Million dollar business idea...

[JUSTA5O]

I have come up with a million dollar business idea and want to share it with everyone.
To give a little back ground information, I have always loved being around cars. Grew up around racing and automotive shops. Could always do the basic mods, but never able to break into the real mechanical aspects. I've always been jealous of the guys who could tear down there SBF and have it back up and running in no time. Before everyone goes and point out the fact that I could have chosen a profession which accommodates to my egger need for mechanical stimulus, I realize that now! But as a 30 year old engineer, the chances of my wife allowing me to drop everything and attend some gearhead school are out of the question.

So this is where my quest for after hour’s knowledge comes in. I have checked with the local technical colleges to see if they offer such options for Ford engine building 101, and found nothing. They always recommend signing up for the general automotive curriculum during the day and be done with it. But I don’t want that kind of knowledge. I don’t need to know the mechanical aspects of a Kia, and need something after hours. So this is where my billion dollar idea comes together……

Why not just find someone who could educate the wanna-be motor head? Offer a class on Ford engine building. Allow the student to bring in his or her block and go from there. Go through the complete build from start to finish. Now this task couldn’t be taught by any Joe off the street, it would take someone who knows the in’s and out’s of a high performance motor. Tolerance’s, torque numbers, combo’s, etc. Someone who could do this in their sleep.

So what do ya’ll think? Would there be any interest? Is there an educator out there who could teach this? Just tossin’ around ideas. Thanks for everyone’s input. In a way I am joking but think it could help out a lot of people.

[SmithRacing]

So where does the money come in?

[crumbie]

buy a complete motor and tear it down on an engine stand. then rebuild it yourself while asking questions. easiest way to learn.

[JUSTA5O]

People pay to take the class. I would pay for someone to walk me through step by step to learn the in's and out's. If they were good.

If I were a reputable motor guru ( and I'm not), it would be an easy way for me to make some extra dough. Figure maybe a 2 week long deal, approx 25 hours total with 5-10 students at $400+ a pop.....

And no, buying a motor and tearing it down by yourself and rebuilding while asking questions would not be the way I would want to go. There is no way I would learn all that is needed doing it myself on a 600+ hp motor. I would think there is way to much information to know beforehand. That's why people like Pro Line are in business, not everyone can figure it out on their own.

[Nova]

i took night classes at a local tech school during highschool. The state even payed for the classes and books. (yay ohio) got my associates degree in automotive service while taking the majority of my classes at night.

did a ton of personal stuff during class too!

[SmithRacing]

I know a guy in Black Moutain that might want to do that. Hint Hint WNC. I say it can be done on a friday night and Sat. Maybe for about $150?

[87 vert]

sounds like a good idea i wish my tech school i attended spent more time on rebuilding engines.

[LOWCOP]

sounds like a good idea in theory but good luck finding a teacher that will just be dedicated to fords

[rpc3]

1.When BMW sent me to Arizona to UTI for the BMW step program Ford had one called FORD F.A.C.T.S and UTI used to have a school in Charlotte .
2.I've got a buddy that used to build Bud Moore's motors but i doubt he would be interested. but I'll ask.

[JUSTA5O]

I really don't know how long it would take to have a class. It might only be a few hours for a good builder.
I bet others would be intrested in this concept if it were available.

[SmithRacing]

I agree. The informatiuon that WNC posted about the BOV was very good. I had no clue why they were that important. I bet he could give a one day class on has to disassemble and reassemble and engine. I know it sounds corny but I am all for it. I am all for learning something new. I have always just paid someone to do all my work. I know how a car goes together but I have never built and engine. I know it isn't very hard but having the understanding of where to focus the most attention to keep the engine safe and what to look for in a combo to make it all work. It could give us and understanding of the CC on heads and more.

[wildberry90gt]

feast or famine. It would be a nice second income. I paid a guy $40 to look over my shoulder and help me rebuild my last one. Learned a lot and gained the confidence. I'll do it again. Most folks would rather pay for a FMS/Coastal Perf. already assembled engine - you will forget **** even if you have a list before-hand. Stores aren't open all-night and overnighting parts gets expensive. A piston was accidentally knocked off the bench - $65 and 4 days later I was able to continue the build. There are so many "packages" you can buy - TFS, Holley that take the guessing out. Get a jy engine and try it - good winter project.

[JUSTA5O]

That's exactly what I was thinking SmithRacing. On the other hand wildberry has a good point. You would have to do a major inventory to make sure you had all necessary items as to not slow down the process. I don't mind paying for a long block but would also want to see the thing being built. I've got the following in the works with Pro Line now.

BORE & HONE W/ TORQUE PLATE
INSTALL CAM BEARINGS
INSTALL FREEZE PLUGS
8 PIN FIT PISTONS
8 PIN FIT RODS
BALANCE CRANKSHAFT - INTERNAL
JET CLEAN BLOCK
CLEARANCE PISTON SKIRTS FOR MAIN BULKHEAD
ASSEMBLE V8 STREET/STRIP SHORTBLOCK **CRANK/ RODS/ AND PISTONS**
MOTORSPORT BOSS 302 SBF RACE BLOCK 8.200 DECK, 3.990 BORE
EAGLE SBF 347 ROTATING ASSEMBLY W/ DISH PISTONS RINGS AND BEARINGS
DURA BOND SBF CAM BEARING FOR COMMON JOURNAL BLOCK AND STD CAM
SCE 302W ONE PIECE REAR MAIN SEAL

The only thing I am changing is making it a 331. Now I don't have a clue if any of these items are a risk to the longevity of my motor. If I would be better going another route with a blower motor or if I am cheaping out on things. It would be nice to have that knowledge.

So in all, I am putting my pride to the side and realizing to step up to the next level with my car I should also have the knowledge of what's going on up there.

Now the hard part is finding the best engine builder around who would allow me to do the grunt work while they watch over me.

[TappedOut]

Alot of times it is who you know! It takes more time than you think to go through all of the tear down and build up. I have an 00' that is f'd up and I don't even want to touch it because I don't have all of the right tools to do the work and it is driving my wife crazy. She does not understand how I can have a racecar but won't tear into the SOHC 4.6 motor.

[Tusk]

I would have loved for someone to take me by the hand 20 years ago and show me how to build a hp engine,but i didnt,i had several people that new a little and i learned what i could from them,there is still ALOT i dont know about engines,but i know quite a bit and its been pretty much all hands on,even though i read everything i can get my hands on,but if you dont know the basics ,what you read wont do you any good if you dont know what they are referring to,

i built a 350 chevy for my dad a couple years back and we wanted to run the vortec heads,well those heads are only good for around 475 lift with the stk stuff and gm saw fit to shrink the valve spring pockets and enlarge the valve seal bosses,i read what i could and bought the tools from comp cams,i enlarged the spring pockets,milled down the seal boss'es and figured while i'm in there i might as well put screw in studs,i did all the work by myself and so far it has probably over 200 passes on that motor and it still thumps,i had priced everyting thru the machine shops and they wanted anywhere between 250.00 and 350.00 just for labor,i had a little over 80.00 in all the tools,but the point i'm getting at is the knowledge i got from that is priceless

make friends with people that are in the business,hang around their shops and keep your mouth shut and learn what you can, to me thats better than a 20-30 hour class,but i would definitaly be willing to partake in a advance engine building class

like someone posted up here ealier ,get a old motor and rebuild it yourself,if it blows up so what your out of a few hundred dollars,but if that thing screams you'll be a happy camper,sorry this looks like a novel,just my 2 cents