I have been asked by a couple of people that have visited
this site how I acquired the skills to accomplish all the projects without
spending big $$ at a shop. Ok, a quick history lesson.... I grew
up in the '70s owning cars like SS Chevelles ('64, '67 big block),
GTO's (a '65, '66, '69), big block '70 'Cudas (3), a Mach 1 Mustang,
a '69 Firebird (400), and many others from a custom van (ugh!) to a VW fiberglass
buggy. I attended a vocational school for an 11 month Auto Repair course,
then went back the next year for 10 months of Auto Body Repair. I tried
the academic side of the school for a few months and dropped out in '76.
I ended up enlisting in the U.S. Coast Guard in spring '77 and stayed in for
28.5 years. I was a Machinery Tech and have been fixing ship and boat
engines and equipment for most of my career. I have worked on everything
from 3 hp Briggs & Stratton powered pumps to 16,000 hp Pratt & Whitney
propulsion gas turbines. Anything with more than one moving part was my
responsibility. Now I work for the Corps of Engineers doing basically the
same thing.
Over the years I have acquired more skills like: welding (gas,
stick, mig, tig), basic lathe and vertical mill operation, electrical wiring, sheet
metal fabrication, basic upholstery and probably a few more I can't think
of right now. I almost never leave a car stock, even our mini van was
modified, my wife called it the "Race Toaster".
I feel that real hot rodders don't pay someone to work on their cars, they do it themselves and if they don't know how to do something they learn!
Some of my favorite links:
A great E21 Megasquirt build Everyone is always looking for more info on MegaSquirt. This is another BMW enthusiast's build full of good info.
E21leigon.net This is a new member driven e21 site
MetricMechanic High-end
BMW engines/components, good tech section.
MegaSquirt DIY
EFI Want programmable EFI but can't afford a high $$ system? This
might be your answer.
Speedway Motors General
speed equipment for racers and street rodders, great stuff.
Jegs General speed equipment.
Summit Racing General speed
equipment.
Burns Stainless High quality
header building supplies, great tech section on header design/fabrication.
If you have any questions or comments you can contact
me at:
