silentsnow31802 Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 I live in the Napa area and am looking for a shop to do my valve body swap along with the center diff bushings. I am having a hard time finding a shop with the balls to do the work. Does anyone know a shop that will actually do the work? I have tried LIC Motorsports and Mann Engineering. They both dont want to do it. THe only shop I have found is FW Motorsports but he is busy and I need it done ASAP for the core deposit on the valve body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhitter Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 You can try TD Garage in Berkeley, only had an oil change with them but they are a small Subaru focused shop and he seems to know his stuff. My OBXT build Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJr Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 Try Tony @ M45 Automotive ( Auburn) he's very reasonable and a excellent mechanic. I highly recommend him, I drove from Reno to have him work on my LGT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentsnow31802 Posted March 15, 2015 Author Share Posted March 15, 2015 Thanks guys. I've saved both of their contact info and will call them Monday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quick4dr Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Valve body is very simple to diy. It's a straight R&I job. I did mine in under 1 hour and then let the trans pan seal for about 4-5 hours before refilling the trans. Once confirmed. But I am sourcing out my diff bearing job as well. That shit looks crazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentsnow31802 Posted March 15, 2015 Author Share Posted March 15, 2015 Valve body is very simple to diy. It's a straight R&I job. I did mine in under 1 hour and then let the trans pan seal for about 4-5 hours before refilling the trans. Once confirmed. But I am sourcing out my diff bearing job as well. That shit looks crazy This is what I keep telling shops but they all seem afraid to crack open an auto transmission. I would do it myself but I dont have an area to do it at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentsnow31802 Posted March 16, 2015 Author Share Posted March 16, 2015 You can try TD Garage in Berkeley, only had an oil change with them but they are a small Subaru focused shop and he seems to know his stuff. Called them today and setup an appointment to have my valve body swapped, trans cooler installed, and the center diff bushings installed. They quoted me 600-800 bucks. Seems high to me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quick4dr Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 That's an awesome quote for that level of work. The valve body is simple but the diff is only simple if you've done that kind of work a lot. And the cooler is simple just gotta play around with location. My fmic made it real tight for the cooler Remember climberd gives a good write up for you to print and give the shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhitter Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Called them today and setup an appointment to have my valve body swapped, trans cooler installed, and the center diff bushings installed. They quoted me 600-800 bucks. Seems high to me? His prices do seem a little high - compared to generic shops. But for this area I think he is right in line specialty Subaru shops. I only had an oil change with him but he caught minor oil leaks that no other shop had seen / notified me of. My OBXT build Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJr Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 What did Tony @ M45 quote you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentsnow31802 Posted March 17, 2015 Author Share Posted March 17, 2015 I did not call M45. I went for the closest shop that was willing to do the work. Even if his prices are a little higher its worth it to me because my schedule is so tight as it is. I figured the diff is where most of the price would come from. I wish I had the means to do it myself but I do not at the moment. I suppose you guys are right though. It is a specialty shop and I know it will be done right, which is always a plus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMileHighLGT Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Are mechanics not allowed to make money?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhitter Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Are mechanics not allowed to make money?! I don't think you understand shop rates in the bay area...it was cheaper for me to ship my car to infamous performance (San Diego) and get it rebuilt there then it was to get it rebuilt up here (San Francisco). This isn't about mechanics not being allowed to make money - it's just rates here / within the Bay are expensive. But then everything is.... My OBXT build Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMileHighLGT Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 I don't think you understand shop rates in the bay area...it was cheaper for me to ship my car to infamous performance (San Diego) and get it rebuilt there then it was to get it rebuilt up here (San Francisco). This isn't about mechanics not being allowed to make money - it's just rates here / within the Bay are expensive. From someone who doesn't live in California, but has visited, everything is more expensive out there, just saying. The shop rate where I am at is $120 p/hr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJr Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 Anyone within driving distance really needs to call or visit Tony Klink @ M45( Colonel Klink is his nickname ) Excellent service is hard to come by, price is important to me but the quality of work is equally important, not only is Tony a excellent Subaru mechanic he drag races air cooled VW's and holds the national record for a bug @ 10.87 1/4 mile. Check this article out! http://www.auburnjournal.com/article/subaru-specialist-gets-revved-business Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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