Michigan RX-8 Lounge
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Joined: Jun 2008
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SOLD!!! the Shinka has been sold. It's kind of bitter sweet. I had to sell it for financial reasons and I 'only' got $14,400 for it. Seems I should have done better but in this state that's probably good. I'm really gonna miss it, we all know how fun these cars are. I hope everyone gets together somewhere so I can check out their rides. It seems like people want to but can't commit. You all should plan on meeting at a local cruise nite somewhere(Wed nites in Mt. Clemens?). That way no one person is counting on the others to show. Hey Korean.....now we're both on the outside looking in. lol
Dan
Dan
The Michigan "WANKEL"
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 543
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From: Lansing, MI
Where in Michigan are you? I'm in Lansing, and I know a couple of good shops that would do it.
The Michigan "WANKEL"
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 543
Likes: 0
From: Lansing, MI
Well, the shop I use for all of my performance part installations is Sharp's Supply, but they're out west of Lansing by several miles in Mulliken, MI. Here's their URL:
http://www.sharpssupplyauto.com/
I've been going to them for about 10 years, I think. I started with them on my 1997 Ford Contour SE, then when I got my 2001 Focus ZX3, then my Mazda3, and I will probably use them when I start doing any real modifications of the RX-8. For the Focus, they did a Jackson Racing supercharger kit install, then later, they did a fantastic job on my Snow Performance water/methanol injection kit, going way out of their way to fashion a back plate to mount the tank onto, painting the plate to match the Malibu Blue color perfectly. The entire install looked great, including all the hoses and wiring. Bruce Sharp told me they discounted the labor rate *heavily* because the time they spent on it would have cost much more than the kit did. I kind of felt bad when I sold that car about a year later when I bought my Mazda3 (and it was quite fast!--considerably more so than my RX-8). They genuinely do good work at a reasonable rate. Their place is kind of dumpy, so you have to not let that put you off. They're a parts store, mechanic shop, and performance shop, and have been doing all of that for a long time. I initially chose them because I wanted someone whose experience went back to the good ol' days of hot rodding. They do mostly domestics, but have never complained about working on my Mazda3, and they're one of the country's best De Tomaso Pantera shops. Many times when I go there they have one getting a total makeover and hot rodding (500 hp out of the Cleveland 350 cu. in. V8). Other times they have classic Mustangs and other hot rods. They do just about anything, including transmission work (they installed my Quaife ATB diff in my Mazda3). They might be kind of out of the way for you. I think their hourly rate used to be $60, but I think it's gone up. They have discounted their rate in the past for me when they were not familiar with the car or project (they discounted the rate for the supercharger install as well as the water/methanol kit).
The other shop is one that I live right by on the corner of Foster Rd. and E. Saginaw St. called Schep's Garage. I just went there for the first time a couple days ago because my Mazda3 is starting to make some unsettling noises under the hood. I met Tony, the owner, and he's a great guy. Part of the reason I wanted to go there is because they got good ratings at the "Car Talk" website by people who have taken their cars there. So I don't have personal experience there, but I have pretty good reason to believe that they do good work and are honest. Here's their information:
(517) 484-0327
2320 E Saginaw St
Lansing, MI 48912
They both might be too far for you to bother with, but it can be hard to find shops that you can trust. If you try Sharp's Supply, you might want to mention that Matt Harrell directed you there--they love doing work for me because I'm reasonable and I do all the research myself. Many of their customers just drop off their toy and expect them to figure everything out and find all the parts.
http://www.sharpssupplyauto.com/
I've been going to them for about 10 years, I think. I started with them on my 1997 Ford Contour SE, then when I got my 2001 Focus ZX3, then my Mazda3, and I will probably use them when I start doing any real modifications of the RX-8. For the Focus, they did a Jackson Racing supercharger kit install, then later, they did a fantastic job on my Snow Performance water/methanol injection kit, going way out of their way to fashion a back plate to mount the tank onto, painting the plate to match the Malibu Blue color perfectly. The entire install looked great, including all the hoses and wiring. Bruce Sharp told me they discounted the labor rate *heavily* because the time they spent on it would have cost much more than the kit did. I kind of felt bad when I sold that car about a year later when I bought my Mazda3 (and it was quite fast!--considerably more so than my RX-8). They genuinely do good work at a reasonable rate. Their place is kind of dumpy, so you have to not let that put you off. They're a parts store, mechanic shop, and performance shop, and have been doing all of that for a long time. I initially chose them because I wanted someone whose experience went back to the good ol' days of hot rodding. They do mostly domestics, but have never complained about working on my Mazda3, and they're one of the country's best De Tomaso Pantera shops. Many times when I go there they have one getting a total makeover and hot rodding (500 hp out of the Cleveland 350 cu. in. V8). Other times they have classic Mustangs and other hot rods. They do just about anything, including transmission work (they installed my Quaife ATB diff in my Mazda3). They might be kind of out of the way for you. I think their hourly rate used to be $60, but I think it's gone up. They have discounted their rate in the past for me when they were not familiar with the car or project (they discounted the rate for the supercharger install as well as the water/methanol kit).
The other shop is one that I live right by on the corner of Foster Rd. and E. Saginaw St. called Schep's Garage. I just went there for the first time a couple days ago because my Mazda3 is starting to make some unsettling noises under the hood. I met Tony, the owner, and he's a great guy. Part of the reason I wanted to go there is because they got good ratings at the "Car Talk" website by people who have taken their cars there. So I don't have personal experience there, but I have pretty good reason to believe that they do good work and are honest. Here's their information:
(517) 484-0327
2320 E Saginaw St
Lansing, MI 48912
They both might be too far for you to bother with, but it can be hard to find shops that you can trust. If you try Sharp's Supply, you might want to mention that Matt Harrell directed you there--they love doing work for me because I'm reasonable and I do all the research myself. Many of their customers just drop off their toy and expect them to figure everything out and find all the parts.
Zoom Applied
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 14
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THX, that's definitely something for me to look into...It's hard to find good work around here these days. Any ideas on what kind of clutch I should get? im looking at F1 Racing or ACT...are they garbage or will they actually fit? lol
The Michigan "WANKEL"
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 543
Likes: 0
From: Lansing, MI
I haven't done any looking at clutches for my RX-8. I will likely leave it OEM unless I go really huge horsepower. I seem to recall reading that the OEM clutch is good for something like 400 hp. I had a Spec clutch in my Mazda3 for a while, back when I thought I was going to turbo it.
Registered
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 55
Likes: 4
From: Shelby Twp. MI
The Michigan "WANKEL"
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 543
Likes: 0
From: Lansing, MI
^^ I spoke to Chip via email. I may try him out in the distant future if I do anything to the engine itself or do a swap to any other rotary engine--any work where I would be nervous taking it to Sharp's, as they likely have no rotary engine experience.
Registered
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 44
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From: Austin, TX
Clutch work
My Freind owns Westland Precision Transmission. Ask for Tony here is the website:
http://westlandtransmission.com/
tell him Craig Tomes sent you I do not need one (clutch) but I spoke to him about it. He said they have done them before, he had to confir that his mechaninc still had a special tool needed for rotory clutch work. I was going to get a light weight Flywheel too while I was at it. Here is the website there is a coupon for $50.00 off on it. They do good work!
36125 Ford Rd. Westland, MI 48185
Phone: 734.722.9000
Registered
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 55
Likes: 4
From: Shelby Twp. MI
Registered
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
Dream Cruise
I am thinking of going down around 3PM but the I don not think I want to sitt in my car down woodward for 2 hours in the heat and burn gas to go nowhere fast. I might be interested in meeting some of you for a drink but sitting in a car to go two miles down the road in an hour is nuts at least for me
.
My buddy is a bartender at the "Redcoat Tavern" (Really Good Burgers) on Woodward across from Dugan's in RoyalOak. Call me or text me if your down that way around then and want to meet for a drink.
. My buddy is a bartender at the "Redcoat Tavern" (Really Good Burgers) on Woodward across from Dugan's in RoyalOak. Call me or text me if your down that way around then and want to meet for a drink.
Last edited by Powrider; Jun 7, 2010 at 12:46 PM.