RPI Autoshop

[bobanoid]

Mods feel free to move this im not sure where to put it actually.

So some people have been asking about the RPI autoshop so i thought id post up some information, the shop is also known as RSAS or Rensselaer Student Auto Shop. Its completely student run and profits go to trips, tools, maintenance, heating etc. The shop is officially open only during the school year and i will post times at the bottom.

The shop is completely open to the community during our normal operating hours, it works as a first come first serve basis. The only difference between RSAS and a normal shop is that you do the work yourself, we always have officers and students around to help out with finding tools and giving advice but if you cant fix it yourself dont assume we can. thats the bottom line.

Tools: we have a full line of air tools (basic metal working tools grinder, sanding wheel etc), tire mounting, tire balancer, a lift, a hose, ummm ratchet sets and all basic tools, we have a decent amount of specialty tools like spring compressors and clutch tools etc theyre just hard to find.

Things we dont have: sandblaster, and welding equipment.

Hours:
Thursday: 5-9 PM
Friday: 5-9 PM
Saturday: 12-5 PM


Phone number: (518)-276-6653


with all that said i do have a couple pictures of the shop which are below.

Directions to shop:










Pricing:
To use the bay and all the tools at the shop it is $5 an hour. This $5 fee is kind of a flat rate if you are using any of our tools.
To use the lift and all the tools at the shop it is $10 an hour.

For tire mounting and balancing we used to have a rate per tire i believe it was $4. but the other RPI guys will have to confirm this for me.

Note: since people have been asking about mounting summer tires, the mounter is pretty versatile i know people have done up to 18s on it, just like i said we can show you how to do it but be prepared to work at it its a little tough if you have stiff sidewalls, overall though weve mounted slicks before so it can be done just gotta work for it.

As for the balancer i believe it goes up to 19 or 20 inch rims now (we just got a new one) but i have to confirm this also. and we have both sticky weights and normal weights.

[bobanoid]

Another quick comment, normal shop hours end after this coming week. some officers will be around during the summer but there will not be an official schedule. i will post more information later if people are interested, if you have any questions please post in this thread i dont rly want a flooded PM box.


Big projects are also kinda frowned upon, so like lets say you wanna do full exhaust and headers, and fuel pump, turbo... pretty much pick something you can do in a couple hours and wel def let you, especially if your using the lift we like to let a few people use it in a day we dont usually rent it out for the whole day. but pretty much walk in tell us what we want to do and wel tell you if its feasible and put you somewhere.

[LarenF3D5]

I'll have to swing in this Thursday or Friday to get my summers on. A lift would also make exhaust work so much easier... hmmm.. 

[skyphix]

I may be making an emergency trip to troy to get my "summer" tires mounted. I know you said there are people there to help but I haven't ever been within 20ft of a mounting machine and the only time I helped balance a tire it was with a bubble balance in Fred's (Capitalandmotors) garage. Would there be someone there to help? Doesn't matter if it scratches the rims, they're curbed and beat to crap anyway. I didn't want to spend ~100 bucks getting tires that only have 40% treadlife left in them mounted and this might be my only chance.

[deadlydave]

I'd be willing to show up to help, though I don't know how to balance, and it's up to these guys if they trust me or not.  They and lyndon taught me, we then had a boatload of tires to practice on.

[WaynO]

Good write-up

I may be making an emergency trip to troy to get my "summer" tires mounted. I know you said there are people there to help but I haven't ever been within 20ft of a mounting machine and the only time I helped balance a tire it was with a bubble balance in Fred's (Capitalandmotors) garage. Would there be someone there to help? Doesn't matter if it scratches the rims, they're curbed and beat to crap anyway. I didn't want to spend ~100 bucks getting tires that only have 40% treadlife left in them mounted and this might be my only chance.

During open hours there's always someone (officer, member, or nice guy) there that can help or point you in the right direction.

[LarenF3D5]

I've also never done any mounting. Though I trust Dave more than I maybe should. 

When are you available to hit up there Deadly? 

[skyphix]

When are you available to hit up there Deadly? 

+1, I can do Wed Thurs or Fri.

[bobanoid]

+1 for what wayno said. everyone who works at shop has been trained in using the mounting and balancing machines. Some are better than others but its not rly hard at all just some setups are tougher than others. i didnt expect many people to know how to mount and balance tires just the "know how to do it" disclaimer is more for the type of people that try really extensive projects that are out of there bounds.

[skyphix]

i didnt expect many people to know how to mount and balance tires just the "know how to do it" disclaimer is more for the type of people that try really extensive projects that are out of there bounds.

So you mean the JB Weld Tube front subframe and H6 swap in my Forester is out of the question? You guys won't do it for $5 an hour?

Thanks, once I hear if Dave can do any day this week I'll figure out when I'm coming down. If nothing else I'll just show up one evening as close to 5 as possible.

Thanks for the write up.

[LarenF3D5]

+1 for what wayno said. everyone who works at shop has been trained in using the mounting and balancing machines. Some are better than others but its not rly hard at all just some setups are tougher than others. i didnt expect many people to know how to mount and balance tires just the "know how to do it" disclaimer is more for the type of people that try really extensive projects that are out of there bounds.

Like how I'd like to show up to do my timing belt and associated maintenance, a fuel pump, and my UP and DP. He's just politely saying if I boned myself, and can't drive my car away when they close it's not their problem. 

[deadlydave]

Andy and Sabo, you two figure out a day and I'll meet you there.  I'm free any weeknight but friday.   

[bobanoid]

added a little edit to the second post.

[LarenF3D5]

added a little edit to the second post.

Big projects are also kinda frowned upon, so like lets say you wanna do full exhaust and headers, and fuel pump, turbo... pretty much pick something you can do in a couple hours and wel def let you, especially if your using the lift we like to let a few people use it in a day we dont usually rent it out for the whole day. but pretty much walk in tell us what we want to do and wel tell you if its feasible and put you somewhere.

I kinda figured as much as a courtesy. I understand.

[korpsepatrol]

So lets say up pipe, downpipe, tmic, and cbe?  Is that no good?  It would also be with two guys working on the car, me and a friend who have done it several times before?

[skyphix]

Its looking like Thursday will be best (payday!) Friday works too if Andy cant do Thurs (I'll just have to be social).

E

[LarenF3D5]

I have class Thursday, but I could try to leave early to get things mounted. If Dave is no good Friday, that would make the most sense.

[bobanoid]

phone number added

[Nismonic]

So lets say up pipe, downpipe, tmic, and cbe?  Is that no good?  It would also be with two guys working on the car, me and a friend who have done it several times before?

I did that one night. As long as you don't break any parts that can't be picked up at autozone then its no issue. We frown upon cars staying over night in the shop but if it has to be done we can make arrangements.

[korpsepatrol]

Sweet, no i don't plan to stay over night!  I honestly think we might be able to take it all apart and back together in less then 3 hours.  Thanks again for letting me know though!  If anything all i need to do is the up and dp.  Thursday i will pass by to see if its alright though!  I guess i will get to meet new faces then! 

[deadlydave]

Thursday is good for me.  There's a car for sale that a girl in the shop has that I want to look at.

[skyphix]

If I had to guess I'll be down there around 7. Maybe a little earlier.

[Nismonic]

Thursday is good for me.  There's a car for sale that a girl in the shop has that I want to look at.

Which car?

[deadlydave]

Which car?

hatchback corolla.  I feel bad, I never got her name or looked at the car.

[RedRoof2]

So lets say up pipe, downpipe, tmic, and cbe?  Is that no good?  It would also be with two guys working on the car, me and a friend who have done it several times before?

Once upon a time, years ago I did a complete motor pull and swap in the RSAS when I used to be a club member.  I'm sure the rules have changed a lot since then, but the gist used to be  "If you can't finish it durning our working hours, then don't bother trying".   Unless they give you specific permission to store the car and come back the next day to finish the job.  It's a damn good shop and I spent a lot of hours there years back.

If you guys get me the part number of that Aamco Coats tire balancer, I can give you the specs and whatever replacement parts you need.  Mark Teal is the salesman from Napa who sold it to the RSAS.  We both do the same job, except mine's out in the East Greenbush area.  If you ever need anything for the shop or to support the equipment, drop a line.