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Hey, I'm not sure where I'm supposed to post this for sure so I'm posting it here. I'm going to college right now to be a John Deere Tech but I would like to go into something more high performance. I have a 12-valve right now that I have turned up and really enjoy the speed and smell of diesel. I was wondering if maybe anybody would have any ideas about how to get into the field of high performance diesels or if I'm just shit outta luck. Thanks.

Wyo Tech?? :humm:

I don't really want to go back to technical college after I graduate from this tech school. I'd rather go into the work force because i have some stuff i need to pay for after i graduate. I have a guaranteed job already but tractors aren't really my passion.

Well, the problem I see is that the diesel performance industry is really in limbo and everyone is holding on for dear life at the mercy of the EPA.

Im no expert here but I personally think youre better off in the heavy duty mechanics field, if you can do that. Good luck to you.

work for JD full time and do some tinkering on the side for people, installing chips fuel plates etc on the side for some extra cash...farming is always gonna be here at least in our lifetime, im almost 22 so i hope it is atleast. High performance diesel aint gonna last that long IMHO unless someone in the govt really steps up and puts an end to all this BS EPA garbage...

If i can still go to a truck pull where they are spewing black smoke out of a hood stack when im 40 ill be really surprised...:se:

I've always thought farming would always be here...the entire ag industry is getting kicked in the nuts and asked to leave California after literally having two of our three water sources completely cut off. The San Joaquin Valley ain't exactly a little mom & pop farm, either.

But lets not turn this into another bashing stupid California thread (it's fitting, just off topic from the OP). Ag is going to be a much more consistent & reliable industry. And a lot of those tractors you work on are gonna be owned by the guys who own the diesel trucks they want tweaked. If you do well repairing/maintaining a guy's tractor that he relies on for his living, he'll be a lot more willing to trust his toy truck to you to tinker with.

Maintaining high value/hight tech machines in the ag industry is a very unique market, I enjoy it a lot...but it does go up and down with the farmers' good and bad years, too.

And yes, the diesel performance industry as we currently know it is about to take a big blow...if they're willing to shut down our entire food producing ag economy in California's San Joaquin Valley to hypothetically save the smelt fish population, you'd better believe they're willing to go after shutting down a recreational activity that's associated with farmers and rednecks; all in the name of saving the planet.

I see ya'lls points in all of that. I"ll probably stay on with john deere after i graduate but go ahead and switch dealerships or something. I dont think farmings going anywhere. thanx for ya'lls help

Zach West, If I were you I'd look into the construction end of the heavy equipment market and then do the high performance bombing on nights and weekends to start.

I wasnt talking about tractors and farming. Im talking about trucking, logging, mining, road work equipment, construction, oilfield etc...... the list goes on.

I would have to agree with Dr. Evil

Don't get locked into just farm equipment unless the dealer also works on allot of Heavy Equipment. (Dozers, excavators, scrapers, TLBs, skidsteers, etc......) In todays job market you will need to know as many different skills as possible.

Yeah I agree with everyone's posts so far. Heavy Duty is still very stable and decent paying. Stability can be very important, especially as you get older. Any high-performance industry is purely a niche market and is highly subjected to micro booms and busts in the economy as people's free spending money fluctuates so much. The impact can be even higher in this industry with a faltering economy than it can be with maintenance mechanics.
The proposed idea of working on the side doing installs for performance parts is an excellent suggestion. It's a great way to build a reputation and clientele, and after a few years if it goes well you might be able to set up your own operation.

Funnily enough I had intentions of going the same route after high school....ended up doing engineering instead though. :humm:

You should move to Lubbock... I hear there's lots of cool stuff there.. hehe just kidding babe

hmm lubbock does sound kinda good anybody know of any high performance jobs in lbk. or any kind of mechanic job around there.

Ive been working in the heavy duty truck industry for the last 5 years. Graduated from a 2 year tech school. It dont pay much from where im from, but if you could get on at like a Peterbilt or KW i bet you could make some money. Funny thing i went to school for HD trucks and i just got a new job at a JD dealership working on Combines, and setting up equipment. I start in a week. I kinda figured Farming around here isnt going anywhere, but all the truck shops are going up in smoke. Figure i would try to get some AG experience. Good luck to you.

PS. i do HP stuff on the side, its kinda the best thing for me to do.

Wyotech dosnt do diesel performance. In my opinion that place is a waste of money if you know anything about cars going in

There are no entry level jobs in "Diesel performance". To get into the "industry", either get very good doing regular work on Diesels and build up enough of a reputation for people to trust you doing high performance stuff, or put a lot of money into your own performance stuff and start beating other people to collect sponsor dollars.

The EPA is never going to shut it down, or else they would've shut down gasoline drag racing a long time ago.

boy after youve worked a while open your own shop and do both main line and high performance two of my friends in california are both rich now and there own boss