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miller9091
Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2017
Posts: 35
Location: Northern West Virgina
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 Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2017 7:33 pm Post subject: VW Mechanics??? Pittsburgh, PA or Columbus, Ohio? |
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I just bought a 1969 VW bus and need some help with restoration, anyone know some good mechanics in the Pittsburgh, PA or Columbus, Ohio area? I'm located in the northern panhandle of West Virginia and can make it to either city or in between. I seen a similar topic posted but was last discussed in 2008 with not to much mentioned. I can do most the mechanics myself but would like to find a body guy. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks! |
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lil-jinx
Samba Member
Joined: August 14, 2013
Posts: 1109
Location: New Brunswick,Canada
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| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 8:42 am Post subject: Re: VW Mechanics??? Pittsburgh, PA or Columbus, Ohio? |
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Any decent body shop/restoration shop should be able to do the body work,shop around and check references,good body panels are not cheap and cheap panels are not good,If you need panels check availabily and cost,any estimates you get make sure it includes the quality of panels you want.
Go thru the build topics to get an idea of whats involved.
Goodluck Nelson
_________________
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620186
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=668799
1974 Bay Westfalia. she likes to be called Ethel.
1968 Dune Buggy
1974 parts bus
A smart man learns from his mistakes,a very smart man learns from other's mistakes. |
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Steve22
Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2004
Posts: 1389
Location: the wild unknown
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| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 9:05 am Post subject: Re: VW Mechanics??? Pittsburgh, PA or Columbus, Ohio? |
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If you can travel a little farther west, I'd say go see Joe at Vintage Metal Werks (still in Ohio)
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'65 Karmann Ghia 'vert
'73 Super Beetle
'59 Beetle ragtop
'73 Sunroof Transporter |
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miller9091
Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2017
Posts: 35
Location: Northern West Virgina
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| Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 5:47 am Post subject: Re: VW Mechanics??? Pittsburgh, PA or Columbus, Ohio? |
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| Thanks Nelson! Makes sense, body work is body work regardless of the vehicle. I'm going to call around today and see what I can find locally. I'm going to check through the forums but any suggestions on type of metal, what to look for or avoid? |
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miller9091
Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2017
Posts: 35
Location: Northern West Virgina
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| Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 5:52 am Post subject: Re: VW Mechanics??? Pittsburgh, PA or Columbus, Ohio? |
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| Thanks Steve22! I checked out his Facebook page and his work looks great! I'll definitely keep him in mind depending what I find locally. |
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lil-jinx
Samba Member
Joined: August 14, 2013
Posts: 1109
Location: New Brunswick,Canada
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DougB
Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2007
Posts: 1076
Location: Falls Church, Virginia, USA
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| Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 10:29 pm Post subject: Re: VW Mechanics??? Pittsburgh, PA or Columbus, Ohio? |
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When I lived there there was a place called German Motor Works near the Allegheny Brewery. Any chance it's still around?
- Doug
Former Forest Hills resident, CMU alum, Yinzer
_________________
'75 Campmobile (tin-top to SpaceRoof)
'73 Fastback
'52 BMW R67/2
'41 Zundapp KS600
'55 Puch SGS250
A very, very understanding wife |
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miller9091
Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2017
Posts: 35
Location: Northern West Virgina
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| Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2017 3:57 pm Post subject: Re: VW Mechanics??? Pittsburgh, PA or Columbus, Ohio? |
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Thanks Nelson! Its gonna take me awhile to get through that topic but seems like some good stuff. |
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miller9091
Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2017
Posts: 35
Location: Northern West Virgina
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| Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2017 4:00 pm Post subject: Re: VW Mechanics??? Pittsburgh, PA or Columbus, Ohio? |
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| DougB wrote: |
When I lived there there was a place called German Motor Works near the Allegheny Brewery. Any chance it's still around?
- Doug
Former Forest Hills resident, CMU alum, Yinzer |
Yea, I came across them on google but haven't had a chance to call them. I did manage to get ahold of a few shops that quoted me some unexpected prices.  |
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skills@eurocarsplus
Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007
Posts: 16863
Location: sticksville, ct.
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| Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2017 4:40 pm Post subject: Re: VW Mechanics??? Pittsburgh, PA or Columbus, Ohio? |
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| miller9091 wrote: |
| a few shops that quoted me some unexpected prices. |
you will be hard pressed to restore a car, let alone a bus cheap. an average bus that needs the usual is about 6-10K in rust work, then another 10-15K in paint and body. it is what it is...plus all of your seals etc etc...
the other thing is 95% of shops will only go "all the way" as their name is on it....they won't do piecemeal work. shop by reputation/finished work...not on price.
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| gprudenciop wrote: |
my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese....... |
| Jake Raby wrote: |
| Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public. |
| Brian wrote: |
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Clatter
Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2003
Posts: 7537
Location: Santa Cruz
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| Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2017 11:01 pm Post subject: Re: VW Mechanics??? Pittsburgh, PA or Columbus, Ohio? |
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The only cheap part of an aircooled VW sits behind the wheel..
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Bus Motor Build
What’s That Noise?!? |
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Hoody
Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2007
Posts: 1948
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| Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2017 11:19 pm Post subject: Re: VW Mechanics??? Pittsburgh, PA or Columbus, Ohio? |
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| Did you look into any of the connections that I gave you? The restorer in West Middlesex is the best of the best. My engine builder in Youngstown is second to none. If your looking for an inexpensive solution. Neither of them will work. Restoring an antique car is expensive. Period. |
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Hoody
Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2007
Posts: 1948
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| Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2017 11:23 pm Post subject: Re: VW Mechanics??? Pittsburgh, PA or Columbus, Ohio? |
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| Clatter hit it on the head!!!! It amazes me how effing cheap the VW crowd is. Which is why there are no longer any parts for these cars that are not made in effing China! I sit back and laugh. Most of these will be flower pots within 5 years. |
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wcfvw69 
Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 13389
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2017 11:32 pm Post subject: Re: VW Mechanics??? Pittsburgh, PA or Columbus, Ohio? |
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| Clatter wrote: |
| The only cheap part of an aircooled VW sits behind the wheel.. |
Preach it brother! 
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Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc
Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours** |
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lil-jinx
Samba Member
Joined: August 14, 2013
Posts: 1109
Location: New Brunswick,Canada
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| Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 6:07 am Post subject: Re: VW Mechanics??? Pittsburgh, PA or Columbus, Ohio? |
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You can save a few dollars,get some new tools and learn a new skill by doing the work yourself,provided that your not in a rush,Half the fun of owning a classic car is working on it.Lots of nice owner restored busses here and lots of info on how to do it,There are also so lots of bondo beauties,that will be rusted beyond repair in a few years.
_________________
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620186
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=668799
1974 Bay Westfalia. she likes to be called Ethel.
1968 Dune Buggy
1974 parts bus
A smart man learns from his mistakes,a very smart man learns from other's mistakes. |
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miller9091
Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2017
Posts: 35
Location: Northern West Virgina
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| Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 2:02 pm Post subject: Re: VW Mechanics??? Pittsburgh, PA or Columbus, Ohio? |
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| skills@eurocarsplus wrote: |
| miller9091 wrote: |
| a few shops that quoted me some unexpected prices. |
you will be hard pressed to restore a car, let alone a bus cheap. an average bus that needs the usual is about 6-10K in rust work, then another 10-15K in paint and body. it is what it is...plus all of your seals etc etc...
the other thing is 95% of shops will only go "all the way" as their name is on it....they won't do piecemeal work. shop by reputation/finished work...not on price. |
Yea, I'm finding out it's more then I expected but regardless I'll ride the wave.  |
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miller9091
Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2017
Posts: 35
Location: Northern West Virgina
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| Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 2:03 pm Post subject: Re: VW Mechanics??? Pittsburgh, PA or Columbus, Ohio? |
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| Clatter wrote: |
| The only cheap part of an aircooled VW sits behind the wheel.. |
lol |
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miller9091
Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2017
Posts: 35
Location: Northern West Virgina
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| Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 2:11 pm Post subject: Re: VW Mechanics??? Pittsburgh, PA or Columbus, Ohio? |
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| Hoody wrote: |
| Did you look into any of the connections that I gave you? The restorer in West Middlesex is the best of the best. My engine builder in Youngstown is second to none. If your looking for an inexpensive solution. Neither of them will work. Restoring an antique car is expensive. Period. |
I've called a few shops, Vintage Auto (Not taking new clients) and a few others not specializing in VWs but haven't had much time, work 6 days a week. I plan on hitting up your guys in the next week. I don't mind paying for good work just a bit of sticker shock. lol |
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miller9091
Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2017
Posts: 35
Location: Northern West Virgina
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| Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 2:17 pm Post subject: Re: VW Mechanics??? Pittsburgh, PA or Columbus, Ohio? |
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| lil-jinx wrote: |
| You can save a few dollars,get some new tools and learn a new skill by doing the work yourself,provided that your not in a rush,Half the fun of owning a classic car is working on it.Lots of nice owner restored busses here and lots of info on how to do it,There are also so lots of bondo beauties,that will be rusted beyond repair in a few years. |
I never shutter at learning something new but not sure I would be able to dedicate that kind of time, I'll keep it mind though. |
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lil-jinx
Samba Member
Joined: August 14, 2013
Posts: 1109
Location: New Brunswick,Canada
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