Brothers VW - [email protected]

[KentABQ]

[AlteWagen]

Most of the time if you lose a valve the head is damaged beyond repair. He may be trying to find a matching core to refinish.
_________________
Grapes of Wrath $200 Engine Rebuild
Official Dual Carb Thread
Cylinder Head Quick Reference Sheet

[KentABQ]

I'm at a loss...

I shipped the damaged head to Brothers in Ontario. Renato received it on February 5 according to UPS.

Since then I have called every two weeks to see what the status is, and keep getting a response of "It will be done this week."

But the last time I spoke with Renato, he said my 1.7 liter headS will be done by Friday. I only sent one head, and it's a 1.8.

So I'm feeling certain he has lost my head. If so, I'm up Shit Creek.

I thought I was doing a good thing by sending the head back to the original machine shop. But now I'm going to be out a couple thousand to replace both heads.

In the future, I wouldn't recommend anyone sending parts to Brothers. If you live in the vicinity and are able to stop by to ask about the status, you might be better off. But I won't be recommending Brothers in the future.
_________________
-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"

"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea

Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM

[KentABQ]

After reading all the great feedback Renato and Brothers have received over the years, I'm wondering what went wrong here...

Brothers did a fantastic job at refurbishing my heads in 2019.
But an exhaust valve stem broke while driving back from BBB in January.
Of course, the valve breaking was no fault of Brothers. Shit happens.
I contacted Renato about repairing the damaged head, and he said it would be no problem.
The head was shipped and received end of January.

Since then I've spoken with Renato three times, each time being told he would get to it "this week". Now he won't even answer my calls or emails. My assumption is he's lost or misplaced the head, in which case I'm royally screwed.

If I had it to do over again, I would use a local machine shop.

_________________
-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"

"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea

Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM

[Adriel Rowley]

[Glenn]

They should have an answer machine saying leave a message, but it might be weeks before they call back.

Email should have a auto responder saying the same.

Not answering the phone or email makes people think they are out of business.
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי

[DesertSasquatchXploration]

I live 3 mins from Brothers very much in business you gotta realize its two man operation they are building motors not hanging by the phone sometimes you have to go in and out the door 3 times to sound the door chime thats on a PA speaker 100 decibels they are mostly deaf and use ear plugs to retain what's left of their hearing.

[Adriel Rowley]

Got the call, neither of us discussed the past and remained friendly.

Without asking, charged about an extra $350 for thrust cutting the case and decking (bearings machined for the case an additional $45). This means I have $38 for the rest of the month for groceries.

I didn't have the estimate in front of me, otherwise would have asked why a line bore is about $100 yet cutting thrust is far exceeds that.

Supposedly be here early next week and will let you know if did in fact provide thrust cut bearings and how the case sits.

For the future, either have a signed estimate emailed to me or or buy a case with the camshaft bearings.
_________________
Please consider I am Autistic, so I process information differently and still working on social skills. Thanks.

Dad's 1964 Beetle purchased September 1968.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9252810#9252810

1971 Sunroof Squareback with Fuel Injection
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=219811&highlight=squareback+rejuvenation

[94touring]

Well good luck to you all. I just got a schedule change so won't be making it down there now anyway.

[bugguy1967]

Yes. Still in business. They're just not answering.
_________________
"A petrol engine can start readily, run smoothly and give every appearance of being in good order, without necessarily being in good tune." - Colin Campbell, "The Sportscar Engine"

[Glenn]

[Dauz]

[Adriel Rowley]

[94touring]

To the above posters, I will be traveling for work through Ontario tomorrow and staying at a hotel 17 minutes away from their address according to my maps app. If you are willing to pay for my uber I can go knock on the door to verify if they're in business or not. Shoot me a pm and we can swap numbers.

[Adriel Rowley]

Glenn asked me to post here, despite not being feedback. Now seeing the above post makes me wonder if went back to Mexico with all their wealth and "misplaced" goods.

--------

Sent them Dad's 40HP case 13 October, received on the 17th, and called last week and again yesterday, heard nothing.

I looked up the website to get the number and now says the domain is available, no Brothers website.

So seems they have folded, not answering their telephone and no website. Does anyone know how I can get the case back?

It has sentimental meaning being Dad rebuilt it last and the original case to Ruby.

I also feel bad for other folks, this was the last place to get cases machined for camshaft bearings. Now we have to run without camshaft bearings.
_________________
Please consider I am Autistic, so I process information differently and still working on social skills. Thanks.

Dad's 1964 Beetle purchased September 1968.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9252810#9252810

1971 Sunroof Squareback with Fuel Injection
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=219811&highlight=squareback+rejuvenation

[k-weaver]

I hate to leave bad feedback but I'm about fed up and not sure what to do at this point.

TLDR: Its been like 3+ months and they lost my heads. Very difficult to get anyone on the phone.

Full story:

My motor had a crack at the full flow inlet and was seeping oil. I called Brothers VW, he said they can fix it no problem. I asked if they can get me in and out in a day, he said no problem. So I drove down there on a Thursday (about 4 hours) and dropped off my motor. At the same time, figured might as well have them do headwork on a set of heads I had laying around. No plans for them, just need freshening up for when the time comes.

When I arrived, I explained the situation. Was told its not an issue, they will weld the case for me and I can pick it up by noon the next day (Friday). In regards to the heads I explained everything I needed done and I told him no rush on that, he can just ship those back to me.

Show up Friday afternoon, motor is done. Weld looks good. I pay him and we load the motor into my truck. I noticed the tag that had ALL the details of what I needed was attached to the motor. This should have been my first indication that perhaps organization is lacking here...

So I tell him, Hey man you're going to need this tag as it has all the work I need done plus all my info for my heads which are at the bottom of your cart. He decides to make a new tag, I go over everything a second a time. I also watched him write my name in sharpie on the heads.

Fast forward 3 weeks, never heard anything. I call, no answer. This went on for about 2 weeks. Just can't get ahold of anyone. Finally around week 5 someone answers. I explain the situation, he says "let me check". I wait about 5+ minutes and he comes back to say "I can't find your heads, let me call you back on Tuesday". (this would be week 6)

Never received a call back, I call them back the following week (we are now week 7). Explain the situation (again) as if i'm talking to a new person. Same story, "I can't find your heads, maybe I can just send you a set of big valve heads?".

Now the heads I gave them were nothing to crazy. IIRC they were like 041 castings 40/35.5 valves, minor port work, and cut for 90.5s. So I say sure, that'll work as long as they are about what I gave you. We went over the details (3rd time now) of the heads and what I needed. We talked about the possible cam I would use and about what CC I'd need. He follows up with "I'll call you Tuesday, if I can't find them we will work it out".

That Tuesday would have been week 8. Guess what I didn't get, a call back as promised. Week 9 comes around, and again I can't seem to get anyone to pickup the phone. Week 10 they decide to answer. I'm told, "I found your heads". "Oh, thats great news. Are they ready?" "No, I will work on them this week and call you Tuesday when they are ready."

Tuesday comes around (week 11), once again no call back. I've been trying to call them for the last 3 weeks now and there is never an answer on the phone. About 45 minutes ago I tried calling and it went to a voicemail before I hit max rings. In other words, I was sent to voicemail by someone, not automatically.

Not really sure what to do at this point. These guys do good work but holy hell they have the worst customer service and their organization is obviously lacking to have "lost" a customers heads. Guess I'll just keep calling, maybe i'll take the 4 hour trip and just show up at their door...

[mcdragracer]

I had another great experience with Brothers, purchased a bunch of parts, cases and engine parts for 3 jobs I am doing, they also did some case work for me, great work and good prices on there parts, thanks again guys!

Rick (mcdragracer).

[LivinInnaVWBus]

Has anyone heard from Renato/Brothers lately?
They stopped replying to emails. The last time I received a reply is early January, I'm waiting on the cost to ship parts back to me. I've sent 3 follow up emails since.

[vince1]

Bought a pair of mid D port heads plus idf and ida matched manifolds for a friend 2276 in France, never had such a smooth deal accross the pond, and only one week lead time for some ported heads wow !

Many thanks Renato.

Vince from France

_________________
my French blog https://vwpanelvan.wordpress.com/

Click here for my full pix detailed 2165 engine build with beehive valvetrain.

Sorry for my poor English, I'm a French guy ...

[catfish54-46]

I haven't taken the pins out. I have the crank turning free now by sanding the main bearing a bit. I checked deck height a few different ways and this is what I have. #1 with 0.020 shim = 0.014
#2 with 0.020 shim= 0.013
#3 with 0.020 shim= 0.011
#4 with0.040 shim = 0.014
Still haven't received the bearings I paid them for either. I'm done now, I'll buy a new case. And they can keep the 190.00 I paid them to screw mine up