Thanks to our Partners, Shop Boss and AppFueled

Larry Anderson isn’t your typical shop owner and that’s exactly what makes this episode worth your time. From fabricating race cars and building trail-ready rigs with his wife, Cheryl, to mastering lost arts like manual machining and custom fabrication, Larry’s story is a masterclass in keeping your passion alive while running a successful auto repair business.

We dig into how he balances work and hobby without burning out, the lessons he learned from turning wrenches to leading a thriving shop, and why separating business from personal projects might just be the secret to staying in love with what you do.

If you’ve ever felt your business start to steal the joy from your craft, this conversation will hit home. Larry’s perspective is real, relatable, and packed with takeaways every shop owner needs to hear.

🎧 Don’t miss this one, hit play and get inspired to keep your passion running strong while you fill those bays.

Show Notes with Timestamps

• Introduction and Sponsor Acknowledgments (00:00:01) Brian introduces the podcast, guest Larry Anderson, and thanks sponsors.
• Larry’s Background and Entry into Fabrication (00:02:00) Larry shares his early interest in cars, career path, and transition into fabrication and off-roading.
• Wife’s Influence and Family Off-Roading (00:02:46) Larry discusses his wife Cheryl’s role in getting him into off-roading and their shared experiences.
• Building and Evolving Off-Road Rigs (00:04:18) Larry describes Cheryl’s Toyota Tacoma, its evolution, and the custom work involved.
• Custom Jeep Commander Build (00:06:07) Larry details his own Jeep Commander project and its unique, custom-built features.
• Off-Roading Trails and Local Adventures (00:06:38) Discussion about Rubicon Trail, Fordyce Creek, and the local off-roading scene.
• Learning Fabrication and Machining Skills (00:08:16) Larry explains how he self-taught welding and machining, using resources like YouTube.
• Balancing Work and Hobby, Avoiding Burnout (00:10:05) Larry shares how he keeps his passion alive by separating work from hobby and not working on customer cars at home.
• Advice on Separating Work and Hobby (00:12:32) Brian and Larry discuss the importance of keeping personal projects separate from business to maintain passion.
• Current Favorite Project: 1975 F150 Diesel Build (00:16:13) Larry talks about his current project, a custom 1975 F150 with a diesel engine.
• 3D Printing for Automotive Projects (00:17:27) Larry discusses his journey into 3D printing, its uses in his builds, and the technology’s evolution.
• 3D Printing for Customer Cars and CAD Skills (00:19:22) Larry explains why 3D printing isn’t yet practical for customer cars and the importance of CAD skills.
• Advice for Shop Owners Who’ve Lost Passion (00:20:55) Larry offers advice on gratitude, balance, and not letting business consume your life.
• Closing Thoughts and Episode Wrap-Up (00:22:52) Brian and Larry reflect on the conversation, social media highlights, and thank listeners.

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Thanks to our Partners, Shop Boss and AppFueled

This episode is sponsored by Shop Boss. You know, other shop management software makes you work, but Shop Boss works for you.  

AppFueled at appfueled.com. “Are you ready to convert clients to members? AppFueled™ specializes in creating custom apps tailored specifically for auto repair businesses. Build your first app like a pro.”

The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/

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