I took machine shop in a vocational technical high school. We moved
during my senior year, and I ended up going a different route. I have
a lot of respect for machinist and tool & die folks. That is a heck of
a skill. Sad to see the certification go. You would hope that folks
restoring older cars or folks into racing would keep a machine shop
running. Guess not. That is bad.

On Mon, Mar 8, 2010 at 3:11 PM, Bruce Hevner wrote:
> I am an ASE certified Master Automotive Machinist. Have been since they
> first started the series a LONG time ago.
>
> Got a letter from them today telling me that after the next round of
> certification (this fall) they will drop the "Automotive Machinist" series.
> They said declining number of members taking or renewing this certification
> made it impractical for them to continue supporting it.
>
>
>
> Think of it,, when's the last time you heard anyone say "I want to be an
> Automotive Machinist". I'm part of a dying breed. The shops that ARE still
> open aren't buying new equipment or hiring new help. In just a few short
> years you will be hard pressed to find ANY small auto machine shops much
> less modern well equipped ones.
>
>
>
> When I think back of when I started in the hot rod machine shop (1965) and
> the 60 hour weeks we used to work,,, seems like a different planet,,,, sad.
>
>
>
> But HEY,,, that's just ME!
>
> Bruce Hevner
_______________________________________________
AMC-list mailing list
AMC-list@amc-list.com
http://list.amc-list.com/listinfo.cgi/amc-list-amc-list.com

I checked out that Jeep. It is not a 4x4, but a 2x4. A little better for me as I really don't use 4x4 anyway.
Its a 4.o I6 and a 5spd with 158K. It has really neglected because almost nothing works. And what does work is in need of tightening, loosening or lubing. Almost every feature on the truck does what it isn't supposed to do. I think either a girl or a little guy owned it as there are pedal covers on it as I can't fit my big 'ol 13s past 'em.
The engine does run good, though, and the clutch sounds good. The brakes seem right, it is straight and all the glass is good.
What are these things worth? Craigs list and the local paper don't show any 2x4s, so how "rare" are these little trucks and what kinda gas miliage/performance with them. Any issues with this particular truck.....Russ

_______________________________________________
AMC-list mailing list
AMC-list@amc-list.com
http://list.amc-list.com/listinfo.cgi/amc-list-amc-list.com

On Mon, Mar 8, 2010 at 12:11, Bruce Hevner wrote:

> Got a letter from them today telling me that after the next round of
> certification (this fall) they will drop the "Automotive Machinist" series.
> They said declining number of members taking or renewing this certification
> made it impractical for them to continue supporting it.
>

Yeah Bruce, that is sad. And it reflects what's going on in high education
too. I think though that the 80's and 90's bubble mentality will stop
dominating and people will realize you can't replace the physical world with
paper shuffling.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL:
_______________________________________________
AMC-list mailing list
AMC-list@amc-list.com
http://list.amc-list.com/listinfo.cgi/amc-list-amc-list.com

that is something i have been contemplating, and wanting to do lately. the machine shop i always use for my day job is great. a couple of "gray beards" own/work the place. the only thing that is keeping from doing it for sure, is i am 45 miles from town, and where this shop is. i would love to be able to talk this shop owner into doing an "apprenticeship" with me. i would love to learn to do that machine shop work. i wonder if my "gi" bill would pay for that. hmm... maybe i should look ito that. i love that old school stuff, an this is a couple of old school guys, with some NEWER machinery. anyone game for sending me their amc stuff to do the machine work on if i get into this?
dave stohler
www.picasaweb.google.com/das24rules

A lot of it has to do with the EPA attacking ALL shops with big fines due to all the chemicals used over the years (most before we "knew" they were bad) and sue happy people bringing in bad parts and claiming the shop screwed them up or swapped them (got to the point we took a picture and noted any serial numbers on parts brought in)
NAPA is getting rid of all the shops (only non-corporate stores do it now) as well as paint mixing (EPA again). When you can buy new brake rotors for less than machining old ones, it's not worthwhile taking a chance.

Jim Blair, Lynnwood, WA '87 Comanche, '83 Jeep J10, '84 Jeep J10

From: "Bruce Hevner"
To: "Justin Kline" ,
, "Steve Dengler"
, "Denny" ,
, "Brett Hevner" , "Russ
Hart"
Subject: [AMC-list] Sign of the times,,,,
Message-ID: <004401cabefb$975af5f0$c610e1d0$@charter.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I am an ASE certified Master Automotive Machinist. Have been since they
first started the series a LONG time ago.

Got a letter from them today telling me that after the next round of
certification (this fall) they will drop the "Automotive Machinist" series.
They said declining number of members taking or renewing this certification
made it impractical for them to continue supporting it.

Think of it,, when's the last time you heard anyone say "I want to be an
Automotive Machinist". I'm part of a dying breed. The shops that ARE still
open aren't buying new equipment or hiring new help. In just a few short
years you will be hard pressed to find ANY small auto machine shops much
less modern well equipped ones.

When I think back of when I started in the hot rod machine shop (1965) and
the 60 hour weeks we used to work,,, seems like a different planet,,,, sad.

But HEY,,, that's just ME!

Bruce Hevner

_________________________________________________________________
Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection.
http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/201469226/direct/01/
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL:
_______________________________________________
AMC-list mailing list
AMC-list@amc-list.com
http://list.amc-list.com/listinfo.cgi/amc-list-amc-list.com

> Subject: [AMC-list] Sign of the times,,,,
>
> I am an ASE certified Master Automotive Machinist. Have been since they
> first started the series a LONG time ago.
>
> Got a letter from them today telling me that after the next round of
> certification (this fall) they will drop the "Automotive Machinist" series.
> They said declining number of members taking or renewing this certification
> made it impractical for them to continue supporting it.
>

Sadly it's not just a question of people wanting to be machinists, it's also
the whole throw away mentality of modern society, combined with the general
reliability of engines these days. The -only- people I know, who have had
an engine rebuilt in the last 15 years, are car collectors. I don't know anyone
who would even consider rebuilding an engine for a daily driver. Up here in
the salt belt, your car will rust out long before your engine will die. The last four
car's I've scrapped had over 200000 Km on the odo, and no sign of engine trouble,
but were unsafe to be on the road due to rust.

The car collectors are feeling this as well. A buddy who's seriously into Jag's
recently mentioned to me that the only machine shops who could do any
real work on an engine, were the few that specialized in building race motors.
There just aren't any other Auto machine shops around any more...

Dave
_______________________________________________
AMC-list mailing list
AMC-list@amc-list.com
http://list.amc-list.com/listinfo.cgi/amc-list-amc-list.com