Following graduation, most 18-year-olds pack for college, look for a job, or continue mooching off the parentals, pretending like high school never really ended. Traveling across the country typically isn't an option, but then again, Chase McMaster was no typical 18-year-old. If you've never heard of Chase, then you've likely never heard of things like wire tucks, brake line tucks, and military-spec harness conversions - either that or you've yet to discover the Internet. Within two years, the number of wire tucks performed by Chase has multiplied faster than honda-tech.com haters arguing over the validity of Rotas or chassis code discrepancies. Despite his reputation, Chase isn't trying to take credit for the whole wire tuck phenomenon - hot rodders have been doing them for decades, and OG Honda heads delved into the tuck rage almost 10 years ago. Chase has perfected them though.
If you live in Kernersville, North Carolina, or Starkville, Mississippi, chances are competent facilities that can handle your Civic's wire tucking needs aren't hidden in the back of the local general store. Chase didn't exactly plan on catering to the needs of Honda enthusiasts in the most remote parts of the country though, the whole thing happened by chance. It began when a friend asked Chase to fly from his home in Alabama to Phoenix for a two-week visit filled with some quality wrench time. Word caught on and the bookings began. Chase has since hit each corner of the country and racked up more than 54 basic wire tucks, 74 "stealth" wire tucks, and countless brake line tucks, AN conversions, and more. On any given day, Chase will make between three and 20 new friends, some of which become paying customers, providers of room and board, and airport taxis all rolled into one - all attributes that many customers take on when they decide to give Chase a call. But don't be discouraged by the extra duties you may inherit, since by all accounts online, the tucks are worth it. If you're interested, you better catch Chase while you can. He's moved four times in the last two years but has finally settled in Hollywood, which he assures us is his favorite stop so far, even when compared to Kernersville. Chase doesn't just live where he works and work where he lives; he applies this same method of budget-mindedness toward his business, ChaseBays. The tucks and the wiring, the phone calls and parts pickups, the emails and the private messages, it's all Chase, all the time. But don't expect the young lad to slow down any time soon - for every honda-tech hater and cramped workspace, there are three more harnesses that need tucking and three more places to crash.
01.The customer's house: In exchange for his wire- and brake-line-tucking services, Chase is often put up for the night. In two years, he's traveled to Phoenix, Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and parts in between.
02. His memory: It took Chase just a few short years to memorize practically every B- and K-series engine wiring harness color-code scheme and pin-out. It's been said that his brain is like one giant electrical schematic.
03. The website: Chase regularly posts on most of the popular Honda forums but also has his own online home where he can be contacted for appointments: www.chasebaysonline.com.
04. The workspace: Chase never knows exactly what the working conditions will be like until he arrives. Single-car storage units with little elbow room and dim lighting aren't uncommon. Customers with garages like these go to the front of the line.
05. The customer's car: Chase does anything from basic wire tucks to what he calls his "stealth" wire tuck. He also specializes in brake line tucks, cleaning up fuel systems with AN plumbing, race car wiring harnesses, and just about anything else you can imagine that has to do with wires. Although Hondas remain his bread and butter, Chase has worked on everything from BMWs to Nissans and Mazdas.
06. The suitcase: Airport screeners find everything from the obvious shirts, socks, and pants inside to the not-so-obvious rolls of wiring loom, heat-shrink tubing, and pliers. Chase's suitcase is always packed, never light, and is regularly opened up and rummaged through by airport authorities.
07. The wire strippers: Quite possibly Chase's most used tool, this particular set was given to him after his snapped on a customer's car.
08. CM harnesses: Chase can modify just about any engine wiring harness for a stealth look. Where applicable, the entire harness is joined and passes through the firewall down low, through a single location via a military-spec connection. Each harness is wrapped in nylon sleeve, heat shrunk, and features an optional quick-disconnect firewall adapter.
09. The butane bottle: Electricity isn't always available, like the time Chase was put to work in a small storage unit. A butane-powered soldering iron is the only option here. Chase uses at least one bottle each month.
10. The brake line tools: Chase's toolbox is scarce, but quality brake line tooling is one place where he isn't afraid to spend money. He travels with both 37- and 45-degree Ridgid flaring tools for AN and OEM jobs, respectively.
11. The toolbox: When Chase's tools aren't stuffed inside his suitcase, he finds a suitable cardboard box for temporary storage. This 6x6x8-inch box has everything he needs inside including his wire strippers, tape, soldering iron, solder, heat-shrink tubing, lighter, razor blades, and de-pinning tool.
12. The tape: Chase uses up to 250 rolls of 3M Temflex and Super 33+ electrical tape each year.