IMO as an engine rebuilder. The engine rebuilding trade of the 21st c. is now on the same path as the blacksmith trade of the 19th c.. With the advent of computer controlled engine management systems the modern engine is capable of 300,000+ km. without need of repair. The main income of an automotive machine shop was (is) jobber shop (Joe's garage) type engine repair. With the average engine now lasting 15+ yrs, the complexity of multi cam multi valve vvt type engines and the insurance companies writing off a higher percentage of low mile vehicles thereby creating a supply of low mileage parts, there is not enough demand to support the investment needed to equip and maintain a proliferation of modern machine shops. Another current trend that has spelled the end of the machine shop is that there is a very small percentage of the last couple of generations becoming involved with the automotive hobby or trade.
Exactly.
The volume rebuilders are all but gone.
For several years I would routinely get fliers for auctions where some big rebuilder had closed its doors and the machinery and inventory was being auctioned off.
Actually, I’d get them for the not so big machine shops too.
It would be interesting to know just how many US based shops closed their doors in the last 10-15 years....... especially in a year by year type of list.
