TheSamba.com :: View topic - VW Machine Shops

Tue Sep 27, 2011 11:28 am

I think I am going to have my case checked professionally and if anything is wrong with it, then machined and fixed. I can not find anywhere close to me in Michigan (Greater Grand Rapids Area). Is there anyone who has had any luck or know of anyplace around? If not, looks like its going to be shipped out west :cry:

Thanks!!

Tue Sep 27, 2011 11:43 am

You might try contacting someone in the The GoodVolks Michigan Air-Cooled VW Club, they are based on your side of the state. Or, you might contact someone in Michigan Vintage Volkswagen Club also. There are many members over your way, I'm sure someone knows of a place that specializes in air-cooled VW engines.

Tue Sep 27, 2011 11:54 am

MalibuLX3 wrote: You might try contacting someone in the The GoodVolks Michigan Air-Cooled VW Club, they are based on your side of the state. Or, you might contact someone in Michigan Vintage Volkswagen Club also. There are many members over your way, I'm sure someone knows of a place that specializes in air-cooled VW engines.

Thanks!

Tue Sep 27, 2011 12:20 pm

if it is a type 4 case you will need to send it away or do the checking yourself. We can walk you thru it.

Tue Sep 27, 2011 1:05 pm

if its a type 1 there is a small shop in Rose City, MI that is good. its called D&R Buggy. itll be a drive from GR though.

Tue Sep 27, 2011 2:24 pm

Yeah, its a type 4

Tue Sep 27, 2011 2:25 pm

These guys near Detroit do a lot of Beetle work and cut the pushrods for me when I was doing my T4 engine.

Good to work with.

http://www.donssport.com/index.htm

Tue Sep 27, 2011 6:52 pm

Going to buses by the beach this weekend? Short drive for you and someone should be able to point you in the right direction. Don't what I am talking about check out buses urge each.org or find us on Facebook

Wed Sep 28, 2011 5:16 am

Bus Boo for sure. There will probably be 60-75 buses and vanagons there. Good times, stop in this weekend.

Dirk

Wed Sep 28, 2011 5:34 am

Sage79 wrote: Bus Boo for sure. There will probably be 60-75 buses and vanagons there. Good times, stop in this weekend.

Dirk

We hope to make it there next year. I could not get the weekend off this year. We are doing Kombis on Kelly's instead.

Wed Sep 28, 2011 6:53 am

I'd try these guys, and see if they can help, or lead you in the right direction.
http://www.germanautoltd.com/Home.aspx

Or this site may provide some assistance.
http://www.thegoodvolks.com/

No Bus Boo this year - maybe next. I think we're going to camp at Weko Beach for the brewers fest there on saturday.

http://wekobeachbrewersfest.com/index.html

Wed Sep 28, 2011 9:08 am

rcnotes wrote: These guys near Detroit do a lot of Beetle work and cut the pushrods for me when I was doing my T4 engine.

Good to work with.

http://www.donssport.com/index.htm

I would definitely avoid Don's Sports.

I myself have had several issues with his work, he has done done work that was not requested or needed and expected to be paid an outrageous amount for the work.

I know several others who have experienced the same and a few who actually had to throw away their old type 1 cases because they were machined so poorly and Don refused to do anything about it. He was very willing to sell them a new case though!!!

I will personally never purchase anything or any service from him again.

Never trust someone who will not stand behind their work and make it right when they screw up.

Wed Sep 28, 2011 9:11 am

I'm also curious where in Michigan I can have my old T1 case looked at to see if it has any life left. It's the original engine to my '71 so it'd be cool to have it returned to it. When it died I was in a hurry so I ordered a longblock to get me by.

Wed Sep 28, 2011 10:10 am

ccpalmer wrote: I'm also curious where in Michigan I can have my old T1 case looked at to see if it has any life left. It's the original engine to my '71 so it'd be cool to have it returned to it. When it died I was in a hurry so I ordered a longblock to get me by.

For VW engine work in the Detroit area check out Primo Petrucchi. He is a long time Formula Vee engine builder.

Wed Sep 28, 2011 4:15 pm

Second on Primo Petrucci. He has done cylinder head work for my Type IV engines. He also assembles both T I and T IV engines.

Don's Sport Vehicles has closed their Detroit location and its machine facilities.

Wed Sep 28, 2011 4:33 pm

I have also heard only good things about Primo Petrucci. Never had any work done by them myself but I have never heard anything negative about them either.

I have also used D&R buggy in Rose City, small shop but good machine work and great people.

I do most of my own machine work now after being taken by Don's Sports a few times. Glad to hear he closed the machine shop, he was doing more harm then good.