TO: John Struthers
04-12-2002 | 01:48 AM
#1
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Hobbs, NM (or lovington)
TO: John Struthers
I was wondering since you live in Midland, is there a porsche mechanic there that you use? Also is there someone there you know that can do alignments on 928s? I live in Lovington NM so it not that far away, about an 1.5 hours. Thanks.
04-12-2002 | 03:54 PM
#2
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,291
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From: Midland, Texas
Lobis,
I have found two, and there is a third who I have yet to converse with.
The first one is a TOTALLY overbearing individual
who works/runs a repair shop for an older man. The older man -this is the guy I haven't met yet-
apparently had the overbearing kid apprenticed to him for some years. I've talked to BMW, Merc., Volvo, and even a Renault owner(s) who swear by the kid. And he does sound knowledgeable, quoted me the timing belt replacement procedure to include parts required and other things to do list while the sHARk was apart. Additionally, the kid is a vacuum and spark chasing whiz. Another plus is he has the manuals. His three major debits are: 1.) He is a boneafide slob. I can handle that. 2.) He is so overbearing I walked away while he was in mid sentence; "You WILL leave the car and when I get a chance I'll look at it, I will not order ANY parts until I inspect it. I WILL NOT commit myself to ANY completion date.... When you look at what he said everything is actually pretty reasonable. But the way he says it makes you want to slap the taste out of his mouth. 3.) The shop and yard are a mess, though he uses seat and fender blankets extensively.
The third guy is word of mouth. I should meet him in about an hour at Britt Imports when I take Pattycakes in for an Insurance estimate.
I'll be changing tires next month at, of all places, Mr Muffler. They have a whiz bang, high tech Hunter system and the guy does vette' corner balancing the way we are supposed to do the sHARks. I can get you the phone numbers but I won't swear to their work and prices until I 've BTDT.
If you still want the names and numbers let me know and they are yours. O.K.?
Later,
Keep em' rolling.
John S. and Pattycakes
<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
I have found two, and there is a third who I have yet to converse with.
The first one is a TOTALLY overbearing individual
who works/runs a repair shop for an older man. The older man -this is the guy I haven't met yet-
apparently had the overbearing kid apprenticed to him for some years. I've talked to BMW, Merc., Volvo, and even a Renault owner(s) who swear by the kid. And he does sound knowledgeable, quoted me the timing belt replacement procedure to include parts required and other things to do list while the sHARk was apart. Additionally, the kid is a vacuum and spark chasing whiz. Another plus is he has the manuals. His three major debits are: 1.) He is a boneafide slob. I can handle that. 2.) He is so overbearing I walked away while he was in mid sentence; "You WILL leave the car and when I get a chance I'll look at it, I will not order ANY parts until I inspect it. I WILL NOT commit myself to ANY completion date.... When you look at what he said everything is actually pretty reasonable. But the way he says it makes you want to slap the taste out of his mouth. 3.) The shop and yard are a mess, though he uses seat and fender blankets extensively.
The third guy is word of mouth. I should meet him in about an hour at Britt Imports when I take Pattycakes in for an Insurance estimate.
I'll be changing tires next month at, of all places, Mr Muffler. They have a whiz bang, high tech Hunter system and the guy does vette' corner balancing the way we are supposed to do the sHARks. I can get you the phone numbers but I won't swear to their work and prices until I 've BTDT.
If you still want the names and numbers let me know and they are yours. O.K.?
Later,
Keep em' rolling.
John S. and Pattycakes
<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
04-12-2002 | 05:08 PM
#3
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Hobbs, NM (or lovington)
I would like the numbers, I tried to have it aligned here but they are bunch of morons. I told them the way to align it on a hunter but they were like ummm uhhh it cant be done like that the sensors might fall off or something. I need to have the T-belt checked for peace of mind. I was changed 4years and 15,000 miles ago by the records i got with the shark. I had new tie rods put on because i had an accident pulling out of my driveway with a ford explorer and the wheel turns further to the left than to the right, but there is no shaking and it doesnt pull. So its back together and completly repainted, and some new kumo tires are in the mail... thanks
04-13-2002 | 04:39 AM
#4
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,291
Likes: 2
From: Midland, Texas
Lobis,
Here you go: Littlefield Automotive
1810 West Front Street
Midland, TX. 79701
Phone: 915-683-6811
As I have yet to find the supposed owner/master wrench I went thru the phone book and found the only two Littlefield home number listings.
Hayden Littlefield : 915-683-0959
Hayden Littlefield : 915-683-5016 - same name different phone(?)
I'll repeat the earlier post.
I don't like the mechanic, but it could be a personality clash. Others rave on him. But, just like a family doctor or dentist YOU are going to have to make the decision concerning who is going to work on your car.
As to the alignment:
Mr. Muffler,
Brake and Alignment Center
2324 West Wall Street
Midland, TX 79701
This shop is run by a bunch of amiable Joe Bob's
neither cheap nor expensive.
I talked to the owner manager - a hands on guy -.
I explained the situation, again for clarity, he said he understands the corner balancing and alignment procedure as defined by Porsche stipulates a "loaded" as opposed to unloaded suspension.
His rig digitally "fixes"/baselines the car's alignment as 'presented'. This gives his computer a starting reference point. He then loads the specific 928 alignment data and gets a read out of what needs to be adjusted. at this point the car's suspension is unloaded and adjustments are made. The car is then driven for a mile or so to load the suspension again then it's back on the machine. He was straight forward enough to say;
" computer or not, due to variances/play from car to car he "could have to put the car back on the machine 3 or 4 times to get it right". I have set aside $200.00 for the alignment. He got busy and we never settled on a hard number. For expediency's sake. If you can, adjust your ride heigth before you get here. He can do it but it saves you time by eliminating one step in the process.
You might post for info on ride heigth adj. or heck out the archives. Crap! Sorry, I'm fairly sure that the height will change with the new tires so maybe you better do that after mounting.
Another alternative on alignment:
Pat Gray Bodyworks
3221 West Industrial Street
Midland, Tx. 79701
Phone:915-687-0488
I stumbled across these guy's. New building, state of the art equipment and most important they pay a $600.00 a month proprietary fee to use the insurance industry parts locating system...and that system works!
If you wander down here give me a call we can do coffee or lunch and I can show you where these outfits are. They are all within 4 or 5 minutes of IH 20 and a few minutes from each other.
P.S. I don't know if you will have room in the sHARk for hauling the Kuhmo's down here but in no case would I suggest driving that far on new tires with a car known to have an alignment problem. BTW we have a TIRE's BE US or two down here, what are you paying for the mail order set?
Not nosey just cheap.
My home phone 915-694-5379
In any case good luck
later,
John Struthers & Pattycakes
<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
Here you go: Littlefield Automotive
1810 West Front Street
Midland, TX. 79701
Phone: 915-683-6811
As I have yet to find the supposed owner/master wrench I went thru the phone book and found the only two Littlefield home number listings.
Hayden Littlefield : 915-683-0959
Hayden Littlefield : 915-683-5016 - same name different phone(?)
I'll repeat the earlier post.
I don't like the mechanic, but it could be a personality clash. Others rave on him. But, just like a family doctor or dentist YOU are going to have to make the decision concerning who is going to work on your car.
As to the alignment:
Mr. Muffler,
Brake and Alignment Center
2324 West Wall Street
Midland, TX 79701
This shop is run by a bunch of amiable Joe Bob's
neither cheap nor expensive.
I talked to the owner manager - a hands on guy -.
I explained the situation, again for clarity, he said he understands the corner balancing and alignment procedure as defined by Porsche stipulates a "loaded" as opposed to unloaded suspension.
His rig digitally "fixes"/baselines the car's alignment as 'presented'. This gives his computer a starting reference point. He then loads the specific 928 alignment data and gets a read out of what needs to be adjusted. at this point the car's suspension is unloaded and adjustments are made. The car is then driven for a mile or so to load the suspension again then it's back on the machine. He was straight forward enough to say;
" computer or not, due to variances/play from car to car he "could have to put the car back on the machine 3 or 4 times to get it right". I have set aside $200.00 for the alignment. He got busy and we never settled on a hard number. For expediency's sake. If you can, adjust your ride heigth before you get here. He can do it but it saves you time by eliminating one step in the process.
You might post for info on ride heigth adj. or heck out the archives. Crap! Sorry, I'm fairly sure that the height will change with the new tires so maybe you better do that after mounting.
Another alternative on alignment:
Pat Gray Bodyworks
3221 West Industrial Street
Midland, Tx. 79701
Phone:915-687-0488
I stumbled across these guy's. New building, state of the art equipment and most important they pay a $600.00 a month proprietary fee to use the insurance industry parts locating system...and that system works!
If you wander down here give me a call we can do coffee or lunch and I can show you where these outfits are. They are all within 4 or 5 minutes of IH 20 and a few minutes from each other.
P.S. I don't know if you will have room in the sHARk for hauling the Kuhmo's down here but in no case would I suggest driving that far on new tires with a car known to have an alignment problem. BTW we have a TIRE's BE US or two down here, what are you paying for the mail order set?
Not nosey just cheap.
My home phone 915-694-5379
In any case good luck
later,
John Struthers & Pattycakes
<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
04-13-2002 | 09:02 PM
#6
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 81
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From: Hobbs, NM (or lovington)
For the set of kuhmos it was $367 with shipping from the tire rack $80 a tire for 225/50/ZR16s
z rated for 80 is good. I am not sure how i will take the tire down there yet. If i put them in the car i will lay something down over the carpet. They should be wensday so i might go to midland thursday.
z rated for 80 is good. I am not sure how i will take the tire down there yet. If i put them in the car i will lay something down over the carpet. They should be wensday so i might go to midland thursday.
