First let me say I am not associated with the shop in any way other than a customer. I have no skin in the game but having watched this thread I figured I should post my own experience with Pasadena Air Cooled (PAC)
Besides my own wrenching, this shop has been the only place that's worked on my 964 since I got it, other than West End Alignment (great guys) who did the suspension adjustment, corner balance, etc.
I understand everyone's experiences are different, so I'll describe mine. I didn't know Bill or whomever ran/owned this place before, I've only worked with Curt, Caleb, and Peter there at PAC for going on a year. They've sorted my 964 pretty well and to the extent I've had sticker shock, it's mostly the "while you're in there" effect and Porsche tax that are responsible. This is not my first Porsche, and ymmv, but I've never received a bill/invoice/estimate that surprised me in a good way by being smaller than I had anticipated. I don't think that's unique to this, or any, shop really.
I can't speak for others' experiences, but at PAC Caleb has provided me with estimates and progress of the work as I've requested it. He's good at answering my texts/calls, has sent me pics of the car and work as we went along (for my own records) and let me bring my own (used or new) parts where I've tried to save some $$$, etc., tolerated my car pissing oil all over their shop/facility, and while we did all that let my 964 occupy one of their lifts for quite a while as I decided on the best way to proceed or waited for parts. I've never felt cheated or scammed, or conned into something I didn't want. Each time we did a major part of the expanding scope of the work I asked for an estimate, got one, asked more questions, got more answers, and only then went ahead and OK'd the work once I understood what I was getting into.
I feel free to question any particular item on the (quite extensive) estimates/invoices I've received from Caleb and the shop. I've also felt free to drop by the shop, chat with Caleb and Peter, the shop's mechanic (or Curt directly) about the car or the work being done. Most importantly, I felt that they all worked with me on my expectations and questions, and there were many... I didn't want, nor did I really encounter any surprises that I'd attribute to anything done by the guys at PAC. Was it a crap-load of money? Yes. I had an engine-out service on a leaky complex 911 done, and then some. Would I do it again? Probably, the work I had done was well worth it (I think) and addressed a lot of issues on my particular car.
I'm happy to answer any questions if anyone has them, as a counterpoint to piling on in this thread I myself would recommend this shop in the area (I'm in NE LA myself). As a summary of the work that they've done on my C4 (and I'm sure I'm forgetting some stuff)
- engine/trans out (leaking oil out of the cam chain housing covers like a KFC fryer)
- de-grease everything
- r&r some good used cam chain housings (supplied by me)
- r&r alternator fan & housing (I sourced good used ones, mine were delaminating or broken)
- fit new rennline valve covers top & bottom (original magnesium was far gone)
- trans selector seal
- plugs, belts, valve adjustment, fluids
- A/C check/recharge
- new clutch
- new pressure plate
- install new hardware/gaskets/etc. and reinstall engine/trans.
- repack cv on rear axle shaft
- r&r front axle shaft
- fit new engine sound pad
- install new rear bilsteins & springs
- got my tires swapped over to some used fifteen52 Tarmacs, tires mounted and balanced and refit on car
- took the car down to West End Alignment once the suspension was done
Also, not mechanical, but Curt's body guy also addressed a broken weld and a small paint issue for me.
Again, this post is just my own (quite recent) experience with Pasadena Air Cooled and isn't meant to discount the issue that the OP is having. Hopefully my experience provides some useful info as we all look for places that can help us to continue enjoying our cars.
