Are you a pro or weekend warrior

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I would say shade tree but I have no shade nor no trees so I am a baking sun type of mechanic lol.
 
Pro here, Jeep/Hyundai dealership. For what its worth, I am a level 3 (out of 4) Chrysler tech. Means little though in terms of paycheck or experience. I am always learning though whether its a newer car or my Duster.

Though it helps to work on cars every day, it can be tricky to go backwards in technology. We don't normally deal with things like carburetors or distributors anymore. I've never adjusted a float or set timing at work. There's no training for that stuff so its up to me to learn what I can.
 
Really good topic. Many of my friends "think" I'm a pro, but in reality I only know what I have fixed lol.. I fix our daily drivers because I am too stupid and cheap to trust others to do the job. I've owned, driven and fixed over 20 abodies in my time, but none have really got the full enchilata, something I am looking forward to.

As far as Mopars, I have to admit I'm kind of a numbers guy, so I like the restorations, and like all things, I am never afraid to try to do something new. I know a little of a lot, but have learned tons from others here for sure.

So all in all, shadetree :)

Grant
 
(Was) ASE and ATRA certified for complete drive systems and owned/operated a auto repair business in Cali for over ten years, and was the main tech.
We have four vehicles, my dart, the wife's BMW325i vert, a 91 Ferd Taurus and a Nissan pickup that I do all the work on.
I like to restore older Honda dirtbikes from the frame up and currently own and ride an XR500 and also have put down thousands of miles down on big streetbikes.
My username is actually the name one of the guys I ride with gave my to my XR500.
Forman for a six bay Aamco for years and specialized in BMW, Mercedes, and Volvo automatics and the only stickshift tech on site.

Don't know a lot about performance building or aftermarket parts though.

(Now) pretty much try to stay away from any car that isn't my dart.
 
How about semi-pro driveway doctor,...been wrenchin on stuff since I was 8,...Used to work in a Chrysler/Plymouth dealership back in the 90's,...Gotta ASE Gold and my Chrysler Master,...I'm still the family mechanic, (that don't pay worth a damn),...still do occasional sidejobs,...currently working in a firetruck repair and fab shop,...like the job but the pay sucks...
 
I'm not worth a dime when it comes to mechanic or technical work, I may know a couple of things but don't dare give advice to anyone. You guys are way out of my league so I just read and learn. Now after a 27 year career in refinishing I may know a few things in that department.
 
For all of you that turn a wrench for a living. How many times have you thought to yourself, "Man, I am glad I'm not a proctologist".
 
Intermediate here. Been spinning wrenches for over 30 years. Well versed in GM stuff. Newbie to Mopars but learning fast! Pics from today...Pulling steering gearbox....real fun with headers. As always the last bolt requires tools I don't have, i.e. Shallow 3/4" socket and angled 3/4" box end wrench. Good thing is I am "forced" to buy more tools LOL!

Pat

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My official job title is "Electro-mechanical tech and shift lead". Not a expert in the automotive field, but fix and maintain industrial mechanical equipment. Mostly food processing equipment (ever eaten Pepperidge Farm Garlic Bread?). PLC tech, hydraulics, electronics, electrical, welding, fabrication and grease monkey occasionally.
 
Pro here,been working as a professional mechanic for the past 25 years and ten years before that sold parts from dealerships(Datsun,Volvo, Jeep,AMC) to mom and pop stores.
I have been working on cars since I was 12 and rebuild my first motor at that age with a lot of guidance from a local machinist,he offer to put the short block together for me for 20.00 and I declined,I wanted to build it myself.
1964 Buick Special (Skylark) with an Aluminium headed 300 V8.I got that car running and after my dad found out I was driving after school and it ran,I had to sell it !!!
Next car was at age 16 and A 63 Buick rivera,then a 69 Buick GS.....

I always was the import guy at the independent shops.(too many to list)
Seven years with Nissan dealerships and four years at Infiniti.
One year at Land rover and one year at City of Austin (cop cars,dozers,cranes and dump trucks)
Ran my own shop between the above jobs and now have been doing it full time for the past 5 years.
I opened an emission inspection station due to doctor orders due to my back problems and intended of getting out of turning wrenches...6 months into it I ran out of money and my back was 90 percent healed from my 6 month break.So here, I am turning wrenches again.
I always been a full line tech and hold ASE master technician and L1 certifications.
I am new to mopars somewhat and have learned a lot here and from past friends who out run some of my Camaros(13 second Z28) and Ford trucks.
Can not beat them Join them ... LOL
Martin
 
Shade tree all the way never been to any school or training, learned by the trial and falure method been playin with cars since i was young ,i consider myself well balenced in my abilitys and not afraid to learn new things in the past year i have been learning welding and body work i'm no expert but i'm getting better. My day job is trailer parts specialist [16 years] i'm also a licenced Airframe and Powerplant mechanic.I like doing things myself then i ain't got nobody to blame for the falures but myself.
 
well ive ben wrenchin for 12 years on just about everything so i know quite a bit but some of the weird stuff that is "hard to expain" i go on here to ask people that have ben moparing for a long time.

like, my first motor build and random questions like why do my dam windows rattle so much, but thanks to you guys no more window rattle!!
 
Shadetree, ever since rebuilding my first 5hp Briggs and Stratton on my go-cart by myself at age 14.
Just learned by pulling stuff apart and noting where they go back.....if you CAN put it back after breaking it when pulling it apart because you didn't have the right tools to begin with and really didn't know how it came apart so you just started prying, bending, etc to get it apart. lol Then you know what tools you needed next time. :)
 
Revhendo said:
For all of you that turn a wrench for a living. How many times have you thought to yourself, "Man, I am glad I'm not a proctologist".
Click to expand...

if we were, we could get revenge on the a-hole problem customers... no pun intended.
 
I don't have any ASE certifications or any formal training in the automotive industry. I've done a bit of everything and think considering I'm 22 I know a decent amount. Just built my first engine, my father is a gear head but even he hasn't tried to build an engine yet. There isn't anything on my car I wont work on. If i don't know how to do it, I will go research and find out how, and go do it. I also put together a megasquirt computer for my toyota and figured out how to get it running all from what was on the web. If you have ever done this you can really appreciate how much work it is especially you first time.

One of my fathers friends also has a small shop and he will call me in some times to do jobs for him. He has been in the auto mechanic field since he was a kid and it makes me feel really good that he trusts me to do work for him.

am I a pro? I don't think so, I have much more to learn.
 
I fix tour buses and manage a fleet shop for a living. Hot rod mopars (and fords) is just a hobby.
 
Professional Internal Combustion Engine Mechanic.
Amatuer BodyMan.
Professional Welder.
Weekend Racer.

Arrogant....while awake.

:cheers:
 
I design, create and make my customers sell their business....no expert here....just love what I do.
 

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Ase master tech. Been wrenching or machining for the last 25 years. My first car was a '72 challenger so I have been wrenching mopar for a long time.
 
I worked in a professional shop for 11 years as a tech, then jumped ship to school where I am incharge of 36 vehicles at two campuses 32 miles apart from each other I have been there 6 years now and I love every day of it.
 
daredevil said:
I have been a member a long time. I have on occasion given advice that turned out to be wrong. This thread is for everyone to toot their whistle. If youre a pro tell us your experience. If you are knowledgeable tell us how and why. if youre shade tree like me admit it. This will help new members judge whos advice is best or most credible. thanks, ok strut your stuff!
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Interesting in concept but you can not always judge someone by where they have been, I feel I always have something to learn and the new guys can sometimes surprise you.

That said...

Rebuilt lawn mowers starting at age 12.
Rebuilt a Honda transaxle when I was 16.
Started racing and helping out in the pits when I was 18.
Graduated from the Army's Light Wheel Vehicle school as a reservist when I was 19. Started working on cars for a living immediately afterwards.
Graduated with an Associates in Automotive Technology when I was 20.
Started running a shop, tested for and became an ASE Master Tech just before I turned 21.
Worked for a while, crew member on Alcohol rail, crew on other drag cars, crew and crew chief on some dirt track cars... started going to college "part time".
Graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering when I was 29. Interviewed with Ford... told them no...
Worked in the semiconductor industry, some maintenance / project management, then took a job doing semiconductor machine design.
Graduated with a MS in Mechanical Engineering when I was 37.
Worked in a research facility designing machines, tooling, machined parts and welded assemblies. Took some welding classes at the community college.
Went back to work in the semiconductor industry. Currently manage maintenance activities and develop processes on a few hundred million dollars worth of equipment that runs 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

Sometimes I find time to work on my own cars and occasionally read a few posts on this site. I know a little about A bodies. I have owned my Barracuda for about 23 years. I have owned Mopars since I was 17. Kind of in my blood. My family has owned Mopars since the 50's. My dad took mom to the hospital in a '68 Charger - if I had shown up a few minutes sooner and I would have been born in that car!
 
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