4g61t.org

OK guys I need some input. Currently I am working a full time job and trying to hit the junkyards and modify mounts and harnesses on nights and weekends. Combine this with the normal duties of owning a house and having a family and needless to say I'm getting burned out.

I am seriously thinking of taking the car hobby up a notch and try to focus on it full time and see where it goes. What else could I produce for these cars that isn't already out there or could easily be adapted from another make/model? What would you guys like to see made at an affordable price? I guess I could also expand to more popular cars but I'd like to stay with what I know.

Also am I crazy for thinking this? Should I just keep my full time job and cut back on the car thing and turn people away? It doesn't take a genius to know that I'd much rather head out to my shop every morning than work for someone else, who wouldn't? Plus my job isn't that special and I don't make a ton of money doing it so its not like I'm out alot if doing my own thing doesn't work out in the end. Right now I'm just looking for ideas.

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93 Mitsubishi Expo LRV 1.8/manual
95 Eagle Summit DL Coupe 1.5/manual
01 Mitsubishi Mirage ES Sedan 1.8/manual

Ive been running my own shop for over 7 years now and I would trade it for a good job with no headaches any day of the week. Its so hard to make everyone happy. Keep your day job, and do it for fun in your spare time.

c/f hoods and hatches.

Like 1jap said, learn CF and do custom runs. Specializing=$$$. Or work with polyurethane, buy in bulk rods and slice em for motor mounts, use a lathe to cut them down and you could fit tons of sizes. Do dsm mounts and sell em on tuners for $10 cheaper than name brand, do IC piping, open a small shop and focus on turbo installs/exhaust work/suspension. Get a big flashy sign, a good legal waiver drawn up, and you'll be throwing lowering springs on civics for $$$. Find out what every shop around you doesn't do and do that.

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Had a:
1991 Eagle Summit ES Hatchback - 4g15 12v 5spd
1991 Dodge Colt -4g15 12v 4spd
Have a:
1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass - 468BBO TH350
Round 3:
1990 Dodge Colt-4G63T 5spd

I say Trevtec's post speaks the truth.
What better source than a man who owns his own shop?
I say keep it as a hobby and enjoy it.

I also think CF may not make him a profit worth the work.
I may be wrong and correct if i am but isn't CF expensive?
Also as history shows CSM owners and CF don't mix.
It would be a hit or miss effort honestly.

I say continue doing what you're doing.
Try and find more things you can produce for us.
If it is getting hectic change to a part time job.
Just a suggestion.

Thats a big step to take IMO and should be very well thought out if you truly expect to succeed. I'm actually finishing up BA in Automotive Industry Management and Technology. There is a lot of cost associated and laws you need to understand to cover you ass. You also need to realistically look outside this cheap ass society of CSM/DSM guys if you really plan on making good money.

I would first start out with a very good marketing plan, there are companies on-line that can help you with the legal issues as well as give you advice on federal small business loans that can help you get started. In this day and age you have to build a great web site to help promote what your business is and sells. I would primarily do an on-line shop, then if that takes off, you can expand to a shop.

Good luck.

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Turning a 4g61t into 1595 cc's of FURY!
10.995 @ 134.44 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZXvcvzuWGQ

SOLD to the fastest shifting hermaphrodite in CO

I appreciate the advice but if you are unhappy why still do it after 7 years? Also maybe its just me but I don't think there are any good jobs out there w/o headaches hence the reason for me wanting to make a change.
I've seen a few hoods on here for less than $500 in perfect shape that take 3 months to sell.
Looking back I was very unclear on what my intentions were. I have a very small shop with my tools and I am looking at making some custom parts. I don't want to carry aftermarket parts from other vendors and resell them for a profit. I know in order to do that I'd have to buy in bulk and invest alot of money up front to do so. Also I don't want to work on other peoples cars installing parts, although I probably would take on a small project here and there. I'm basically looking for stuff that I can produce myself that others need for their cars.

Please keep the comments coming guys! Don't hold back as I want to hear the positives and negatives. I honestly appreciate everyone's opinion so far as its given me something to think about.

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93 Mitsubishi Expo LRV 1.8/manual
95 Eagle Summit DL Coupe 1.5/manual
01 Mitsubishi Mirage ES Sedan 1.8/manual

I think you should pursue something in the paint/bodywork field, because you are damn good at that.

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91 GSX - 511fwhp and 352 lb/ft 25psi 110 octane, 7.68 @ 95.9mph 1/8th 21psi 91 octane, 11.93 @ 112.9mph, 117.7mph best trap speed, 20psi 91 octane
98 Volvo S70 T5 - DD

http://www.facebook.com/captaintonus

I think you should continue and expand in the swap parts to make them easier... the mounts and harness are great... maybee see what u can do to make the dsm (or any other) 5 bolt setup bolt up and to work easier... custom bolt on kits to convert the rears to disk?I know ive seen a few but easier/faster is better.. make a custom chris (pat pending) shifter setup for either the tranny or to relocate the shifter base for the dsm trannys?..also custom IC pipes specifically for these cars.... lots of small things like that would make swaps easier and people would buy them.. this day and age people want to do as lil work as possible lol


Steve

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Steve 89 colt 2.3 stroker stock top end. evo3@20 psi 13.489@99.30mph 3/10 2012
On drag radials.auto trans.launching @ 5 psi and no traction thru 2nd.

After 7 years, it would almost be a waste to quit now but Ive been thinking about moving out of Vegas, possibly to Oregon or some place where life moves a little slower and start over with something new and fresh.

Theres a guy over on Starquestclub.com that makes a bunch of stuff for those cars. I dont think he does it himself, he just designs it, than sends the design out to a company to have it produced. Hes made it possible to have some of the more rare parts for those cars obtainable, in carbon fiber or FRP. His name on there is 101PROPOSE if you want to ask him some questions as to how to get something like this rolling.

Some of the projects hes completed are reverse glow black face gauges, upper hatch spoiler, lower air dam and 83 scooped style hood in fiberglass or carbon fiber, a coilover suspension setup, a 3 inch stainless exhaust. Im sure theres more, I just cant remember them now.

I honestly dont really think there is alot of money to be made in the world of CSMs, due to the limited production of the turbo models, but 1G and 2G DSMs, EVO's and even GVR4's have a pretty good following and with those cars, theres always that one specific part made for it, that you only have to hear the manufacturers name, and you know what it is (example for instance being JMF's intake manifolds) since it would be considiered by many to be the best in its market.




-Mike

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-'92 TSi AWD - Daily driver
-'93 TSi AWD - 4G64/HX35 build underway
-'89 Colt - 4G63 Swapped, Almost done!
-'86 Starion ESi-R - Someday 4G63 Swapped

I was actually planning on taking some more paint classes next semester, especially if I'm doing my own thing and not working a regular job. Paint and bodywork is very hard work but I like it. Maybe I could do the csm/dsm parts on the side while improving my skills in that area. A great idea for sure!
All very good ideas as well. The only thing is I don't think the brake setups would do very well but I could be wrong. Stuff like that adds up quick and I know csm'ers are penny pinchers because I'm one myself .
I agree 100% but they are becoming more popular for sure. I remember when I joined on here just a few years ago and things have come a long ways for these cars. The information is out there now and people are not as scared to buy one and attempt the swap. I think there were less than 10 people on here (probably more like 5) that had actually swapped a NT csm back when I joined and Jason had the only AWD. Now look at how many AWD swaps there are.

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93 Mitsubishi Expo LRV 1.8/manual
95 Eagle Summit DL Coupe 1.5/manual
01 Mitsubishi Mirage ES Sedan 1.8/manual

Some bolt on camber plates would be nice

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go fast- break stuff- repair- repeat

I think that you should do what your heart tells you. You are VERY good at what you do here. While there MAY not be enough money for you to live on, there would be enough money between other forums AND here. I'll support you in anything that you do, you've been a good friend to me. You help those of us that need it and you've been irreplaceable here. You make our parts and you give us the customer support we need sometimes. You've been there and done that and that's what makes you that much better.
Honestly, I think you should continue to do this on the side, but you've been to school for body work and you're very good at it and you can make alot of money doing what you know. Hell Chris, I went to school for diesel mechanics and I COULD be making alot of money but I got into cleaning instead. Hell of a trade off huh?
We were doing internships fixing Tampa city buses and now I strip and wax floors making half the money I should be making. Working night term and half the morning and sometimes afternoon and I could be working a steady shift making up to $30 an hour and instead I make $12 an hour cleaning floors. Bro, don't make the same mistake I did. You've got a family and a beautiful life ahead of you. We all have come to cherish your talent here, we want you here, in fact it won't be the same without you. But don't throw your talent away. You could do MUCH better for you and your family than fixing and fabricating parts. Sure it's good to do on the side, hell it's great money. But that's a suplemental income. You should be doing great with what you know. Body shops around here make fantastic money. But then again drivers in Pittsburgh are retarded, I don't know how it is in North Carolina (they may not be much better from growing up in FL) .
Seriously Chris, think about your future. Think about your family's future. Your daughter needs you, your wife needs you. Piggly Wiggly isn't going to pave the way.
You're a great person with AWESOME people skills and you don't want to waste that. You can easily persuade someone to go in with you in a business venture on a body shop there. Why waste your talent? We all see what you can do when you post pictures of your Mirage.
Take it from me man, trust what your heart tells you. We'll support your decision 100%. I'm behind you.
-Rob

That was kinda deep Rob but I do appreciate the kind words. Actually my wife works at Piggly Wiggly but my job isn't much better. Every morning on the way to work I get this feeling that I am wasting my talent, not that I'm too good for the job but there is no challenge. I'll be 31 years old in November and I honestly don't see myself doing what I do now until I retire. Now I just have to figure out what I do want to do until I retire. Most people just complain and never make a change, I don't want that to be me in 20 years.

I guess I'll just take it one day at a time and see what happens. I think Tony hit the nail on the head with focusing on paint and bodywork. People are always wrecking cars and it will be easy to find work as long as you are honest, do good work and have reasonable prices. Until then I'll be cranking out mounts, harnesses and whatever else I can think of.

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93 Mitsubishi Expo LRV 1.8/manual
95 Eagle Summit DL Coupe 1.5/manual
01 Mitsubishi Mirage ES Sedan 1.8/manual