I want to become a mechanic and I want to work on old VWs

[TorqueLegend]

I want to become a mechanic and I want to work on old VWs.

Are there any mechanics in here that can give any tips on where to start or what to avoid?

For background, I'm based in SoCal, 33 years old, no professional mechanic experience but I've done a number of jobs on my own cars ranging from replacing shocks and structs, rebuilding carbs, replacing brake pads and calipers, installing new in dash and backup camera, soldering wires, etc.. I've always been into doing this kind of work and this is the path I want to take.

I am going to start reaching out a few shops and see if they hire apprentices or entry level guys but any advice would be helpful, as I don't even really know where to start.

Is community college the move? Should I try to get training from a dealership (do they still do that?), any ideas on what to expect or programs I should steer clear of? Do apprentices get paid? If I want to work on older cars or older VWs is there a particular path I should try to take?

Thanks

[baldessariclan]

Given the experience level you're describing for yourself, I'd recommend that at a minimum you get and read through both John Muir's "How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive" manual, and also the official Bentley service manual(s) for the VW year ranges and models you're planning to be working on. You might also want to get and read through Tom Wilson's "How to Rebuild Your Volkswagen Air-Cooled Engine" guide as well.

Here's wishing you good luck in your endeavors, sir!!
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1971 Standard Beetle — fairly stock / driver

baldessariclan -- often in error, never in doubt...

[KTPhil]

I've worked on old VWs since teenhood (so that's about 50 years). I'm pretty good at both major non-body work, and also the small fiddly stuff that old VWs need attention paid to.

I enjoy it, and many folks say, "gee, you should do this for a living."

But they are wrong.

I take waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long to make money at it (either for myself, or as a paid worker). I'd be let go in a week for taking too long.

These are not plug and play, replace the whole assembly type of cars like new cars. They take craftsman skills, and schools don't teach it, modern shops don't want the work, and specialty shops struggle to make money from generally cheap VW owners.

Sorry to be Debbie Downer, but this is not a lucrative career. And not satisfying if you work for someone else and have to make a profit.

But if this is your passion, I'd suggest finding another job to pay the bills, and work as an intern at a respected restoration shop that is willing to take the time to teach you. Don't expect to start doing real work for a year. You will be cleaning parts and sweeping the floor for a while. But keep your eyes open, and ask questions.
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Current Fleet:
- '71 Fastback
- '69 Westfalia
Retired:
- '67 Beetle
- '65 Beetle (x2)
- '65 Bus
- '71 Squareback

[Glenn]

MY friend owns a show that is 50% aircooled VWs. He has, in the past, hired kids as "floor sweepers", meaning you start at the bottom mostly cleaning up and running errands.If he deems you have some mechanical ability you learn to do oil changes, valve adjustments and other simple jobs. Then comes brakes and a number of other tasks from interior and exterior things.

Eventually you learn how to R&R engines, transaxles and do front end and steering work.

Expect pay to begin at $15/hr (off the books) and rising to $25/hr as your ability grows. After a few years you can earn a lot more, but for the 1st year or 2 a lot of your time is not generating billable hours.

33 years old,is a bit old to start at the bottom.
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי

[Cusser]

[Shonandb]

If you are passionate about it and have some general mechanical knowledge, do some research in and around your area and make a list of VWAC as well as regular garages/shops to target and instead of calling, drive around and stop by each one to introduce yourself and ask if they need a helper. Make up a one page overview with your contact info and the work you've done/are comfortable doing.

I did this a few times when I was travelling and arrived in a new town. It took a few days of dropping by but I found work pretty quickly. Started doing oil changes, tires, and moved onto brakes working with a licensed mechanic to check to make sure it was done right. Within a month I was doing major jobs from suspension to engine rebuild work. I focussed on disassmbling and measuring everything and the mechanic would do all the reassembly with new parts etc. This allowed the mechanic to do the things they preferred doing and the shop, more throughput. I was offered an apprentiship option at one place but I was only there for a year so I didn't take it.

I had a buddy from high school do the community college route and he worked in a shop for about 10 years after he got his license and then went on to teach at the college he got his papers from so all good.

Most VWAC shops are run by aging guys so although they may not be keen to bring you on at first, they might see a bit of themselves in your interests and give you a chance. As a young single guy, I made decent money as a mechanic's helper but I came from a poor family so real work was better than sweeping the floor to make ends meet. However, at that time, I would have done anything to make money.

Good luck!
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76 Westy with a 2.5L Subaru SOHC + Vanagon (010) Automatic Transaxle
Build & Trip Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=758760
Previous 1973 Panel Bus:
Click to view image

[Abscate]

[pondoras box]

Skip mechanics! Rust repair is where the money is. None of the major auto body places will touch it they only want to do collision repair. Now don’t get the idea that restoring and selling cars is the way to go because it isn’t. You will have way more money in the car than you can sell it for.

Get good at pan half replacement and replacing heater channels and there is plenty of work to do. If you’re not afraid of doing bus floors and rockers most of them out there need a degree of this. Even sunny Southern California has rusty buses, plus people import them.

Learn to weld and the world is your oyster. I have no idea what that means but apparently an oystery world is a good thing.
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Looking for anything from Hal Casey Motors out of Hamburg New York, from license plate surrounds to matchbooks.

1961 23 Window (Bobo)
1965 11 Window (Zelda). https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=563183
1965 13 Window (Lucas)
1957 Oval ragtop
1960 hardtop
1964 hardtop
1965 hardtop
1988 Cabriolet VR6 conversion
Plus a lot of other rusty junk

[Glenn]

[halfassleatherworks]

Learn and understand how the factory did something, as almost everyone has there own way of doing it, and remember the backyard engineers know how to do it better.

[Abscate]

[TorqueLegend]

Appreciate all the advice everyone. I'm lucky enough to have made pretty good money in my last few jobs so I have enough saved up to live for a year or more while I get trained up and even longer if I get a night job. I've got a call set with a local community college advisor today to chat about their technician program which allegedly prepares students for A1-A9 ASE tests in about year and a half or so. I've also got a couple shops lined up that I will pay stops to see if they are looking for a broom boy. I'll update with what I decide to do. The rustoration angle is an interesting one I didn't think of, I've actually been considering learning to weld for a little while and might do that in the interim as their is a place that teaches classes on it near my house.

[Shonandb]

[Glenn]

[OldSchoolVW's]

As Mark Twain said, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

I think our OP has this in mind as he considers this path and, as a person who was just okay with his career, I think that is an admirable pursuit. However, most of us who are in this as a hobby enjoy it because …

we do what we want,

we do it the way we want to do it,

and

we do it at whatever pace is comfortable.

When one is working for someone else (who is trying to operate a business and make a reasonable profit), the boss/owner makes these decisions. If you can accept that and you can enjoy carrying out someone else’s wishes, you’re good to go.

One of the best quotes I’ve seen on this topic is, “turning what you love into a job or business is like using a song you love as an alarm clock, thinking that it would make you enjoy waking up early … odds are that you'll just lose most of the enjoyment of listening to that song.” Davi Medrade

TorqueLegend has a solid game plan and is to be applauded for that. For others contemplating the same (but with the less structured approach) who find this discussion, stay tuned.

Maybe the best most of us could hope for is to have a decent paying job that we don’t hate that pays the bills and puts food on the table, and do the “hobby job” as a side gig for bonus money. Could be as good as “paid therapy” …. but remember, you still have to answer to the hobby job customers, so choose them carefully.
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Tom

"Following distance is proportional to IQ."

"If you don't do it this year, you'll be one year older when you do." Warren Miller

"Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing." Wernher von Braun

'63 Beetle Sedan
'69 Beetle Sunroof
'70 Beetle Sedan
'73 Type 3 Fastback

[airschooled]

Having an enjoyable hobby that is exclusively separate from income is a sacred wealth, which grows in value with time, while also being immeasurable in bullshit dollar signs.

Forget mentors, pay, commute, and certifications… you better have something to sustain your soul when VWs don’t.

Robbie
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One-on-one tech help for your vintage Volkswagen:

www.airschooled.com

https://www.patreon.com/airschooled

[pondoras box]

The only problem with getting your ASE certification is that the don’t teach the old school techniques that you will need to work on air cooled VW’s.

My son is a VW tech and on the off chance the dealership gets an inquiry about working on AC VW’s they refer them to me. I have been teaching my son how to do these jobs and he is about there on handling them himself now. I am retired and do not want to work on other peoples stuff. I have three buses to finish up.
_________________
Looking for anything from Hal Casey Motors out of Hamburg New York, from license plate surrounds to matchbooks.

1961 23 Window (Bobo)
1965 11 Window (Zelda). https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=563183
1965 13 Window (Lucas)
1957 Oval ragtop
1960 hardtop
1964 hardtop
1965 hardtop
1988 Cabriolet VR6 conversion
Plus a lot of other rusty junk

[Glenn]

[HarrysRatBug]

If you're going the junior college route, I'd get the welding training and bodywork training since that is somewhat applicable to old bugs. A basic auto course might help with the mechanic side but anything more advanced is too advanced for old bugs. If you're willing to move, Airkewld near Phoenix is hiring, I believe! You'd be doing dirty work on suspension parts but have a chance to advance.

[Abscate]