Since most aftermarket performance parts are boltons, and cosmetic things are not that complicated (talking neon, etc.) How would I go about becoming a mechanic at a aftermarket shop? I'd like to open my own in the future, so working at one will give me a good idea of how to do business.

Edit: Would it be best to just bring in my car to show them what I can do?

That stuff is self-taught and a ton of those places will turn you down for employment without blinking twice at your car. It's not exactly easy and there's no real school for aftermarket installation. Learn it all, well, and have some technical background in automotive: i.e.: A TECH SCHOOL! otherwise you're just another of the 100 kids a day that walk through the door asking for a job "because they love cars and they can do all of that shit themselves!" Trust me. I get it a dozen times a day from a dozen different high school kids and then some. And I don't look at their cars as a real way to judge their work. For a variety of reasons.

That stuff is self-taught and a ton of those places will turn you down for employment without blinking twice at your car. It's not exactly easy and there's no real school for aftermarket installation. Learn it all, well, and have some technical background in automotive: i.e.: A TECH SCHOOL! otherwise you're just another of the 100 kids a day that walk through the door asking for a job "because they love cars and they can do all of that shit themselves!" Trust me. I get it a dozen times a day from a dozen different high school kids and then some. And I don't look at their cars as a real way to judge their work. For a variety of reasons.

I know this is a bit of a delayed reply, but why don't you look at their car for an example of the work? I mean, if some kid just has an underbody kit, feel free to laugh in his face. But if he fab'd a tt setup, replaced the internals and added a dp system, he must have some idea what he's doing.

I know this is a bit of a delayed reply, but why don't you look at their car for an example of the work? I mean, if some kid just has an underbody kit, feel free to laugh in his face. But if he fab'd a tt setup, replaced the internals and added a dp system, he must have some idea what he's doing.

Whta guy can do with just one car is not a good example of his skills. You have to be able to work on any model, any year and any MOD. Most of the stuff may be "bolt on" according to the manufacturer, but remember, the companies design these to be installed by certified mechanics. I've seen some really cool looking mods, that were gonna cost the owner an engine somewhere down the line, like some of those bolt-on supercharger kits for Hondas. Gimme a break. Forced induction without modifying the internals of an engine is like playing catch with a handgrenade.