What is it that you look for in:
-A parts store (local and online)
-A performance install shop
-A stereo/electronics shop?
-A paint/body shop?
What specifically do the current ones here in Orlando and online lack?
Would you pay an annual membership fee for an online or local organization that NOT only got you special member only discounts and group purchases, but also provided a monthly newsletter, calendar, and subscription to a choice of car magazines? How about if they had a "fleet" deal w/ a chain of gas stations that got you 10-15% off gas?

Where would an ideal location be in Orlando for maximum traffic?

Would you be interested in a shop w/ ample parking to have weekly/monthly meets?

What NEW parts would you like to see developed for your car?

 

I dont know about Orlando but the paint and body shops in Melbourne just plain suck.
My Monte Carlo SS was painted about 10 years ago and looks as good as the day it was painted. I took my wifes Monte Carlo SS to the same place and it had to go back 4 times. They missed rust and the paint never looked right. And this was for a no expence spared job. Not a cheapo, get it done quick deal.
The shop who did the rust repair around the windows on my Suburban sucked worse. Didnt match the paint worth a damn and it rusted again in 6months. I know rust is hard to kill but 6 months? Come on.
I knew the owner, but every time I went over there he had some kid working on it.
Performance install shops here? Yea, my garage and drive way. Period.
Parts stores? dont even get me started. "I'd like the front wheel bearings for a 1986 1ton Chevy 4X4 please".
Does it have A/C?

 

yeah its bad everywhere, nothing like a bad oil sending unit that sprays a quart of oil every 40 miles.

Pick up part, gave a perfect description of my car.

94 3.4L Manually tranny(Borg Warner T5 World Class) L32, VIN S.

Everything, finlay get the time to change it around midnight, get under car, take the old one off put new one on and WOW I got the wrong part! Time to put the broken park back on, jack car back down wait til tomorrow and pick up the right part. ANd guess what they DON'T HAVE IT, so I ask him to check all 2.8,3.1L cars in the last 20 years, same part for all 3rd gen v6s, older v6 s-10s(excluding 4.3) Fieros, grand ams, Luminas, Cutlass, Grand PRixs, anthing that had a 2.8L, 3.1, or 3.4L they all use the same part and they don't have it. Go figure they do not keep a oil pressure sending unit for 1/5th the GM fleet form 83 til present.

Or anohter time I saw I want AC Delco rapidfires, guy says we don't carry them I look on his screen and point to them. I say they are right there, him turning kind red tried to stumble with an excuse.

As for shops, my car has been in one 3 times in the last 4 years, only 2 out of those three times was I happy, and 100% unable to do the work myself(ignition lock cylinder, new VATS key, and new clutch, resurfaced flywheel, throughout bearing, and rebuild of tranny.

 

Thanks for the replies guys but I do emphasize that I'm looking for comparisons to A1 or American Motorsports, not Advanced Auto Dump or Auto-zoned out dumb@$$ at the cash register. Here's what I'm looking to do. From going to mechanics school while in high school, and being on the f-body scene since before I could drive, I've met the right people and made the right contacts to get 10, 15, up to 30% or more off some parts. Now I've started making inquiries to some of the large warehouses and manufacturers. Though in some areas it would be tough to beat (not so hard to match) Jeg's, Summit, and all the other big boys I think that it could be done. So I want to know what people want in a shop. I know I prefer going down to X-brand performance here in Orlando to buy a part, even if it's 10% more than Jegs because I can go there if something is faulty and usually get friendly help and a new part placed in my hand....no paying for shipping, no "oh you have to contact the manufacturer" BS. Not only that, it ain't easy to find a nitrous refill center in east Orlando and I think there's a market for a speed shop where you can pull up in the lot, BS w/ your friends, check out the parts and project cars, fill up your bottle, buy a little 105 octane and head to the track.

 

Oh, you want to open a speed shop. Well a buddy of mine has one. Pretty sucssesful here in Palm Bay.
But he's been in the biz a very long time. Owns and drives a alcohol dragster in Federal Mogul NHRA. Runs a few national events per year.
Anyway he'll be the first to tell you its tough. Financially hes pretty well off. Not rich but is smart with money. He was a financal planner for years. Also worked for Mr Gasket. He's no kid. Probably in his late 50s now. And a real good guy.
There are real lean times to be had in the speed shop business. Now and again he talks of selling out but keeps on working at it. I do belive its a tax write off because of his racing operation. But not positive.
Good luck. The biggest thing that would drive me crazy is the dreamers without 50cents to their name wanting to order tons of parts.
But on the other hand I'll buy from him even if its more before I buy from Jegs or Summit. Nothing against them but I like him as a friend also.
Anyway what kind of CamaroZ28.com discount to you plan to have.

 

I would like to see people eager to sell to and give you many varietys.. Say I was looking for a tb plate you would show me five or six differnt ones not just I have this..


I would like to see a shop that can post prices for baisc things like

Cat back install 89.99
Header install 228.99

Get the idea...

 

Yeah guys, thanks. All good comments and ideas. I know getting started is tough and you roll w/ the punches when $$ gets tight and people quit spending out the yang. Fortunately, having a good friend that owns an AC Delco distribution center gets my foot in the door in a lot of good ways. Yeah, I guarantee anyone that owns a shop and races writes off the cost of racing as advertisement.
As for any plans. None set in stone yet. I have several acquaintances who are tired of working for other people and we've been rolling around some automotive ideas that cover all of our specialties including paint, custom fabrication, installation, connections w/ aftermarket companies, etc, etc.

What it comes down to is we are almost all college students and understand the extreme budget that college students run on but that they are die-hard enthusiasts. We've been playing w/ some ideas that would allow us to sell at below manufacturer's stipulated retail prices, yet remain profitable and do it legally.

 

As long as the shop sells the TT 427 LS6, I will shop there before those mail-order guys.

P.S. No APC crap, stickers, or interior neons

 

So would that be the Ligenfelter 427 w/ lingenfelter's turbo setup, an SLP 427 w/ an incon setup, a K-tec 427 w/ the turbolocity setup or a mixture of those?

 

you already know my thoughts man.........i fully support it, and will help you out in whatever way i can.


personally......i think you should start out with a small shop for the local guys, and do mostly internet business to start turning out a profit.
keep the overhead low, so you can still offer good prices.

as things start flowing..........then think about moving to a bigger place.


if you bite off more than you can chew, you will have to raise prices in order to stay afloat.

 

I'd like a shop that actuall has some stuff for the late models in stock. Every speed shop I go to is saturated with carburated crap for old slow relics.

 

Hey Whistler, I've been talkin to JP. I know he's buggin the shee-yat out of you to get in on something like this. We need to get together for an exchange of ideas if you're interested...just in talking.

Late Model in stock? YOU GOT IT. That's a #1 priority. Wires too! I hate having to wait for simple things.
How about acutually having ported heads in stock too so there's no turnaround time on yours?
Any thoughts on a Rent-a-Slick program? I could have drag wheels and tires available to pick up on the way to the track and drop off on the way back....kinda far out, but it might work.
Also how does this sound: Head/Cam kits with EVERYTHING you need (even coolant). That means gaskets, lifters, pushrods, springs, plugs, etc etc etc.

 

Well anothre thing to consider, is maybe keeping an eye on the v6 portion of the market, if you are talking f-bodies.

I understand the aftermarket may not be perfect for them and pricey...

But keep them in mind, 99% of all f-body suspension works with v6s along with wheels, tires, body, guages, interior, stereo... Lots of other things besides internally in the motor. Also we like to adapt alot fo v8 stuff to fit our cars like superchargers, nitrous kits, and other stuf as well.


As for the rent a slick program not too far fetched not sure it woudl be a contant thing, but I ahve alway wondered how my car would do with slicks on it. I'd pay $20 to find out.

If you are to be doing repairs like a regular shop would be cool to really give a good explanation what is wrong and say if it is common or not and not rip us off.


As for selling Ricer stuff owuldn't bother me too much as long as it isn't your focus to sell useless ricer stuff but to make some extra bucks on the side, to help keep prices overall lower.

 

Dyno Pulls for 35 each would be cool....

Computer proramining butalso do simple things like for 35 bucks we will turn your fans on at 160, then if you want for another 35 we wil ldelte your rear o2 sensors, ect....

Imagine walking into a store and seeing fbody stuff wall one then broken down into v6 and v8 and will work on both

Another wall mustang stuff

Another wall old cars classics

Another wall lighting, pimp daddy stuff

Then to make cash you have to toss in some import stuff.... I would do headers and exhaust..

What I saw back home in indiana is a speed shop with the car modding in the middle of the shop, but walled off with big windows.. You saw them working on cars.. it was cool.... People just came to watch talk and buy.

Keep magazines in stock too, but be a subscription seller too, of course appearal, but I would still like to see a list of prices to do:

Prices made up not accurate, but you get the idea
Headers 290.99 installed
Plugs 89.99 installed
Wires 79.99 installed

Then what would be cool is build a stang, and fbody up.. Offer classes to watch and learn how to do it.. Example this month come each saturday and pay 5 bucks to learn how to install lower control arms or panbhard rod... I would pay to watch it done right once...

 

The biggest problem I have with the local speed shops is that they are all 100% import. I walk in there, and there isn't one thing for performance in the whole shop. I would like a 50/50 split between performance and styling. And for once have a conversation about my car with someone whom actually knows what they are talking about, and not just say, "put a chip in it". I hear that every time I go into a shop.

Travis