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things about running a shop. Some of you know, some of you don't know. That I been developing, working, and promoting a shop for over a year now. [ www.anderson-audio.com ] we do alot of Forced induction performance cars. Our recent projects have 350Z Conv Greddy TD05-18H (dyno 351RWHP at 5PSI 8.5:1 compression motor), SC430 twin turbo, Single T63 Turbo Mercury Marauder, slews of Toyota Supras, and etc. We were the installers challenge team at SEMA we do Ford's, Alpine, Panasonic demo vehicles, done alot of cars for celebrities and athletes (Chris Anderson actually did Shaq Bently) we have been a few car mags already. And yes this is the reason my 300ZX has not gotten finished yet because I been putting my time and effort into getting customers cars done first oh and yes I do keep changing things on my own car as well. Needless to say when you are in a shop there is always delays and things that come up that you have no control over. Specifically dealing with phone calls can eat up most of your day. If you spend 5 minutes on the phone talking to a customer, it takes another 10 to get back to where you are at. Then there are just plain and simple delays on receiving product that you at times have no control over with either. And there are just delays because the customer may want to add or change something. There is also back logs of work you thought would only take 1-2 hours but ends up taking 5 times as long. This is where most shops make there mistakes rushing to clear up the backlog, as customer I would advise if a shop saids its going to take 2 weeks that is an estimate not a guarnatee, but do followup on your car if you are local stop by and look at it see if has been worked on or if there any changes. The 300ZX is older aging car and everytime you take out the motor you have the chance of having some break or have something start leaking. I advise anyone who ever plans on having there motor pull to replace the engine harness and check the high pressure power steering hoses, and replace the engine mounts. We had a 300ZX that had two broken engine mounts and there was a small piece of 2x4 holding the motor up. To do a job right it takes time and effort and caution all of which can't be done if you have a customer calling asking for their car back. My suggestion too everyone who wants to do any form of significant project is to try and think ahead of what may also need maintance. Example when switching out injectors one should consider replacing the coilpack clips, injector clips (ie just replace the engine harness), lower2upper plenum gasket, and all the water lines that are under the plenum. Being informed and educated of your cars condition is your best asset. The truth is that some shops are better than others, and every shop makes mistakes. The important issue is how a shop deals with their mistakes. I my opinion the most important thing to any project is the final outcome delays and added costs will mean very little if you are back behind the wheel of your car grinning ear to ear. Also remember that sometimes you get what you pay for. I have seen many customers who come into a shop and say how much for "etc etc" and then get a quote and then have the customer say "my friend etc said he could do it for 1/4 the price" and later have the customer return later with their car and additional repairs to fix what his/her friend "etc" already did. Lastly George has only recently gotten into doing this kind of work, and I believe is going through the growing pains that most new shops do which is
1) under bid jobs
2) under estimate completion of jobs
3) try to establish yourself as a good tuner shop
4) get wrapped into competition and all mud slinging that goes with that.
5) become over worked, under appreciated, and over stressed and etc. I am sure George will reply to this thread and give his feedback.
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