Plz Recommend Someone For Timing Belt Change

[Wacky Dee]

Mod note: I'm asking for PMs - no discussion about any particular shops here please, just PM me if you can be bothered, thx.

Anyway, my regular mechanic seems rather busy (as usual) or can't be bothered doing these types of simpler jobs so I'm looking for a reliable mechanic in Sydney who can change my R34's timing belt/water pump and bearings. Would prefer a smaller/quieter shop that doesn't have craploads of foot traffic like my regular mechanic who I've never seen do any job fr more than 5 mins without interruption as the shop is always packed.

In particular interested if anyone's had any experienced with that import mechanic in Drummoyne on Victoria Rd.

PLEASE PM ME, DO NOT POST REPLIES HERE. Cheers

[Galois]

Will PM you later mate, but a search in the nsw forum will bring up some names, it's been asked a few times. You definitely want someone who is recommended, bad experiences are really devastating lol

[Wacky Dee]

yeah i've been looking for a while ..lots of closed threads and lots of people recommend my regular mechanic. But they're too busy and i get the feeling they're not keen on doing any normal servicing types of jobs ...as they get a lot of cars for tuning and are booked out most of the time.

I've driven past that place on Victoria Rd in drummoyne a few times ... been in the shop too (nice lady sold me a gtr cluster for less than half advertised price ;D ) and I knew they sell import cars but never knew they have a mechanic at the back. That place is only a 5 min drive from me so if anyone has any good/bad experiences with them please PM me (DO NOT POST HERE PLZ) Cheers

[oweban]

Good luck man, I'm in the process (sorta) of doing the same to my 33, except I've got the balancer off and realised I need a new one, and the oil pump housing is rooted so I needed another one. Which means engine lifted/out to get the sump off... aaaarg the list goes on and on.

Hoping your experience is better than mine wherever you go!

[Duncan]

I have had heaps of work done at powerplay imports over the years, and Ali is one of the most careful and thorough mechanics I know.

Just get a fixed price quote up front to avoid potential surprises.

[Wacky Dee]

Thanks Duncan. I'll drop by their place tommorow as they're just a short drive away from my place and sus out what sort of vibe I get from him ;D

Just for laughs ..when I first bought the car I paid $500 to the import shop to get the timing belt changed. Get there to pick it up and they go "oh we don't do it here ..we gave it to a "specialist". I'm like no probs mate.

Car comes 2 hours later ..driven by a 16-17 year old mechanic who looks like he just came off the joyride of his life. Car's engine bay is f**king steaming hot like the car was on the track all day (it wasn't even summer) so I go ...ah well, probably just took it for a good test drive to make sure timing belt's ok. Then I find out later they stuffed up my CAS timing completely and weren't sure if they did the water pump or not ... suffice to say I didn't go back to that joint ever again.

So yeah here I am, 2 years later ... with a noisy idler bearing and no idea about the condition of my timing belt or water pump, redoing the whole lot again. Just for those wondering why I'm asking for recommendations .. heh. Thanks for the PMs and keep em coming. if you can't bother going into details just PM which shops you've had good/bad experiences with - anything to help me avoid costly time wastage. Cheers

[Galois]

PM'd.

Damn that story sucks man. I was at a fairly reputable tyre place in Newcastle getting a wheel alignment done when one of the mechanics decided to take my car for a fang. Fair enough to take it for a test but he took it to 6k++ as he accelerated out of the joint.

Gave them an earful. Never going there again...