Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22828 Location: UK

.... anyone else to work on your old vehicle?

Maybe a time-served mechanic neighbour, or a local garage that is well-versed on technologies obsolete?

RJ
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roverdriver · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 10:20 am Post subject:

Until a couple of years ago, no. Consequently there were jobs that should have been done, but I felt they were outside my skill. Then I came across Steve Hill, a mechanic who is also an Historic Racing car driver and enthusiast. He is quite sympathetic to earlier cars. I passed a couple of jobs to him and have been well satisfied, so now I do have someone that I trust. Naturally I also recommend him to other enthusiasts.
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kevin2306 · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 1:51 pm Post subject:

Not really as I try and do as much as possible myself to keep the general hobby as cheap as possible.
I use a local garage on my wife's modern (for the warranty) but service my daughters Ford as its a bit older and I do enjoy working on cars to be honest.
I suppose there will be a point at which I will not longer be able or inclined to work on my projects at which a decision will need to be made.

Kevin

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7219 Location: Edinburgh

I trusted a commercial outfit to balance my crank, flywheel and clutch.

More than 20 years ago I also trusted an old guy who had acquired some of the tools from the Arrol-Johnston works and had a pilot reamer to ream my king pin bushes. I also trusted a wheel restorer to respoke my wheels about the same time.

Oh, I did also have a commercial firm repair a radiator leak in more recent times.

These are the only people apart from me who have worked on my car during my ownership.

Peter
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1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

BigJohn · Joined: 01 Jan 2011 Posts: 954 Location: Wem, Shropshire

I have a friend who is a bit younger than me who works part time at a local garage. He is not time served but has been a "Jack of all trades", he is an excellent welder/fabricator, engine builder, and he seems to know all the scrap men in the area who tip him off for classic spares (I just received a Mk1 Escort Rad for free). I build my own mechanics up, but Mark does my welding, and he has two friends who will paint anything well. All for mates rates and beer. The problem is I am semi disabled and move slowly, and Mark is like the Duracell Bunny.

Rootes75 · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 7:30 pm Post subject:

Has to be my Dad, time served mechanic and vintage vehicle knowledge way beyond mine.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

Ellis · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 7:57 pm Post subject:

I have been fortunate over the years to have had genuinely good friends who were also skilled mechanics.
The late Roy McBurnie knew Jaguars and Jaguar engines inside out rebuilt the engines of my former E Type and that of my current Mark 2 and even converted the Mark 2 to XJ6 rack and pinion PAS. He was a good friend on whom I could always rely on and his tragically early passing in 2013 was a sad loss to his many friends

Another friend from my schooldays is a Land Rover guru from Series One, Defender up to the last generation Of Range Rover. He converted my 2a to an ex 200tdi Discovery engine in only two days and has pre purchase inspected every used vehicle I have bought for many years.
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Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet