Hi, My name is Ben... Covid has killed my shop

[ftp2leta]

I have been here for a long time and I have helped a lot of people for so many years. It's the way I am. My website: www.benplace.com will stay on for now. It's time to move on after over 150 stock VW engine rebuilt and over 145 Subaru engine conversion.

Since I had no new customers lately and I had to eat I had to find a job.. I did.

But my shop, my baby is going to disappear soon, it feel bizarre.

Covid is responsible at about 55%, the rest is about ugly... not being polite customers that drain the juice out of me.

To you all, next time you deal with a competent and honest Westy mechanic, be nice and understandable.

We are a rare bread and we are getting tire of cry baby.

Voila my friend,

The French VW Westy mechanic from up north in Canada.

Cheers.

Ben
_________________
Working with rust, grease, dirt and dust is a sad truth.
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FI part for sale: http://www.benplace.com/parts_sale1.htm
My site: http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
Subi conversion: http://www.benplace.com/vanaru_eng.htm
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/ftp2leta

[jlrftype7]

Merci Ben…..
Sorry to hear of your troubles…
_________________
'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto

[4Gears4Tires]

Your site has helped me a ton in my body work. Thank you so much for that resource.
_________________
'87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition

[cmayna]

Very sorry to read this. Thank you Ben.
_________________
'90 Westy / automatic.
If I'm not working on the camper or my '50 Chebbie truck, I'm either fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.


Craig

[ftp2leta]

Remember that sentence, a westy is not the reason for travelling, it's just one way out of many of doing so.

Love you all.

Stay safe and enjoy life

Ben
_________________
Working with rust, grease, dirt and dust is a sad truth.
------------------------------------------------------
FI part for sale: http://www.benplace.com/parts_sale1.htm
My site: http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
Subi conversion: http://www.benplace.com/vanaru_eng.htm
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/ftp2leta

[dobryan]

This is a sad story. You have helped so many.

Live well and enjoy your life.

I hope you will not be a stranger.
_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[djkeev]

Ben, I just referred to your site today.

You are an asset to the hobby!

Don't leave thinking that you aren't loved or appreciated.
You have left your mark.

Best wishes As you move ahead, may the sun rise upon your future.

Dave
_________________
Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos

Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[ftp2leta]

Thanks you all for your kind words, it's so hard quitting the Westy world, been my life for the past 22 years.
_________________
Working with rust, grease, dirt and dust is a sad truth.
------------------------------------------------------
FI part for sale: http://www.benplace.com/parts_sale1.htm
My site: http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
Subi conversion: http://www.benplace.com/vanaru_eng.htm
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/ftp2leta

[ftp2leta]

Some years ago we lost some great VW people, Like Boston Bob and Daryl from AA Transaxle, they where both my friends.

It was hard on me to see those great Guru died.

Most people here don't even know them.

I remember them. They where the king of VW Westy

Salut
_________________
Working with rust, grease, dirt and dust is a sad truth.
------------------------------------------------------
FI part for sale: http://www.benplace.com/parts_sale1.htm
My site: http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
Subi conversion: http://www.benplace.com/vanaru_eng.htm
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/ftp2leta

[bobhill8]

Ben, Your videos helped me do something I never thought I could do - take an engine out of a vehicle, repair it, and put it back in - fixed. Thank you for that. Wish you the best going forward.
_________________
1986 Westy
1971 Squareback

[Steve M.]

This gives another definition for "Black Friday".
Never met you Ben, but I've heard and seen through your website nothing but good things.
Sorry to hear your closing your shop. Move on and good luck in all your future adventures.
_________________
This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.

[hans j]

That's terrible. We've actually had our two busiest years the last two years. It was slim last spring, especially on flat rate, but it's been pretty busy since then. Hope the new job treats you well.
_________________
1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181

[Glenn]

It's too bad but covid has been good for others. It seems some people saved extra money since they did not vacation. Home improvement contractors are booked, we're waiting g almost 9 month to get our kitchen redone.

My friends repair shop is so backed up that he's not taking on any new jobs since there's no room in the yard to store them. He's contracted with me to do his engine work and I've built 7 engines this year and the customers don't mind the ever increasing cost of parts.

He does all years of vws so there's a bit of everything in the yard.

Years ago he only did newer cars and almost went under but the air cooled vws really saved his business. .Maybe try branching out to widen your clientele
_________________
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

[Sodo]

Come to the PNW, plenty of Vanagons to fix and you don’t need as much of your rust repair tools.
_________________


'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[The Pilch]

We feel your pain brother - we opened a graphics shop in Springville Utah exactly three weeks before Covid hit, and no matter what we did, we fell down a hole which we couldn't get out of.

When we look back, we are tearful. We cannot imagine how it feels having so many years into a business, as you have. Prayers are with you my man.
_________________
'85 Vanagon GL, weekender package, 1.9 wbx named Freddie/ '61 Beetle named Ringo/ '78 Dodge Monaco which is nothing like the Bluesmobile so please don't cast that oily rag upon it.

[Abscate]

I feel your pain , Ben

3.5 hours south if you, the last air cooled builder closed 5 years ago

Consider doing engines on the side as a business that will supplement your income rather than bring complete support.

Labor rates of $200 Canadian are common here
_________________
.ssS!

[djkeev]

I am of the mindset that these Covid years are going to be studied for generations to come.
Not unlike topics found today such as the industrial revolution, the information age, the great depression, etc.......
There will be intense courses studying the economic impact felt around the globe.
How the World wide economy changed.
How the manufacturing system was altered
How distribution of goods changed
Why did some businesses soar (such as housing) and others die off.
On and on and on it will go.

Glad I lived it and don't need to learn it and be tested on it!

Dave
_________________
Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos

Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[Glenn]

Many businesses needed to reinvent themselves. One local restaurant couldn't server food during the height of the pandemic so they used there space to sell holiday plants.


There seems to be a real need for QUALITY rebuilt engines and your opening post you said "after over 150 stock VW engine rebuilt and over 145 Subaru engine conversion". That tells me you're doing something right. If you can arrange with a shipping company to ship engines at a reasonable cost you could scale down and just be an internet based business... even if it's just on the side.

As I posted, I do Type 1 engine builds at my friend's shop but when he gets a Type 4 I pass on them since I simply don't have enough experience on them or have a good source of parts. I tell him the customer is better off buying a long block from someone and having him install it. The big problem is finding a vendor that specializes in Type 4 and Vanagon engines.

You can be that guy.

Build a few long blocks to have in stock and as they sell.. build more.

You already have a solid reputation here, so place and add and let the community that you're have inventory and can ship. It doesn't have to be full time, but the income can always help.

There's a need and you have the experience, you just have to re-imagine.
_________________
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

[Robw_z]

Ben,

I really enjoyed your videos and you have been a great asset to this community. Thank you!

-Rob

[J Charlton]

Drive south, leave your tools behind
Buy a set of tools
Go on an extended road trip.
Have wrench Will travel
Return after 180 days
Repeat
Lots of folks out there need your expertise and help
_________________
NAHT hightop availability May 18 2023 -
Bend Oregon - for Oregon, California- (7 tot , 3 available), Kennewick Wa (6 tot, 1 available), Small Car Performance Fife Wa. (7 tot 4 avail ), Fairbanks Alaska (1 tot 0 avail)
Future availability TBD : Springfield Mass. Staunton Va, Florida, Colorado, Grand Junction Co., SLC probably late 2024