New Engine Builder, who would you use? Options

[RFoulds]

Who is out there that can reliably build and warranty a completely new 2270?

Preferable near me in SoCal..

[Jake Raby]

As far as demand goes, there's plenty for what I offer. 25 years ago I would have jumped at most every job that comes my way today. Back then what I wanted is what I have today. Now that I have it, I want what I had 20 years ago.. That was a simpler life without the hassles of retaining what I have built... Life was both better, and easier when I was working hard to build the business. Retention is much harder, more stressful, and risky than climbing the ladder. I used to hate working in a cold converted barn in the mountains of N Georgia in the winter time, but today I miss that simplicity and have returned to it in many ways. I'm not quite back to the days of working in that barn with a dirt floor, but I miss the wood heater.

Covid changed everything for everyone. It made us stupid, and it reduced our patience. Couple the with just a small dose of "cancel culture" and entitlement and welcome to 2022.

Today I just do what I want to do for the people that I think will really appreciate it, and not be a pain in the ass. Engines get more time put into them than ever before, but I still don't keep track of the hours of life that go into creating them. Doing this work is all passion.

I could spend less time building a 440HP Porsche M9X engine for a 997.1 and make twice the money, but I tend to leave those up to my employees while I play with 50+ year old engines that make 4X the factory power.

Not everyone is a jerk, but you have to go into each potential project with the reality that the buyer could be the one who ruins the last 30 years of your life. All it takes is one. Just one.