Am I Crazy?

[bigring911]

Hi everyone,

I’m 54 years old and have an opportunity to retrain for a new career. One direction I’m seriously considering is becoming a licensed automotive service technician, with the longer-term goal of getting into the repair, maintenance and restoration of older Japanese 4x4s, particularly Toyota Land Cruisers.

I’ve always had an interest in mechanical work and older vehicles, and I’ve got a particular soft spot for the 40 Series Land Cruisers. I own an ‘81 BJ42 myself, which has certainly helped fuel that interest.

I’m located in Ontario and have been considering the possibility of eventually setting up a small, independent two-bay garage specializing in older vehicles and vintage 4x4s. From what I've been able to find, there are very few shops specializing in these vehicles within a few hundred kilometres of where I live.

Fortunately, the financial side isn’t my primary concern. I have an opportunity to retrain with income support and a guaranteed income during that transition, so I’m not looking at this as something that needs to make me a living overnight. I’m more interested in building the skills and experience to do something I genuinely enjoy.

What I’d really appreciate is some honest feedback from people in the 40 Series community.

A few things I’d love to hear your thoughts on:

• Is there enough demand for someone specializing in older Land Cruisers and Japanese 4x4s?
• Is becoming a licensed mechanic the right path, or would practical experience and specialized training be equally valuable?
• What are the biggest challenges in working on and restoring these older vehicles?
• Would you see value in a small independent shop dedicated to this type of work?

I’m not looking to get rich or build a big operation. I’d like to develop a skill, work with vehicles I genuinely enjoy, and hopefully build something worthwhile over the next several years.

I’d appreciate any thoughts, advice or experiences you’re willing to share.

Thanks!

 

[bigring911]

Meant to add that if one of the moderators feel that this post is better suited in another different forum topic to please feel free to move it.

 

[RevISK]

Meant to add that if one of the moderators feel that this post is better suited in another different forum topic to please feel free to move it.

I have often thought about a similar path, I’d say go for it. Especially with the support aspect.

You wouldn’t really have to keep it just 4x4s either, most older Japanese vehicles share parts and design principles so there is a bigger market out there.

Not sure about up north but around here in central Texas, there is plenty of vintage Toyotas to support multiple specialty shops.

 

[pbgbottle]

That’s a big question at 57 myself I couldn’t imagine starting over. I’m getting ready to slow down. I’m not into busting knuckles and fixing other peoples junk. lol.
How many old rusty and crusty vehicles have you worked on ,I might think of doing it as a side gig but not as a career change. Fixing other people’s junk gets old fast. I’ve been thinking with these old landcruisers 40 series for 30-35 years ,Suzuki samurai’s and Sidkicks also. There lots to learn everyone of these vehicles are old and can be highly customized. There is a lot to learn from restorations to custom work custom suspensions. Hmm. Is there enough of these vehicles around in Ontario. We have a guy in BC who has been making a living working all models of Land Cruisers for years I’m sure he makes good money. But not sure how much 40 series work he does anymore. You will have lots to learn.hooking up with parts suppliers. Etc.
scary Idea starting over to me. Fixing s*** sucks. But you have to do you and chase your passion so if ya want to go for go for it. I’d build my own stuff all day. Long. Do you have s***loads of tools. I’m a back yard fool and jack of all trades. The tools I have is crazy if you could see my crap you would think I was a mechanic. I have a bunch. Of friends who are mechanics for a career 30-35 years in the industry ,they enjoyed it ,not so much now. They getting old ,sick of fixing crap ,can’t see good anymore ,fingers to fat haha. I don’t know. I don’t think I would change my career at that age. But that’s me.

 

[charliemeyer007]

Most folks I know work on their rigs: because they can, because most shops have no clue how to work on stuff that doesn't have a computer to tell them what is wrong.

The buy and fix up dead ones have a good margin without the I want it done now folks.
Rebuild stuff like trannies transfer cases could be good. Engines take a lot of expensive equipment - but you could sub that out.

My dad was an A/P as well as a watch maker, welder.... He told me people that own helicopters think they are better than every else and they will let you work on it for free. You can add high end cars to the list Ferrari, Porsche, Lambo IMHO.

I know a semi retired dentist that travels the country and rebuilds/restores 40's that he has bought. Takes a fair amount of time and money but people are waiting in line for his stuff and it isn't cheap.

 

[RevISK]

Charlie makes a fair point.
Let’s team up

 

[bigring911]

Charlie makes a fair point.
Let’s team up

Ha! I’m down for that. Just have to decide who’s going to move…..cold and snow 5-6 months of the year or dry and warm……hard decision

I appreciate the responses to far - giving me lots to consider. Keep ‘em coming!

 

[White Stripe]

Working on old vehicles everyday is hard on the body in almost every way. Lots of stuff goes wrong on even a basic job which means you have to talk the customer into paying more for the additional issues or do stuff for free. You can minimize it as you get better coordination. Its glamorized in social media and TV. Doing it in Canada where everything rusts badly makes it 3 times as hard. As a test, do a rear main seal, oil pan gasket, and inner axle seals on your 40 and keep in mind every minute a truck sits in a shop bay is either money your making if its currently being worked on, or money being wasted if your waiting on parts. If your still excited look into it further. I also question if hardly any old Toyota's exist in Canada anymore because of the rust.

 

[bikersmurf]

The closest to what you’re looking to do I’m aware of in Canada is EBI Cruisers. I’d call him and pick his brain. Either he’ll be your parts connection or he’ll talk you out of it.

Over 50… I’d not want to do it because fixing my own rig is more than enough for me. But I have lived with chronic pain for decades so your experience may vary.

 

[numby]

I think you might have to broaden your services to include general maintenance on older 4x4s or maybe even pre-1990 vehicles as well. You can be selective as needed to fill out the work week.

If you don't have to make a living wage or pay huge overhead (because you have Canadian healthcare and retirement benefits coming) you can work at a more leisurely pace, work shorter days, and have a shop helper do the ugly stuff like pressure washing, parts cleaning, and floor sweeping. There's that one guy on utoob that only works on old land rovers up there. He seems somewhat knowledgeable about those really simple cars and seems to take forever with the work he does (he does film a lot and monetizes it I'm sure) but he doesn't appear to be going out of business.

 

[aztoyman]

I did a complete career change starting at 40 years old. I went from being a mechanic at a Caterpillar dealership to an X-ray tech. Went from CAT machines to CAT scans in level 1 trauma. Took me 4 years to get a two year degree to take a pay cut. (at first) Graduated at 45 and went straight into the night shift. Yes I like nights and it was a choice.

I knew several people that were doing what I initially THOUGHT would be MY dream job. Custom fabrication at hot rod shops. EVERY ONE of them eventually quit doing it. They said it wasn't fun anymore working on other peoples stuff and NEVER had time for their own. Very picky and demanding customers and hardly any time off. Took the fun out of it. Obviously not everybody feels that way, just think seriously about that.

I went the mining and construction equipment route because it was in demand here in AZ and paid higher than auto shops back when I got into it. I made a lot of money and even more when I became a field mechanic. I got to travel all over the state and even into Mexico, New Mexico and California so with the variety I never got bored. I didn't lose interest in wrenching and still had time to work on my projects. As an employee, I didn't have to worry about the business side or having employees. I could just enjoy my good paying job, have good benefits and go home every day to my family.

I think learning the trade would be good whether you go into the trade or not. I had to do a welding program and took two semesters of electrical classes and a hydraulics class at a community collage before the Cat dealership would hire me. Not having those skills I was denied a position there for two years of applications. I did the classes while working shift work at a mine and having a long commute so if you can get the training without having to work, I say jump on it. Even if you change your mind about opening a shop you still benefit and if you choose, plenty of people will ask if you do side jobs.

IDK what you do now but if you have no business experience, that would be another thing to learn.

Good luck!

 

[RevISK]

Ha! I’m down for that. Just have to decide who’s going to move…..cold and snow 5-6 months of the year or dry and warm……hard decision

I appreciate the responses to far - giving me lots to consider. Keep ‘em coming!

You spelled “hot as satan’s nether regions” wrong.

We could operate on both sides of border, but in truth, my mother was Canadian so I have an in.

 

[jmylie]

Well, you really need to enjoy working on old, rusty LandCruisers.

Maybe add importing LandCruisers into Canada and selling them.

Basically, looking for rust free vehicles. My 91 LJ77 has very little rust compared to my 2007 FJ Cruiser. The LJ was imported from Spain.

Finding parts is always a challenge, so consider that also.

Good luck, whatever you decide.