The Rules of my garage
 

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.

DAMAGE
I, nor you, are fully certified ASE mechanics. I am not charging ASE mechanic rates. As such, mistakes and little accidents CAN happen. Bolts/nuts may find their way into your engine bay, and invariably will find that little opening they needed to be inaccessable. If something breaks due to my complete neglegence/ignorance, it's on me and I'll work with you. However, if something happens that is generally just an accident? I take no blame - this is part of working on your own vehicle, and stuff like this happens all the time. I WILL promise to do my best to ensure no damage comes to your car.

Example: We're using a Frankentool to remove your amazingly fun catalytic converter bolts, and it's taking every ounce of my energy just to break them loose. Nuts break, and breaker bar propels forward at Mach 2, and nicks the paint on your front bumper, removing your car from eligibility of show-car status. Sorry - that's an accident, and it is part of the game.

Example: I'm BS-ing around and decide to use your fuel tank as my jack point to lift your car up. I jack the **** out of it wondering why your car is so heavy and my jack is just not lifting anything. Now your fuel tank is f-ed, and I need to somehow find a way to dispose of your body so the authorities dont tie it back to me. This is a very irritating situation for both of us. I hope you brought the beer, beforehand.

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.

seems pretty legit to me man! :tup:

:iagree:

Bobo I want to be your parts bitch.

12-24 pack of yueng? You give it up too easy :p

Bobo, I don't think anyone here will disagree with what you said :tiphat:

cool thread!...heywaitaminute...:wtf2:

Notice I said, the donation amount should vary based off of how much work we intend to do lol.

For instance, if we're doing a damn 12-24 hour job for whatever reason, I certainly hope said person sees fit to give a little more than just a 12 pack of Yueng hahaha

Seems reasonable to me. :tup:

Small job, but you could add "swapped injen air filters" to your 370 list, since we did that too.

very reasonable, best to have the ground rules laid out so there is no confusion as to what the expectations are. Especially since it's your brand new home and you've spent a lot of time and money making that garage look as great as it does!

Added a damage section, since this would probably best be spoken of lol.

You sir went above and beyond - nobody has donated an entire tool kit that I definitely needed, and I salute you for that.

Air Filters are general maintenance, and easy-peasy :)

That was also a housewarming gift for moving into my neck of the woods. You're quite welcome :tiphat:

Ugh. You know I was better with your intayx than Bobo, Al.

You can be my parts bitch anytime, buddy...

I was amazed that you did that work in a lace teddy!

:wtf2:

:iagree::inoutroflpuke:

Hey, Bobo has rules for his garage, I have rules for working on my car :roflpuke2:

:bowrofl:

I like your rules better.

:icon14: :bowrofl:

Sounds good man :tup:

I guess I could just give you money for beer next time? Just a little awkward for me to buy alcohol since I don't drink. I do at least try to buy lunch/dinner for us when I know we're going to be working for a while.

I guess we can use this thread to schedule all future appointments.

don't forget to bring the chewing gum, rayban's and KY :ugh2:

:happydance:

oh! i forgot, those are standard equipment on mustangs :stirthepot:

Pffft they came with my Z!

:gtfo2:

MAZOC meet flyer:

http://i.imgur.com/swNgh.png

:wtf2:

:excited:

I knew you were going to come in here and feel bad - this was not my purpose lol, nor is it directed at you at all.

I've simply realized that I'd better get this out in the open before others come in, is all - you owe me nothing. We're square.

When I installed Shahid's exhaust he paid me in Trident Layers. :tup:

Oh no, I don't feel bad at all it's actually good that you did this. I was just talking about future installs. I always felt like I didn't do enough for you after how much you've helped me out. I also owe you a bottle of Motul fluid so I'll order 2 for when we re-bleed my brakes at some point.

My cousin's neighbor has extra jack stands we can borrow, which will allow us to do some stuff at his house instead. Most of the stuff you've helped me with and I have learned I can probably do on my own now. :tup:

:rofl2:

You probably still owe him change.

way to troll his thread :ugh2:




:bowrofl:

Good stuff. Seems like an absolutely reasonable request for those who are using your tools/garage. I'm sure most members would have no problem following this.

:tup:

Sounds good BoBo.. Im mechanically inclined, but have never installed springs and camber arms, I have no problem bringing my own tools, Im sure I dont have everything to do the job, but would definitely like some help.

Nobody ever pays me in gum :(