No Cutting Corners: The Secrets to Acme Chop Shop’s Success

This article on Acme Chop Shop originally appeared in the July 2026 issue of THE SHOP magazine. 

“Acme” comes from the Greek language for “exceptional” and “top of the line.” So, when Jack Weaver needed a name for his restoration shop in Grand Junction, Colorado, Acme Chop Shop was a natural choice.

His affinity for enhancing traditional classics with his own touch makes Acme’s award-winning cars stand out. Weaver has been working on cars since he was 15, learning plenty from his father, who was also a hot rodder.

Weaver enjoyed customizing vehicles, making modifications and upgrades, even while working a full-time job in the trucking industry.

“I did it all—excavation, dump trucks,” he recalls of his time running a heavy equipment business, even while working on cars for himself and his friends. “I just did the cars in my fun time in the winter.”

Finally, in 2006, he launched his automotive dreams from his home garage.

“I had seen an opportunity to start doing cars for people, and that’s where it took off,” he says.

Weaver moved to a new home in 2008 and continued to build his business. In 2011, he expanded his efforts, moving into an 11,000-square-foot facility.

“I had to find another shop,” he says. “I found a shop in downtown Grand Junction, and we leased it.”

OFF & RUNNING

Weaver’s first customer actually reached out to him from Slovakia. After seeing Acme’s builds, he asked Weaver to work his magic and chop a 1953 Chevy. Weaver has done several cars for this customer and has yet to meet him in person.

Weaver moved to a 6,800-square-foot shop in 2015, and what started as a one-person operation has expanded to eight employees. He “was the main painter when we first started; I started doing it all, too, but it just kind of evolved from there. But engines have always been my thing, because I always had to work on my old cars.”

These days, Acme typically has 15 cars in the garage at any one time. A complete restoration will normally take one-and-a-half years, and the wait time to take in a new project is generally three months.

Builds are not all the shop does. Weaver will still work with local owners who need repairs or service. He schedules a few owners in at a time and wants to keep them happy, with cars that run well.

He and his crew do everything except interior and glass. Weaver initially preferred to work on pre-1970s cars, but his clients are now often bringing in cars from the ‘80s and ‘90s. His customer base is split 50/50 between locals and out-of-state owners.

Many from out of state enjoy visiting his shop on the Western slope of Colorado to see the progress. He sends plenty of pictures to the owners to keep them abreast of the car build and bills monthly.

Weaver also sponsors a local show and attends a few car events on the other side of the Rocky Mountains, including the Goodguys show in Loveland, Colorado, to promote his work. Of course, he also relies on social media (@acmechopshop) to showcase his efforts.

BUILDING ON A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT

Acme Chop Shop runs on a traditional Monday-Friday, 8-to-5 schedule. Weaver notes that finding good workers who have a basic understanding of vintage mechanics and wiring is the hardest part of his job.

“We seek out quality people who love the work they do,” he explains, searching for employees who interact well with others and resolve differences. “They have to have a decent skill set, the right attitude to work with other people and be able to mesh with everybody in the shop.”

Closer to Utah than to Denver, Grand Junction offers plenty of recreational amenities to attract employees.

“It’s a pretty cool place to live, with all the different outdoor activities and everything going on around here,” Weaver agrees. “People want to live here.”

Still, he’s seen new employees from out of town return to their hometowns. Combatting employee turnover is one of the reasons he started a training course through Kustom Built Cars Educational Workshop, to help with worker training and career building.

Many builders and fabricators would love to open their own shop one day. Weaver’s advice to getting started is “just keep an eye on what’s going on. You’ve got to be there. You’ve got to put in the work. Don’t depend on your employees to do everything. You have to be a part of it and put in the work.”

While engine work is his preference, Weaver will gladly step in and help solve problems or offer suggestions to his coworkers on any portion of a build. Having recently turned 50, he says he enjoys working with young adults.

Any scaling back can wait for another decade or so, he notes, possibly so he can spend more time on his chopped1953 Chevy and 1962 Cadillac personal projects.

HANDING DOWN THE CRAFT

In the meantime, Weaver plans to continue passing down his knowledge to the next generation of builders.

Over the years, young adults have come to his shop, begging for a chance to start at the bottom and learn the restoration craft. But Weaver does not always have the time to offer one-on-one instruction.

As a remedy, six years ago he began offering an intensive workshop with practical experience. Kustom Built Cars Educational Workshop a 501(c)(3) non-profit, has been going strong ever since.

The workshop lasts five months (May-October) each year, providing students with hands-on training in all aspects of hot rod restoration. The workshop starts with a classic vehicle, usually a truck, that the trainees will work on.

Typically, the vehicle has already been acquired by Weaver, and the basic design and internals have been decided upon. So, when the students arrive, they can get right to work learning from Weaver and the other shop workers.

Participants learn critical tasks like rust repair and bodywork, engine rebuilding, welding, painting and electrical skills. After completing the workshop, they receive a certification of completion in basic hot rod restoration, a starter set of shop tools and the opportunity to gain more experience at other shops. Weaver says all past graduates landed jobs in the automotive industry.

The restored truck is displayed at various events to garner additional word-of-mouth advertising for the workshop. It’s later sold, with the funds supporting the following year’s workshop, and so on.

Weaver notes that many young people are still determining their career paths, and the workshop gives them a chance to see what is involved in the restoration business and see if that is a good fit for them.

Last year’s build was a 1953 Chevy 5-window truck from Greeley, Colorado, that was turned into a gleaming showpiece in time to show it off at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Weaver admits the classic pickup was initially in rough shape.

“The truck had a bunch of stuff welded on it and the fenders had been cut off to make a tilt front end,” he explains. “The class had to do a lot of repairs and work on the cab.”

Several companies including Auto Custom Carpets Inc., Hot Shot’s Secret, Dapper Lighting, BedWood, Wizards Products, Steele Rubber Products, Roadster Shop, Auto Metal Direct, Retro Manufacturing/Retro Belt, Vintage Air, Detroit Steel Wheels Co., Wilwood, Borgeson, Dakota Digital, CORSA Performance, XS Power Batteries, HushMat, RainGear, Nu-Relics, PPG, Hydes Leather, Matco Tools, Airgas and TE Metal Works have donated products or services to help further the workshop’s goals.

Information on the workshop can be found at kustombuiltcars.org.