FAQ: Good Mechanics?

themanwithsauce wrote:

2 things - A plug for my dad real quick. He's a tech down at Hamilton Chevrolet on Van Dyke and 14 mile road in Warren MI. ASE Master tech specializing in brakes and I believe heavy engine and trans.

And Abbadon, when did you work at noonan? Did you ever meet a guy named Bill while you worked there? 6'2", red hair, mustache, glasses?

LOL that's funny you ask that. We were talkin about him over the weekend. No, he was gone when I got there, but I still hang out with techs that used to work there, and his name came up. I'm actually tryin to work something out right now to go work at Somerset Buick-GMC. Noonan's old Service Manager (Steve) is the manager over there now...actually spoke with him this morning. There's like 7 people from Noonan there now....



FYI, I worked at Noonan from 2006 until closing day in 2008.

Yeah, he jumped ship to Midas for a few years to try and become a manager but the money was no good and the techs were...umm....let's be kind and say unfit to do much more than oil changes (and even then, I've seen plenty of them screw it up or take an hour to do a 10 minute change on a taurus....).

Stay away from most midas shops. I've yet to see one that did good work.

Oh and a plug for the belle tire center at 23 mile road and van dyke in SHelby Twp. MI. THey checked over my tires and told me which ones had flat spots and did what they could to rotate and balance everything for free. I'm going back in the fall to put on new tires for winter. (I could handle the bad tires for occasional use at school.....not for michigan winters)

for the buffalo area i just took my riv to have some timing work done (interrupter magnet fell off) went to a place called gilliens expert auto on Broadway near Alden NY. so far i am impressed they have a nice size shop and the guys seem like they love what they do and price wasn't bad so far i am quoted at about 600 for the timing chain replacement they even allowed me to supply the parts so no crazy markup to deal with.... not many places do that anymore

Hey guys, I've seen that quite a few members are from NW Ohio or southern Michigan. Any thing south of Ann Arbor is southern Michigan to me! Anyways, do you guys have a go to mechanic you take your Rivieras to? Please introduce me! Thank you!

Does anyone know any rock stars (mechanics) in NW Ohio? I just want to make friends with someone who I can trust and take my Riviera to for all her needs. I can't do much work myself without tools or a place to even work!

Seems like all the pros are in Columbus.. Not too far away and it would be cool to check out Intense's shop!

Anybody from the dc md or va area got any good mechanics they want to share???????

Anyone know a good doctor around the Toledo Ohio area?
Looking for a 3800 pro.

Not sure if this is the right place for this, but as of this coming Monday, I'll be back at the dealer! I'll be working for Somerset Buick-GMC in Troy. I've been waiting to get back to the dealer for 2 years!!!!

Abaddon wrote:

Not sure if this is the right place for this, but as of this coming Monday, I'll be back at the dealer! I'll be working for Somerset Buick-GMC in Troy. I've been waiting to get back to the dealer for 2 years!!!!

Congrats!!!

I recently used a semi-retired technician named Bill Scheel for my last engine rebuild. Bill has 35+ years experience, and specializes in GM 90º V-6 & V-8 engines. His garage is located in Utica, MI, just north of Detroit. See Bill's engines and information HERE.

I found Bill through one of our members, Charlie Robinson of Toledo, OH. Very good recommendation! Bill and his sons know their way through a 3800 V-6 engine so well that they had mine completely rebuilt and looking like brand new in only 3 business days. What I like about Bill: he builds engines that see actual racing on track - that's who I want rebuilding my engine. His work is protected by a 12 mo/12k mile warranty.

Before:





After:





Engine runs great, like a new car. Great job, Bill!

A place I highly recommend is White Wheel, near Cleveland, Ohio. They have been there, family owned and operated since the 1950's I believe. Mainly they are a suspension and alignment place, but I'm sure they can do nearly anything mechanical related for you. I have had nothing but excellent service with them, and while they are more expensive then other shops on average, it is more then worth it. They explain to you what was done, why it was done, and how it was done. Awesome place.
http://www.whitewheel.com/

I also recommend Ron's Transmissions in Elyria, Ohio. Great place for transmission service or general maintenance as well. Great place to rebuild the 4T65e-HD if your ever blows up in your Riv.
(their website doesn't seem to be working right now, but I'll post the link anyway)
http://www.ronstransmission.com


And that looks great AA! I'll keep him in mind if I ever need to have a 3800 rebuilt. for me. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to do, but how much did rebuilding that run you and what did they do exactly?

Matt, all the info on the rebuild can be found here, including the price and what was done to the engine:

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t9354p60-write-up-3800-series-ii-sc-engine-removal-installation

Aaron, that block looks amazing. Congratulations! And nice work, Bill!

Okay, lawsuits aside, and I think they're avoidable anyway, if we have an endorsement list for good mechanics, surely as there is ying & yang, good & evil, true & false, man & woman?, etc., we need a mechanic poo list.