(Austin, TX) Seeking a shop in the ATX area that'll work on

TexAE86 · Post by **TexAE86** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 3:47 pm

Bought a car w/ a 4A-GE 20V ST in it and my mechanic's shop won't work on it, since they have 0 experience with the engine. I'm just looking for a skilled, reasonably priced shop that will at least be able to check the engine out and possibly make some adjustments. (Idles high)

Any suggestions would be a huge help, since I'm treading on unfamiliar territory here. I've read about the engine recently, and I like it, I just need some help to get everything under the hood squared away. I'm not opposed to taking the car to one of Austin's satellite cities, such as Round Rock, San Marcos, and Georgetown; however Austin is preferable.

Post by **dr.occa** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 4:56 pm

contact spl parts and they may be able to recommend a QUALIFIED tech/shop.

hey rick (aka H8S), do you think john would be willing to give it a once over?

dfi1120 · Post by **dfi1120** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 4:58 pm

where in austin do you stay i know a couple of guys on here that stay in south austin.

TexAE86 · Post by **TexAE86** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 5:36 pm

Thanks Occa, I'll give them a holler.

dfi1120 wrote:where in austin do you stay i know a couple of guys on here that stay in south austin.

South Austin, actually. Well, southwest to be exact.

Jorsh · Post by **Jorsh** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 5:37 pm

wish my GTS came with a ST in it.. would save me alot of trouble. Gl on the shop.

gda03subaru · Post by **gda03subaru** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 8:46 pm

willing to meet, i live in atx and just want to check out the car

gda03subaru · Post by **gda03subaru** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 8:47 pm

also contact landslide he lives in south austin, i picked up some interior stuff from him, cool guy, but then again what ae guys arent

TexAE86 · Post by **TexAE86** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 8:49 pm

Sure, I wouldn't mind meeting up sometime. Once I get the car finished shop-wise, I am going to get it painted. It's in white primer right now. ^_^

gda03subaru · Post by **gda03subaru** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 9:20 pm

what are you having done shop wise?

TexAE86 · Post by **TexAE86** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 9:54 pm

gda03subaru wrote:what are you having done shop wise?

Engine is high idling and motor dies randomly while idling. I got it shipped to me a few days ago, and I haven't had a chance to drive it much to test since the owner said the coolant hose was leaking and ebrake didn't work. I had it towed to my shop, and they are making those two repairs, but beyond that they won't touch much else under the hood since it's not a stock '85 Corolla. >< So basically, for the moment, I only want a mechanic to inspect and adjust the 4age 20v engine, and make any necessary repairs to it.

Once the coolant leak and ebrake are fixed, I'll be able to figure out what else it needs much better. The owner told me the battery needed to be replaced, that it had to be jumped every time, but so far I haven't had ANY problems starting it. Either way, once out of the shop I'm putting a new battery in none the less.

gda03subaru · Post by **gda03subaru** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 9:59 pm

well i would be willing to give it a once over from a mechanical point of view for free, i worked for honda for a few years, went to tstc<-what a joke, and have done everything from crazy honda builds to restorations, dont know much about the 20v but i learn faster than you can blink and a internal combustion is still just a gas motor, all the basic principles are there, but the 20v is nothing special mechanically speaking

TexAE86 · Post by **TexAE86** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 10:05 pm

gda03subaru wrote:well i would be willing to give it a once over from a mechanical point of view for free

Wow, that would rock. I'll make a post when I get it out of the shop and am looking to have the engine examined. That'd be a huge help.

gda03subaru · Post by **gda03subaru** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 10:08 pm

sounds good, just lmk

landslideATX · Post by **landslideATX** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 10:57 pm

TexAE86 wrote:Sure, I wouldn't mind meeting up sometime. Once I get the car finished shop-wise, I am going to get it painted. It's in white primer right now. ^_^

was this the one that was at napa on soco? its a primer white hatch with full body kit? if so i live just down the road from that napa. i'm on 35 and woodward.

TexAE86 · Post by **TexAE86** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 12:54 am

gda03subaru wrote:sounds good, just lmk

No problem. I work every weekend until 11pm, and also on Mondays, but I'm be off Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. My cell is 512-468-0211, lemme know here or by phone if you want to take a look on my off days or after ~midnight any day. I'll likely have the car out of my shop on monday or tuesday with the basic(most essential) repairs completed - ebrake and coolant leak. So then on its smooth sailing. Also, if none of my off-days work for you, I'll put in a request to take off a weekend day. I'm hoping to get this bad boy ready for take off as soon as humanly possible. ^_^

landslideATX wrote:
TexAE86 wrote:Sure, I wouldn't mind meeting up sometime. Once I get the car finished shop-wise, I am going to get it painted. It's in white primer right now. ^_^
was this the one that was at napa on soco? its a primer white hatch with full body kit? if so i live just down the road from that napa. i'm on 35 and woodward.

Well, your description description is dead-on accurate, but I got this from a guy in Colorado whose had it for quite some time now. I think it was sold to him in '06(I know because I have the title, which lists who the previous owner was and when it was sold). I imagine that there are quite a few AE86 hatchbacks in white primer and body kits. I have to say I'm not exactly a huge fan the body kit that's on it(I far prefer the stock look) but I don't really feel like spending money on purchasing the stock parts right now. I'll likely get used to the look eventually, anyhow.