Am getting ready to order my speedster and am trying to get my ducks in a row.Any recommendations would be appreciated.
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Am getting ready to order my speedster and am trying to get my ducks in a row.Any recommendations would be appreciated.
Steve:
I think it makes sense to consider preparing yourself to do some of the basic maintenance on your engine. There are a number of good "how to" books and manuals describing maintenance procedures on the Type I.
One of my cars is 1967 VW Type I (bug) and over the last four years I have noticed significant attrition in the number of VW Mechanics. Many are retiring. There are so few old air cooled VW's on the road and, many of the owners of the remaining ones take pleasure in maintaining them, that it's difficult for the remaining VW mechanics to have an econmically viable business specializing in VW's.
There are a few V.W. mechanics listed in the San Fernando Valley Yellow Pages directory. Until a couple of weeks ago I used F&K Auto Services which is on Oxnard Street just east of Lankershim. They have retired and it's unclear whether the purchaser of the business will provide VW Service. Before that I used a fellow on Balboa Blvd at between Sativoy and Roscoe. He retired about a year ago. There are a couple of people in The Valley I can comment on. If you send me an email I'll give you more info.
If you are in the far East SFV you might want to check out BELA'S Foreign Car Repair at 25 25 North San Fernando Blvd in Burbank 818 842 9464.
I think it makes sense to consider preparing yourself to do some of the basic maintenance on your engine. There are a number of good "how to" books and manuals describing maintenance procedures on the Type I.
One of my cars is 1967 VW Type I (bug) and over the last four years I have noticed significant attrition in the number of VW Mechanics. Many are retiring. There are so few old air cooled VW's on the road and, many of the owners of the remaining ones take pleasure in maintaining them, that it's difficult for the remaining VW mechanics to have an econmically viable business specializing in VW's.
There are a few V.W. mechanics listed in the San Fernando Valley Yellow Pages directory. Until a couple of weeks ago I used F&K Auto Services which is on Oxnard Street just east of Lankershim. They have retired and it's unclear whether the purchaser of the business will provide VW Service. Before that I used a fellow on Balboa Blvd at between Sativoy and Roscoe. He retired about a year ago. There are a couple of people in The Valley I can comment on. If you send me an email I'll give you more info.
If you are in the far East SFV you might want to check out BELA'S Foreign Car Repair at 25 25 North San Fernando Blvd in Burbank 818 842 9464.
That seems to be the same problem as here on the Right Coast - all the good mechanics are getting up there in years and retiring......
Gordon,
That goes for us owners too,LOL
Bruce
That goes for us owners too,LOL
Bruce
If only I could - retire, that is. I can do without the getting up in years, but the alternative is worse.
Bob,
You got that right. My high school class of 54 has their 50th reunion this fall. We also have a web site and lately most of the new posts are about some of my classmates dying. I swear to God that my Speedy is keeping me young at heart and looking forward to new adventures with it. Made Parts Obsolete this weekend and about a 700 mile round trip along with some touring up there. Loved it all, car ran great, body is a little stiff, mainly my left ass cheek where I was sitting on my wallet. Since most of the cars there were 356's, a lot of the owners were senior citizens. Great bunch of mellow people. They were very interested in our replicars. I think their origionals are reaching the point of being so valuable that a replicar makes sense as a devil may care driver.
Bruce
You got that right. My high school class of 54 has their 50th reunion this fall. We also have a web site and lately most of the new posts are about some of my classmates dying. I swear to God that my Speedy is keeping me young at heart and looking forward to new adventures with it. Made Parts Obsolete this weekend and about a 700 mile round trip along with some touring up there. Loved it all, car ran great, body is a little stiff, mainly my left ass cheek where I was sitting on my wallet. Since most of the cars there were 356's, a lot of the owners were senior citizens. Great bunch of mellow people. They were very interested in our replicars. I think their origionals are reaching the point of being so valuable that a replicar makes sense as a devil may care driver.
Bruce
Bruce, I can fix that wallet problem, send all your money to me :-)
Seriously, I've taken to wearing the shorts with the cargo pockets and put my wallet in one of them. If I just put the wallet somewhere in the car, I'll forget it.
ed
Seriously, I've taken to wearing the shorts with the cargo pockets and put my wallet in one of them. If I just put the wallet somewhere in the car, I'll forget it.
ed
Bruce:
With all these replicas, maybe some younger mechanics should be learning about air cooled engines from some of the older hands. Then people like Steve could find a good mechanic in his area.
I just try to find someone local who knows VW's or Porsches, and ask a few questions of them before they get my car.
Bob
With all these replicas, maybe some younger mechanics should be learning about air cooled engines from some of the older hands. Then people like Steve could find a good mechanic in his area.
I just try to find someone local who knows VW's or Porsches, and ask a few questions of them before they get my car.
Bob
Contact the local Vw club. I bet they can direct you, or perhaps one of their memebers does Vw work on the side. A mechanic that knows a little bit about aircooled engines is to be avoided.
Erik's idea about contacting a local VW club is a good one.
They meet on Friday nights around 8:00 pm at the McDonalds on the Northwest corner of Reseda Blvd and Nordhoff, near California State University Northridge.
Another option is United Auto in the 6700 block of Lankershim Blvd. I haven't used them yet but may soon try them out. There is a VW parts shop by the same name about a block south.
They meet on Friday nights around 8:00 pm at the McDonalds on the Northwest corner of Reseda Blvd and Nordhoff, near California State University Northridge.
Another option is United Auto in the 6700 block of Lankershim Blvd. I haven't used them yet but may soon try them out. There is a VW parts shop by the same name about a block south.
Bill, thanks for the lead. Today I paid a vist to United Auto.The address is 6719 Lankershim.Had a nice conversation with Walter,he is a nice guy and has been doing air cooled for over twenty years.I will be taking my car in to him next week for some adjustments and I will let you know how it goes. I also went to the vw parts store a few doors south of them, looked ok as well.Walter has a real 56 speedster convert in the shop which he is preping for paint.I am also going to try to make the vw club meeting in Northridge tonight. If I get some usefull info I will share it here.
Steve
Steve
Steve, I notice from your registration you live in West Hills. You might want to check-out the VW mechanic on Reseda Blvd. just south of Saticoy (accross from the Honda Dealership).
They sell parts and do mechanical work. They are a little higher priced than others but they seem to be good.
One of the phenomenon you will run into is that the old European mechanics act as "crew chiefs" and most of the work is actually done by younger (recent arrivals)from countries south of here that still have a large population of VW's. So the appreciation and understanding of the engines is not what it used to be.
Tune-ups shouldn't be a problem, though. Also, you may want to check out a guy on Lassen Near Topanga Aero Engineering for rebuilds. I first saw reference to him in Hot VW's. He does a lot of air cooled work. Porsche, VW and Motorcycle.
They sell parts and do mechanical work. They are a little higher priced than others but they seem to be good.
One of the phenomenon you will run into is that the old European mechanics act as "crew chiefs" and most of the work is actually done by younger (recent arrivals)from countries south of here that still have a large population of VW's. So the appreciation and understanding of the engines is not what it used to be.
Tune-ups shouldn't be a problem, though. Also, you may want to check out a guy on Lassen Near Topanga Aero Engineering for rebuilds. I first saw reference to him in Hot VW's. He does a lot of air cooled work. Porsche, VW and Motorcycle.
Bill,
Thanks for the info. I went to reseda(mcdonald)last night to see what the VW club had to offer but it was a no show.Not one VW in site.Maybe its the first friday of the month or something.
Thanks for the info. I went to reseda(mcdonald)last night to see what the VW club had to offer but it was a no show.Not one VW in site.Maybe its the first friday of the month or something.
my apologies, could be irregular I thought it was every Friday, but . . .
The staff at McDonalds should know whic day. I went one time, too early. They said it starts at 8:00PM. Past my bedtime.
The staff at McDonalds should know whic day. I went one time, too early. They said it starts at 8:00PM. Past my bedtime.
Bill,
I paid a vist to the vw shop across the street from the honda dealer on reseda just south of saticoy.What an A..Hole!!! I asked him if he worked on speedster replica's and he said he did, the key word is did. He said he wouldnt go near one!!!I don't know what his story is but guys don't waste your time.
Steve
I paid a vist to the vw shop across the street from the honda dealer on reseda just south of saticoy.What an A..Hole!!! I asked him if he worked on speedster replica's and he said he did, the key word is did. He said he wouldnt go near one!!!I don't know what his story is but guys don't waste your time.
Steve
Hi Guys,
Just had my first work done by United Auto (Walter) on Lankershim. I am happy to say all work was done in a very professional manner,the price was right and Walter is the best!My search has ended for a wrench and I couldnt be happier.
Steve
Just had my first work done by United Auto (Walter) on Lankershim. I am happy to say all work was done in a very professional manner,the price was right and Walter is the best!My search has ended for a wrench and I couldnt be happier.
Steve
For the rest of the Speedster owners in the San Fernando Valley, the shop on Reseda Blvd that Steve Better mentioned (above) is E&C Auto Parts and Accessories at 7437 Reseda Blvd. (Between Sherman Way and Saticoy).
I had my '67 Bug serviced at E&C months ago and came to a similar conclusion as Steve, but gave Steve Better (Alby) the shop location just to get independent verification. The owner operator seems unduly arrogant. It's unfortunate because I don't think he ever turns a wrench.
I buy parts from his parts shop (which is in front of the garage) and the owner operator is usually in the parts shop preparing invoices and talking with his counter girls. His hands are always clean and his mechanic's uniform is too. He's got a couple of guys that do the mechanical work.
I can say though, the parts shop at E&C is well stocked and they can match part numbers and years / models to get you the right part, something not all VW parts places have perfected as yet.
I had my '67 Bug serviced at E&C months ago and came to a similar conclusion as Steve, but gave Steve Better (Alby) the shop location just to get independent verification. The owner operator seems unduly arrogant. It's unfortunate because I don't think he ever turns a wrench.
I buy parts from his parts shop (which is in front of the garage) and the owner operator is usually in the parts shop preparing invoices and talking with his counter girls. His hands are always clean and his mechanic's uniform is too. He's got a couple of guys that do the mechanical work.
I can say though, the parts shop at E&C is well stocked and they can match part numbers and years / models to get you the right part, something not all VW parts places have perfected as yet.