There are just some days I wish I didn't turn wrenches

[OR VietVet]

So, after finishing the Equinox and I am sitting at my computer table to wait for her to pick up, I get a call from the daughter of our next door labor. Her mom, the neighbor, has a 2019 Corolla 1.8 and she needs a 30k maintenance. Oil change, air filter, cabin air filter, clean MAF and throttle bore and rotate tires. I already have it in my driveway for tomorrow.
While I am looking at the vehicle, her other daughter is there with her husband and a 2015 Nissan Altima S and he will need a 60k service soon but wants new headlight assemblies now. I looked them up at RA and ordered them. I then looked at a couple videos on the steps to get to them. they are buried. I watch the TRQ or A1 Parts videos, when I can, because they are more thorough. I am going to have to take the front bumper/grill off. Lots of steps but easily doable. especially for the 2-3 hours labor I guesstimated it to take.

He is ok with that.

Sitting on my ass and two jobs fall in my lap. I will be 72 on Tuesday. I sure wish I had my own shop, I really do.

 

[mountie]

So, after finishing the Equinox and I am sitting at my computer table to wait for her to pick up, I get a call from the daughter of our next door labor. Her mom, the neighbor, has a 2019 Corolla 1.8 and she needs a 30k maintenance. Oil change, air filter, cabin air filter, clean MAF and throttle bore and rotate tires. I already have it in my driveway for tomorrow.
While I am looking at the vehicle, her other daughter is there with her husband and a 2015 Nissan Altima S and he will need a 60k service soon but wants new headlight assemblies now. I looked them up at RA and ordered them. I then looked at a couple videos on the steps to get to them. they are buried. I watch the TRQ or A1 Parts videos, when I can, because they are more thorough. I am going to have to take the front bumper/grill off. Lots of steps but easily doable. especially for the 2-3 hours labor I guesstimated it to take.

He is ok with that.

Sitting on my ass and two jobs fall in my lap. I will be 72 on Tuesday. I sure wish I had my own shop, I really do.

I used to hang out in Coos Bay... I would share the $ for a shop, if I lived around there..... Primary reason... a lift !!

But, like you, I'm semi-retired... but having a ton of fun, working 2 days a week for a great guy, refurbishing rentals.. He owns 50 units.
Good exercise and good $$ cash..

 

[OR VietVet]

I used to hang out in Coos Bay... I would share the $ for a shop, if I lived around there..... Primary reason... a lift !!

But, like you, I'm semi-retired... but having a ton of fun, working 2 days a week for a great guy, refurbishing rentals.. He owns 50 units.
Good exercise and good $$ cash..

Coos Bay is a cool little town. I keep wishing for a shop but I do not want a retail like shop. I recently worked in my friends shop, in Junction City, and found out two things. First, I remember that some customers just piss me off and I like being able to tell them, at my home, that NO I will not work on your crap. Second, I found that standing under a lift on hard concrete for a long enough period of time, causes my arthritis in my right hip to flare up. When I lay under the vehicle, it is actually easier on me.

My girl has actually told me that if I can find a shop, 2 maybe 3 bays, with living quarters attached, she would move with me and then I could control what I work on instead of the retail, idiot posse, that shows up at the door. My working hours would be when I want, not 8 to 5.

 

[strutaeng]

Maybe look for a house that has a large workshop with a lift? That way you can still work from home, but you have a nice space to work on vehicles, at your own space?

And you won't be paying high overhead costs for leasing a commercial shop and dealing with idiot customers.

Or can you build something at your current house? A bare-bones garage construction shouldn't be too expensive, at least around here. Maybe construction is more expensive in the PNW?

 

[OR VietVet]

Pricey here in the PNW. Looking for at least a 2 bedroom home and a big enough 2 bay garage is $500k easy or mucho dinero rental. Plus, if do rent, the landlord has to be good with it. It is usually easier if I work on the landlord's vehicles. My current landlord is ok with it and is keeping me in mind if he finds the right home and will buy and rent to us or if one of his current homes opens up.

 

[mountie]

Coos Bay is a cool little town. I keep wishing for a shop but I do not want a retail like shop. I recently worked in my friends shop, in Junction City, and found out two things. First, I remember that some customers just piss me off and I like being able to tell them, at my home, that NO I will not work on your crap. Second, I found that standing under a lift on hard concrete for a long enough period of time, causes my arthritis in my right hip to flare up. When I lay under the vehicle, it is actually easier on me.

My girl has actually told me that if I can find a shop, 2 maybe 3 bays, with living quarters attached, she would move with me and then I could control what I work on instead of the retail, idiot posse, that shows up at the door. My working hours would be when I want, not 8 to 5.

When I lived in Southern California, ... I was spoiled.... I had a few friends with little shops, and performance / custom car shops, where they would allow me to 'borrow' their lifts on the weekends....

 

[OR VietVet]

I still have friends in the shops I worked at and ran but they are retail shops and lifts tied up at all times. There was a chance of doing a mixture of customer vehicles and personal and I set my own hours and work on what I want but that shop was in a sketchy part of town and I would not move my tools there.

 

[mountie]

I still have friends in the shops I worked at and ran but they are retail shops and lifts tied up at all times. There was a chance of doing a mixture of customer vehicles and personal and I set my own hours and work on what I want but that shop was in a sketchy part of town and I would not move my tools there.

I worked for a little while at a performance transmission shop, and after 5:00 I could hang around and use the lifts....
( '66 Dodge Coronet w/a new 427 Hemi - full performance undercarrige..... Chip Foose used the area for his first " Overhaul'n" shows in the evenings.... My old '88 GMC .. I loved cleaning / playing under it...

 

[89Suburban]

Coos Bay is a cool little town. I keep wishing for a shop but I do not want a retail like shop. I recently worked in my friends shop, in Junction City, and found out two things. First, I remember that some customers just piss me off and I like being able to tell them, at my home, that NO I will not work on your crap. Second, I found that standing under a lift on hard concrete for a long enough period of time, causes my arthritis in my right hip to flare up. When I lay under the vehicle, it is actually easier on me.

My girl has actually told me that if I can find a shop, 2 maybe 3 bays, with living quarters attached, she would move with me and then I could control what I work on instead of the retail, idiot posse, that shows up at the door. My working hours would be when I want, not 8 to 5.

Then you got insurance and permits and crap like that to deal with too though right? You get some nosey neighbor or township guy comin round if they see vehicle repairs stuff?

This one guy that recently quoted that engine job for me that I did not go with, he said he pays $800 a month rent for his shop. It has 2 lifts and enough room to fit 4-5 cars in it plus a little office and bathroom. Lucky bastard. I would grab that up in a heartbeat. Sucks. Got to know people. Most of the good deals aren't advertised. Hard to find.

 

[OR VietVet]

Me and my girl look daily for a shop like that. But.....I either need to live there or trust the neighborhood.