Just thinking out loud

[SMKR]

kinda by melody ranch, if thats still there?

god bless.

Melody Ranch is still there

[SMKR]

Ill Donate $20 to the cause. Whos next?

I'm in

[SMKR]

If somebody honks at you and gives you the finger don't worry it's probably somebody from DFWstangs

Noted, and will be doing just this later this week

On a serious note man, you are just minutes down the road, if you need help with any part of what's left of moving Just let me know, be glad to help a local DFwM member

[BLAKE]

Really cool to see you moving on this, congrats.

Do me a personal favor and do something about your signage and logo. You're taking it to the next level on location and facility, don't stop short and ignore the branding aspect. It's important.

Make some phone calls to sign shops (don't be afraid to call on DFW and Austin shops). Some should be willing to work something more creative than the plain type solution you have now for free if you use them for the printing.

Then, request that they email you a proof of what they came up with. Send it to me and I'll art direct it for you so it isn't lame. Deal?

[LaserSVT]

Edit: that's 7 mins from my office. What types of work does your shop do? I'll be a first customer to help new business get traction

Little of this, little of that. Suspension, electronics, brakes, maintenance, performance parts, clutches, engine swaps. I don't have the tools for engine or transmission rebuilds but will do pretty much anything else.
We are the guys that get cars that have been to 4 or 5 other shops that couldn't figure out the issue and then we fix it the same day. I have a knack for electronic troubleshooting.

I know Modulars really well as well as Northstars and Cadillac 4.1/4.5/4.9 series of engines. I am very good with all Ford/Lincoln products and unfortunately seem to have a knack for FWD GM products.

For the most part I aint skeerd to work on anything.

My weak spot is carbs. Give me a nice computer car and a laptop. LOL.

Big thing is our prices. Ford wants $1000+ to tune-up a 3V truck and I am $300ish. Today got a new customer that went to 4 shops to quote an air spring change on a 90's Town car. All were over a grand. We are under $400. Hell it takes me 15 minutes to change them! I have no idea why the other shops are so expensive. I don't do outlandish parts markups. I don't charge retail on parts. I charge what you yourself can buy it for at the dealer or parts store. I still make a profit, why rape someone?
Plus we are only $70 an hour and that's way under everyone else.

[LaserSVT]

Really cool to see you moving on this, congrats.

Do me a personal favor and do something about your signage and logo. You're taking it to the next level on location and facility, don't stop short and ignore the branding aspect. It's important.

Make some phone calls to sign shops (don't be afraid to call on DFW and Austin shops). Some should be willing to work something more creative than the plain type solution you have now for free if you use them for the printing.

Then, request that they email you a proof of what they came up with. Send it to me and I'll art direct it for you so it isn't lame. Deal?

I always liked my business cards and wanted to make something similar for my signs.
That board above the office, I was just planning on a simple white and blue "L&D Automotive" with a generic car outline and then our new number.

[BLAKE]

The chrome effect is a bit much for signage, but the typography in general has a lot more personality than the other. Have the sign shop replicate that and pick your colors and stick with them. If you're tied to the blue on the building, use it and/or something complimentary for your sign and any other advertising materials. I'd be tempted to use that medium blue with a lighter blue and orange (think Gulf racing livery). That would really stand out among the colors that most shops use.

[talisman]

Really cool to see you moving on this, congrats.

Do me a personal favor and do something about your signage and logo. You're taking it to the next level on location and facility, don't stop short and ignore the branding aspect. It's important.

Make some phone calls to sign shops (don't be afraid to call on DFW and Austin shops). Some should be willing to work something more creative than the plain type solution you have now for free if you use them for the printing.

Then, request that they email you a proof of what they came up with. Send it to me and I'll art direct it for you so it isn't lame. Deal?

Listen to this man. He knows a thing or two about marketing.

Looking good man, glad you decided to do it. Good luck with everything.

[LaserSVT]

I would LOVE to do a neat sign setup! My plan is if this store does as it should I will buy a fancy lightup sign for the road and I want it to be trick.

The reason my signs are simple is from all of the other suggestions on here when I embarked on this endeavor two years ago. LOL

[LaserSVT]

And just about done.

[LaserSVT]

Thanks all for the support. Monday it was completed and I have kept all three bays full since opening the doors. I even have cars out front.

Well the last one was kinda "YOU HAVE TO FIX THAT NOW!" thing.
It was 6 and we were about to close but were finishing up a Honda 650 Thumper enduro. Im watching my friend work on it and see a truck just like mine pull up and wait for the inspection station. I notice a little smoke from his nose and can hear its only running on 6 or 7 cylinders so figure I will talk to him after his inspection. I glance over again and see something orange behind the front wheel. I go to tap my buddy on the shoulder to point it out and then "WHOOSH!" a flame shoots out. I yell for him to shut it down and get out and run for my fire extinguisher. Spray it down and see that what happened is he let the pad get so low that now the piston was stuck and grinding against the almost gone rotor. The hot metal shavings set the ABS wire on fire which then ignited the leaking brake line. *shock face*

Ill be sure to snap some pics when I get it in the air Thursday but didn't stop to grab the camera before putting the fire out.

Poor dude has been ripped by several mechanics in town. Throwing all kinds of un needed stuff at the truck to make it run right. One place said he needs heads. Only two things would cause that truck to run like that. Bad poppet valve/pressure regulator in the spider or bad CMP sensor in the dizzy.
Well clogged cats could also do it, so I guess that's three things.


Place looked like a Silverado lot for a bit today. White 93, Green 96, Tan 96, Tan 97, white 97 and a blue 94. All anyone saw if they looked at my shop was a row of "CHEVROLET" tailgates. LOL

[dsrtuckteezy]

glad to hear the transition went smooth. might need to drive down to waco for some "side" business! j/k!

[Chas_svo]

...

Place looked like a Silverado lot for a bit today. White 93, Green 96, Tan 96, Tan 97, white 97 and a blue 94. All anyone saw if they looked at my shop was a row of "CHEVROLET" tailgates. LOL

Don't let the Chebby guys hear that.

<---Ford guy

Congrats on the new shop. Best of luck to you!

[4EyedTurd]

Passed by your old shop and it looked like somebody was moving an old el camino in

[Mach1]

Congrats!