Posted on 08/27/2022 11:57:37 AM PDT by Hojczyk
A gated neighborhood in an upscale Tampa suburb is a strange place to send your carburetors for rebuilding. The shop sits in the three-car garage of a lovely home, alongside a similarly lovely turquoise 1957 Chevrolet Nomad wagon. There is a long table with some chairs, and a workbench is parked next to a couple of soda blasters. All is lit by florescent bulbs overhead. This the modest domain of Riley’s Rebuilds, a carburetor rebuilding service headed by Riley Schlick.
Riley is a 17-year-old girl: A surfing, skating, soccer-playing, Jeep-driving high school senior. Four of her high school friends, all girls, have learned to rebuild carburetors too, rounding out the staff of Riley’s Rebuilds. Ship them your worn-out carburetor, and they’ll ship it back soda-blasted, ultrasonic-cleaned and rebuilt to original specifications
On what planet is this happening?
Here on Earth, actually, where a girl with a screwdriver, a drill, and some oil wrenches can earn “really good money,” Riley says. Her father, Dane, is an amateur mechanic. That’s his Nomad, which he’s had for about 15 years, and he also has a much-modified Dodge Little Red Wagon pickup that he drag races. He’s the one who taught Riley how to rebuild carbs, and she taught her friends, and now they all have part-time jobs “that pay us well,” Riley says. “For teenagers, anyway. So much better than minimum wage.
Riley has a year of high school left, and she foresees no end to Riley’s Rebuilds, even if she goes away to college. She’s already talked to one college soccer coach who has pledged to help find room in the engineering department to let her do rebuilds there if she comes to his school. “This has been a great experience,” she says. “I’ve learned so much, and not just about carburetors.”
“I miss every POS car I ever owned.”
Same here. My favorite POS was a Datsun 510 station wagon. Great car, but was rust underneath that done her in. 95 horsepower. 163 inches long.
If it was me, I would send it to Riley’s Rebuilds. My guess is, she is better than I am any more.
It cannot be too complicated, but I have a feeling at any parts that need replacing are pretty unobtainable.
What’s a carburetor?
Which is exactly what she does.
True, that is one of the not often celebrated benefits of the internet as we have it today. And something every person interested in running their own business should learn about.
Wow,.. did that make a difference...just added a high energy coil and a big improvement over the original setup...not bad for $100 on e-bay.
I think the new one has better air flow and fuel vaporization.
I was around all of them
If I had a billion dollars I probably would have collected 300 of them - yeah a tad bit excessive
Olds J2? If that’s yours, I’m so jealous!
Take I-4 and the Beachline to Cocoa Beach.
I think you are going to find more and more teens go for the “work with my hands” route, rather than be pushed into college where they know they would be unhappy, learn nothing, and just end up in debt.
I knew a woman years ago who was a receptionist in an office during the week. On weekends, she helped her brother in his auto shop and rebuilt car motors. She eventually gave up the receptionist job and went to work full-time for her brother. Made more money and was a lot happier.
My nephew wanted to install a hardwood floor in the living room of his first home. He watched videos on the internet until he decided he could do the job. And, a good job he did! It looks quite professional.
Hubby used “how to” videos to figure out a problem with our lawnmower. He has always been quite handy with small engines but couldn’t figure out the problem. A couple of videos later, the problem was all fixed. It’s amazing the information you can find on the “cyber-tubes”. It’s a shame most people only use it to watch the latest “entertainer” nonsense.
There are enough carbs in the USA today to keep her busy until she is 80++
What’s a carburetor?
It’s french for “don’t F@@@ with it.”
In about 1970, I tried to make a deal to trade up to a 68 Cougar XR7 with a factory jacked up engine and 4 speed. 390HO engine, aluminum heads, etc. Total sleeper. Bummer, couldn't swing it. Cheers my friend…
Cross country surfing?
941-545-1634 give Her a call.
Or Contact via Website form.
https://rileysrebuilds.myshopify.com/pages/contact
https://rileysrebuilds.myshopify.com/
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