I'm pretty new around here, having just introduced myself a number of months ago. But re-introducing myself is not the only reason for my posting here... I'd also like to see if any of you may have advice for my wife and I regarding a car enthusiasts related situation (sort of) we've been dealing with... I guess I'm asking you all this mainly because we're all car fanatics, and you're people who I feel I can be more apt to trust with something important and involves our financial situation. You see, my 84 year old father-in-law, who owns an established engine machine shop out in San Jose, CA, is now having to go into a nursing home and we're trying to figure out what to do with his shop. The big problem for us, besides being over 1700 miles away (moved to Austin, TX 18 mos. ago), is that he has owned this shop & machining equipment for quite a few years, so it' not the latest & greatest in the machining world. If you know anything about the engine machining industry these days, you'll know that older outdated equipment, while still more than capable of doing high quality work, it is not easy to sell off (as a piece by piece deal, nor as a turn-key business). My thought is either to find a buyer, find someone who knows engine machining that can come in and help us run it, or maybe find a car club that might be interested in finding a way to make it all work... Unfortunately, my father-in-law has no savings and his care is going to be costly unless we just leave things up to the wonderful state of California... So it would be really a great thing to find something to help him financially. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Are there any folks here who have connections in the San Jose area of California? Do any of you know anyone with a machining background that's maybe looking for work and is up for a BIG challenge?
Sorry for turning my re-introduction into such a mouthful, but as you can imagine, we're pretty desperate. And my wife is extremely stressed over the whole situation because the landlord is insisting that we get this figured out ASAP.
Thanks to you all... it does look like a great group here.
There's always a need for machine equipment and there are machinists that would rather have old school stuff. In other words I wouldn't consider equipment undesirable.
I would think you could find someone to take the shop whole as a turn key machine shop but time is going to be your toughest factor.
As mentioned above you would also do well advertising all of the equipment for sale as their are always people looking for second hand machining equipment for their shops, garages, etc and I wouldn't think you would have trouble moving it all for a reasonable price.
Good luck and welcome to TX!
-Sean
If you get together a posting for either selling the business or the equipment put a link up in this thread and I'm sure the guys would be more than happy to pass it around on FB pages and other forums. Car guys take care of Car guys!
__________________
-Sean
Comp Performance Group
Business Development Manager
I would be looking for reputable auctioneers in the region. A good auction house can get you top dollar.
__________________ Steve Hayes
"Dust Off"
68 Camaro
Speed has never killed anyone. Suddenly becoming stationary, that's what gets you! "Jeremy Clarkson"
Damoin, at O'Keef engines is a friend of mine that recently went out and set up a large shop. I believe he's still looking for some machines to complete his arsenal. Not sure if he has the funds to do so tho.
I'll check with him and give him a heads up and get back at you. The shop is in Hollister, bout 45 min from San Jose.
My good buddy owns AEPM in Fremont, the SF bay area is a pretty tough area to own a auto machine shop. Lots of government Nazis around to step on your toes. My buddies shop is quite capable and he owns a Sunnen VGS20 seat and guide machine which is one of the best for precision high performance work. The business is tough! My buddy does builds for outfits like 034 Motorsports he just finished a 700+HP Audi 5 cylinder build for those guys, I often tell him he is not charging enough for his time and expertise in doing these exotic builds. His shop rate is $90/HR the local car dealers get 120/HR for their Wyo Tech parts swappers...a good machine ship should bring that in too. I've seen him warranty so many customer screw ups for goodwill, I would have told the idiot how he screwed up and what it was going to cost him to fix it! I'd sell the equipment off if I were you.....too many stupid people on this planet to try and make a shop successful today. If my buddy closed shop I would use S&S in San Leandro....some of the nicest equipment around.....Rottler F65 CNC engine machining center. Best motor developer in SF bay area....probably west of the Mississippi is Bob Wirth in Hayward...ask Mike Maier where he took his ex NASCAR Roush Yates motor after it "popped" my friend Dan worked for Bob for about 5 years before opening his shop.
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
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So what would you do in my situation?
& "Warhawk" 
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