I finally hit 500 engine rebuilds and it caught me off guard

I was going through my old job books last weekend and counted up all the engine rebuilds I've done since I started working on cars back in 2003. The number came to 512 total. That includes everything from small four-cylinder Honda motors to big block Chevy V8s. I never thought I'd hit that many in a career that started in a two bay garage with a single air compressor and a rusty tool box. Has anyone else kept track of how many of a certain job they've done over the years?

2 comments

2 Comments

morgan.cameron3d agoTop Commenter

Damn, 512 is no joke. That's like 20+ years of turning wrenches. I've kept a rough count of HVAC compressor swaps I've done on my own but never got a solid number like that. Bet your shop floor told a story or two over all those rebuilds though.

pipergonzalez3d ago

That "rusty tool box" probably held up better than your back after 500 engine rebuilds. @morgan.cameron is right about the shop floor telling stories. Mine has a permanent oil stain shaped like Florida from a 2005 Ford Focus that fought back. Pretty sure I've rebuilt enough small block Chevys to accidentally make a V8 throne by now. How many of those 512 were the kind where you had to stop and count bolts twice?