Seattle area shop to work on 914, Where to go |
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Seattle area shop to work on 914, Where to go |
pjv914 |
Nov 14 2021, 09:39 AM
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#1
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 13 Joined: 8-May 18 From: bellevue, wa Member No.: 22,101 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
My 73 914 2.0 was rebuilt, stock rebuild including fuel injection, by Chris German in Redmond. Since they rebuilt the motor it's been back to them 3 or 4 times within 500 miles. 3 of those times when I picked it up it did not run good, including needing to be towed back within an hour of pickup due to the car dying on me. It's always a different mechanic and at least once the mechanic working on it had never worked on a 914 before, mine was the first for them. Most recently when I picked it up it was running poorly right when I started it, and the mechanic came out to look at it and talk to me. They talked about my motor like it was a basket case of problems-failing hoses, vacuum leak at intake mani due to bad gasket installation etc. Which really ticked me off as I had paid Chris' German a year earlier to do all that work, so their own mechanic is saying the work is bad!!!
Currently there is oil leaking out of the distributor, disconnected vacuum hoses under the hood, an intermittent wandering and high idle and throttle drop-off (seems like vacuum leak), and it has less power than when I dropped it off (potentially timing advance issue due to vacuum). Is there any shop in the Seattle area that has a mechanic who is actually skilled and experienced at Type IV/914 wrench turning? Or any backyard mechanic even? |
Front yard mechanic |
Nov 14 2021, 09:48 AM
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#2
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,173 Joined: 23-July 15 From: New Mexico Member No.: 18,984 Region Association: None |
Slow down don't be a Karen and try to have them fix one thing at a time. Starting with vacuum leaks. If all else fails you could hire a front yard mechanic (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif)
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JeffBowlsby |
Nov 14 2021, 10:03 AM
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#3
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914 Wiring Harnesses Group: Members Posts: 8,548 Joined: 7-January 03 From: San Ramon CA Member No.: 104 Region Association: None |
Rich @914werke
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rhodyguy |
Nov 14 2021, 11:10 AM
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#4
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Chimp Sanctuary NW. Check it out. Group: Members Posts: 22,098 Joined: 2-March 03 From: Orion's Bell. The BELL! Member No.: 378 Region Association: Galt's Gulch |
Contact Monte at Redmond European? On the east side.
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Jett |
Nov 14 2021, 12:58 PM
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#5
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,641 Joined: 27-July 14 From: Seattle Member No.: 17,686 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
My 73 914 2.0 was rebuilt, stock rebuild including fuel injection, by Chris German in Redmond. Since they rebuilt the motor it's been back to them 3 or 4 times within 500 miles. 3 of those times when I picked it up it did not run good, including needing to be towed back within an hour of pickup due to the car dying on me. It's always a different mechanic and at least once the mechanic working on it had never worked on a 914 before, mine was the first for them. Most recently when I picked it up it was running poorly right when I started it, and the mechanic came out to look at it and talk to me. They talked about my motor like it was a basket case of problems-failing hoses, vacuum leak at intake mani due to bad gasket installation etc. Which really ticked me off as I had paid Chris' German a year earlier to do all that work, so their own mechanic is saying the work is bad!!! Currently there is oil leaking out of the distributor, disconnected vacuum hoses under the hood, an intermittent wandering and high idle and throttle drop-off (seems like vacuum leak), and it has less power than when I dropped it off (potentially timing advance issue due to vacuum). Is there any shop in the Seattle area that has a mechanic who is actually skilled and experienced at Type IV/914 wrench turning? Or any backyard mechanic even? I was a big fan of Chris’s several years ago when either he or his head mechanic worked on the cars. The head mechanic left, and Chris no longer works on the cars. I had similar interactions at the end, and some integrity issues that forced us to pull our cars from their storage and stop doing business there. Rich ( @914Werke ) knows these cars well and would be happy with his help, but is a busy fellow! That said, I go to Redmond European (Monte) for anything 914 or air cooled 911, after working on these cars as a dealer mechanic he spent 10+ years fine tuning his engine rebuilding skills on all types of air cooled including race Porsche motors. Redmond European also has all of the old diagnostic and tuning equipment.. when this fellow is done with a 914 it runs like new. Not cheap (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) but worth every penny! |
Root_Werks |
Nov 14 2021, 01:47 PM
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#6
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Village Idiot Group: Members Posts: 8,338 Joined: 25-May 04 From: About 5NM from Canada Member No.: 2,105 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
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KELTY360 |
Nov 14 2021, 02:41 PM
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#7
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914 Neferati Group: Members Posts: 5,037 Joined: 31-December 05 From: Pt. Townsend, WA Member No.: 5,344 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Rich speaks 914 fluently. Don't hold your frustrations against the 914. It's not the car's fault. Once sorted, they're well worth the effort. Every time I drive mine, at some point I find myself saying, "I love this car!" |
pjv914 |
Mar 9 2023, 04:47 PM
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#8
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 13 Joined: 8-May 18 From: bellevue, wa Member No.: 22,101 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
Chris' ended up taking care of me and I have been able to get the car running well. Not a great experience along the way though.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Rich speaks 914 fluently. Don't hold your frustrations against the 914. It's not the car's fault. Once sorted, they're well worth the effort. Every time I drive mine, at some point I find myself saying, "I love this car!" |
Front yard mechanic |
Mar 9 2023, 08:27 PM
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#9
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,173 Joined: 23-July 15 From: New Mexico Member No.: 18,984 Region Association: None |
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rjames |
Mar 9 2023, 11:57 PM
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#10
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I'm made of metal Group: Members Posts: 3,971 Joined: 24-July 05 From: Shoreline, WA Member No.: 4,467 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
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Root_Werks |
Mar 10 2023, 12:12 PM
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#11
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Village Idiot Group: Members Posts: 8,338 Joined: 25-May 04 From: About 5NM from Canada Member No.: 2,105 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
Surprised Chris is still turning wrenches...or still has a shop and not retired. Good guy.
Yes, pictures please! |
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