ls_fanatic

I know this is a bit off topic, but it's my dream to become a high performance fabricator/builder. I've read a lot of success stories about UTI/Wyotech, but I've also talked to people/shop owners who say you don't learn enough during the courses. I really want to pursue a career building ls engines (love ls engines lol), also specializing in tuning and fabricating turbo systems. I've worked on cars since I was young, but have no formal training. I've worked at a mechanic shop doing tune-ups, brake jobs, etc., and also did cam swaps, intake manifold swaps, exhaust on personal hot rods (nothing too in-depth), but it's been my dream to do more. Wyotech and UTI are really expensive schools to attend, and I'd have to apply for financial aid. I don't want 30-40k in loans for nothing and don't have the money to attend. I live in North Louisiana and there aren't really any high performance shops I could work or take an apprenticeship at. Does anyone have some advice or words of wisdom they could give me?

bww3588

iTrader: (49)

UNOH./thread

Zmg00camaross

iTrader: (11)

Would go to SAM and buy yourself a welder and tools and start learning stuff on your own. Wyotech and UTI aren't high performance schools, they teach you to work in a dealership. You get out what you out in.

armyinfantry3id

i went to UTI and it was a great start, but it is just that A START. continuing education is the key to success. you will never stop learning in this industry. UTI does not have fab classes, and as stated before they are geared only towards the dealership side of the auto industry. SAM would have been my choice but when i was looking they didnt accept the gi bill like they do now! good luck

ls_fanatic

Thanks for the feedback!

lifeisgood

iTrader: (4)

Its a start that's it.
I went there, i learned alot.....but they don't focus on modifying engines as much as the basics.
If u already have a good foundation i would go to SAM.

4u 2 nv

iTrader: (29)

I have a lot of personal experience as I worked for a long time at one of the schools mentioned in here..

as with any school..."YOU GET OUT OF IT WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT"...

I had students leaving with a C- and bad attendance and wonder why no shop would speak with them…then I had guys walk out with PERFECT attendance and grades and actually showed a desire to learn and strive forward and had jobs waiting for them starting off well into the $20/hour area…not bad for anyone in this economy let alone someone in their early 20s. Any of the schools mentioned will be solid...if you make them solid. SAM prob focuses a little more towards the LS industry for obvious reasons but UTI and WyoTech both have high perfomance classes.

As far as price...schooling in general isnt cheap. Just gotta figure out of the juice is worth the squeeze.

ls_fanatic

Man, I can tell you I've already graduated from junior college with a 3.8 GPA and I had the top grades in the class for the major I chose. I definitely put my all into anything I do and take pride in it; especially when I'm paying for it. lol! I absolutely do not want to work at a dealership though. I've worked at a mechanic shop doing general maintenance and repairs on things like a Ford Taurus and other granny cars. That's just no fun to me. I WANNA GO FAST!!! LOL!!! I think with the knowledge I already possess and my serious attitude, I'd do well in any of the schools, but it sounds like SAM is more geared towards what I'd like to pursue. I really appreciate the experience insight though.

ls_fanatic

Thanks a lot man!!! I've been hearing this over and over. I don't think Wyotech is for me. It's 6 months of basics with 3 months of high performance. That isn't enough time to gain a lot of knowledge. If it was a two year program, I would probably consider it more. I enrolled at the local trade school today in welding. I may take the welding course and try to go to work at a high performance chassis fab shop or any high performance shop to learn more. I think with blueprint reading, tig, mig, , stick, structural, and pipe welding/fitting I could get my feet off the ground.

IamSam

iTrader: (2)

I went to wyotech. It cost me a ton of money and im now stuck in a career field that i dont want to be in. The automotive flat rate system is a joke plain and simple. If you want to do what your doing... wyotech really isnt the right "school". Oh and BTW wyotech/uti are businesses NOT schools!

2002 SS #476

iTrader: (2)

Absolutely Not. If you are serious about going into the automotive industry go to a community college and work at a machine shop, performance shop, or something else along those lines. Some performance shops look down on dealer technicians. I assume you are young though and have not developed bad habits yet. It is not always about the school on your resume but more about how bad you want it and the connections you make.

Be smart and purchase your tools while you’re in school, typically 50% off. It is a one-time opportunity to purchase quality tools with that kind of discount, don’t put all your money in a box and not have tools either.

If you are really serious and dedicated, mechanical engineering is a much better avenue. You’ll understand things far beyond a technician and have the design aspect and theory down too. You also have many more doors open and you can work on cars, your own, as a hobby. Think long term before making your decision.

NoRice

every team i ever worked for was a 'who ya know' job. i made the mistake of not keeping up with those people because i was doing okay.

this is what i tell everyone that asks where to start. i frankly suck at math so bad that there was no way i could get a ME degree. at 29 i regret not trying atleast.

as far as where to if a degree isnt in the cards? SAM would be the place. fab work can come later IMO

Knapper411

iTrader: (2)

I went to Wyotech and did chassis fab and high performance engines along with ASM. The school was great for a base platform of knowledge, but by the time I graduated I knew working at a dealership wasn't for me. I got a job at a private shop and 6 years later bought the place and now I get to build the occasional project car with turbos and engine swaps but the real money is in maintenance and gravy.

It sounds like you are on the right track, taking a welding course along with the fact you already have a base knowledge of cars should be a good start. Best bet would be to find a place that allowed you to earn money to start doing what you like as a hobby on the side and if you make a good name for yourself doing that perhaps start business in your career of choice. Dont get down if you aren't in your dream career right away, that sort of stuff rarely happens. Focus on working hard making money and while doing that, formulate a plan to make what you love a career.

midnightbluS10

There are plenty of shops in N Louisiana. You just don't have the connections to the right people.

Tom Delaney's shop is in Shreveport. So is pro NHRA driver Greg Stanfield, for starters.

So what makes you say that? Have you exhausted all searches and found NO results? Or are you basing that on the fact that you don't know of any right off hand? How old are you? Do you know anyone in the business?

For starters. try going out to Thunder Road once in a while. Get to know some racers. Find out who they use, if they're local, etc...


Then....if you STILL don't have the names of any shops to look at, maybe you can say there are none here in N LA. There's plenty, though. You just need to know the right people.


Hell, Kittler's Automotive Machine Shop in Bossier City is a perfect place to start. Ellis in Shreveport. There's A LOT of shops just in Shreveport/Bossier area alone.

kendogg

iTrader: (2)

This is probably the best advice in the thread. UTI grad here, auto/diesel/industrial. Not worth it, and you can get just as good an education (if not better) from a community college for a fraction the cost - AND get an actual degree that somebody besides a dealership might give a **** about.

t_raven

iTrader: (12)

I went to Wyotech in 01/02. I don't recommend anyone go to UTI or Wyotech unless they are content spending too much to get into a career that pays too little.

But like everyone has said they are schools geared toward dealer and independent repair techs.

I'd suggest talking to the kinds of shops you want to work for and ask what they suggest for schooling/training.

rkinney

I work at a dealership and attended the GM ASEP program. It is far more in depth than any wyotech/uti program and you have a job at your sponsoring dealership when you finish. You acquire an associates degree which helps if you latercwant to further your education. Also it is far less expensive and i got 60% off anything i bought through snap-on while i was in school. As far as performance schools, SAM is the way to go. I am sure there are a other good performance schools, but I have never heard anything bad about SAM. I am currently looking at other careers because the dealership industry is not for me anymore. Tired of working around dishonest people.