There is nothing I like more than being able to beat the guys who pay someone else to build their truck. I built my truck with the help of a few select friends and my own two hands, out of my own pocket. Like I named the truck...it was built ONE PIECE AT A TIME. I've owned it for 6 years and its never been dropped off to someone else to have work done. I've had a machine shop go through the head, and a professional go through the 6 speed tranny, but I pulled them both and took them to these folks to get it done as it was outside my capabilities.

I love when guys show up to the track with their built trucks that they paid some shop big money to build for them, and put a good 10-20' on them. You know they are gonna be on the phone on the ride home calling up the shop and telling them it needs more.

Its much more rewarding to me to know that I built it myself and I take a lot more pride in it. Its also priceless to see the look on people's faces when they ask me who built my truck and I tell them I did.

 

u need to start telling them a name, and giving them ur number, and see if they call you

 

Its just like wheeling in moab and in new mexico when i was in high school. the top of my windsheild said " BUILT NOT BOUGHT!!" i was a 15 yr old at the time but guess what i turned every nut and bolt on that thing and could fix every inch of it, but you always have the guys who have the money to have someone do it. I have more respect for a man/woman who can do it themselves even though they may not have the nicest ride vs. the guy/gal who has no clue on whats going on. I agree with DM whole heartedly and thanks for this thread.

 

we have some young guys on here thats doin a great job building there trucks. 12valvetater is one and dan klein is another i can think of. a bunch of good talent.

 

i see how it is tony leave me outa that list

 

your old now ed. you are past 20

 

Not to be a dick, but is a compound twin turbo setup really that earth shattering?

Big companies start as small companies that are good at what they do. Yes it is really cool to see the projects that come out of peoples garages. However, to be realistic, most of those guys borrowed ideas from other areas and applied it to their project. It still took some skill and a lot of engineering to do it but not necessarily "new". THe guys who do create the "new" stuff are usually the engine and car makers themselves. Designing new stuff takes lots of time and R&D which takes lots of money. It takes a big company to be able to devote the resources to do that. Small companies do really well at making niche products. They find something a few people want, and then they build it. Sometimes they don't get all the kinks worked out before they put it on the market. Sometimes big companies don't either.

Like it or not, Its the big boys and their big money that drive innovation. New ideas and products that trickle down to us once the price has dropped a bit. Big companies and small companies are both needed to keep the sport progressing.

Customer service is another matter entirely. That needs to be judged more on a case by case basis as opposed to a "big shop" "little shop" thing.