothing beats being able to pop into the house for a nice cold beer and a snack, or if you want to take a breather in the Lazy Boy and surf the web for a break. One great thing for mobile is checking out used cars for used car buyers. When I was in LA there were a few outfits like that and they advertised with adds in the yellow pages and leaving little cards under the windshield wipers. Edited April 12, 2015 by capmarvelous 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazyeights Posted April 12, 2015 Author Share Posted April 12, 2015 (edited) Ya my head is still spinning! Tomorrow is the first Monday that I wake up to no job in almost 30 years. It's a relief, and at the same time, really freaky! Here is a friends Brat, He was doing a D/R swap and got stuck on it. I told him I would fix it for him. Here are some pictures of that project. It was a fun one! I tried to convince him that he should just sell it to me but he wouldn't go for it, darn It's not like I could park it anyway... It turns out that be was trying to use an EA81 Flywheel and pressure plate and it just wasn't working out. I ended up using an EA82 flywheel and pressure plate with the larger 4WD EA81 clutch disc. In this picture the EA81 flywheel is on the left and the EA82 is on the right. This difference in height causes problems. Using the EA81 flywheel with the Dual Range trans makes it so the starter won't work without a spacer, the clutch cable is too short to connect, etc. Not to mention that the stepping is different as well. This solved all of those problems. The clutch felt like factory and the starter fits without any spacer now. Here is the 5MT Dual Range strapped down to the trans jack ready to go in, Jerry's kit comes through again! Thanks Jerry Here is the new custom 1 piece driveshaft installed and it fit like a glove. Stay tuned - who knows what I'll dig up next... Edited April 12, 2015 by Crazyeights 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazyeights Posted April 12, 2015 Author Share Posted April 12, 2015 (edited) This Monster used to be a Cherokee I think! Talk about a BEAST - This thing was SCARY FUN TO DRIVE!!! Here is my buddy Gordon with his new toy, he didn't have this one very long. Here it is inside for a looking over, The interior is a little sparce, but then again what do you really need in there anyway? It's just a wheeler, I'm not quite sure what happened here as he bought it this way, I promise that isn't my work lol, More to come... Edited April 12, 2015 by Crazyeights Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykeys Toy Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 I am guessing you are in the northend.. There are a bunch of good shops. It really boils down to if you want to try a soob only shop or or just a good shop that doesnt stress you out. Either way good luck to you. Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazyeights Posted April 12, 2015 Author Share Posted April 12, 2015 (edited) @Mykeys Toy Yes I am in the North end. Almost all of my customers are up this way too. Thanks for the kind words, especially the "doesn't stress you out" part @Subarutex I am glad that I got to give you the 50 cent tour before the end came, I knew it was coming soon. As far as the water cross-over goes, I had fun doing it - plus ALL of the tools and parts went with me I'll always have a minute to help you out, just holler anytime if you need anything. Edited April 13, 2015 by Crazyeights Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmarvelous Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 It always amazes me that these Brats brand new were about 6,800 dollars. How many amongst us now wouldn't pay that money if that exact car were still made brand new today. I truly believe that Japanese cars from the 80s were the zenith of reliability and design in the automotive world, ever, past present or future. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbone Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 Jeff, what ever you decide to do you have my support and backing. You have the ability to be your own boss, good luck and feel free to call. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazyeights Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share Posted April 13, 2015 Thanks Rob! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClandestineOutback Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 Hope this was a retirement instead of a lay-off. Either way, take a much deserved rest. Enjoy your time off. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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