Trusted Workshops (Syd)

[Marc]

Hey guys,

Finally got my 1.8l for the mirage last week, and im now faced with the options of installing myself or just paying someone to deal with it. Normally im a hands on person and keen to have a go, but seeing as tho i have to replace wiring loom and all that i simply cannot be bothered.

So im on the look out for a workshop i can trust to do my work right the first time, without having to worry if something goes wrong. Im only asking cause ive only lived in syd for about 18 months and have never had to deal with a mechanic yet.

Any help would be great, as everyone knows you get what you pay for when it comes to this work, but still i dont want to empty my bank account for it.

Cheers
Marc.

[VTECMACHINE]

I.S motor racing. They are located in Rockdale. Indy is amazing. He knows his stuff... prices ain't that bad aswell... and he does a great job everytime, first time.

[xero]

i reckon go to well known shops or open the phone book and contact a few places
or go an visit them and talk to them and tell them what you want to do...

that is what i did when i had my engine rebuilt... i rang a few places and the one that spoke to me like a person and listened to what i had to say and gave me a reasonable price, thats how i chose.
in the end i was welcomed to look at the progress, and whats being done and what was left to be done... i even did some of the shit work (if anyone asks you to degrease or strip paint off a sump DONT DO IT... it aint fun...) to save a few bucks and time...

[Marc]

i reckon go to well known shops or open the phone book and contact a few places
or go an visit them and talk to them and tell them what you want to do...

Yes, i know thats what i should do, but most of the time im a work between 6am and 6pm so going and visiting or even getting some free time to call can be a hassle.

Plus i just wanted to know off some people that have had personal experiance with some companys and can tell me straight down the line.

Cheers

[black200]

another vote for IS Motorracing. i wouldn't trust my car with anyone else.

opening the phone book is something i wouldn't do myself, a massive number of JDMST people have dealt with indy - and they are an affiliated workshop as you can see on the jdmst front page!....

[JDM_ST]

IS Motor Racing gets my vote too.

[lovesil]

IS Motor Racing normally opens till 7ish pm, hence you can always go by and have a chat with Indy. Indy's work got my support too. Been with them even before IS Motor Racing's started for my current and previous ride and i will still go for my coming R.Colt.

Alternatively, i find Josh at Pro Concept a legend too!

These 2 shops got my support. I have been to many different workshops around sydney and these 2 are the only ones where the owner would actually come out to greet you and see what needs to be done to your ride (either trying to diagnose your car issues or giving whatever advises you needed)

[Marc]

Thanks alot everyone, i have got Indy's details off the link on the front page and will be in contact with him very soon.

Like i said before, looking in the phone book is one thing, but to hear from happy customers is better than any ad in the yellow pages.

Thanks again :)

[shonen]

Another vote for Josh at Pro Concept..

His details are in my signature, I have dealt with him for over 3 years now and he has done everything right the first time and tells you exactly what needs to be done.

VERY particular about his work and everything is neat and in working order.

I would not let anyone else touch my car.....

[scathing]

Yeah, Josh is amazingly particular about everything.

His workshop is always immaculate, he communicates very well, and he rarely ever gets anything wrong.

[EGG80X]

All my cars are serviced and modded by ISMR, I live in the North Shore and its worth the drive down

[3lusive]

ISMR for sure. How are they on tuning/dyno though?

[satanic]

Where abouts are you located?

We're in the process of finalizing a very unique project car; Australia's only wide-body turbo Mirage and we've got quite a bit of know how with that car.

We're on the Northern Beaches so it may or may not be out of the way...

PM for more details.

[raz0r$harP]

i reckon go to well known shops or open the phone book and contact a few places
or go an visit them and talk to them and tell them what you want to do...

Definitely. I was after some custom work on my car recently and called a few shops. But it's pretty hard to judge a workshop over the phone, especially when it comes to doing custom stuff. I spent the better part of half a day going around to each workshop, talking to the staff there and getting my opinion and a feel for the place. At the end of the day I had narrowed my choice down to a couple of places, and my car is currently in workshop being sorted out..

It's tough to get recommendations for shops though. It's a fact that you will never keep all of your customers happy. For me it's not so much that there are problems, it's how they are resolved. Even that is hard to judge as you'll get difficult customers, staff - or both.

[VTECMACHINE]

It's a fact that you will never keep all of your customers happy. For me it's not so much that there are problems, it's how they are resolved. Even that is hard to judge as you'll get difficult customers, staff - or both.

Really. I have been trying to find someone that has anything bad to say about Indy at ISMR. That's how I decided. Couldn't find a sole that would bad mouth Indy in anyway what so ever. So I tried him out... and just awssoommeee awssommeee service.

[lovesil]

Where abouts are you located?

We're in the process of finalizing a very unique project car; Australia's only wide-body turbo Mirage and we've got quite a bit of know how with that car.

We're on the Northern Beaches so it may or may not be out of the way...

PM for more details.

hmm..... i think you might be out of date there. There is already a yellow wide body turbo mirage in QLD a few years ago with 4G63T plus the whole evo 4WD system. Its said the whole operation costs more than a brand new Evo 9

[raz0r$harP]

hmm..... i think you might be out of date there. There is already a yellow wide body turbo mirage in QLD a few years ago with 4G63T plus the whole evo 4WD system. Its said the whole operation costs more than a brand new Evo 9

Tufcars in Melb(?) also did one.. the Tufmirage
http://www.tufcars.com.au/tufmirage_specs.html

[lovesil]

Tufcars in Melb(?) also did one.. the Tufmirage
http://www.tufcars.com.au/tufmirage_specs.html

Sorry, my bad! That's the turbo wide body mirage i'm talking about. Just can't remember if its from Mel or Brissy

[xero]

We're on the Northern Beaches so it may or may not be out of the way...


hey satanic where abouts is your shop located? what the name of your shop?

i live on the northern beaches too :)

[Middle Man]

See his sig dude....



Another vote for ISMR - Indy & co are great......awesome having someone close to home too.

MRT Performance is another workshop i trust and have been using them for over 5yrs now.

I'd be more inclined to use ISMR for the conversion though.

[scathing]

I've heard that MRT guys are a bit....weird though.

If you're not driving a rally homologation car, they tend to be a bit standoffish. I had a mate ask them about work on his Silvia, and they wouldn't give him the time of day.

[44 this year]

Although there are recommendations in this thread, it depends on the workshop if they can be bothered to carry out the type of work you're looking for in the first place.

Of the 3 popular ones mentioned in this thread, IS Motor Racing won't touch rotaries, Proconcept won't do certain work on one or two makes/models or even stupid simple stuff Josh draws the line there - he has better things to do with his time. And as you say, MRT won't give the time of day for silvias - in that instance.

It's based upon what market they - the workshops - ultimately want to cater for, or if they do want to do it, the time (knowledge base), to do the type of work your wanting to have done - if they don't have that info readily available to them. Generally, time does mean money.

[shonen]

44 this year:

I see the point you are trying to make, however having no experience with the other workshops you mentioned I cant comment on them.

But I have been using Pro Concept for the past 3 years and what you are saying is correct to an extent. You have to understand that Josh is a very busy man and now with 2 race cars to look after he is a little bit busier.

He has to utilise the space he has and complete jobs, he doesnt want dead cars lying around his workshop and keep taking on more jobs when there is plenty of work to be done.

Although he does cater mostly for Nissans, Mitsus and Hondas over the years I have seen everything from a Morris Minor , a Ferrari Testarossa to an XF falcon in his workshop.

[lovesil]

I think "44 this year" do make a very valid point there. Most of the workshop we are talking here, deals mainly with Nissan, Mitsubishi and Hondas Performance Models. And to do a engine swap for a 4G93, might require extra time for them as the knowledge isn't easily avaliable for them as to swapping a SR20DET /4G63T / RB26... But then again, i'm not Indy or Josh, hence i can't really say if they have or have not got the ready knowledge of doing the 4G93 swap.

[Buddy]

I have recently been taking my car to ProConcept (even though my 86 still has Bel on the side).. very nice and willing to have a chat. i will be going there from now on

[44 this year]

44 this year:

But I have been using Pro Concept for the past 3 years and what you are saying is correct to an extent. You have to understand that Josh is a very busy man and now with 2 race cars to look after he is a little bit busier.

He has to utilise the space he has and complete jobs, he doesnt want dead cars lying around his workshop and keep taking on more jobs when there is plenty of work to be done.



I understand his situation Thomnus :cool: All prominent workshops go through cycles and stages, and sure, I could imagine Josh taking an XF Falcon job 4/5 years ago when he first started the business, but not now. To clarify, XF new customer - no, XF long-time customer - yes.

[Hens]

there are plenty of guys out there who have just as much experience if not more in engine building than ISMR.
one that comes to mind who have been in the scene for how long is Hi Comp Performance.
and that is only 4min drive for ya 4G-Colt.


Another one more for Mitsu is Meek Automotive in Seven Hills i think.

[Middle Man]

I've heard that MRT guys are a bit....weird though.

If you're not driving a rally homologation car, they tend to be a bit standoffish. I had a mate ask them about work on his Silvia, and they wouldn't give him the time of day.

I guess when you hit a certain level you can afford to pick and choose clients - they're not really known to be Nissan Specialists so thats probably why....

Still, no excuse if they were rude etc...

[shonen]

I understand his situation Thomnus :cool: All prominent workshops go through cycles and stages, and sure, I could imagine Josh taking an XF Falcon job 4/5 years ago when he first started the business, but not now. To clarify, XF new customer - no, XF long-time customer - yes.

haha its THOMAS.....annndd hmmm who is this ?

and just to clarify, the XF was a new customer around early this year getting his carbies recoed and some other work done on the engine..


Also if its an engine rebuild, although I have never used them myself I have heard good things about DART Automotive from both the HiPo Jap boys and the old school V8 boys....

[Marc]

Hi Comp Performance and that is only 4min drive for ya 4G-Colt.


Another one more for Mitsu is Meek Automotive in Seven Hills i think.

That is true, i did totally forget about them.

As for the conversion, im currently talking to someone who has done this conversion on the exact same car with no worrys at all. All i am really worryied about is the wiring, i can change the engine over no worrys, but if i find out its simpole and i can do it, ill just do it myself. :D