Project_944

re: Looking for Reliable, and Honest Mechanic in San Gabriel Valley, CA

I am hoping that I can get a reference to a good, honest, reliable mechanic near El Monte, CA, or just one in the San Gabriel Valley. References would be good, or and a member of the BBB.

My '87 944 always has something to repair.

One of my mechanic attempted to repair my Transmission back in '05&'06, and $2G later, only to discover it wasn't the transmission but a blown differential. So, another $1,700 went to fix that, and still not go. Then it's a bad fly-wheel and another $1,200...am I going crazy? Now it's a horrible rattling noise. The mechanic said something about possible bad bearings. What can I say, it didn't rattle before the fly-wheel problem. This is just getting crazy.

I need a good all-around 944 Automatic Transmission specialist in the Los Angeles, CA area, preferably in the San Gabriel Valley, Pasadena, El Monte, Alhambra, Duarte, Temple City, Azusa, ...anything, please. I would even consider going out of the area, just send me to someone who really knows
944's, please.

Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

FRporscheman

I would have gladly been your wrench when I was still living in Riverside. But now I'm a little too far. I never knew any mechanics in the area but I've heard nothing but good things about 928 international in Anaheim. I guess just as a last resort. Good luck!

Legoland951

You mean you paid $5k for all the work? If you wanted a good used transmission and flywheel, I can find you one for $500 and get you someone to put it in for about $500 for a grand total savings of $1k and if you throw in another $400, you get a new clutch with no additional labor cost.

alex

Its a little out of your way, but Greg Fuess (FWEES) at Tom's Foreign Autohouse (haus?) in Temecula has been the guy I take my cars to when it is something out of my league, or something that I don't have the tools for. He is straight up- when I took my car in last time to get a quote on some repairs, the first thing he said was, "How much do you like this car- I don't think its worth having US fix it, but if you want it done, we'll do it" They aren't cheap, but I've never been led to believe one thing when something else is the case.

He has worked on my mom's corvette, my uncle's various rx-7 restoration programs, their gmc & chevy pickups, just about everything you can think of. He may have even done a little wrenching on my grandfather's testarossa, but I'm not sure.

bdq

I had a bearing go out in my bearing flange (assembly that connects torque tube and torque converter). It started out as rattling and eventually sounded like metal shredding inside my transmission, but it was just bearings being destroyed.

I thought it was the transmission at first and was ready to buy a rebuilt, but then isolated the problem by disconnecting the transmission from the torque tube. Cost of bearing was about $20. My own labor - painful.

Try to isolate the noise first. If it is the transmission, it sounds like the better way to go is just install a rebuilt.

Good luck.

85.5 944

Funn944

Call Al Valenzuala at Glendale Motor Cener in Glendale. It's on Palmer, I don't have a number handy. He did a bunch of stuff for me a couple years ago. Got me some good prices on factory parts as well. They do all kinds of Porsche work there, from ground up rebuilds to whatever you need.

Project_944

Hi, again.

I am sorry for the late follow up on all the good suggestions and advise you guys gave me. I will definitely look into a couple of them.

The car is still in the garage, waiting for tax refund. Then, back to the shop. Hopefully good news this time.

Project_944

The car is still in MY garage. Didn't want you to think I was holding out on the mechanic.

bluedevil

Hey the best one (but you will have to go Torrance) is Callas Rennsport. http://www.callasrennsport.com/
Take it from someone who has taken their 944 to shops from LA to San Diego who lives in Victorville (look it up) and you will see that out of 10 years of looking for a good shop that will fix the car right you need to talk to Tony.
Trust me my car should be dead and crushed with some of the other shops in So Cal Tony's show got my 86 944 into the best shape it has ever been. Worth every penny and Tony does it right and once.

Now if you don't care about your car, how well it runs, never getting to drive it because the shop does not know why it does not run, and the same thing breaking over and over I can give you alot of shops to go to.

Fluidplay

Project_944 - there is a P-shop in Anaheim who's very familiar with front engine Porsches. "Precision Motor works" in Anaheim (Greg Brown) definetly knows his way around everything Porsche. If you're interested PM me and i'll give you contact info. It's very close to 928 International that FRporscheman mentioned.

UncleMaz

Convert to manual and I bet you can get some folks to help you easier.

Legoland951

I got 2 spare auto trannies one in a car that runs and drives. I think I sold my last one for $350 from an 87 and $250 for an early. The auto trannies are not very desireable. I have converted 3 autos to sticks and you pretty want to have a spare parts car for this type of conversion.

UncleMaz

Sounds like a good place to go to get your car fixed -or at least the parts you need to get it done - auto or manual.

Hey Frank, ain't going to the desert tonight. You around tomorrow?