September 24, 2018

If you’ve never read an ETCG newsletter before, shame on you! Not really, we can work this out. Here’s how it works.

For the full newsletter, click here, or click the title image below. If you’re only interested in one topic, click the image in that topic, or click the “read more” link in that section and you’ll be taken directly to that part of the newsletter on EricTheCarGuy.com.

If you’re reading this newsletter on the website, you’re already smothered in awesome and you don’t need to do anything except read on.

Past newsletters and the ETCG Blog can be found here. (These are good too)(Seriously)

It’s Time To Get Serious

Well, maybe that’s not the best phrasing, but it sounds cool. I’ve always been serious about what I do, sometimes to a fault. What I’m referring to is my EricTheCarGuy channel. Let’s be real, with over a million subscribers, I should be seeing more than 50K views to a video that I post. Granted 50K views is no joke, but it seems I should be reaching more followers than I am.

I think there are a few things that factor into this. First, I screwed myself. When I ‘took my break’ last year, many viewers thought I left for good and don’t even realize that I’m posting videos again.

Second, my videos aren’t what they used to be. Yes, I still strive to provide clear audio and video in all of my productions. It’s something I pride myself on, but that’s not enough. The content also has to be up to par. I’m not saying that my content hasn’t been good, but it’s not what people were used to, or what they seem to want as of late. My ‘documentary’ style isn’t as in vogue as it used to be, and it really only applies to someone with that same vehicle needing the same repair.

Lastly, the new YouTube algorithm. It’s not doing me any favors. Meaning, people that are subscribed to my videos aren’t seeing that I’ve been posting new videos. In order to help correct this, I’ll need to post more often, up to 3 times a week would be optimal.

In an effort to push back against this, I plan to try some new strategies over the next few months. If at the end of that time I’m not able to get my views up to where I think they should be, I’m considering moving away from YouTube as my main focus.

I’m not planning to leave YouTube altogether, just redirecting my energies where I see the most return. If that means changing my focus to something else, so be it, but I’ll still post videos to YouTube. I don’t plan to give that up anytime soon. It’s just the frequency which I post videos may change. Honestly, I don’t know what that will look like. For now, I’m just focused on making things better and getting more views.

So, to make this the best effort possible I’m opening the floor to all of you reading this. If you have any ideas, or wish to help in some way, please step forward. Shoot me an email at eric@EricTheCarGuy.com. There are no stupid ideas.

Honda Car Show Hosted by Eibach

I had the pleasure of driving my 1994 Legend Coupe 6 speed to the Eibach Honda Car Meet at the Honda Heritage Center on September 9, 2018. This is the first ‘import’ car show I’ve gone to. It was a very different, but familiar experience.

The crowd was much younger, for the most part, the cars were different, and also the music. Other than that, it was a car show like any other. A lot of great people with fantastic cars and stories to go with them.

It’s interesting that there is this ‘separation’ of car people, import and domestic. Sooner or later I hope we all realize we’re all cut from the same cloth, we just choose to build and drive different vehicles.

While at the show I got to hang out with my new friend HondaProJason. Jason drives the only yellow Civic Type R, it’s even coded HPJ yellow. I think that’s pretty cool.

Jason and I have similar Honda stories. We both worked for the dealer for a time, me as a technician, he as a salesman. Now we both do YouTube and social media. We also love Hondas.

I have to admit that while I was at the show, I got a few ideas for a GSR build….

The Civic

The Civic has been my main focus over the past month. Partly because my garage door was broken almost the entire month of September, but I’ll touch on that later in the newsletter.

For those of you not in-the-know, I’ve been fixing up the 1999 Honda Civic I got a couple of years ago for my oldest son who lives in western NY. He’s been driving an old Dodge pick up that’s showing it’s age. I think the Civic is a perfect replacement for this gas guzzling CEL on wheels.

I’ve gone about this with the thought that my grandson will be riding in this car. Not that I don’t care about my son, but when you add my grandson into the equation, it gets even more serious. In summary, I want to put them in the best most reliable car that I can.

To that end, I’ve fixed just about everything there is to fix and more. I’ve also installed a brand new set of Michelin Defenders. Yes, the tires cost me more than the car, but if you know me at all, that’s exactly where I like to spend my money, on good tires.

Despite all the work that I’ve done, I haven’t shot a whole lot of video with this car. The main reason is because I’ve shot videos with this very car in the past, but also because I just wanted the time to focus on the repairs without having to worry about producing videos. As I’ve stated in the past, video production can be a very time consuming process.

However, I do think there’s an opportunity here to produce a video about what type of car to give your kids of driving age. I think that’s a bit of information that will help a lot of people, both parents and kids alike.

My Garage Door is Fixed!

Last week my garage door was finally repaired. I’m very happy about this. You don’t know how much you miss something until it’s gone, and my garage door is something I’ve missed very much.

What was the hold up? Well, my garage doors are 12’ which is a odd size, meaning they had to be special ordered. As we know, special orders take time.

I suppose that doesn’t matter now that it’s fixed. Although it is a little weird since it’s not painted the same color as the rest of the door. Me, I could care less as long as it works, but it does look a bit strange.

#TheFairmontProject

I haven’t done any work on the Fairmont in quite some time. I pretty much parked it after I brought it home from the last run at the track. I did replace the bad ignition coil and put the spare coil in the trunk. That way I’ll have it if I need it again.

As soon as the Civic is mobile again, I plan to bring the Fairmont in next. I’m hoping to solve the loud lifters with an adjustment. It appears I didn’t adjust the lifter preload correctly the first time around. Apparently, with roller lifters, you need to go a full turn past snugroller lifters, you need to go a full turn past snug, you need to go a full turn past snug instead of the 1/2 turn that I’ve always done. I’ll make a video on this to make things more clear.

I’m also looking to fix what I hope is the final exhaust leak at the turbo. I’m going to need to modify the down pipe in the same way I’ve modified other exhaust pipes to fit properly. This is a simple matter of cutting and welding. Something I’ve gotten pretty good at lately.

In addition to the engine work, I hope to finally fit the drag tires. This will require rolling the rear fenders. Luckily, I have a fender roller from Eastwood. I’ve never rolled fenders with a tool like this before. I hope it goes well. If it doesn’t, I’ll be sure to let you know in the video.

The Fairmont’s Next Car Show

I plan to take the Fairmont to the Smyth/Parts+ car show at Jacks Casino in Cincinnati OH on October 20, 2018. If you’re in the neighborhood stop by. I’d love to meet you.

The details of the show aren’t available just yet. Keep an eye on my social media for more information when the time gets closer.

Dad’s Truck

Over the past few months I’ve been planning my next project, my dad’s truck. I’ve laid the foundation, made a plan for the build, and I’m very excited to get started. Let’s just say that when I’m done, you’re going to love this truck even more.

I don’t plan to drag this out like what happened with the #FairmontProject videos, lessons were learned. If I have my way, I’ll have some help with post production on this one which will mean you get to see the videos much faster than what you did with the Fairmont.

Look for these videos to start later this year or early next.

Premium Member News

Premium Members got the traditional 3 videos last month. One of them was an extended version of a YouTube video that contained an additional 10min of video. Some of that video was of me getting frustrated while trying to find out of the Mini used TTY bolts (Torque To Yield).

Here are those 3 Exclusive Videos, “ETCG Shop Update 9.15.2018 (Exclusive Video)(Exclusive Video)”, “Mini Cooper N14 Bent Valve Repair (Part 2) (Extended Version)(Exclusive Video)”, and “Shop Update 9.20.2018 (Exclusive Video)”.

The Premium Member (Exclusive Video) library is growing every month. As of now there are over 200 (Exclusive Videos) for Premium Members! That’s like having an entirely new ETCG channel to watch.

Premium Members get up to 4 exclusive videos per month. They also get additional perks on the website, and they help support the site with all of it’s useful, free, repair content.

But wait! There’s more! Premium Members now get a 5% discount on all orders from J&B Tool Sales!

Get your membership today! Details on the new Premium Memberships here.

In Closing

I have absolutely loved working as EricTheCarGuy over the past 10 years (it’ll be 10 years in January). Because of that work, I’ve been able to dig my way out of a financial hole that I never thought I would get out of. Me and my family now live in a nice home that we can finally call our own. The bills are paid, and I have many prospects for the future, and I’m grateful for all of it.

I recently heard a quote that stuck with me pertaining to business, “If you’re not growing, you’re slowly liquidating”. That statement really struck a chord with me. For the past few years I’ve been ‘coasting’ with ETCG. Not that I haven’t been working, far from it, but I haven’t been pushing the envelope like I once did. I’ve come to the conclusion that this is probably due to the fact that I’m comfortable. Once you’re comfortable, you tend to want to stay that way.

Comfortable isn’t always good for growth. That’s why I’m trying to shake things up. I’m hoping to find a new direction and focus that will help propel ETCG well into the future. The more I think about it, the more I believe this will come in the form of new personnel. I am who I am, and I don’t see that changing. I think an injection of new blood into the business of ETCG might be just what the doctor ordered.

So if you have ideas on how you can help me grow ETCG, let me know. I’m happy to hear you out and perhaps, you could become the next member of my team. If this sounds like you, shoot me an email at: biz@ericthecarguy.com.

Latest videos below.

Be safe

Have fun

Stay Dirty

ETCG

Related Videos:

Video Title: October 2018 Newsletter -ETCG Video Description: It’s time to get serious, my first Honda car show, wrapping up the Civic, my garage door is fixed, my next project, and do you need a job?Thumbnail: http://www.ericthecarguy.com/images/newsletter/Oct/2018/ETCG_October_Newsletter_Placeholder.jpg