where are all of the mechanics to repair these cars?, there are even more being finished at the body shop Options

[EdwardBlume]

I just changed the water pump on a Prius. Going for a test drive afterwards was like heaven.

[Unobtanium-inc]

Now is a good time to get into it, if you were a young man looking for your way. Many of the mechanics who came up in the 70s are aging out, my mechanic is in his mid-60s and slowing down. Many of these guys would love to have someone carry the business for the next 10-20 years. You would learn skills from guys who learned them when the cars were new and once many of these guys retire you can set your prices. I think of Jeff Adams in CT. He started working at KAM as a young guy, learning from Gerry McCarthy, who learned 4-cam's at the Porsche Carrera School. Gerry is no longer with us, but Jeff is going strong, he's a little older than me, probably edging toward 50. He has more work than he can handle, being one of the few guys left who really knows those engines. This is an extreme example but as time goes on the same principle will apply, a young guy who knows Porsches will be able to set his prices where he can do very well for himself. But now is the time, learn from the old guys, before they are gone.

Jeff is 2nd from left in this picture.

[Dr Evil]

Man, I have heard this from friends in the business for years. Independent shops want to hire fresh blood, but every kid wants to start out making bank when they dont really know anything, or if they went to UTI, WYOTECH or some such, they are told that they are worth $36/hr and have loan debt that needs fed.
I still often dream about putting it all into EvilWerks and making the biz what it could be. As people age out, my tranz skills will only be more in demand, and Im early 40s so hope to have a few decades left. This doctoring gig is not all that bad, though, so my stuff remains a side gig for now. If I lived closer to Eric Shea and PMB, I think my trajectory would change. But I am not moving to UT (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I would cite Eric's company as a success in the current setting, or any setting really. But, I bet he has hiring issues due to talent pool as well. Mater of fact, I dont know a single shop that isnt in need when I think about it. Every one of them has had folks with poor work ethic, no skills, lazy, want way too much money for what they bring to the table. Total bummer as I love seeing new people learning these classics and making their rent payments with their hands and learned skills. Something very visceral about that.

[Chi-town]

Yep, these kids get fed a line of BS at the schools like UTI and Wyo-tech that they're gonna make 80k as soon as they graduate. So they graduate and have a pile of debt and change oil for the first two years. They leave the job disappointed and hating the industry because of the lies they were told.

It doesn't help that most of the dealerships don't have a graduated apprenticeship program in place to give the good ones a chance to lean under a journeyman so they can become the next generation.

[dr914@autoatlanta.com]

then there are such guys who would have made a superb Porsche mechanic who use that skill and become a medical doctor instead!!!!

Man, I have heard this from friends in the business for years. Independent shops want to hire fresh blood, but every kid wants to start out making bank when they dont really know anything, or if they went to UTI, WYOTECH or some such, they are told that they are worth $36/hr and have loan debt that needs fed.
I still often dream about putting it all into EvilWerks and making the biz what it could be. As people age out, my tranz skills will only be more in demand, and Im early 40s so hope to have a few decades left. This doctoring gig is not all that bad, though, so my stuff remains a side gig for now. If I lived closer to Eric Shea and PMB, I think my trajectory would change. But I am not moving to UT (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I would cite Eric's company as a success in the current setting, or any setting really. But, I bet he has hiring issues due to talent pool as well. Mater of fact, I dont know a single shop that isnt in need when I think about it. Every one of them has had folks with poor work ethic, no skills, lazy, want way too much money for what they bring to the table. Total bummer as I love seeing new people learning these classics and making their rent payments with their hands and learned skills. Something very visceral about that.

[burton73]

Now is a good time to get into it, if you were a young man looking for your way. Many of the mechanics who came up in the 70s are aging out, my mechanic is in his mid-60s and slowing down. Many of these guys would love to have someone carry the business for the next 10-20 years. You would learn skills from guys who learned them when the cars were new and once many of these guys retire you can set your prices. I think of Jeff Adams in CT. He started working at KAM as a young guy, learning from Gerry McCarthy, who learned 4-cam's at the Porsche Carrera School. Gerry is no longer with us, but Jeff is going strong, he's a little older than me, probably edging toward 50. He has more work than he can handle, being one of the few guys left who really knows those engines. This is an extreme example but as time goes on the same principle will apply, a young guy who knows Porsches will be able to set his prices where he can do very well for himself. But now is the time, learn from the old guys, before they are gone.

Jeff is 2nd from left in this picture.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Bob B

[Mark Henry]

Fired up a new 996 4.0 engine I built with a lot of LN goodies today, having fun breaking in a new C4S engine. I like to take a new engine installed for 2-3 40 minute drives to be sure it's sorted, so it's my grocery getter for a couple days (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Couple days I'm firing up on the test stand, a T4 DTM 2056cc, cam, 40 webers, CSP SS exhaust, 914 head, HD springs, 1.7 rockers etc., custom wired, VW bug conversion turnkey engine.

Then eight more engines in still in queue, plus other work.

You ever think about an apprentice program?

I think that would be a great idea. I graduated an apprentice program and love what I do.

I think I'm getting an apprentice, or will be looking for one. I need someone for sure, I'm turning away work, but it's hard finding the right guy.

[Mark Henry]

Man, I have heard this from friends in the business for years. Independent shops want to hire fresh blood, but every kid wants to start out making bank when they dont really know anything, or if they went to UTI, WYOTECH or some such, they are told that they are worth $36/hr and have loan debt that needs fed.
I still often dream about putting it all into EvilWerks and making the biz what it could be. As people age out, my tranz skills will only be more in demand, and Im early 40s so hope to have a few decades left. This doctoring gig is not all that bad, though, so my stuff remains a side gig for now. If I lived closer to Eric Shea and PMB, I think my trajectory would change. But I am not moving to UT (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I would cite Eric's company as a success in the current setting, or any setting really. But, I bet he has hiring issues due to talent pool as well. Mater of fact, I dont know a single shop that isnt in need when I think about it. Every one of them has had folks with poor work ethic, no skills, lazy, want way too much money for what they bring to the table. Total bummer as I love seeing new people learning these classics and making their rent payments with their hands and learned skills. Something very visceral about that.

If I had the right guy who put out a poop load of good work I'd almost pay that. Not going to pay a apprentice that much to start. Most guys start off OK, then starts the dog fuching....I had a great painter resto/guy but then he started slacking, plus he was an asshole, so I had to get rid of him.
Most repair shops here pay book rate, but you can't do book rate on many/most of these projects.

[dr914@autoatlanta.com]

the good mechanics here make 100 grand a year plus, working only 40 hours a week. Have their own tools though, many many of them, and know exactly what they are doing

Man, I have heard this from friends in the business for years. Independent shops want to hire fresh blood, but every kid wants to start out making bank when they dont really know anything, or if they went to UTI, WYOTECH or some such, they are told that they are worth $36/hr and have loan debt that needs fed.
I still often dream about putting it all into EvilWerks and making the biz what it could be. As people age out, my tranz skills will only be more in demand, and Im early 40s so hope to have a few decades left. This doctoring gig is not all that bad, though, so my stuff remains a side gig for now. If I lived closer to Eric Shea and PMB, I think my trajectory would change. But I am not moving to UT (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I would cite Eric's company as a success in the current setting, or any setting really. But, I bet he has hiring issues due to talent pool as well. Mater of fact, I dont know a single shop that isnt in need when I think about it. Every one of them has had folks with poor work ethic, no skills, lazy, want way too much money for what they bring to the table. Total bummer as I love seeing new people learning these classics and making their rent payments with their hands and learned skills. Something very visceral about that.

If I had the right guy who put out a poop load of good work I'd almost pay that. Not going to pay a apprentice that much to start. Most guys start off OK, then starts the dog fuching....I had a great painter resto/guy but then he started slacking, plus he was an asshole, so I had to get rid of him.
Most repair shops here pay book rate, but you can't do book rate on many/most of these projects.

[fiacra]

[quote name='dr914@autoatlanta.com' date='Apr 10 2019, 02:17 PM' post='2704119']
then there are such guys who would have made a superb Porsche mechanic who use that skill and become a medical doctor instead!!!!

Funny you should say that George...as I sit here in my clinic waiting on my next patient and spending a few minutes recharging by spending some time on 914World. Not a doc, but a PA in my 13th year of practice in orthopedic surgery. It was my love of air cooled VWs that got me interested in medicine. I figured if I can learn how to fix a car, I can learn how to fix a person. I was advised not to bring that up in my admission interviews, but when I talk about that with my colleagues they all seem to get it. At work I use tools to fix bones, and when I go home I use some of the same (albeit less sterile) tools to work on my VWs and my 914. The newest "toy" is a 63K mile 1975 914-4, as rust free as one can expect a 914 to be as it has lived its whole life in a California garage. I'm new to the forum, and have appreciated all the great advice and experience I see as I have spent the last month browsing through all of your posts. My thanks to all of you.

[JeffBowlsby]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png) Sounds like we need an East Bay 914 breakfast to welcome newcomers. What’s the interest for this, for a Saturday in May?

[dr914@autoatlanta.com]

you are certainly lucky to get THAT car.

The best mechanic in the world is the mechanic who works on the human body


[quote name='fiacra' date='Apr 10 2019, 04:48 PM' post='2704161']
[quote name='dr914@autoatlanta.com' date='Apr 10 2019, 02:17 PM' post='2704119']
then there are such guys who would have made a superb Porsche mechanic who use that skill and become a medical doctor instead!!!!

Funny you should say that George...as I sit here in my clinic waiting on my next patient and spending a few minutes recharging by spending some time on 914World. Not a doc, but a PA in my 13th year of practice in orthopedic surgery. It was my love of air cooled VWs that got me interested in medicine. I figured if I can learn how to fix a car, I can learn how to fix a person. I was advised not to bring that up in my admission interviews, but when I talk about that with my colleagues they all seem to get it. At work I use tools to fix bones, and when I go home I use some of the same (albeit less sterile) tools to work on my VWs and my 914. The newest "toy" is a 63K mile 1975 914-4, as rust free as one can expect a 914 to be as it has lived its whole life in a California garage. I'm new to the forum, and have appreciated all the great advice and experience I see as I have spent the last month browsing through all of your posts. My thanks to all of you.
[/quote]

[ClayPerrine]

When I was still fixing cars for a living, I had a surgeon for a customer. I always told her she had it easy. She only had one make and two models to work on, while I had hundreds of makes and models.

Her reply:. "You can turn yours off while you work on it. I can't."

[quote name='dr914@autoatlanta.com' date='Apr 11 2019, 08:44 AM' post='2704311']
you are certainly lucky to get THAT car.

The best mechanic in the world is the mechanic who works on the human body


[quote name='fiacra' date='Apr 10 2019, 04:48 PM' post='2704161']
[quote name='dr914@autoatlanta.com' date='Apr 10 2019, 02:17 PM' post='2704119']
then there are such guys who would have made a superb Porsche mechanic who use that skill and become a medical doctor instead!!!!

Funny you should say that George...as I sit here in my clinic waiting on my next patient and spending a few minutes recharging by spending some time on 914World. Not a doc, but a PA in my 13th year of practice in orthopedic surgery. It was my love of air cooled VWs that got me interested in medicine. I figured if I can learn how to fix a car, I can learn how to fix a person. I was advised not to bring that up in my admission interviews, but when I talk about that with my colleagues they all seem to get it. At work I use tools to fix bones, and when I go home I use some of the same (albeit less sterile) tools to work on my VWs and my 914. The newest "toy" is a 63K mile 1975 914-4, as rust free as one can expect a 914 to be as it has lived its whole life in a California garage. I'm new to the forum, and have appreciated all the great advice and experience I see as I have spent the last month browsing through all of your posts. My thanks to all of you.
[/quote]
[/quote]

[mlindner]

Look for someone retired. I'm 70, came from the printing/graphic arts industry but have been turning wrenches all my life on Jaguars, VW, Saabs, BMW, and Porsche ( 914, 928, 993, 987 and back to my 914-6GT tribute. I've been working at Accumoto Motorsport for two years. Love it. Best, Mark