Question for auto shops / engine builders (and request for help)

[1969CamaroRS]

Do you think an automotive tech should understand how to rebuild or machine an engine? Or even have tried to do some engine machining / rebuilding before trying to work in the field? If so please read on.


I’ll try to summarize the situation. In prep for my project I had a taken a bunch of automotive classes at a local junior college. Mr. Norris was the professor of the engine diagnostic / machining / rebuilding classes. He was extremely knowledgeable and helpful and had allowed me to work on my engine/car as part of the hands-on portion of the lab-work. All the teachers there really went out of their way to help the students learn. I really credit his and the other teacher’s help and knowledge for all that I had learnt and for much of what I was able to do on my project.


As it turns out, last Friday I went back to visit and found out that Mr. Norris’ engine machining/rebuilding class is to be cancelled for the fall. The Dean of the technology school felt that knowledge of engine machining/rebuilding is not really needed any longer and hence will be cancelling all future engine machining and rebuilding classes.


Mr. Norris was hoping to find some engine builders or automotive shops that might be willing to write a letter or speak in support of keeping engine machining/rebuilding as part of the automotive curriculum.


I certainly feel that engine machining/rebuilding helped me a lot of really understand how a motor works and is supposed to fit together. And I feel the loss of such a valuable program hurts any future students. So I am hoping there might be some local engine builders or shop owners that might be willing to reach out and help Mr. Norris underscore the importance of such classes to keep them from being removed.


The Junior college is local to Los Angeles, CA but anything you might be able to do to help like a written letter in support would be greatly appreciated. If you are willing to help please feel free to PM/email me any contact information and I’ll make sure Mr. Norris gets in touch with you.


Thanks in advance for helping to save engine machining and rebuilding in this local Junior College program!

[Mr. Anderson]

I voted yes, but honestly I'm surprised that a school teaches engine machine work in the first place. Rebuilding an engine is of course important and I'd say is vital to being a mechanic! But the actual machine work is left to the shops that specialize in that kind of stuff. Most I know have only a handful of guys doing the work and have been there a while...not a huge need for guys to run that end of it, so the machine part I can see dropping.

[Pro Stock]

I also voted yes, I don't see that an auto tech is going to be looking for a job as a machinist but the real life experiance will help a lot in their work as a tech, I see very often that a lot of engineers and techs have tunnel vision and exposure to real life situations will make them that much more valuable in their jobs.

[1969CamaroRS]

I agree a regular is not going to be rebuilding engines everyday or most of the time doing a lot of machining.

But I agree it is important that they have some exposure to it and is important that they at least understand the process so when they do get something back from a machine shop they can tell if it is right. Or even being able to tell if a new part is within tolerances. Nothing worse than installing something and then finding out afterwards it was wrong (and making the customer bring it back) where a simple inspection/measurement could have prevented that, but that requires some understanding of what is involved.

[1969CamaroRS]

bump

[MonzaRacer]

WEll unless the tech is just going to be a light tech, you know water pumps, and alternators and NOT get into pulling heads and such then yes there is a great need for machinists.
And here is my view on it. I live in southern Indiana and the loss of good knowledgeable machinists is tragic.
In my area the small shop I worked at 20 some years ago (radiator work and cylinder heads, we outsourced boring) has closed, in my neighborhood, a friend of mine has a machine shop, he used to run it as a garage but when the guy who worked with him left he kind of slowed up.
If I ever had the cash I would build a new building and let him move all of his equipment into it. he likes old equipment and in that shop he has a preponderance of old stuff he picks up and old parts.
What really needs to happen is a good clean up and recycle. but when it comes to machine work he is probably one of the best.
Yet in todays world a good machine shop that put out good reputable work is HARD to find. Many people still want and need these services, yet too many are closing, or going under with buying CNC crap equipment when a 30s model Van Norman boring bar will still bore dead straight and less than 0.0005 tolerance.
We used equipment that has done work for many decades and will for many more if kept up,,,,and it does just as good as the uber expensive new stuff.
Dont get me wrong new equipment is cool if you are building 10s or hundreds of engines a day/week/year. YET the art of being a machinist and figuring out HOW to do things with the least and most basic equipment is being lost.
A lot because of people like this dean have no idea where you get heads fixed, or engines repaired as a shop.
Just where does he think a machine shops and and there expertise come from? The moon?
Send me a name and address Ill give them a letter.
Heck I am working on an '09 G5 with burnt valves in a 2.2 Ecotech VVT. WE have to send to local machine shop, the other one in town moved out of town.
And I am just not real happy with this shop but its all we have.
I am building a B16A with B18c Vtec head for a guy at work then we will turbo it.
He just wants to build a car to beat his buddy, I keep telling him when its together and tuned he will run harder. This IS what I do, build and tune cars be it 4, 6, 8, or more cylinders.
My buddy with machine shop is doing the block work, I still need to work on the head and do some polishing and clean up and the valve job.
PM me some info, Ill write book for them.

[1969CamaroRS]

PM me some info, Ill write book for them.

Thanks Lee, PM sent.