Auto Body Repair and Engine Machine Shop

Like any American Dream Engine Block 4-Year Trade School of Automotive Technology, too, has a dream: the creation to enhance automotive technology. Engine Block 4-Year Trade School of Automotive Technology is an acronym for. All our work on vehicles will be live on the Web Auto Repair Database. 

Engine Block 4-Year Trade School of Automotive Technology Auto Body Restoration Technology will not only be part of the Engine Block 4-Year Trade School of Automotive Technology student’s programs. Still, it will be part of Engine Block 4-Year Trade School of Automotive Technology private commercial businesses:

Engine Block 4-Year Trade School of Automotive Technology Auto Body Restoration students will come from the Auto Body/Collision Technology class after they finish the student body repair programs.

This business is designed for individuals or businesses worldwide to send us their vintage cars for restoration.

Vintage cars or trucks going through a restoration program will have the auto or truck body removed from the frame, engines and transmissions will be removed, then the frame will have anything attached, such as brake and fuel lines will be removed, the frame will be cleaned, the frame will be straightened if needed, unibody, (a one-piece frame and body structure), parts of the body and will be strengthened where needed. The frame or under-unibody will go through sandblast cleaning and power washing; then, the frame will be painted. 

New brake and fuel lines will be installed and secured to the frame as the originals.

New all-around disk brakes will be added to the frames of cars or trucks.

All rusted metal will be removed from the removed body, new metal will be welded, and technicians will grind away the weld trails or marks. There will be no plastic or fiberglass replacements on the restored body. 

After the body has been restored, the entire undercarriage of the car will be undercoated for better protection.

If the client requests, their engines and transmissions can be rebuilt. If the client requests to modify their car to a muscle car, it can be done. Those can be added if they want a vintage car with brand-new engines and transmissions. If needed, the engine compartment can be altered to fit the new engine and transmission.

If the client requests, the front and back seats will be removed, reconditioned, or reinforced springs, padding, reupholstered, and then reinstalled.

Dashboards will be removed, a new heater core will be added if possible or reconditioned, and new wiring will be added where needed.

The trunk space will be restored to the same level as the body, all rusted areas will be removed, and new metal and carpeting will be added to match the interior of the car.

When the car or truck leaves the shop, it will be new.

 Machine Shop Technology 

Breakdown of what machine shops do:

Engine Machining:

• Block and head work: This involves tasks like boring and resurfacing cylinder walls, honing surfaces, machining valve seats, and replacing worn components like valve guides.

• Crankshaft and connecting rod work: This includes grinding crankshafts to remove imperfections, balancing them for smooth operation, and reconditioning or replacing connecting rods.

• Bearing and flywheel resurfacing: Worn bearings and flywheels can be resurfaced to create a smooth, flat surface for proper operation.

Other Services:

• Engine rebuilding: Involves a complete overhaul of the engine, replacing worn parts and returning it to like-new condition.

• Drivetrain services could include resurfacing and balancing driveshafts, repairing differentials, and rebuilding axles.

• Performance modifications: Some shops specialize in modifying engines for increased power and performance, like porting and polishing cylinder heads or installing performance camshafts.

• Welding and fabrication: They may offer welding services for repairing cracked components or fabricating custom parts.

Additional Points:

• Auto machine shops will cater to professional mechanics and individual car owners.

• The level of service and specialization can vary depending on what the customer is willing to pay. Helping Hand will focus on all types of vehicles or engines.

• Helping Hand will use high-precision equipment and require skilled technicians with a deep understanding of engine mechanics and machining techniques.

Based on standard mechanic workstation sizes, you can expect the total square footage to fall within the range of:

• Minimum: 500 square feet (assuming 100 sq ft per workstation + minimal aisle space)

• Maximum: 1250 square feet (assuming 250 sq ft per workstation + generous aisle space)

The formula for more precise estimation:

1. Determine individual workstation size: Based on your specific needs, determine the typical size (length x width) of each workstation.

2. Calculate individual area: Multiply the length and width of each workstation to get its area in square feet.

3. Add workstation areas: Add the area of each workstation together to get the total area occupied by the workstations.

4. Factor in aisle space: Decide the desired width between workstations (e.g., 3-5 feet). To get the total aisle area, multiply the aisle width by the number of workstations (minus 1).

5. Add aisle area: Add the aisle area to the total workstation area from step 3.

6. Consider additional space: If you need space for tool storage, parts storage, etc., estimate the needed area for each and add it to the total from step 5

7. Adjust for layout: If your layout isn't strictly side-by-side, adjust the calculation to account for the actual footprint of your chosen layout.

Warehouse size and complexity:

• Electrical installation for small warehouse auto repair shops (under 10,000 sq ft) might cost between $12,000 and $24,000.

Spire Energy cost: 

• Medium warehouses auto repair shop (10,000 - 50,000 sq ft) could range from $24,000 to $55,000.

Spire Energy cost: 

• Large warehouses for auto repair shops will naturally require more extensive installations and incur higher costs.

Spire Energy cost: 

Power needs:

• Equipment and machinery: Identify the equipment you'll operate and their power requirements. Large machinery can significantly impact overall power needs and installation costs.

• Lighting: LED lighting is an energy-efficient option that needs to be factored in.

• Heating/cooling: Depending on your location and warehouse type, heating and cooling systems can demand significant power. Consider energy-efficient solutions like solar panels or heat pumps.

Additional factors:

• Location: Electrical costs vary depending on your region and local utility rates.

• Building type: New construction is generally cheaper to equip than retrofitting an existing building.

• Complexity of installation: Multi-story buildings or challenging layouts can increase costs.

For an electrical installation in a small warehouse (less than 10,000 square feet), you can expect to pay anywhere from $12,000 to $24,000. The cost of a medium-sized warehouse (between 10,000 and 50,000 square feet) will likely range from $24,000 to $55,000. Depending on the installation's specific requirements, the cost for a large warehouse (over 50,000 square feet) could exceed $120,000 or more.

Nonrefrigerated warehouses in the US use an average of 6.1 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity and 13,400 Btu of natural gas per square foot annually. Lighting and space heating account for approximately 76% of total energy use (figure 1), making these systems the best targets for energy savings. In comparison, refrigerated warehouses use much more electricity, consuming an average of 24.9 kWh and 9,200 Btu of natural gas per square foot per year.

The average cost of utilities for commercial buildings is $2.10 per square foot.

• Dealership size: Larger dealerships with more inventory and higher sales volume tend to have more bays than smaller ones.

• Brand(s) sold: Luxury car dealerships, for example, might have fewer bays but with more specialized equipment, while high-volume brands might prioritize a more significant number of general service bays.

• Location: Dealerships in urban areas with limited space might have fewer bays than those in rural areas with more land available.

• Service focus: Dealerships prioritizing quick lube changes and other express services might have dedicated bays for those tasks. In contrast, those focused on major repairs might have larger, more versatile bays.

That said, here's a rough range to give you an idea:

Small dealerships: 4-8 bays

Medium dealerships: 8-15 bays

Large dealerships: 15+ bays