[Tom Vaught]

All of the Pontiac Forum people who work in the Automotive industry please post a brief description of your work for the industry. Be it mechanic, software guy, body man, engineer, sales guy, post up.

Thanks.

Tom V.

[Steve Hoog]

I'll bite on this one.

My Great Grandfather started a Pontiac dealership in Muskogee Oklahoma in the 30's some time, Kuykendall Pontiac. I grew up at the dealership, my first memories were fighting the other grand kids for the coolest promo cars every year and being taken for rides in the hottest late 60's muscle. When I turned 16 I worked there off and on through college; accounting, parts, and a mechanic in the shop. Two of my Uncles decided to cash in by selling out just before I was out of college; and I eventually moved to a Pontiac dealership in Tulsa, Ernie Miller Pontiac GMC in 1988. I'm based in the parts department, my duties carry over the entire dealership. Computers, phones, internet marketing, and so on.

[dammen8]

I used to work for the local Chevy/GM dealership, the only opening that they had was for a oil lube tech but when we were slow I worked with the mechanics and was offered a "internship" to become a mechanic but they only gave me 1 week to come up with all the tools (read big dollars) I was at this job for 1 year. I was eventually offered a job at Tires Plus as a tire tech/ mechanic, at this job I mainly changed tires, chassis parts and did alignments, I stayed at this job probably around 5 years I say around because I have worked there 3 times...Now I work on the local air force base as a maintenance mechanic for the medical facility (I know its not automotive but it does still have "mechanic" in the title ) , besides the money is WAY better than anything I could get in town...

My grandfather owned his own shop repairing cars as did my father, I seen everyday what crap my dad had to put up with in his own shop and I decided that was not for me...

Chad

[theoldone]

Originally Posted by Tom Vaught

All of the Pontiac Forum people who work in the Automotive industry please post a brief description of your work for the industry. Be it mechanic, software guy, body man, engineer, sales guy, post up.

Thanks.

Tom V.

I have an undergraduate degree in Automotive Technology

worked in the auto/truck/diesel engine repair industry for 12 years total

diesel/truck mechanic- engine rebuilder- every day was an engine rebuild

also my own garage for 7 years drivetrain rebuilding/street cars engine-trans-rear axle swaps/rebuild- that was the vintage musclecar stuff mostly

and body shop/paint and auto detailer for a little while, we reconditioned cars and sold them at the auctions and on a lot- and also took total repaint jobs in the winter time

a short stint as a Warranty Claims rep at a large dealership, I handled Honda/Toyota/Acura lines (the place also sold Olds/Cadillac/Volvo/Mercedes/Mitsubishi/Hyundai- it was an Olds-Caddy dealer from the old days that expanded)

[Tom Vaught]

This post doesn't mean you presently have to be Auto Industry employed. Previous work is acceptable too. Family connections apply also.

Sorry for the confusion.

Tom V.

[gem66]

Chassis Dyno Shop

[Jagtec1]

I am currently a Master Jaguar technician (Jaguar, ASE A1-A8 Master, L1 certified) on the dealer level. I've been there for 5 1/2 years. I have a bachelors degree in criminal justice from the University of Delaware. I had planned to go to law school, but by the time LSAT's were done, and applications, I was burnt out with school. I changed my path. I'd really like to continue in the automotive field, but not as a flat rate technician. It is stressful, and hard on your body. Ideally, I'd find a career within the racing industry, as that's what I really enjoy! I like what I do now, but I constantly have to be concerned with turning hours, and getting beat up physically.

[Apache Warrior]

Originally Posted by Jagtec1

I am currently a Master Jaguar technician on the dealer level. I've been there for 5 1/2 years. I have a bachelors degree in criminal justice from the University of Delaware. I had planned to go to law school, but by the time LSAT's were done, and applications, I was burnt out with school. I changed my path. I'd really like to continue in the automotive field, but not as a flat rate technician. It is stressful, and hard on your body. Ideally, I'd find a career within the racing industry, as that's what I really enjoy! I like what I do now, but I constantly have to be concerned with turning hours, and getting beat up physically.

My love of Pontiacs comes from my upbringing and my father's career in the automotive industry. My dad graduated from Maine East HS in Des Plaines in the spring of '63 and got a job as a "hiker" at Peter Epstein Pontiac in Lincolnwood IL. He was one of the first to drive the new GTO in the fall of '63 when PEP took delivery of '64 models.

A group of friends he grew up with vacationed in Florida in early '64 - when they got back five of them, including my dad, decided to move to Florida permanently. Before things got finalized two had gotten accepted to colleges of their choices and my dad was offered a Parts Counterperson job at the famous Seltzer Pontiac in Chicago. This is where my old man met Arnie Beswick, Ray Bisig and a few other big Pontiac racers of the past and present.

A tour in Germany during the Vietnam War took him from Seltzer and back to PEP, later renamed Public Pontiac.....since those early summer days of '63 my dad has owned over 200 Pontiacs, his favorite being a Montero Red '64 with TriPower and a 4-Speed. He put more track miles on a '63 Bonneville than any other of the Pontiacs he has owned, in fact, my mom even won on Sundays with that car.

I work in the computer industry - but my ties to the automotive industry are strong.

[carbking]

Long time carburetion specialist.

http://www.thecarburetorshop.com/History.htm

Jon.

[Hooter]

Just got out of it. Worked 12 years for a Tier 1 supplier that produced complete HVAC systems(blow molded ducts all the way to the compressor). Started as a Quality Engineer and finished as the Purchasing and Supplier Quality Manager. We got bought out by a French competitor(Valeo) and they moved all of our business into other facilities they had capacity at. Rather than transfer to Detroit, left the company. Working as a Tier I is stressful as hell. Constant cost pressures when there is already little to no margin and perfect quality is a given. My wife couldn't understand when on our first date, I got a call from my QA contact at Saturn on a Friday night, and I was on a plane Saturday morning at 6:00 headed to the plant to try and understand why we had 2 compressor lock up at the plant the previous day. Don't miss it at all.

Oh yeah, our compressors were 5 vane rotary machined with tolerances of ± 2 microns. Try holding that consistently.

[NHRASuperStock455SD]

Consultant to the Auto Industry for 25 years. The first four years in hydraulics and pneumatics, the next 21 years in Industrial Water Treatment, Combustion of Coal Fired Boilers. I also was a primary consultant with GM-Ford-Chysler for outsourcing of Chemical Management Programs, and Facility Management Programs. Worked with GM World Wide Facilities, and Ford Land.

Spent 10 years traveliing the country in 75% of all major auto plants in North America. Also spent an equal amount of time in the Tier I Suppliers to the auto industry's plants, such as front and rear bumper covers, axle plants, and other componets plants.

In 1999 we developed a high heat, anticorrosion zinc rich underbody paint which is now on all GM trucks and vans along with some Ford Products.

I formed my own company in 1993. We primarily are concentrating on Combustion/Environmental efficiency of Coal Fired Boilers, Coal Fired Electric utility power generating stations, and all forms of Industrial Cooling water, Waste water and Boiler water. We also do work in Chemical Management and Facility management cost reduction programs.

Lynn

[esahlin]

Worked for the Ford Motor Company as a Powertrain Development Engineer for 5 years and received a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan while I was there (thank you Ford!). Worked in NVH but mainly on EEC IV and EEC V algorithm delvelopment in the Dynamometer Labratory. Left Ford after 5 years, to pursue an MBA full-time in Seattle. Still maintain many relationships with several colleagues at Ford.

[400 4spd.]

In the summer of '75 I started working in a Buick dealership's body shop. For 28 years I also did collision repair at Ford, Lincoln/Merc., Toyota, and Mercedes dealers. I also did "rolling" restorations in my spare hours for myself and others.
Two years ago I had my fill of insurance companies and went to work with someone else who had just established a restoration business. We do mostly MOPARS (don't hold it against me) and it has done well. These are usually all-out rotisserie type restorations, and so far all of them have taken trophies in regional competeitions, ranging from 2 Best of Show, 2 Best Paint, 1 Best Engine, 1 Best MOPAR.
We even get parts from Carbking once in a while!

[Polar-Pontiac]

Worked as a Mechanic for about 10yrs,I now work for Carquest as a Sales Rep.

[70 bird]

Worked 10 years instermentation tech at Carron & Company, prototype work for FoMoCo.Till they closed. General mechanic several years dealer exp. I currently work as a tech at Detroit Metro airport on rental cars. Get to see true vehicle abuse!! lol.

[1Badbird]

Currently working for a Bmw/mini dealer in West chester Pa, seein as im only 20, its my first job in the industry been there bout 7 months, went to automotive training center in exton pa for 18 months prior to employment

[74t/a]

I started in the automotive industry before I was able to drive. In 1979, I attended auto mechanics school in my sophomore year in high school. I joined a club called V.I.C.A. (vocational industrial clubs of america) where I entered in mechanics competition in 1980. I won the school comp, then the area, district, and on to state I went. I won the state competion and went on to compete in a national event. I did not win, but placed in the top 25% fo the nation. They never would tell me if I placed 4th or 12th, but it was somewhere in between.

I could have gone to work for Ford or Chrysler (the factory engineers were the judges of the competition). They both offered me a job, but I declined like a dummy.

I worked as a foriegn car mechanic for about 10 years mainly working on exotic cars like Mazeratis, Rolls Royce, Lotus, etc. My passion always remained with muscle cars, and I always built cars for myself, machined up my own engines at a friends machine shop, and built engines in my spare time. I also drag raced a 65 chevelle for many years.

I turned my passion into a business in 92, but soon got too busy to get out of the shop to do my own machine work. I had to rely on other machinists and the work was just not up to my standards. In 96 I bought my first piece of equipment and the rest is history. I have a state of the art machine shop now and turn out some of the best racing engines in the country.

Bryan

[screamingchief]

One of my first jobs was at an autoshack,BEFORE they became autozone.

That was while I was a senior in high school,early 1985.

A couple years later I got a 1 year full time vo-tech degree in automotive mechanics at the local community college,while passing all my ASE tests for certification as a master tech.

Fuffilled my work experience obligation for the master certification while working for a ford dealership in Wisconsin.

ASE Master tech since then,that was 12-31-1990.

Aquired ford motor company service specialist endorsements in several areas while there also,including brakes,suspension.

Have worked at a few other ford dealerships since then,and also a few other automotive service providers,both independent and retail,mostly specializing in brakes and suspension and alignment work.

Have also on occasion worked the parts end of the industry,including a stint at one of the larger ford dealerships here in town.

Always have done side work in both general repair and performance related stuff for friends and associates,including engine assembly/overhaul,tuning help and some automatic transmission overhaul/performance work.

Been building my own hot rods since the first job at the parts store in '85,had a '70 nova SS then with a built 396.

Done some drag racing but nothing really regular on my own part (and nowhere NEAR as much as I'd like to,I will be fixing this soon!),helped quite a few others with their resto projects,hot rods,and ocassionally a race car or two.

Been sidelined from this occupation recently due to an injury on one of my side projects a while back that required surgery to correct,and likely will be dropping out of the repair end of things from here out,except for my own endeavours,and possibly helping a few close associates from time to time.

Will always have some connection to all this though,its a part of my life that there is no way to ever fully disconnect from.

Plan on doing lots more racing in the future seeing that my wrenching efforts are almost entirely my own now,and I'm finishing up repairs on my brothers '68 ranchero GT 390,still have to pull the motor and check it out and make some repairs to there,also need to rebuild the C-6 and some wiring work and such.

Then I get to dig in and get my cars together.

[pontiacmark]

First job out of college was as a Mechanical Engineer designing factory automation equipment for Denso. I designed machines that produced alternators, starters, instrument clusters, electronics, and a/c compressor components. After 5 1/2 years of WAY too much overtime, I started as an engineer for a smaller company designing pneumatic cylinders. I am now chief engineer and coordinate with facilities in Michigan, Canada, and Germany.

[Jeff Walker]

Been in the automotive field all my life. Guess I can thank my dad for that since I had the joy of growing up in a salvage yard that he has had since the early 60's. Plus he has done a lot of general auto repair work through the years.

So started out helping him about the time I started high scool. After graduating from high school I went to college for auto tech. Then went back to work for him for 11 years.

After that I worked one year in a tire store doing repair work. Then worked for a ready mix comany for the next four years. Started as a driver then moved up to operating and managing the batch plant.

Since 2001 I have had my own repair shop doing primarily engine, transmission and drivetrain repair. Also I do auto restorations including the paint and body work.