Engine Work in Atlanta....recomendations?

Sunroof · 09-16-2018, 09:17 AM

Fellow Georgia P-Car owners. Some of you know me since I have been on this board for quite a while now and got to know many of you over the years. I am seeking some assistance regarding shops in the greater Atlanta area that could do major engine work (lets start with a valve job). My two go to guys Ryland and Reggie are gone (both departed too soon), Franz Blam is retired (that's what I heard) and the selection of air-cooled guru's are few and far between.

If you read my BLUE SMOKE post, I obviously have issues with my 2.4 engine in my 1973.5T 911 that have just reared its ugly head. It pays to pay the piper and the get the repair done to maintain the value of this long hood, which I have owned going on 19 years now.

Anyone reading this skilled enough to R&R the engine, remove the heads, get the heads re-worked and put it back together again or just load it on a truck to take to a shop can make some bucks here. Following Wayne's 101 Projects Book, removing a 911 engine is not rocket science, but does take some knowledge and skill. I am very close to retirement and would love to save the high labor costs to R&R and engine myself as I would certainly need help or guidance. I would love to hear from you..

Or.........are you familiar with any mechanic or shop that has the skills to perform such work?

I have been a PCA member for decades and a Porsche owner for over 40+ years. I love these cars.

Thanks
Bob

Jonesy78 · 09-16-2018, 06:44 PM

Franz Blam Racing. Plus your PCA membership is good for a 10% discount.

Matt Monson · 09-16-2018, 07:16 PM

Franz is unfortunately gone.

Jack Lewis Enterprises

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

Graham Everhart or i can set you up with Charlie Grant who is absolutely who I would use..

chrisbruck · chrisbruck's Garage

Goldcrest Motorsports in Kennesaw did my top end a few years back. Couldn't be happier. Modern shop but solid air-cooled guys there. Highly recommended.

da Vinci Dan · 04:24 AM

Jack Lewis Enterprises, Norcross. His work is impeccable. He did a mechanical restoration on my ‘88 including the top end and it is perfect.

da Vinci Dan · 09-17-2018, 04:27 AM

Receipt below from my car as an example of Jack’s work.

Sunroof · 09-17-2018, 04:50 AM

Thanks all.
Jack seems to stay busy these days with his racing and set ups, Franz was the best, but retired, so its Dieter at the helm, Ryland and Reggie, both air cooled guru's who are departed were my go to guys for decades....................so that leaves folks who I never worked with (Goldcrest, Graham Everhart and Charlie Grant). A good list to start with.

Matt Monson · 09-17-2018, 12:05 PM

Goldcrest is building all of Leh Keen's Safari cars. They've been around many years.

Roswell · 09-17-2018, 01:56 PM

Can someone provide details/contact info on Graham Everhart?

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

index

IROC · IROC's Garage

While we are discussing Atlanta-area pcar guys (and some that are not around anymore), does anybody remember Galen Bridges? He was my instructor at my first-ever Road Atlanta DE in 1995 and I got to know him a bit afterwards. I bought my suspension stuff off of him and I remember he had built an awesome, high-compression, twin-plugged 2.7 for his silver '77 (?) with the second distributor driven off the driver's side cam. Crazy stuff.

Anyway, sorry for the slight hijack...

Roswell · 09-18-2018, 04:42 AM

Thank you, Marc!

Sunroof · 09-18-2018, 06:10 AM

Ghalen Bridges rebuilt the 2.4 engine in my 1973.5T. I do not know if he is still working on P-cars or not, but his reputation for engine rebuilding was second to none. When I mention his name to old timers they all have heard of him and his skills for precision and quality are second to none.

Bob

Matt Monson · 09-18-2018, 09:45 AM

Glad to see someone corrected the spelling on Graham Everett's name. Easier to find him that way.

Galen is still around as well. He bought from me in the last year. He's in Marietta.

Deanh · 09-18-2018, 12:20 PM

Checkpoint auto in Marietta has never done me wrong as well as the people i've sent there.

trentwat · 03-18-2019, 10:11 AM

Who did you choose? I have the same dilemma...

Sunroof · 03-18-2019, 11:34 AM

Well, too bad we could not put our heads together and save anywhere from 20K to 70K for both engines to have valve jobs or full rebuilding. I do have Wayne's book!

Its gets down to trust and experience for me. I have been a Porsche owner in the Atlanta area for over 40 years and have sooner of later used most of the mechanics in this town. Several of the best have departed (Ryland in Marietta and Reggie in Marietta as well). Several names/shops have come up for engine repair from Porsche owners on this board and they are as follows (not by priority):

Marteen of Auto Europe in Atlanta.

Jack Lewis - Norcross.

Biehl Hardy - Check Point Auto - Marietta

Goldcrest - Kennesaw

Graham Everett - Road Atlanta

I can list several more names and shops but comparing prices for a valve job puts them all pretty much in the same court. All these shops can handle the task. Prices on engine repairs are crazy! And the explanation is the rise in Porsche parts. If you were to visit the Porsche restoration shop at the Atlanta Porsche experience, they will tell you that they will tear everything down regardless if its a worn valve guide. So the price quoted to me for a total rebuild on a 2.4 at that shop would run 35K up. Labor rates between the shops vary by a few bucks, but its about the rise in Porsche parts!

So, I have decided that I will take my car to Marteen and hope its nothing more then a worn valve guide and settle for a valve job or just roll the damn thing off a cliff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck
Bob
73.5T

My engine was rebuilt by Ghallen Bridges who is or was one of the best around. He has since retired, but Marteen worked along side Ghallen and has decades of experience. He is my FIRST go to for engine work.

AskewRSR · 03-18-2019, 11:48 AM

Yes. Martin is one of the best engine builders in America. Back in the 70's He was the engine builder at Northlake Porsche and Franz Blam was the Service manager. He has built me Dozens of engines over the years..... and Ghallen was one of His Techs many years ago. Working for Martine.

Bob Kontak · Bob Kontak's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

Goldcrest is building all of Leh Keen's Safari cars. They've been around many years.

Tom Long left with yours truly in a hockey rink in Newfoundland last September.

I can't even fit in that car built by Goldcrest. 87 or 88 with a fairly stock motor save exhaust. Street car gutted and transformed. They got skills.

(Matt, car belongs to my pal Rob, in Asheville. You did some work on his GT3RS diff for him.)