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Shop Press

Shop Press is the news and idea hub for everything related to working on cars and trucks, focusing on repair, technology, and wrenching lifestyle.

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Hot Off the Press

November Automotive Horoscopes

Aries: You’ve been stubborn lately, but that’s not always profitable, especially with diag work. You’ve been footloose and fancy-free, doing whatever you want. That has to stop due to financial constraints. Deal with your unresolved monetary issues; the shop’s success...

What type of part should you use to repair a car?

Today Greaser joins Nick as they discuss rebuilding, repairing, and replacing parts and which items they select for each job. Nick manages the Dorman Proving grounds and has owned his own performance shop. Andy is bringing a new perspective to the table today as a...

Is side work OK for service techs?

Do you do side work? If you do, is that OK? There are tons of reasons for and against doing work outside the shop. I think my views have changed a little as I’ve been in the game a little longer, but this aspect of the job is contentious. I’ve heard various rationale,...

Ranking the best fictional TV mechanics

TV and automobiles were both major forces in America in the mid- to late-20th century, so it’s perhaps no surprise that mechanics are regular characters throughout the history of television. But which ones are the best? Let’s find out with this completely unscientific...

Jeep Spotter’s Guide (VIDEO)

If you can't tell DJs (2WD variant of the CJ) from PJs (the clothes you wear to bed), this is the video for you. Watch as Nick quickly walks you through identifying features of the Jeep. He covers the major iterations of America's 4x4. Become a Wrangler expert in no...

Does your shop handle performance work?

If you turn wrenches for a living, odds are good you’ve either hopped up your own ride at some point or had someone ask you to hotrod theirs. (Or maybe you’ve done it virtually.) The work is often fun and rewarding on a Saturday afternoon. But in the shop? There are a...

Does your shop handle performance work?

Does your shop handle performance work?

by | Oct 25, 2022

If you turn wrenches for a living, odds are good you’ve either hopped up your own ride at some point or had someone ask you to hotrod theirs. (Or maybe you’ve done it virtually.) The work is often fun and rewarding on a Saturday afternoon. But in the shop? There are a...
What’s in your toolbox?

What’s in your toolbox?

by | Oct 11, 2022

Tools help ya earn your bread, which is why most automotive technicians have more than a passing interest in them. What brands do you buy? What do you buy, and what do you expect the boss to provide? Do you run a tab on the tool truck? Two Dormanites hash some of...
Tool review: Milwaukee M18 Tire Inflator

Tool review: Milwaukee M18 Tire Inflator

by | Aug 23, 2022

Disclaimer: I purchased this tool at full retail price. I do have a cousin who works at Milwaukee Tool, but he stopped getting me discounts on stuff years ago. Have you switched (or are you switching) to electric tools from air? If so, you’re aware that choosing is...
Is that catalytic converter actually bad? (VIDEO)

Is that catalytic converter actually bad? (VIDEO)

by | Aug 2, 2022

Diagnosing a catalytic converter isn’t always the most straightforward process simply because it’s so far downstream from other parts that affect its operation. You might watch this video and say, “Of course!”, but not every technician has been...
VIDEO: (Spoiler within) Crimp or solder?

VIDEO: (Spoiler within) Crimp or solder?

by | Jul 19, 2022

The spoiler here is that Nick and Lem don’t solder much at all, so if you’re not a die-hard crimp aficionado, this might not be your favorite video. They’re pretty different mechanics working on very different items most of the time, but this is an area...