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10-17-2017 #1Registered User
- Join Date
- Oct 2017
- Posts
- 3
Just looking for experienced advice!
Hey all,
First my name is Alex and I'm looking for advice on finding my place in the Pro Touring world.
Too long;Didn't read : I'm 24 years old, I've been working on cars, recreationally, since I was 16, I'm smart, I'm good with my hands, I can go to school, I want to build pro-touring dream cars. Where should I start?
I recently separated from the Marine Corps after 5 years of honorable service as an Infantryman and High-Risk Training Instructor. I am currently going to school working on my basics, taking advantage of my GI bill. I've always loved working on cars but felt that I needed to find something that made more money. After my time in the service I realized that chasing paychecks and being miserable is not something I want to do. My true passion is building things, I love creating things that are functional, I have an excellent attention to detail and I love cars so combining the two leads to working on cars. I bought a 1971 Camaro with an engine, a transmission, and a steering wheel when I was 16 and fixed it up. It took two years of hard work but with guidance from my father and my own perseverance but I got it running.. then I wrecked it on the way home from prom.. fixed it, wrecked it again, fixed it, blew the gen III small black and joined the Marine Corps. My Camaro was sitting in storage for 5 years and just before I got out I decided I wanted to do an LS swap. I always knew I'd end up fixing it again and the last 2 months I've been performing the swap. So far I've done everything myself. I bought the engine, did research on all the parts I needed and how it would fit. I've spent hours on forums searching and asking questions. I decided to modify my LS wiring harness into a standalone harness and after hours and hours of research and googling, and even days of cutting and soldering I was successful. I now have an LS 5.3 from a 2000 yukon with an LS1 style intake, stock internals, corvette accessory drive that runs and needs to be tuned haha. I put a Vintage A/C system in, new interior, new EFI gas tank (in-tank pump), plumbed the car myself, rebuilt the steering system, and installed rear sway bar. I'm currently getting ready to put a 2002 4L80E behind it and hopefully will be driving it in the month. I've encountered setback after setback but I've pushed through and loved every minute of it. This car is going to be my daily driver and I will continue to improve it as I drive it.
So that's most of my background with cars, other than that I have experience doing transmission conversions in 67-72 C-10s, and various random repairs on more modern cars.
What I need advice on is, how do I navigate my way through the car world with a desired end state of building up classic cars into pro-touring vehicles? I understand a high level of skill in various fields is going to be required, I know I'm not going to get straight into the pro-touring industry and I'll have to work my way up. I think the best fit for me would be a fabricator/technician/welder. I would even like to own my own shop one day.
Like I mentioned earlier, I have the GI Bill and I have no problem going to school for a degree in metalworking/fabrication/automotive services. I've considered getting a degree in business management and getting OJT working my way up mechanic/automotive welding jobs until I'm comfortable starting my own shop.
What should I do?
Thank you for your time.
,Alex
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10-17-2017 #2