Good 356 Mechanic In Atlanta?

Gosoaus · 06-26-2009, 11:21 AM

I purchased a 1964 356C coupe to restore at a favorable price. It has some good points. New interior, new brakes, new clutch, and NO RUST. Of course, the car needs a lot of work. The car was at one time used as a race car, so it's missing the tin behind the front disc brakes, bump stops are cut down, etc. It needs new suspension bushings and at one point someone cut the engine pan to install a corvair engine and there is a one to two inch gap between the engine pan and the body which will let exhaust heat in and cook the engine over time. The engine is a 356C block with 912 heads and recently ran a compression check at 140 across all cylinders. The DPO wired the car for 12 volts and got everything working on 12 volts except the gas gauge, which reads backwards. The wiring job he did is, to put it politely, amateurish. It needs paint and rubber body seals badly.

During shipping, the shipper left the DPO-installed aftermarket fuel pump on. The engine how has 8 quarts of fluid in it - 3 quarts of which are gasoline. In addition, the gearbox is leaking from a "side gearbox seal" and has leaked most of its transmission fluid out. I know the car runs well, as I drove it for a long time and hard before buying it . It runs now, but feels like it's running in three cylinders because the number 4 cylinder is not getting gasoline from the carbs. The front hood latch also does not latch properly. The heat boxes are 912 heat boxes and are not attached to the engine, so no heat in the winter.

The parts to make this car entirely original and to reverse the modifications the DPO made to the car will run about $2K including new heat boxes but excluding any engine or transmission work the car needs. The mechanic that the head of the local 356 graciously recommended refuses to work on the car because of the volume of work it needs and the bad hands that have touched the car before. I found this kind of strange, but he's entitled to turn down work I suppose.

Having no experience with Porsches, I am trying to find a good Porsche mechanic in the Atlanta area to change the oil, fix the carbs, and fix the gearbox leak. I just want to get it running so I don't have to have it towed everywhere as I restore it. Any suggestions?

Thank you very much.

atlporsche · 06-26-2009, 01:55 PM

what side of atlanta are you on?

sjd

atlporsche · 06-26-2009, 01:56 PM

what side of atlanta are you on?

sjd

Jagshund · 06-26-2009, 02:08 PM

I would talk with Alan at German Auto in Roswell (off Highway 9). Not cheap, but definitely competent. (And while you're there, check out the neglected pile of 356s in the lot adjacent to his parking lot) It also wouldn't hurt to check with Hennessey, as I've seen a few 356s in there for service.

I believe his contact information is as follows:
1240 Alpharetta St # 3C, Roswell, GA‎ (770) 649-8700‎

Gosoaus · 06-28-2009, 12:46 AM

I am in the northwest side of Atlanta. Thank you for all of your help.

Gosoaus · 07-14-2009, 12:25 PM

Alan would not take the car in but referred me to Jack Lewis, who did. Let's hope it works out.

It's become pretty clear that some of the 356 mechanics in these parts only want to work on trailer queens. I guess the 356 owners in this area are a rich bunch and these mechanics are able to make a living tuning up their motors. Guess the lesson here is to learn to work on my car myself.

Jagshund · 07-16-2009, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gosoaus

Guess the lesson here is to learn to work on my car myself.

I'm glad you found someone to lend a hand . . . in the meantime, that is . . .

minimn · 08-15-2009, 03:43 AM

So, what happened at the Jack Lewis shop, did that help?

marcsalleras · 08-15-2009, 12:20 PM

european motor cars, the alpharetta shop location, 770-664-9222, ive seen quite a few 356's in there, they tell you how it is and dont beat around the bush and have a ton of porsche experience, one of the guys there is actually a certified porsche master mechanic but everyone there is knowledgeable to say the least............tell em' juan sent you

Gosoaus · 08-29-2009, 12:16 AM

I am going to merely recite the truth of what transpired between myself and Mr. Lewis. You may draw your own conclusions.

Jack took the car in. At 11 the next day, he said the car was done except for tuning one carb. At 1, he was finished. I picked the car up, paid a bill in excess of $1000, and listened to Jack tell me everything that was wrong with the car - which I already knew. I was charged at his hourly rate for reviewing the vehicle and having its faults presented to me (for which I had already paid one mechanic as I had discussed with Jack).

During our conversation, I mentioned that my car needed tie rods ends, which I had asked him to do, and the right door aligned properly, which I had asked him to do, and a new steering coupler, which I had asked him to do, and a new gearstick bearing, which I'd also asked him to do.. in fact, I'd shipped a box of new ******** parts to accomplish these things to Jack in my car, and I was surprised they were not done. Jack told me that I needed to approach the car system by system, and he would rebuild the entire front suspension and steering for $2500 plus parts. He also told me he got $1700 just to remove and tear down a transaxle. I declined, and told Jack I thought I would do it myself. Jack told me that he would be happy to work on specific systems I wanted him to work on and to be a source of advice otherwise.

Called Jack two days ago because I pulled the engine to rebuild the engine pan and renew the clutch, pressure plate, and throughout bearing. I was looking for someone in town who could balance the pressure plate and clutch to the flywheel. Jack told me that no one in town did that, and he refused to disclose his out of state source for this work because of "trade lists, and he kept that information proprietary."

Okkkk..............

Bottom line is that I've given up on finding a mechanic in the Atlanta area, and I'm just doing all of the work myself. I'm not finding it terribly difficult so far. I'm using the factory workshop manual, parts list, and two Pellow books. I've rewired the car by making my own harness out of Advance Autowire (thicker) sourced wire, a generic modern fuse box, and Bosch relays on every circuit to save wear and tear on 50 year old switches. I've rebuilt the engine compartment utilizing genuine Porsche components and installed a new ANSA exhaust. I've put a new clutch in the car and replaced the transmission seals that were leaking. I've also installed new tie rods, rebuilt the steering box, installed a new Pittman arm, and a new steering coupler (the Zim replacement, which is two VW couplers screwed together).

A shipment of Autogym intensive tar remover came in today, and so I'm stripping, preparing, and painting the engine compartment, pans, and longitudinals with POR 15 followed by a top coat of chassis black, this weekend. The autogym product loosens undercoating to the point where it can be easily scraped off with a putty knife.

Gosoaus · 10-02-2009, 09:24 PM

The work on my 356C is finished, and it is about ready to go to the paint shop. Found that the car has a 356B six bolt transaxle, not bloody likely to be original. Looking for a rebuilt or rebuildable 356B or, preferably, a 12 bolt 741 transaxle. I plan to send it off to Vic Skirmants to be rebuilt. Let me know if you have something that would work.

onboost · 10-05-2009, 07:18 AM

Would love to see some pics...

I know a few folks in the ATL but not nearly enough... check out a guy on 911 tech forum called Stormmaster, he may be a good resource to steer you for paint, upholstery etc.. if your headed down that road.

Also for the mechanicals, you may want to give Franz Blam racing a call.. not sure if they do 356 but might be able to link you up with someone.. they've been around a long time!

Good luck..

Paul

Wilywilly · 10-05-2009, 04:13 PM

For paint take it to John Holt, his shop was called Hot Wheels but he recently got into a trademark dispute with Mattel. I think it's called Holt Wheels now. He's on 41 and Barnes Road. If you exit 75 S at the North Loop take the first right and then the first left and his shop is on the right. Barnes Road is a one way so if you try to get there off of 41 you have to cut thru a gas station. Does a lot of Porsche's including 356's and is a good guy. For Mechanicals there are a lot of options, the best being DIY. Pat Collins in Norcross is considered by many to be the best. Ray Morgan of VMR does mostly restorations but can be talked into mechanicals, especially if it's beyond normal tune-up stuff. Yeah there are a lot of old rich guys in the area that have beautiful garage queen 356's but they are all die hard 356 fans and although they are all gorgeous they do indeed drive them. I'm an old poor guy, do most of my own mechanicals, but think the 356 guys are generally a good group. I was at Franz's shop today discussing a 2.0 911 build and there were a couple of 356's there. Suggest you join the SOG (Southern Owners Group) of the 356 Registry. They have some pretty good events throughout the year. Between now and December there will be a meeting, an overnight drive in the Carolina's and a tech session on basic tune-ups. Here is pic of my Little B Coupe that I put 9,000 miles on in the last year.

onboost · 10-06-2009, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wilywilly

I'm an old poor guy, do most of my own mechanicals, but think the 356 guys are generally a good group.

Suggest you join the SOG (Southern Owners Group) of the 356 Registry. They have some pretty good events throughout the year.

Oh that's pretty funny.. guess I'm headed there too!

Didn't know they had a SOG, I'm affiliated with POG on this end.. (Potomac Owners Group). Haven't been too active in much lately, trying to get some of this stuff back on the road!

Have fun..

Paul

Matt Monson · 10-06-2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gosoaus

The work on my 356C is finished, and it is about ready to go to the paint shop. Found that the car has a 356B six bolt transaxle, not bloody likely to be original. Looking for a rebuilt or rebuildable 356B or, preferably, a 12 bolt 741 transaxle. I plan to send it off to Vic Skirmants to be rebuilt. Let me know if you have something that would work.

I don't have anything to offer in the way of a core, but just wanted to comment that Vic is your man for the gearbox.