In reply to BA5 :
It depends. I have so much freedom now and even when I'm working it's about a gazillion times better than working for someone else.
In reply to BA5 :
It depends. I have so much freedom now and even when I'm working it's about a gazillion times better than working for someone else.
I take many, many photos at events that I attend (https://www.yogile.com/sexydave) but have never charged for the pictures. To me, that adds more responsibility to cover all the cars, take great photos and upgrade gear. I just want a way to burn off nervous energy at events...when I feel like it. I suppose I could ask for donations or something, but its a hobby and sometimes turning a hobby into a business ruins it. (and sometimes it makes you rich LOL)
I make and sell transaxle adapter plates on the side (Mazda BP engine to Toyota E15x transmission). They aren't a fast moving item at all (well, at least not until my customers get them installed 
), but the sales do help supplement the budget for my other automotive hobbies. I've finally started amassing my own collection of metal fabrication tools, hoping to start selling engine/transmission mount sets along with the adapter plates at some point.
A friend/customer of mine just broke into the 10's this week! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLnmSIWYgWk
In reply to BA5 :
Let me revise that. Only turn your hobby into your job if you understand that you're also going to have to get a new hobby.
One Hell of a Town just shared this–coming soon.
I use to part out Porsche 924/944 for awhile on eBay. Not a big fan of the platform lately, so I just flip an odd car every now and then now.
When I have time, I enjoy automotive art as well. I try to do slightly cartoonish versions and also do custom designs of people's rides. I've done hundreds of designs, and try to sell them on some different websites like Etsy, Zazzle and Cafepress. It used to be a nice little extra $$, but the sales haven't been as good as they once were. Here are a few that might interest this group.
In reply to grapeape :
You re exactly who I've been looking for. Let me know when you have time to do a couple of pieces.
That said I, in the past, had a small shop selling crap made from car parts and wahtnot. The business closed when I moved cross country but I still have some stock if anyone is interested.
In reply to therieldeal :
Oh, it's that car! I've seen videos of it before. He's pushing a lot of power so it makes sense he needed a better transmission. The stock ones don't hold up under boost, it's a known problem in the BP/Escort GT tuning world.
Who knows, maybe I'll need one of those adapter plates someday 
I moonlight as a chauffeur. Mostly weddings. Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II.
I bought a Rolls Royce SC II and started a vintage wedding car business with my son. It was a ton of fun for several years...now run and operated by EdHigginbotham. It paid for a cool car in pretty short order, and now is dropping money to the bottom line. I imagine it will be a way to stay busy in retirement. Edit...see above post! Hahaha!
Jinx
I also sell Mocal oil cooling products. 3cgarage.com. If you need anything to make the slippery stuff less hot, let me know.
In reply to David S. Wallens :
And...they are cool. I have laid my hands on a few of these issues...cool stuff. They are passed around my shop and thoroughly enjoyed.
In reply to Ed Higginbotham :
Owe you a beverage.
grapeape said:When I have time, I enjoy automotive art as well. I try to do slightly cartoonish versions and also do custom designs of people's rides. I've done hundreds of designs, and try to sell them on some different websites like Etsy, Zazzle and Cafepress. It used to be a nice little extra $$, but the sales haven't been as good as they once were. Here are a few that might interest this group.
Grapeape, let us know when you're looking to take commissions.
In reply to Ed Higginbotham :
I paid my way through college as a chauffer. In some ways it was the ultimate college job - most of the time you're waiting for the client, so you get a lot of homework done, and it keeps you busy on weekend nights so you blow less money on booze and women.
I am lucky enough that the only "hustle" I like is my job.
I do professional exhaust, header, turbo and IC fab (and really anything relation). I worked at another shop for years (that was like 95% strictly exhaust) while I did turbo fab stuff on my time. Now that I have my own business I get to do it anytime.
I have been working on special chassis parts for Terseos (Tercel-Paseo), and I currently make the only 3-point strut brace for these cars
However I have been itching to get into composites, primarily for self use. But I can definitely see it becoming a side hustle once I have things down and sorted to perhaps do small runs of stuff for odd cars. The first thing I want to create is carbon fiber hoods for 95-99 Tercels. I have 3...and they all have either rust and or dents from negligent previous owners. I got a nearly perfect hood from the JY to make a mold from. Just have to find time and get materials.
In reply to Olemiss540 :
At least you sell them
I help my dumb racecar friends do dumb racecar things. Sometimes it pays, other times not. *shrug*
A couple of times, but not in a number of years.
My ex- ran a reasonably successful side-hustle making custom tire bags for new MINIs and later Smart cars. She would make them in custom colors to match an owner's cars (within the available colors of duck cloth from JoAnn Fabric). Then she bought a computerized embroidery machine and added additional options. She also made cargo liners for R50-56 MINIs. For awhile she was selling some in bulk at a discount to a local MINI vendor. For awhile we had a good system going where she would get an order in, I'd help by cutting out the fabric and then she would sew them pieces together. Then I think it started to wear on her as her real job responsibilities increased (along with her pay scale) and it got to the point where the few extra $ wasn't worth the loss of free time. When we tore most of her house apart for a major renovation, it gave her the excuse to shut down the hustle and never restarted it.
My own side hustle was limited to making MFE "service position" tools for the R50/52/53. This was back when Moss MINI was selling the tool for $100 and I would sell them for $50 with about $10 or so of materials and a few hours of cutting, drilling and threading a bunch at a time. I sold 7 sets (including the set I made for myself) before Moss eventually dropped their price to $50 as well. I have the parts to make more, but probably won't get around to it until I need a set to work on my own car.
jh36 said:In reply to David S. Wallens :
And...they are cool. I have laid my hands on a few of these issues...cool stuff. They are passed around my shop and thoroughly enjoyed.
Thank you for the kind words, and the next issue's quickly coming together.
Instead of writing tonight, though, I made a mix tape for the zine.
In reply to RadBarchetta :
Try https://www.etsy.com/shop/tunerpins
In reply to Sarah Young :
Thanks, Sarah, and we updated the piece with the link to Enamel Garage's Etsy store. Now go get your 37 pieces of flair.
My automotive side gig has been pretty well documented here:
I sell stuff, not always automotive related, but still lots of car stuff. It's built up into a nice nest egg I'm planning on using as my "racing fund" once I get back to racing! (Kids make it hard..)
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