Whitbread Performance Innovations is now in operation!

Whitbread · May 11th, 2009, 14:20

After numerous delays and setbacks, things are finally under way. I have my EIN and vendors license, just waiting on the state to get back to me with the LLC registration. Full insurance will follow very shortly as well. The shop I work at has cut back to working every other week, so that has really pushed the "side job" to "legitimate" change.

For those who don't know me, a little background information:

I was bitten by the mechanized bug way back in middle school playing around with nitro rc cars and planes. While in high school, I took every advanced physics, math, and automotive class I could and also attended a vocational school for 2 years of collision repair. All through high school years I worked for a general automotive repair shop and towing center doing everything under the sun and leaving as one of the head technicians.

After high school I enrolled at the University of Northwestern Ohio for a bachelors in High Performance Automotive Technology, Diesel Technology, and Alternative Fuel Technology. During my first year of college, I was fortunate enough to get a contract job working at the Milford Proving Grounds for General Motors as a prototype electronics technician. If you have a newer GM vehicle with the factory IPod interface or keyless entry system with a lcd screed on the key fob, those are pieces I was directly involved with the development of.

For the last 2 years, I have worked for Sreco Flexible, Inc as the head specialty tig welder/machinist. For the past 3 years, I have been doing large amounts of mechanical and fabrication work on everything from a 1947 Farmall tractor to late model semi's. Tdi's are of course included in the spread and have formed the majority of the work for the last year and a half. I currently have two ASE certifications but will be getting the rest for both auto and diesel in the very near future as I now have a reason to justify the cost. After finishing my current degree within the next year, I'll also be pursuing an associates in mechanical engineering.

Now, on to the stuff that people actually care about;

Main services include, but are not by any means limited to;
- Full Tdi maintenance and repair services. Major internal engine and transmission work are included. I have vag com, but please no major driveability problems just yet.
- Maintenance and repair on all other vehicles and anything else mechanical, hydraulic, or pneumatic.
- Custom fabrication of just about anything in any material for anything.
- Full welding services on Stainless, Aluminum, Magnesium, Steel, Cast Iron, or Titanium. Tig, stick, mig, and oxy fuel are the processes I have on hand.

If there's something that doesn't fall into the above, just call or pm me about it.

Planned future products will include fabricated tubular exhaust manifolds, intake manifolds, turbo inlet pipes, downpipes, intercooler pipes, cat back exhausts, and big turbo kits. I'll also be selling laser cut main girdles and intake, exhaust, and turbo flanges. Requests for items not on the list are always more than welcome.

Pricing for labor is $45/hr for mechanical work and $35/hr for fabrication work.

For those who have not seen my work before, tons of pictures can be found in my album on here. I removed the posted pictures to save space in this post.

The shop address is 3496 Slabtown Road, Lima, Ohio 45801. It's the red house and big garage on the southeast corner of Bluelick and Slabtown. I'm out in the country and most gps' and mapquest like to take you the wrong way so be careful. The best way to contact me is either by phone at (248) 755 8118 or pm on here. I'm available immediately for work and updates will follow shortly as things unfold further.

Thank you everyone,
Matt Whitbread

Bob_Fout · May 11th, 2009, 14:37

Congrats Matt!

BioChoppers · May 11th, 2009, 14:52

Schweeet!

Franko6 · May 13th, 2009, 19:46

Cool, dude... I expect to hear good things about you.
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Farfromovin · May 13th, 2009, 20:32

Awesome. Serious power parts to hit the club with a vengeance I hope! Wish you the best of luck.

validius · May 13th, 2009, 20:47

you do great work man, best of luck. If this AFN exhaust manfild doesnt prove to be what im looking for i may be looking to you to help pipe in an external wastegate to my AHU.

aja8888 · May 13th, 2009, 21:20

Matt, congrats on the education and good luck with the M.E. degree. I wish you were closer...

Tony

Bob_Fout · May 13th, 2009, 21:33

Tony, road trip!

aja8888 · May 13th, 2009, 21:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob_Fout

Tony, road trip!

Yeah, I am heading that way later this summer (St Louis, Wisconsin). I used to live in Michigan, but that was a long time ago. We could use another good welder/mechanic in Houston (along with Mike at Bartuning). I WAS in Ohio today (Cleveland).

Bob, you missed a really good GTG in Houston!

Harvieux · May 13th, 2009, 23:21

Now that's what I'm fricken talking about! I love this poop. I wish you the very best and I can assure you that we will be in contact at some point in the near future. Later!

ndamico · May 14th, 2009, 16:39

Congrats!

UFO · May 14th, 2009, 17:10

Best of luck to you. I hope I have the opportunity to patronize your business.

Ookpic · May 14th, 2009, 19:11

Making the trip down there this weekend to be one of your first "official" customers! Looking forward to it!

Milage King · May 30th, 2009, 19:16

Good job Matt, looking forward to good things, the intake and 3" tip you made for my car are ripping quite well.

Whitbread · June 14th, 2009, 22:42

Now that I've somewhat caught up with everything else, the first true production parts are going to start development this wednesday. A fellow club member has had some very bad turbo luck with little turbos and wishes to step up. So i'm picking the car up on wednesday evening and will be using it to pattern a kit for using the Jeep 2056. The production kit will consist of oil fittings, oil lines, 4-1 manifold, TIP, DP, turbo support bracket, and clocking instructions. Header will 1.5" x .065", dp will be 2.5" x .065", TIP will be either 2.5" or 3", whatever fits more pleasantly. Of course all 304SS and AL. If people would like, I could post up pics of the process in a seperate thread

.

Since everyone loves fun pictures, here's two strange projects of the last couple weeks:

Set of wheel spacer/adapters for a chevy dualie. Started at pieces of 3/4" flat plate.

My current project. It's a ramp for a monster front loader for loading semi's. 8.5' wide, 6' tall, 25' long. There's still at least another 40 hours of work in this monster.