Need So Cal mechanic

[vancec]

Any of you know of a good mechanic in Southern California; preferably in the Inland Empire?

I have lost all faith in the shop where my Mark II is. The engine has just been reinstalled, parts everywhere, and all the mechanics have quit, leaving just the owner. He is in way over his head trying to reassemble this car. And before you ask, yes the guy has already been paid. I don't have time to wait to recover it from him so I am probably going to have to throw new money at it to get the car finished.

I am really in a fix. Too much invested to quit, too much left to be done. Help.

[Mad Scientist]

You obviously have a real problem here. :(
Assembling this car is like working on a jigsaw puzzle even for the guys that took it apart. Now if you come in an drop a box full of parts on someone new and say please reassemble these it is going to be a real nightmare for them. Ideally you would want to find a person that has previously worked on a MKII (like good luck) aside from that you need to find a really talented person not just the average run of the mill mechanic. Assuming you fine such a person do not expect a quick fix, this will take time.

[vancec]

You obviously have a real problem here. :(
Assembling this car is like working on a jigsaw puzzle even for the guys that took it apart. Now if you come in an drop a box full of parts on someone new and say please reassemble these it is going to be a real nightmare for them. Ideally you would want to find a person that has previously worked on a MKII (like good luck) aside from that you need to find a really talented person not just the average run of the mill mechanic. Assuming you fine such a person do not expect a quick fix, this will take time.

Brother, don't I know it! I am counting on a miracle here; someone locally who has actually worked on Mark IIs. Hey, I'm due for some good luck.

[Chuck Lutz]

Hey, maybe you could find a few of the workers that quit (if you were satisfied with them) and either hire them or get them involved in their new place. Just a thought.

[Barry Wolk]

That was my suggestion. However, there is a guy out there that made a Mark II parade car. He owns a shop. I'll PM his name if I can find it.

[Barry Wolk]

His name is Keith and he lives in Southern California. There's 12 pages of members listed in the directory. Li'l help! I'm going blind looking for his name.

[vancec]

His name is Keith and he lives in Southern California. There's 12 pages of members listed in the directory. Li'l help! I'm going blind looking for his name.

Yes, that's Keith Johnson. I've spoken with him before. I have a call in to him and maybe he can help. He is quite far from me though.

Thanks

[vancec]

Yes, that's Keith Johnson. I've spoken with him before. I have a call in to him and maybe he can help. He is quite far from me though.

Thanks

I just found out he passed away about two months ago.

[Barry Wolk]

Bummer. Last time I talked to him he said that his life in a bump shop did him in.

Back to your problem. How good are your mechanical skills? There's an inspirational story on the Lincoln forum about a friend of mine's "freshening" of his engine compartment turned into a full-blown restoration. You will enjoy this post.

http://www.thelincolnforum.net/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=23086

Scott is an insurance executive that truly didn't know anything about cars, let alone a complicated '67 slab-side convertible. He's had some help from local members and some friends, but he's done a remarkable job of putting the car back together.

We're your friends. With today's communication tools you can set up a camera and be guided, step by step, by members in their respective fields of expertise. NASA does it all the time, why can't we?

Why don't you strike a deal with the owner to have you continue their work, right where it is? Sounds like the real hard stuff is done. Time to put the jigsaw puzzle together. There is no greater satisfaction than wrenching. It truly connects you to your car.

[vancec]

Bummer. Last time I talked to him he said that his life in a bump shop did him in.

Back to your problem. How good are your mechanical skills? There's an inspirational story on the Lincoln forum about a friend of mine's "freshening" of his engine compartment turned into a full-blown restoration. You will enjoy this post.

http://www.thelincolnforum.net/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=23086

Scott is an insurance executive that truly didn't know anything about cars, let alone a complicated '67 slab-side convertible. He's had some help from local members and some friends, but he's done a remarkable job of putting the car back together.

We're your friends. With today's communication tools you can set up a camera and be guided, step by step, by members in their respective fields of expertise. NASA does it all the time, why can't we?

Why don't you strike a deal with the owner to have you continue their work, right where it is? Sounds like the real hard stuff is done. Time to put the jigsaw puzzle together. There is no greater satisfaction than wrenching. It truly connects you to your car.

Man, I wish I thought enough of my skills to consider it. The shop owner would be thrilled if I offered to finish the work at his shop but I don't have the time to dedicate to a project like that.

I am riding him every day, trying to get him to spend as much time as he can on it while trying to find a mechanic he can bring in there. He can't seem to stay focused on my car; the phone rings all day, people coming in to BS, people needing quick repairs, etc. It is totally unfair that he'd be doing anything but my car since I paid in full a LONG time ago but my best bet is to keep cracking the whip. If I take it to a legit restoration shop, I will be spending huge $ and I am a recent victim of the unemployment epidemic.

BTW, the other four mechanics that worked for him when I gave him the car turned out to be all hydraulics guys; the shop is mainly a hydraulics/lowrider shop. His guys wouldn't have been much help anyway. But I am working it the best I can.

Thanks for all the help and advice. If anyone from the Inland Empire in California happens to tune-in to this thread, please call me.

Vance

[vancec]

But Barry, you did make an excellent point about setting up a camera... if I can get pictures of all the things this guy is struggling with and get him to ADMIT which things he doesn't understand, i.e., actually ask specific questions, you guys probably WOULD be able to guide us.

I am going to hit him with that Monday. He swears the car will be running and driving next Friday and on its way to paint. I KNOW that's BS. So and so didn't show up... there was an emergency... his dog had puppies, something. So I am going to take you up on that idea. Among all you folks, there is probably every answer to every question.

I just hope that this, the third time, he installed the power plant, it will be right. If the trans has problems, the engine needs to come back out, etc. I am going to be very unhappy.

I guess its true, you get what you pay for. I am now north of 30K and don't want to sell the car for parts!

[SLK]

Vance, I sent out an e-mail to a few friends to see if they can recommend anyone.

[Chuck Lutz]

Vance,
I'm grasping here a little... but have you asked Jack R about possiblities?

[vancec]

Vance,
I'm grasping here a little... but have you asked Jack R about possiblities?

Yes. That's all I need to say.:cool:

[Barry Wolk]

Hmmmm..............

[SLK]

Vance, check your Facebook inbox for Doyle's phone number. He said he'd be happy to give you the names of some people. He's more of a Hot Rod kind of guy, but you have Zypher's in common.

Good luck.

Ben