( Click to show/hide )So, I've had plenty of people interested in using my facilities to have parts installed, or have me install parts for them. It's time for me to lay some ground rules for this. I have no doubt Kirkster feels the same way about his garage, but some people simply need to understand what they're getting into.
First and foremost, nobody should take this personally - this really was just a revelation for the most part, thanks to my friends.
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I operate very much off of a "To teach a man to fish" concept when it comes to doing installs with people. If you tell me you want something installed at my garage, I'm going to hope and assume that you either 1) don't know how to do it, but want to learn how, or 2) don't know how, and you want me to do all the work, or 3) just need a nice place to do all of the work yourself.
-If you are not mechanically knowledgeable, but want to learn how - awesome. We'll coordinate a good time to do it together, and get it done the best way we can.
-I'm going to assume that you are mechanically knowledgeable for the most part, want my garage space, and need the tools to do a clean install without sitting in the hot sun. I'll give my time to check on you, and/or answer questions and get you on the right path to send you on your way.
-If you want the parts installed completely by me and just want to watch while I wrench? I feel that this is no longer a board member simply helping another board member out - its you getting cheap (or free, as many people don't see fit to give me anything) labor, and I spend my time getting dirty.
Things you should keep in mind:
TOOLS/SUPPLIES
I've spent thousands of dollars on tools and supplies, and it is on me to replace them if something breaks, but if you do something irresponsible with one of MY tools? You just bought me a new one. Good example: a friend's friend this weekend has all-but wrecked my nice torque wrench because he'd rather just try to use a precision tool and act like he knew what he was doing, then simply ask me how to use it.
TRAVELING FOR STUFF
If I need to make trips in MY vehicle for you to the auto parts store because of something you need? Gas isn't cheap, my friends. If the cause of the trip is simply you coming ill prepared, this will also irritate me, and this leads to:
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS
If you have an install you plan to do, you'd BETTER either 1) read the instructions in their entirety , or 2) make sure you give me a link with plenty of time, if you aren't mechanically knowledgeable. I will read them for you in this case to see if you need anything for the job.
You need to check for things such as tools and supplies required, along with estimated completion time. MAKE SURE I have the tools you need, or we'll be going on a little road trip! If you need supplies (examples: Brake-Clean, lubricants, other cleaners, brake fluid, etc etc etc), these are on you to bring. I've bought my tools and supplies for myself - not to give away (unless we're talking a tiny amount). EXCEPTIONS: caliper assembly lube, and anti-seize. I have so much of that ****, I could rebuild a factory's worth of cars lol.
TIME TO COMPLETE
Whatever the estimated completion time for your install is on the instructions: it's a safe bet that if I, or you, have not done the install at all? It WILL take a lot longer potentially. Good example: I did my own oil cooler, and it took QUITE a while since Stillen's instructions sucked - to be precise, probably 9 or 10 hours. Shadoquad's oil cooler should have been quick and dirty, then, right? Nope - it was an entirely different kit (Z1 Motorsports), and his sandwich plate needed a diff. size socket, and we didn't have it. Time for a trip to get one! About 5 hours for his I believe. Then Shahid's oil cooler was ALSO a Z1M kit, but a larger one. Even faster, yes, but we were STILL short a socket when he had a thermostatic plate versus just a sandwich plate. 3 hours for his, approximately.
3 oil cooler installs I have done, 2 different brands, 3 totally different times of completion due to varying circumstances. Some preventable, some, maybe not.
What I'm getting at here, is if the instructions say, "3-4 hours" and it's something new? Assume 6-8 hours maximum, 3-4 minimum. It's the nature of the beast: welcome to car modding. I'm certainly no ASE-certified mechanic, but I know how to read and follow directions.
CLEAN-UP
Clean-up is MANDATORY. You will not come to my garage and drop oil, brake fluid, rust, brake dust, and whatever other junk is on your car, only to finish your install, and bug out without cleaning up. Tools will be put away in their proper location, the floor will be swept. If I have a mop and bucket by then, it'll be sprayed out and mopped if need be. This is simple courtesy - I've spent good money to make my garage as nice as it is, and I'd like it to stay that way as long as possible.
MY RATES
Finally, the cost to you: I've spent thousands of dollars on my tools that will be used. I've spent hundreds of hours wrenching on my own and other peoples cars to learn what I know now. I've spent a couple hundred thousand dollars on a suitable location to do all this work from. And I offer it all up to you, for a REASONABLE donation. "What is this reasonable donation?" - Why, thank you for asking! Beer. If you must ask how MUCH beer, ask yourself this: "How much would it cost me to get a shop to install this part, and how much am I saving by using someone else's house, tools, and THEIR personal time to help? How much is a fair amount to spend on beer to make this guy happy?" Well, I'll tell you that answer: a 12-24 pack of Yuengling goes a long way for a guy. If you want to be froggy and get something different or unique? I LOVE IPA's - the hoppier, the better. But understand: this amount should vary based off of how much work you or I will be doing...particularly, if I'm doing everything :-p
Wrap-up
This is all I ask. It's a VERY reasonable price, I feel, to get access to likely everything you will need to get your work done on your car. Some would frown on me asking for anything by default - I should offer up my help without asking for anything in return, they are board members after all, right? To those people: the next time you go to a restaurant, ask your waitress honestly, what percentage of people don't leave a tip - even for GOOD work.
Sorry kids, I'm out here to help as much as I can, but I'm saving you hundreds of dollars likely by either helping or doing this for you. Give back a little.
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MY 370Z REPERTOIRE (things I have actually done):
Catalytic Converters/High-Flow Cats (twice)
Cat-Backs
Oil Coolers
Brakes
-Sport AND non-sport caliper removal
-Pad swaps
-Rotor swaps
-SS brake-line install on sport package
-Painting calipers
-Flushing and bleeding brake fluid
-Stillen intakes
MY non-370Z REPERTOIRE:
Full suspension swaps (three times now now on different makes/models)
Cam-swaps
Intake Manifolds
Nitrous system installs
Motor swaps (although I would never want to do this on a 370, nor do I consider myself an expert at all lol)
Winch installs
Lift kits
Wheel studs
Various general maintenance suspension bits, such as tie-rod end links, ball joints, bushings, etc...
...all the basics such as fluid changes and whatnot. You get the picture.