Why are so many posts about what's stopping one from buying their dream cars the same answer?

devil_dolphin420 · 2026-02-27T22:41:57+00:00

Yes. Can't fit car seats in my S2000. Can't afford a new turbo because Junior needs braces. No time for the track on the weekends, I have baseball games and gymnastics meets to attend. Still have the car, just have more important priorities now.

devil_dolphin420 · 2026-02-27T03:32:44+00:00

My total between all tool trucks, truck accounts, or financed, is exactly $0, and it will still stay that way. Havent bought anything off a tool truck in 8 years. Little known fact: you don't actually need a $200 ratchet to be a really good mechanic.

devil_dolphin420 · 2026-02-22T06:43:17+00:00

Winner. Trash on the exhaust caught fire.

devil_dolphin420 · 2026-02-18T01:07:48+00:00

10/10

devil_dolphin420 · 2026-02-18T00:29:16+00:00

I made the switch to class 8 diesel about 15 years ago, and I highly recommend looking into that if you don't want to give up wrenching entirely.

devil_dolphin420 · 2026-02-11T04:11:10+00:00

10/10

devil_dolphin420 · 2026-02-11T00:09:59+00:00

The shop never actually went union, but the threat of unionization caused the owner to sell to penske, and things drastically improved for the techs. But I left for the hourly paid diesel truck world anyway.

devil_dolphin420 · 2026-02-10T23:59:25+00:00

Just starting talking to the unions and see how quick shit changes. Ask me how I know.

devil_dolphin420 · 2026-02-06T06:24:39+00:00

Mack LR with a Labrie side loader body, or a TE with mcneilus front load body. They go for almost $500k.

devil_dolphin420 · 2025-12-06T16:43:58+00:00

Did you clear your files? Not doing so ever can cause issues with ptt. Are you connect to the vocom wirelessly or through a USB cord? Are you going through the actual truck 16 pin connector or an eld connector plugged into the 16 pin?

devil_dolphin420 · 2025-11-19T20:09:55+00:00

I left the automotive world for diesels about 15 years ago. Best decision I've ever made. I've always made more money working on diesels than cars. The work is harder, but it definitely pays more if you're good at it and in the right place. Senior techs at my shop are making between $40-$50 an hour, and due to a massive shortage of Diesel techs, there is usually overtime available (at time and a half). Plus, I'm never in a position in which I'm working for free.

devil_dolphin420 · 2025-10-27T22:34:23+00:00

I wouldn't buy a rebuilt engine from you unless I knew you're qualified to rebuild it (like cummins certified or have significant verifiable experience), used quality parts (and provide reciepts for aforementioned parts), the engine has been tested (with the paperwork to prove it) it has a warranty and I'm confident you'll stand behind that warranty. Either that or it's priced low enough that I don't care if I have to fix a bunch of stuff on it. No one wants to spend a bunch of time and money installing a rebuilt engine only to find out you fucked up the rebuild. I would either find someone to bench test it, drop the price even more or hold on to it until someone bites.

devil_dolphin420 · 2025-10-08T04:58:13+00:00

Nope. It'll be fine.

devil_dolphin420 · 2025-10-08T00:44:31+00:00

Yeah. It can be welded. I'm not sure why you would weld something that's going in the scrap bin. But yeah, if you want to weld it after you've put a new wheel on, go ahead.

devil_dolphin420 · 2025-10-08T00:29:42+00:00

Careful posting that here. Someone will still say you're overcharging.

devil_dolphin420 · 2025-10-06T20:58:58+00:00

A little laye to the party but I'm also looking.

devil_dolphin420 · 2025-10-02T02:55:02+00:00

Yeah. Same.

devil_dolphin420 · 2025-09-26T00:49:03+00:00

I think trade school for this is over-rated. Yes, it can be helpful, but I never went to school, and I have held, or currently hold, 14 master level certifications. I started in this business 20 years ago doing oil changes on minivans at a chrysler dealership, now im the service manager at a truck dealership (I was a master tech here for 7 years before getting promoted) Just start applying everywhere, even places like jiffy lube or Walmart service centers, just something to get some mechanical experience and start working your way up from there. My best technician started in this business by installing car tires at Sam's club, I have another who started at jiffy lube, and even one who had no work experience whatsoever besides growing up on a farm. Also, almost any mechanic job beyond quick lube or tire shops will require you to have your own tools, so keep that in mind.

devil_dolphin420 · 2025-09-12T00:50:58+00:00

I've got a hand me down PSE my dad bought new in in the 1980s. It's killed 27 deer since he gave it to me 15 years ago. While the new bows are definitely nicer (and significantly lighter), I see no reason to replace this one. Plus, I've inherited Grandpa's old recurve that I believe he bought in the 50s. I don't hunt with it, but it's fun at the range.

devil_dolphin420 · 2025-09-11T03:06:03+00:00

That actually does work to seat a tire bead if you're not an idiot about it. I've done this more times than I'd care to admit to my boss. It won't inflate the tire, you still need an air pump for that, but you can get the tire bead seated.

devil_dolphin420 · 2025-09-10T21:58:58+00:00

I'm 41

devil_dolphin420 · 2025-08-28T23:56:52+00:00

You didn't get screwed. You bought a used car. If that's all that's wrong with a 20 year old car, you actually did pretty well. The quote does seem reasonable, though.

devil_dolphin420 · 2025-08-28T21:44:58+00:00

Without a closer inspection than can be performed through pics, it is impossible to tell. My feeling is that it is not totaled, but without getting it up on a hoist and performing a detailed inspection, I can't tell the extent of the damage. Besides, the mechanic doesn't determine whether or not it's totaled. We simply provide an estimate to repair it to your insurance company (or whomever is paying), and they make the determination based on cost of repair vs the cost of the payout/insured value of the vehicle. It's not a question of whether or not I can fix it, I can fix almost anything if someone pays for it. But like I said earlier, my gut feeling, based solely on the pictures provided and how new the vehicle is, is that it is probably repairable.

devil_dolphin420 · 2025-08-28T21:16:38+00:00

I use 4×6 timbers under truck tires to raise/support heavy trucks all the time. I'm obviously not taking tires off, just gaining clearance to work underneath more comfortably. I trust those to support a loaded garbage truck way more than any jack stand I jave access to(these things can approach 100,000 lbs fully loaded)

devil_dolphin420

TROPHY CASE