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Thu Jul 14, 2011 1:39 pm

Does anyone recommend a really good VW repair shop near Los Angeles, CA that is used to working on the old buses? I have a '77 Volkswagon Camper Van that needs a lot of stuff done including gear work, transmission, etc. We're in L.A. now and are looking for someone within two hours of here to get some work done before we move on with the next leg of our our journey across the U.S.

Thu Jul 14, 2011 4:59 pm

There is a place in Manhattan Beach on Sepulveda blvd. The name of the shop is AUTOMEISTER. I am 59yrs old and I started there when I was 15yrs old. I worked there on and off for 7 years. Just about everything they work on is air cooled. Randy Montoya is one of the owners. Tell him "Red Line Reynolds" sent you......LONG STORY :oops:
Their phone is 310-545-0037

Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:53 pm

DaisySunbeam wrote: Does anyone recommend a really good VW repair shop near Los Angeles, CA that is used to working on the old buses? I have a '77 Volkswagon Camper Van that needs a lot of stuff done including gear work, transmission, etc. We're in L.A. now and are looking for someone within two hours of here to get some work done before we move on with the next leg of our our journey across the U.S.

If it is just the gear and transmission then it will be either an exchange unit through Rancho Transmissions in So Cal or shipping it to Richard Long in Sebastapol in The SF Bay area. Richard is the Master. Rancho is closer as they are in Fullerton. You could call them and ask if they recommend anyone to pull the trans. (714) 680-6737

Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:42 pm

If it's just the oil leak you posted about earlier probably about any VW shop should be able to handle it. Providing it's just one of the normal leaks these thing get. There are a bunch of shops around the LA area.

Thu Jul 14, 2011 11:32 pm

i know of a good mech in the baldwin park area

he is good
he is honest
& his prices are more than fair (still in 90's if you ask me)

he is an expert with fi (which you have if you want to pass smog)
& is the only person i allow to work on my bus
when i dont have time or need help

no, its not me ( i provide the parts)

pm me & ill give you his number

Fri Jul 15, 2011 9:51 am

LA is big...what city?

Sat Jul 16, 2011 9:46 pm

Lou's VW in Reseda 818-345-6774

Honest, good work, reasonable at least over my 24 years experience with him ;-)

Sun Jul 17, 2011 12:58 pm

Google "T C's V Dub Home" in Tujunga. North east part of San Fernando Valley, near 210 frwy. Very knowledgeable guy and has been around for a couple decades.

Sun Jul 17, 2011 1:23 pm

Motorhead55 wrote: There is a place in Manhattan Beach on Sepulveda blvd. The name of the shop is AUTOMEISTER. I am 59yrs old and I started there when I was 15yrs old. I worked there on and off for 7 years. Just about everything they work on is air cooled. Randy Montoya is one of the owners. Tell him "Red Line Reynolds" sent you......LONG STORY :oops:
Their phone is 310-545-0037
Automeister was awesome when I went there in the 80's and 90's
All they work on is VW and Porsche
Although I talked them into working on my Audi 4000 since it had a VW engine LOL

Sun Jul 17, 2011 3:08 pm

MLTIGGER2 wrote: Motorhead55 wrote: There is a place in Manhattan Beach on Sepulveda blvd. The name of the shop is AUTOMEISTER. I am 59yrs old and I started there when I was 15yrs old. I worked there on and off for 7 years. Just about everything they work on is air cooled. Randy Montoya is one of the owners. Tell him "Red Line Reynolds" sent you......LONG STORY :oops:
Their phone is 310-545-0037
Automeister was awesome when I went there in the 80's and 90's
All they work on is VW and Porsche
Although I talked them into working on my Audi 4000 since it had a VW engine LOL

Is Automeister on Sepulveda, just north of Marine? Those were the days back then. I worked for Riviera VW, Russ Thor VW, and Ottos Foreign Car. Lots of shops, parts stores, and customers back then. I thought it would never end. But!

Sun Jul 17, 2011 3:22 pm

Just north on the west hand side across from 4 day tire store
ugly looking green building LOL
They sure knew air cooled VW's

Mon Jul 18, 2011 2:56 pm

We were able to get our bus into a place called Bela's in Burbank. More old VWs than I've ever seen at one time on the lot and, boy, is this guy knowledgeable. Because we're traveling he put us ahead and we should have our bus back by end of next week. Needs a new transmission among other things. He was on our way when checking out other shops and we knew it was a good fit. Hoping for the best.

Mon Jul 18, 2011 3:16 pm

As it happens DaisySunbeam I was at Bela's 2 days ago (Saturday) discussing my next project, i've been going there for 35 years now, your in good hands. He told me about your bus (BTW she's a beauty) and the raw deal you got on your clutch repair, your previous mechanic definitly ripped you off. He also is gonna make sure your rollin as soon as possible. Thats why Bela rocks so much! I cannot count the number of times I have gone to Bela in desperation due to a last minute breakdown before a long trip and he has gotten me back on the road and to my next campout with the gang. Truly my VW Guardian Angel!

Mon Jul 18, 2011 3:27 pm

Wow. That's great. It's a small world, isn't it? Sometimes you just get a good feeling about a place and this was it. My husband and myself were amazed as he led us through his shop of years and years of old parts piled up everywhere and went exactly to parts that he wanted to show us. There were so many parts we were amazed he can zero in on exactly where everything is. He definitely lives for his line of work. He said his customers won't let him retire. So I'm glad we found him. We really miss our bus (sort of like a family member missing from the pack....and we're stuck til he fixes her) but we're looking forward to getting her fixed right.

Thanks for your post!

Mon Jul 18, 2011 3:37 pm

clear

Mon Jul 18, 2011 3:54 pm

I too would also recommend T&C's Old V-Dub Home in Sunland CA, he can build a POWERFUL engine that wont rip itself apart, knows electrionic ignition well, and is a Thing expert (lost of offroad experiance), and an all around nice guy. Might want to hurry though, he has mentioned to me last few visits he is considering closing shop and selling off his inventory, and I have noticed Craigslist ads with his number offering Thing parts. 8(

Mon Feb 06, 2012 7:03 pm

Don't fall for this guy named Tony who says he is an expert on
Air-cooled Cars and Busses-
He doesn't know what he is doing-
Complete "air" Head in the bad sense of the word

Hey Tony better go back to VW school

Mon Feb 06, 2012 8:00 pm

So, Kali, whose this Tony? Obviously without slandering anyone. We chatted last year via PM about your bus issues. All ok? Bill

Thu Mar 15, 2012 10:36 am

Hey Bill-

First off I don't drive the Bus that much-it is more of a camping car for our 4 times a year pleasure-I do drive it around every 2 weeks and give it a whirl-

I contacted this fellow who said he worked for years on Air Cooled Vw's
and he gave me a few ref's-I called them but was unable to talk to anyone-
SO my bad-
I was in need of the dreaded horrible smog test-and wanted to get a tune up valve adjust -timing for my best chance at passing the test-I do not have all the tools or the knowledge for this-
He came out to my house to check the valves-adjust timing etc -
He said the Bus was in great shape and the engine sounded great etc etc-
Well I went for smog test-it did not pass-it drove horrible as well
I Then went to a VW shop where thay found a broken rocker arm-seemed strange and could have really messed up the Bus if I had not had it rechecked immediately-
I called Tony but HE NEVER called back to say anything-

Thu Mar 15, 2012 10:38 am

The good news is I did get the bus to pass the test-and had a new rocker pin thing installed-where the valves are-