rebuild in Tampa

[esample]

Starting to see some occasional smoke on decel. A top end is probably in my future. Dave White (now Vortex) has been doing my service work. Anyone have a recommendation for a shop in Tampa area. Want a good price, but a good job is the priority.

Thanks in advance

-e.

[niner11]

I had a 3.0 liter done by germantech in largo about 5 years ago. No issues and very knowledgeable, owners name is Joe Vatter. Good luck

http://www.germantech.com/

[JeremyD]

I'll second Joe - his engine builder is John Belshia - he built my 3.4 - even with the few curves I threw him in the process and talks to me even today.

Joe is strictly Mahle -

[Mookster]

Eibell Performance in St Pete does a good job also.

[JeremyD]

Mike Bruns at JB racing (near Mt Dora) is VERY accomplished - they do the machine work on site (and support Alex Job Racing)

[1974carrera]

Hi Ernie,


+1 that you can't do any better than Mike Bruns at JB Racing. You got to hear one of Mike's engines in Mark's '74 Carrera going down to Sebring last year!

[esample]

Thanks guys. I just got off the phone w/Mike and he suggested that I might want to wait a bit. My car doesn't seem to be using any oil and I have just started noticing smoke. He thinks maybe I should wait and put aside some cash for a serious upgrade "while we're in there" (read: more horsepower). Haven't talked to anyone else yet, but am going by Vortex later today.

Hey Bob! Good to hear from you. Are you going to Sebring this year? I don't believe I am, but still have great memories of our drive down last year. Thanks again for letting us tag along. Say "hey" to Mark if you talk to him.

Anyway, I appreciate all the suggestions and will definitely follow up with all the recommendations you all have made.

-e.

[mhoffman]

Ernie-
I can't speak to the good of the others mentioned, but I'd stay away from Rennen Imports over on Kennnedy- I only had one experience with them and I was less than impressed...
Matt

[esample]

Hey Matt

Thanks for the heads-up. Yeah, I Google'd them and it turned up some stuff that made me decide to look elsewhere.

Best
-e

[Jakester1168]

Originally Posted by esample

Starting to see some occasional smoke on decel. A top end is probably in my future. Dave White (now Vortex) has been doing my service work. Anyone have a recommendation for a shop in Tampa area. Want a good price, but a good job is the priority.

Thanks in advance

-e.

I just had my 3.2 rebuilt last December by Delegance Automotive in Largo, FL...Jack and Ralph Ransky (father & son) are the owners...they work on all German makes as well as Asian (no domestics) I highly recommend them...they did a complete rebuild....very meticulous in their work and will not try to sell you something you don't need (unless, as in my case, you want it anyway )...attached are some pics of the rebuild...my 9 drives so good now I never want to get out...below is their contact info...Good Luck!

Delegance Automotive
2400 Tall Pines Dr.
Largo , Fl. 33771
727-531-0303

BEFORE (Nasty)....



DURING....



and AFTER!!

[esample]

Wow, Chrisitan, nice looking engine. I'll add those guys to my "must call" list.
Went to Vortex today and they said "drive it and don't worry about it". Guess I'll just monitor my oil level for a couple of thousand miles and see where I'm at. It doesn't leak at all.

Thanks again
-e.

[JeremyD]

-e just monitor your oil intake - mine went from 1000 per qt to less than 400 pretty quickly - at that point I decided to jump on the rebuild - I'd talk to everbody and find a place that you are happy with - MHoffman mentioned Rennan. Pretty sure that Don from Dave White Racing is over there now = he probably has as many rebuilt engines under his belt than anybody in the area.

Go talk to everybody you can = get some comfort, start planning your rebuild , and start saving your money.

[mhoffman]

-e-
I can't say if this is good or bad (I am still thinking about it), but it is another data point. I took my 79SC over to Vortex (formerly Dave White) for alignment and lowering two weeks ago. I told them to let me know if they find anything that needs to be fixed before fixing it and to call me before they go over $500, and repeated the limit each time I checked on the car. They called and recommended replacing rear bushings, parts about $60 and the added work would not bust the $500 cap.

They told me the car was ready today. Bill was $1300. After some discussion (ok a lot of discussion) and the various staff folks I had told about the limit confirmed my directions, they cut the bill to $500. So, kudos for honoring what they agreed to when I took the car in, negative points for not being able to communicate internally the customer's directions.

Again, not sure that on the whole it was a good experience or not, but I did want to convey my experience to other potential customers.

And hey, with all of these Tampa/St Pete Pelican's hanging around, any chance for some sort of get together and/or drivng event? Next DE at Sebring is in June...

Best-
Matt

[JeremyD]

I should be at the next cars and coffee on the 16th

http://www.myspace.com/carsandcoffee

[esample]

Originally Posted by JeremyD

-

Go talk to everybody you can = get some comfort, start planning your rebuild , and start saving your money.

I think you're right

Matt, the jury is out on Vortex with me also. I've had some good and bad dealings with them over the past year. Now that new owners have taken over there have definitely been changes. There are some good guys there, though.


Besides Jeremy's c & c, there's an AX at Zephyrhills airport on Sunday am. But I'd absolutely be up for an outing if we could organize it.

-e.

[JeremyD]

I'd love to go to the autorcross this weekend - I'll have to see if i can swing that too.

I've got a big honey do list

[Jakester1168]

Originally Posted by mhoffman

-e-
I can't say if this is good or bad (I am still thinking about it), but it is another data point. I took my 79SC over to Vortex (formerly Dave White) for alignment and lowering two weeks ago. I told them to let me know if they find anything that needs to be fixed before fixing it and to call me before they go over $500, and repeated the limit each time I checked on the car. They called and recommended replacing rear bushings, parts about $60 and the added work would not bust the $500 cap.

They told me the car was ready today. Bill was $1300. After some discussion (ok a lot of discussion) and the various staff folks I had told about the limit confirmed my directions, they cut the bill to $500. So, kudos for honoring what they agreed to when I took the car in, negative points for not being able to communicate internally the customer's directions.

Again, not sure that on the whole it was a good experience or not, but I did want to convey my experience to other potential customers.

And hey, with all of these Tampa/St Pete Pelican's hanging around, any chance for some sort of get together and/or drivng event? Next DE at Sebring is in June...

Best-
Matt

I'm up for getting together somewhere in the Tampa/St.Pete area...but this weekend isn't good for me as I have things to do on Saturday and my Patriots are playing Sunday...

[Jakester1168]

Originally Posted by esample

Wow, Chrisitan, nice looking engine. I'll add those guys to my "must call" list.
Went to Vortex today and they said "drive it and don't worry about it". Guess I'll just monitor my oil level for a couple of thousand miles and see where I'm at. It doesn't leak at all.

Thanks again
-e.

Thanks...and it runs as good as it looks...no smoke, no oil leaks...perfect!

[donstevens]

I have used all the guys on this list at one time or another. I am am using D'elegance on my race car for a couple of reasons. 1) Reasonable fees, 2) no surprise bills, and most importantly 3) personal attention to my needs. The one on one relationship with the guy who turns the wrenches is important to me.

Don

[mhoffman]

My girlfriend told me she bought an AX pass for me for this Sunday, so I'll be up at Zepherhills! I am really looking forward to a DE, but I think the AX will do for now!

Jeremy- I tried to open the C&C link but no joy; I think our server blocks a lot of sites like that...

Matt