Automotive Professionals, Thank You

[mr2greasemonkey]

You know, I think it's time to give credit to the local automotive professionals that make our lives easier. I know I always thank the people I know locally that I deal with. It's made me good friends in the automotive industry even though I don't know them very much personally. I'm sure there are a lot of people out there who understand what I'm talking about. Everyone knows people like that locally. But if you are in the Portland area these are people that I know, people that can tell who you are by the sound of your voice over the phone, heh.

Jackie at the CarQuest in Oregon. She manages the place and does an exceptional job of figuring out what you need even when she doesn't know what the heck you are looking for, haha. Though she has no control over the product brands that CarQuest carries, she always does her best to find parts even if she has to get it from other vendors. Jackie has also been very nice about giving me extra product catalogs varying from accessory lighting to engine mounts which makes building things from scratch a lot easier. When she's not busy with work or family she also runs the local circle track circuit.

Russ is the local outside sales representative for Shucks. He comes by the day job monthly, always trying give the best customer support he can. Russ makes the effort to compete with product brands, one of few local vendors that can get after market performance parts. Just about anything you see in Jegs or Summit he can get for about the same if not a little less. Lots of 1/4 racing experience as well as knowledge of available parts support. When he was still racing, I'd see him down at the tracks a lot with his monte carlo.

Brian at Bearing Service Company. They build engines, pretty much any engine. I've walked into their shop and seen engines I've never even heard of before, haha. I think they've been at the same location since 1962. Exceptional work and quality standards. I've never had a problem with anything that Brian has done, and any weird problems that have surfaced have always been taken care of. I figure they've got more knowledge and experience than I have so I don't mind paying a little more. Brian has always been really great about sittin down and working out engine builds that are not stock. Never rushes through any questions I have and very patient with discussing any "ideas" or "suggestions" I may have, haha. One of the few local engine shops that I know can build an engine from scratch, machining pistons and custom grinding cranks.

Roy and Guy up at Paolo Engines. Roy has a wealth of engine machining knowledge and Guy is an awesome builder. They deal mostly with v-8 racing engines. Guy always laughs at our little engines, but he appreciates the technology. Guy also crews for a competitive drag car that runs 6's. Even though they don't do a lot of import engine work, the mechanics and dynamics are the same. I hang out at the shop sometimes during lunch and pick their brains on all sorts of thing ranging from connecting rod bolt designs to dry sump systems. Always patient and thorough in explaining things to me. It's like taking a free automotive performance class, hah. Roy is pretty nice bout doing little things for me, last time i had him put pistons on rods for a honda he only charged me $20. On top of being a great engine builder, I know I've watched him assemble enough engines, Guy is also a great welder. I've seen manifolds he's built and little things that may need tig work he's always given me the " homie-hookup" heh. If I ever wanted a v8 built these would be the guys I'd go with, just about everyone local with a hotrod know them.

They guys down at Broadway toyota, especially Greg and Glenn. It's always a good laugh talking to them. The kinda of parts guys that can tell you a part number off the top of their heads. Been a long time since I worked with them but seems like yesterday when we were in the shop together. Greg is very good bout finding the right part and gettin back to you. Glenn is the only dealership guy I know that goes to the effort of calling toyota headquarters in torrence to find stuff for me. Even when they aren't USDM parts. He call's me "kid" whenever I call and that's usually followed up by " so what crazy thing are you doing this time?" , hahaha. Seth went down there one time and told them he had a v6 mr2 and Chuck was telling him about me. Seth says," yeah i know zai who do you think helped me build my car", haha. And Chuck gave him a discount on his parts, which made Seth feel pretty good.

Big Jim and his son Jay own the shop I work at during the day. Great people, small shop that's been around since the 60's. Lot's of the pictures of hot rods and custom cars I put on the Mouabros site is from the day job. Big Jim used to be a national crash derby champ back in his day, now he's content with building custom hot rods and 1/4 mile'ing in his spare time even though he's officially retired. Jim's in one of the local car clubs so just about anything you ever wanted to know about a "classic" car he would know. Jay runs the shop up at the day job, he's very good about letting me get parts from vendor that he uses. Jay was last years champ for one of the local circle track circuits. He also crews and is partnered with a friend of his that runs a fully built off road desert race truck. I've met his friend John and I've helped do a little maintenance on the truck, i wish i had some pictures of the thing it's bad ass, hah. One of these days I have to take John up on his offer to go out for a ride!

Wayne owns Bel-Air Machine. It's a local machine shop, with cnc machines and lathes and mills and all sort of other stuff I know nuthin about. Wayne also owns the dynojet that the workshop group uses now and then. He's a real laid back guy from the hot rodder scene. Also a great fabricator and machinist. I couldn't ever afford to have him make anything for me, but he's always generous with the knowledge on how to go about making something or designing something to be machined. He's also got a retired Tony Stewart short track car. The guys up at his shop are pretty cool about sharing knowledge and talking car stuff too. Tom is the resident Dynojet tech, nice guy, always laughing and smiling. We always have a great time up at the dyno.

The guys at Discount Import parts. I usually deal with Scott or Chris. Corey is the outside sales rep, I've know him from back in the day when he used to work at one of the local toyota dealerships. Scott is very knowledgeable about current trends with import performance and can find what you're looking for even if they don't carry it and can't sell it to you, now that's service. Chris is great about finding stock replacement parts, he also has his own small business building performance engines.

Rod owns OC Transmissons. They are a basic transmission shop. I've known him for years. First guy I call when I've got a transmission problem or doing a modification. He can tell you over the phone what is wrong just by the description. They do great work down there. We use OC Trans. at the day job for rebuilding auto trans. Rod has a blown camaro and another recent project that I just saw that I wish I would have taken pictures of, show quality build. Every now and then when they do a non transmission related repair and need help he calls me.

Big Russ works for a company called All-Trans. We works in the manual transmission warehouse as a service/parts specialist. Just about any manual transmission ever built Russ can find parts for. He took me for a tour of the place one time, the building is in the neighborhood of 60,000 sq feet. They core, rebuild, part out transmissions and sell all over the world. When he's not at work he rebuild manual transmissions at his shop at home. Now and then I have him do rebuilds when I don't have time. Russ is great about finding parts and looking stuff up for compatibility. He also runs a circle track car and races in the same circuit as Jay.

I'm sure there are a lot of other people I need to mention, haha. I'll add them later when I remember.

[partsboy@bytoy]

Thanks for the big tip of the hat Zi. Myself and the crew here a Broadway Toyota is always here to help. Zi continues to fascinate me with his requests for all of his projects. There isn't a project he won't at least think about or even try!
All the best of luck on your next project!!
Glenn
Parts Manager
Broadway Toyota

[Seth W]

If anyone deserves credit where credit is due I'd put Zai at the top of the list. I dont think I can say enough about his willingness to help others out and not have a holier than though attitude which is prolific in the automotive industry. I'm sure just about everyone who reads this has most likely had some help from zai and should give him a big thanks.

[Gairloch]

Great rundown of awesome people to deal with, Zai! I cant wait to see Brian's handiwork on my engine.

[d962r]

I think I have met all but three of the people on that list. And the are GREAT people to know, as Zai said. I too would ilke to give thanks to all of them and to Zai as well. For it is through him that I have met most of them and have had dealings with them.

[Judgeman]

thanks Zai, this is a great thread.
thanks to Russ i got a good deal on my E153 rebuild kit and thanks to Zai i got to do som tranny work before i rebuilt my own.
i wish i could afford to come up to the shop more often, i lurn somthing new every time i go up there but with gas over 4.40 its hard to justify the trip.