Topic: Her Name is Frank

[Twisted Minis]

After almost five years of hard work, countless details, and one bad engine...the Mid Engine Porsche 911 powered VW Double cab with Porsche 944 rear suspension and transaxle is on the road.

[Twisted Minis [OP]]

Shutting down the shop and have lots of stuff for sale. Lots of Toyota parts, not too much in the way of tools. Also selling the red shop truck, now on an $1800 set of Bilstein coilovers, for $3000. Need the money, got hit with some heavy interest charges for paying rent late a few times.

[BigMike]

What?! Man your projects and your talent are AMAZING, you can't give it up man!!! Say it isn't so

[pumkin toy]

damn! you do such unique work and projects, hopefully you aren't done for good

[Twisted Minis [OP]]

I'm done, at least for now. Can't really afford to keep running a shop with the way things have been going. I had a customer with a lawsuit against him about two years ago while his vehicle was in my possession and it cost me about $20k, I haven't quite recovered from that. And since then I have been robbed twice, once at gun point, and the shop has been broken into twice. Add to that all the times that I have been screwed over and not been paid, I'm losing too much money and basically working for free. It's made me a really bitter person over the last two years, and has really taken its toll on me and my outlook on people in general. I need a break, at least for now. This has really taken a toll on me, and has really taken away a hobby I once loved. My lease was up last month, I am on month to month for the time being until I can close up.

Unfortunately I am busier than ever right now, but still getting screwed over and losing much more money than I should. I am basically scraping by and living pay check to pay check right now, and sometimes not even that. So I have decided to do something else for now. I will not likely open a shop again as a day job, but my goal would be to buy some property and build a hobby shop at home and take projects on the side that I can pick and choose more carefully.

For the time being, I need to let this truck go, as I have no where to keep it:




I am asking $3k. I have about 3 times that invested in parts, and about 250 hours of labor. The coil overs alone are $1800 wholesale...

[Twisted Minis [OP]]

[IronClad]

I 100% understand where you're at. Most people have no idea what it takes to run a shop like this and how most of the time you are losing your ass. Add in how everyone wants somthing for free, robberies, acts of god and sheer bad luck it makes it extremely hard to keep the doors open. I worked for a 4wd shop for a long time and was able to see first hand how stupid it is. While wrenching was fun, at the end of the day it just wasnt worth it.

Hope you find somthing that makes you happy and able to relax ! A hobby shop setup on the side is the way to go and is sort of what i do now.

[Dingman.]

Sorry to hear that man,   Still post pictures of the things you make on your side projects though.  Always enjoyed seeing your work!

[Twisted Minis [OP]]

I 100% understand where you're at. Most people have no idea what it takes to run a shop like this and how most of the time you are losing your ass. Add in how everyone wants somthing for free, robberies, acts of god and sheer bad luck it makes it extremely hard to keep the doors open. I worked for a 4wd shop for a long time and was able to see first hand how stupid it is. While wrenching was fun, at the end of the day it just wasnt worth it.

Hope you find somthing that makes you happy and able to relax ! A hobby shop setup on the side is the way to go and is sort of what i do now.

Thats basically where I am at. Everyone wants something for nothing, or wants to add a bunch of stuff on and the price to stay the same. All to often I would basically give time away in the details and small stuff to make a project up to my standards, even though I was likely getting paid for basic work, which is essentially working for free. I couldn't let anything leave that wasn't up to par, but I was often being paid for sub par work. And now that I am trying to start a family, I can't make that work. And after two strong armed robberies, two break ins, and a lawsuit that I never should have been drug into, its sucked all the fun out of it.

I will update with whatever I do next. Hopefully that includes finishing one of my own projects for the first time in my life.

[BUDDERS]

Sorry to hear your news.  Running a business isn't easy and I don't blame you for your decision.  I know you are very technically inclined and are a incredible fabricator, so I'm sure you could get a job doing that for a hot rod shop if you wanted to.  For all I know, your really good at a bunch of other things too.  Best of luck in your future endevors

[Nimyad]

Sucks to here man, I love your work. Hope you're able to keep doing work. I wish you the best of luck.

[Twisted Minis [OP]]

Thanks guys.

Catherine and I rescued a little Boxador puppy last night from a family that was neglecting it. Tested negative for Parvo this morning and is getting dewormed.

[Wainiha]

Cute puppy.  sorry you have to close the vehicles you build are sick.  I really like the VW.  An ex father in law of mine had a few VW buses.  He would fill in paint chips with a toothpick.

Good luck in your new endevors.  I'm sure if you are as meticulous as you are in your cars, you'll be fine.

[THK Matt]

anyone know where TM is these days?

[300k]

anyone know where TM is these days?

I wish. I've been re reading this build and showing some of my buds his sweet cop car.

[harny]

Congratulations man, that's something awesome I think

[Twisted Minis [OP]]

I wish. I've been re reading this build and showing some of my buds his sweet cop car.

I'm still alive. Just not online much anymore. I've done a lot in the last 5 years. I'm currently in Tahoe working for a natural gas company, have a 3 year old boy, no project vehicle, and trying to find time to build a smoker and put my engine drive welder back together.

[300k]

I'm still alive. Just not online much anymore. I've done a lot in the last 5 years. I'm currently in Tahoe working for a natural gas company, have a 3 year old boy, no project vehicle, and trying to find time to build a smoker and put my engine drive welder back together.

Hey! It's the real Twisted Minis! 

Great to hear you're still around

[Dingman.]

Hope all is well!  Life happens, hobbies get put on hold.  Just remember to come back and share all the projects you build in the future as you have amazing work! 

[THK Matt]

I'm still alive. Just not online much anymore. I've done a lot in the last 5 years. I'm currently in Tahoe working for a natural gas company, have a 3 year old boy, no project vehicle, and trying to find time to build a smoker and put my engine drive welder back together.

WOOHOO! glad to hear you're still kickin'.

[blackdiamond]

I'm still alive. Just not online much anymore. I've done a lot in the last 5 years. I'm currently in Tahoe working for a natural gas company, have a 3 year old boy, no project vehicle, and trying to find time to build a smoker and put my engine drive welder back together.

Since you’re back, allow me to apologize one more time for my first response to this thread.

Any pictures of how this one turned out in the end?

[300k]

Any pictures of how this one turned out in the end?

If you're talking about his mini truck, Unfortunately it sounds like he doesn't have it anymore. http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=94506.msg1056476#msg1056476

[Twisted Minis [OP]]

Ya I do not have the mini trucks any more. Sorry to disappoint. Having a shop really burned me out on car projects for a while, I haven't really had a project since then, unless you count maintaining a high mileage diesel truck. That's my only vehicle now. Although now living by the Rubicon I'd like to build something 4WD.

Hope all is well!  Life happens, hobbies get put on hold.  Just remember to come back and share all the projects you build in the future as you have amazing work! 

Thank you, I appreciate it. We are trying to buy a house here now that I've found a good job I like, so money is pretty much going there. Doesn't make sense to keep renting the way rent is climbing in this area. I will have to figure out how to post pictures on here from my phone now. For now here is an album of the welder I mentioned, I did a little fab work on it. https://m.imgur.com/a/JOuOO

It's torn apart in my garage again, the shunt coils shorted out over winter. I did just get 220v wiring in my garage, so I'm hoping I can start building my smoker soon. I need to get a new bottle for my MIG welder, as mine "disappeared" but I have TIG and SMAW at the moment.

I've been working rotating shifts lately, which messes with my sleep schedule, makes it hard to find time in the garage.

[Twisted Minis [OP]]

So, about a 2 year update. We finally bought a house. Work is finally calming down a bit, and I'm trying to set all my tools up in my garage. Which is much harder than I imagined.

Anyone want to see me build another 2wd Toyota at a painstakingly slow pace? I found a smog exempt one this time.

[Gnarly4X]

So, about a 2 year update   …..

Anyone want to see me build another 2wd Toyota at a painstakingly slow pace? I found a smog exempt one this time.

Hey Twisted Minis....

At a 2-year update rate we should see the results somewhere around 2040! 

According to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's climate change genius the Earth will be completely destroyed in 11 years. 

According to CNN fake news the Corona virus will wipe out all US citizens in 60 days. 

I'll be pushing daisies in 20+ years, so you'd better get started now!! 

Although this forum is primarily a discussion about rock crawling 4x4 vehicles - gears, tires, swaps, laced with thrashers and bashers - I am a real big fan of the 1st Amendment! 

Of course if some of us do survive the ravages heading our way, there’s help:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/05/style/rewilding-stone-age-bushcraft.html?utm_source=pocket-newtab

How to Prepare Now for the Complete End of the World - Lynx Vilden teaches people how to live in the Stone Age.

My favorite quote from one of the hippies described in this article is….

“Some people don’t get it, but I prefer this life,” Joan said. “No, I don’t use toilet paper. I use moss and I like it better.”

Gnarls. 

[Dingman.]

Anyone want to see me build another 2wd Toyota at a painstakingly slow pace? I found a smog exempt one this time.

Absolutely! 

[blackdiamond]

So, about a 2 year update. We finally bought a house. Work is finally calming down a bit, and I'm trying to set all my tools up in my garage. Which is much harder than I imagined.

Anyone want to see me build another 2wd Toyota at a painstakingly slow pace? I found a smog exempt one this time.  You know how much I love a low rider...

Painstakingly slow is about the speed I might be able to keep up. You know how much I love a great low rider! 

[Twisted Minis [OP]]

Well here is what I'm starting with. I'm not sure what I'm doing yet, all I know is the 18RC will be coming out for some kind of motor swap.

[Tallchevy]

Hell yeah! You do awesome work! 

[BUDDERS]

Look into the BEAMS engine out of the Toyota Altezza from Japan.  They are 4 cylinder and can be found with a 6 speed manual trans and have close to 200 hp.  Plus, they are pretty sexy looking for a 4cyl.