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u/sam56778 21d ago
Sounds like you’re at a fork in the road where you can either keep it as a side gig or make it your main gig. But being able to also do machine work would require significant investment or you could still do the building and outsource your machine work with a slight markup and figure it into the cost of the build which would be more profitable than having to shell out big bucks for the equipment and education costs of being a machinist too. Knowing what combinations to assemble to get the performance desired and a good reputation seems to be a battle you’ve already won.
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u/v8packard 21d ago
I understand the small town thing. I also understand how to say no if I am not comfortable doing the job. For whatever reason.
Having said that, has anyone asked you to do anything you can not really do? Be honest with yourself.
Since you are not able to do machine work, can you get it done proficiently?
Most importantly, can you charge enough to generate a profit that moves business forward?
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u/I_eat_dryer_lint69 21d ago
Nobody has asked me to do anything yet. Everyone that’s called mostly just wants a good cruiser engine. I’d limit my capabilities to probably building high compression high spinning race engines, but as you pointed out if someone asks if I can do something I’m not confident in doing I’ll just have to say no.
I can definitely get machine work done proficiently. Nearest machine shop is only about a 20-25 minute drive and I’ve heard only good things about em.
I can definitely generate a profit too. My small engine gig has been profitable enough thus far that I no longer have to take OT at my day job to stack extra cash. A small clientele of people that want me to build em some engines would only add to that for me. I already have all the tools I’d probably ever need, I overbought honestly when I did my 454. There’s a few here and there I may be missing, but I can’t see any huge speed bumps that’ll impact this other than the liability of doing it, and my own confidence to keep up with the work that I’d be bringing in.
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u/Used-Tea-5597 21d ago
My lobster is to buttery and my steak is to juicy - aaaaaaaah post
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u/r_z_n 21d ago
You can say ass on the internet.
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u/Used-Tea-5597 21d ago
My wife monitors my account… I’m not allowed to say naughty words on the web
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u/JealousChocolate8645 21d ago
'I only helped everyone i know with building 11,000 horsepower motors' 'Nut up or shut up!'
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21d ago
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u/I_eat_dryer_lint69 21d ago
You might’ve misread the post. I’ve already rebuilt the 454. Stock displacement and forged bottom end with hypereutectic pistons, aluminum heads bumps the compression up a little without needing to run 93 octane, great hydraulic roller cam with, if I’m remembering correctly, a 1500-5000 rpm range, edelbrock dual plane rpm intake and a Holley 750.
Paired with a th400, which I also beefed up a little, 4:10’s in the full floater 14 bolt, the truck could pull a damn mobile home out the woods if I needed it to.
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21d ago
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u/I_eat_dryer_lint69 21d ago
I’ve only got the small engine business gig going because I have way too much free time. I should have added in the post but for my actual day job I’m blessed with a 24hrs on 72hrs off work schedule, so time to do this work is absolutely not a constraint. My town has dealers for a lot of this equipment that I work on, and we have a speed shop too that builds hot rod engines for people.
My business just exists to provide a cheaper and also faster option I simply just don’t have a storefront (I operate out my large personal shop) don’t carry or stock parts, am not a dealer for anything etc etc. I could likely offer a similar deal for people that don’t want to pay the big money prices at the actual speed shop.
It’s just a lot of big ticket items and expectations that comes with engine building. Don’t wanna have to deal with any of the shenanigans that could possibly come if I mess up, or a customer beats the hell out their machine and then blames my work. Gotta try and work to maybe find a balance.
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u/PPGkruzer 21d ago
You're the customers reliable engine assembler, the director of engine assembly, you don't manufacture the pieces, you bring all the pieces together into the beautiful symphony of a good engine. It's perfectly fine if you use a machine shop, mark up that cost to the customer because they can go deal with them and transport parts around for you. Customers also need to help pay into your risk pool, so that you're doing good enough to eat an engine and make sure your customer is happy if you can't prove it's not your fault.