Greg Brown Tribute Thread
#31
I've probably said it before, but if I had one 928-related wish it would be that everyone get a chance to work with Greg in the shop for a week.
First, you'd be exhausted- go ahead and spend a week under a car with your arms over your head. Greg's 71. I can't keep up with him, no way. And Kyle's in a whole 'nuther league. Go ahead and put 16 spiral-lock wrist pin clips in with your bare fingers, like Greg can. (I couldn't....)
Second, you'd get an appreciation for how terrible an idea allowing an 'open' shop is- people like me and the dozens of locals (enthusiasts and other local shops coming for hoses and fittings from Greg and Kyle's other business), randomly wandering in and interrupting whatever Greg and Kyle are trying to work on. I have tailored my visits to be brief but I'm still interrupting.
Third, you'd see that about every 30 minutes in the process of doing something on a 928 that you've done once or twice, there's some hiccup (broken bolt, previous PO bodge, etc) that would stop you in your tracks- Greg just shrugs and takes care of whatever it is, even if it means an unanticipated trip to 928Intl to get a replacement that no one could have budgeted time or money for. These cars were 'easy' to work on in 1989, in 2023 there's old-car-gotchas around every corner.
Fourth- Greg's shop is ~6000 square feet. There are roughly 25 928s there right now. The shop is Greg, Kyle, two other mechanics, and their (part time) alignment guy. 6.5 to 7 days a week. Are you going to wait to get an answer to your email or call, when every email or call interrupts what's going on on the shop floor? Yes.
I'm writing this from my cushy chair in my 72 degree office. I spent the weekend R&R'ing my front suspension, it's now Wednesday and I'm still sore. Nothing but respect for Greg, Kyle, Mary, Juan, Milad, Sean Ratts, Colin, Stan, Garrity, and all the other pros who've I've forgotten, that do this day-in, day-out.
First, you'd be exhausted- go ahead and spend a week under a car with your arms over your head. Greg's 71. I can't keep up with him, no way. And Kyle's in a whole 'nuther league. Go ahead and put 16 spiral-lock wrist pin clips in with your bare fingers, like Greg can. (I couldn't....)
Second, you'd get an appreciation for how terrible an idea allowing an 'open' shop is- people like me and the dozens of locals (enthusiasts and other local shops coming for hoses and fittings from Greg and Kyle's other business), randomly wandering in and interrupting whatever Greg and Kyle are trying to work on. I have tailored my visits to be brief but I'm still interrupting.
Third, you'd see that about every 30 minutes in the process of doing something on a 928 that you've done once or twice, there's some hiccup (broken bolt, previous PO bodge, etc) that would stop you in your tracks- Greg just shrugs and takes care of whatever it is, even if it means an unanticipated trip to 928Intl to get a replacement that no one could have budgeted time or money for. These cars were 'easy' to work on in 1989, in 2023 there's old-car-gotchas around every corner.
Fourth- Greg's shop is ~6000 square feet. There are roughly 25 928s there right now. The shop is Greg, Kyle, two other mechanics, and their (part time) alignment guy. 6.5 to 7 days a week. Are you going to wait to get an answer to your email or call, when every email or call interrupts what's going on on the shop floor? Yes.
I'm writing this from my cushy chair in my 72 degree office. I spent the weekend R&R'ing my front suspension, it's now Wednesday and I'm still sore. Nothing but respect for Greg, Kyle, Mary, Juan, Milad, Sean Ratts, Colin, Stan, Garrity, and all the other pros who've I've forgotten, that do this day-in, day-out.
The following 15 users liked this post by Rob Edwards:
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#32
I stated MY EXPERIENCE, they were useless!
It is mentioned MULTIPLE times in the suspension thread "products that aren't shown only shilled" and we all know that greg stopped dealing with Roger!
greg even mentioned himself how many products he has made FOR HIS SHOP
why rehash??????????
#33
I stated MY EXPERIENCE, they were useless!
It is mentioned MULTIPLE times in the suspension thread "products that aren't shown only shilled" and we all know that greg stopped dealing with Roger!
greg even mentioned himself how many products he has made FOR HIS SHOP
why rehash??????????
It is mentioned MULTIPLE times in the suspension thread "products that aren't shown only shilled" and we all know that greg stopped dealing with Roger!
greg even mentioned himself how many products he has made FOR HIS SHOP
why rehash??????????
You haven't had a 928 in service since 2005.
Prove me wrong.
Kevin
#34
About what? That I tried to get a product from greg and got nowhere LIKE MANY OTHERS?
or my experience with 928's?
I have done all the service on my car, engine out, 2 TB/WP, rebuilding brake system and MAKING THE BEST Fuel lines. Getting a euro to run with zero emissions, replacing almost everything, doing the ELECTRIC SYSTEM TEST in the manual to find an issue, new brains, BEST EXHAUST
what else you want to know?
CAN RL handle a VIDEO UPLOAD to see my car running perfectly?
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...l#post18149585
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#36
Sometimes when one works on cars professionally (as in they have a business devoted to a specific profession/trade) and they are in business for many years, and said business remains a small business (as in not focused on corporate style "growth") and who's service and/or products are in high demand, EVENTUALLY said business owner can and must choose (limit) who they want to work with.
Sometimes a single interaction with a potential new customer is all it takes to decide against any further contact, and sometimes it has nothing to do with the car they have or their budget.
Just sayin.
Sometimes a single interaction with a potential new customer is all it takes to decide against any further contact, and sometimes it has nothing to do with the car they have or their budget.
Just sayin.
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#37
My friend Jochen has also an 928 focused free Porsche repair shop here in Germany and he has the same troubles
like all small car businesses here in Germany.
A small back office
To much work and no new employees
A long waiting list and 25 customer cars on the outdoor place
A strong cluster of long time customers and friends, it’s always nice to be there and drink coffee and talking about projects and crazy ideas
Service work is fast done but for complex overhauls the waiting list is a year and more
Difficult customers with no understanding for this limitations are wrong there and the Porsche Center the right choice
He works on these cars because he likes the machines, money is a nice bonus
He has always an project to find something new to explore, boat, camper, motorcycles and so on.
And he was also upset if a customer buys stuff from 928 Motorsport and the fitting was mediocre.
I can understand Greg’s business environment from this perspective and was always pleased than he gives insights in his ideas and plans knowing
it is maybe only the tip of the iceberg.
Maybe he should use the abilities of 928 international for promote and sell basic stuff like alternator kits, hoses and so on to harvest time for his shop.
Looks like the two have a long time business relationship on the same spot in California.
The 928 community should be pleased to have a few handfuls of skilled business partners around the world to maintenance our cars, times will be much worse in 10 years.
The cars who will be driven for the pure pleasure of driving a 928 will be vanishing over time because a lot of cars will sitting in a collection collecting dust.
And maybe artists are eccentric because this is the force for new inspiration. Jochen for sure is it.
like all small car businesses here in Germany.
A small back office
To much work and no new employees
A long waiting list and 25 customer cars on the outdoor place
A strong cluster of long time customers and friends, it’s always nice to be there and drink coffee and talking about projects and crazy ideas
Service work is fast done but for complex overhauls the waiting list is a year and more
Difficult customers with no understanding for this limitations are wrong there and the Porsche Center the right choice
He works on these cars because he likes the machines, money is a nice bonus
He has always an project to find something new to explore, boat, camper, motorcycles and so on.
And he was also upset if a customer buys stuff from 928 Motorsport and the fitting was mediocre.
I can understand Greg’s business environment from this perspective and was always pleased than he gives insights in his ideas and plans knowing
it is maybe only the tip of the iceberg.
Maybe he should use the abilities of 928 international for promote and sell basic stuff like alternator kits, hoses and so on to harvest time for his shop.
Looks like the two have a long time business relationship on the same spot in California.
The 928 community should be pleased to have a few handfuls of skilled business partners around the world to maintenance our cars, times will be much worse in 10 years.
The cars who will be driven for the pure pleasure of driving a 928 will be vanishing over time because a lot of cars will sitting in a collection collecting dust.
And maybe artists are eccentric because this is the force for new inspiration. Jochen for sure is it.
Last edited by Darklands; 12-07-2023 at 10:14 AM.
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#38
Bonjour,
without Greg info about -30 synchro my gearbox would not behave so great on track and I would not been able to teach my machinist how the surface of block holes should be to avoid to seize the pistons… Engine should drink much more oil and I should have cracked one head complying blindly with Porsche spec…
I stop here to avoid too much detail !
I Should go to LA and San Diego for work 2d quarter of 2024. I will arrange to stop by in Anaheim to say thank you in person !
Raphael
without Greg info about -30 synchro my gearbox would not behave so great on track and I would not been able to teach my machinist how the surface of block holes should be to avoid to seize the pistons… Engine should drink much more oil and I should have cracked one head complying blindly with Porsche spec…
I stop here to avoid too much detail !
I Should go to LA and San Diego for work 2d quarter of 2024. I will arrange to stop by in Anaheim to say thank you in person !
Raphael
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#39
All of my cars are running better than they would ,
since Greg was helpful with sage advice.
If only these typewritten excursions could be conducted in person.
The results would be more
DA KIND Like .
I walk to my own Drummer, but I also recognize wisdom...and pay attention.
since Greg was helpful with sage advice.
If only these typewritten excursions could be conducted in person.
The results would be more
DA KIND Like .
I walk to my own Drummer, but I also recognize wisdom...and pay attention.
Greg has greatest depth, advising a transmission newbie (present) how to reassemble the front of a transmission, first time and at times which MY of the manual I should apply in reassembly… seriously a newbie. And you’ve stood in when Greg isn’t present.