Any trustworthy shops out in Suffolk County NY?

[Bonnewagon]

I have a friend in Holbrook that has a 1980 Trans Am. I got the 400 engine sorted out last year, a nice T-350 swapped in, and a '77 TA 3:23 rear. That was all done here in Queens. Now the car is out in Holbrook and he needs a really good mechanic to take on tedious old car chores like fuel lines, brakes, dash swaps, interior work. The kind of stuff regular shops avoid because they can't make a quick buck on it. He doesn't need a high zoot restoration shop, just a hot rod orientated place that does the kind of stuff we on here do all the time. All suggestions welcome.

 

[mikester]

I have a friend in Holbrook that has a 1980 Trans Am. I got the 400 engine sorted out last year, a nice T-350 swapped in, and a '77 TA 3:23 rear. That was all done here in Queens. Now the car is out in Holbrook and he needs a really good mechanic to take on tedious old car chores like fuel lines, brakes, dash swaps, interior work. The kind of stuff regular shops avoid because they can't make a quick buck on it. He doesn't need a high zoot restoration shop, just a hot rod orientated place that does the kind of stuff we on here do all the time. All suggestions welcome.

There was only one shop in Suffolk that I would have recommended. It was in Amityville. SP Classics. Unfortunatly the one owner passed away from cancer last year. The partner retired right after. Sad, they did real quality work. Theres usually a line of cars at Bellmore that they built. I should have left my 81 with them years ago. It would have been long done. It was just stubborn pride.
They had a great website, guess its shut down but you can see some of their builds.

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[Bonnewagon]

Mikester I know them. Right by the train station. I bought a set of Recarro seats from them a long time ago. While I was there they were re-doing a '67 Firebird some doucebag gave to his kid, who promptly wrapped it around a telephone pole. In fact on their fakebook page that looks like Timmy Sullivan's Vette race car. I can't read the writing but if it says "Terrible Tim", that's him. Also deceased. Thanks for that!

 

[mikester]

Mikester I know them. Right by the train station. I bought a set of Recarro seats from them a long time ago. While I was there they were re-doing a '67 Firebird some doucebag gave to his kid, who promptly wrapped it around a telephone pole. In fact on their fakebook page that looks like Timmy Sullivan's Vette race car. I can't read the writing but if it says "Terrible Tim", that's him. Also deceased. Thanks for that!

I met Pete over 20 years ago at a cruise night in Middle Island. He had a brown late 70s Camaro that was beyond mint. I had my 72 Nova. He always wanted to swap cars. I wouldnt do it so eventually he built his own. Back then Super Chevy was at Englishtown. First time he showed it there he wound up in the magazine. He gave that Nova to one of his daughters after he got sick.
We werent good friends but Pete was a pretty nice guy. Very talented. I think he was working in the old ATV store in Bay Shore when I met him. He was always building something.
If I went up west to S&K Speed or Kemperle body supply on New Highway I would run over to the shop to say hello and see what was in the shop. Some real nice cars were built by him and Steve. . Didnt go for a long time and when I stopped by his partner said he was having some health issues. It was esophageal cancer. He fought it for 2 1/2 years. Tough guy.
This video has been out for a long time now. Take the time to watch it. Its worth it.

 

[Bonnewagon]

Cool video. Very touching. Hard to find a shop like that anymore. All the guys who cared about cars like that are my age or older and were put out to pasture a long time ago. That is why I need a shop out East somewhere that is willing to do the grunge work that a "regular" shop won't touch. I think even Brian at S-K quit doing manual trans anymore? I rebuild my own but he was a treasure trove for parts. Bob and John at ACE Crankshaft in Deer Park are absolutely the best engine shop I know of but how often do you get an engine rebuilt? Bob did the 301 in my Bonnewagon over 20 years ago and it is still smooth as silk.

 

[mikester]

Cool video. Very touching. Hard to find a shop like that anymore. All the guys who cared about cars like that are my age or older and were put out to pasture a long time ago. That is why I need a shop out East somewhere that is willing to do the grunge work that a "regular" shop won't touch. I think even Brian at S-K quit doing manual trans anymore? I rebuild my own but he was a treasure trove for parts. Bob and John at ACE Crankshaft in Deer Park are absolutely the best engine shop I know of but how often do you get an engine rebuilt? Bob did the 301 in my Bonnewagon over 20 years ago and it is still smooth as silk.

I had my Muncie done by a guy in Huntington. His name is Larry Fisher. He was selling rebuilt Muncies for years. I dont know if hes even still alive. Its been a long time. I had my 406 built by a guy that had his own shop and downsized. He does a lot of engines for the FD racing trucks. Another guy that was good out here was Steve Elsasser in Rocky Point. Hes done a work for a lot of my friends over the years. His landlord screwed him after being in the same building for close to 20 years. Ive heard hes still building motors out of a building on his sons property. Nice guy to deal with but again, hes getting up in years.

I know theres a shop in Bohemia called Long Island Muscle Cars. Not sure what they work on though. Might want to try them. At least its close.

 

[Longroof79]

I wonder if you guys remember seeing this decal/ sticker back in the day? Someone gifted my friend Vince with this repopped bit of nostalgia. He shared stories of himself racing there and donning the same stickers on his 442. He obviously felt compelled to add it to his wagon.

 

[bracketchev1221]

There was only one shop in Suffolk that I would have recommended. It was in Amityville. SP Classics. Unfortunatly the one owner passed away from cancer last year. The partner retired right after. Sad, they did real quality work. Theres usually a line of cars at Bellmore that they built. I should have left my 81 with them years ago. It would have been long done. It was just stubborn pride.
They had a great website, guess its shut down but you can see some of their builds.

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I remember sp classics. I still have a shirt from there

 

[bracketchev1221]

I had my Muncie done by a guy in Huntington. His name is Larry Fisher. He was selling rebuilt Muncies for years. I dont know if hes even still alive. Its been a long time. I had my 406 built by a guy that had his own shop and downsized. He does a lot of engines for the FD racing trucks. Another guy that was good out here was Steve Elsasser in Rocky Point. Hes done a work for a lot of my friends over the years. His landlord screwed him after being in the same building for close to 20 years. Ive heard hes still building motors out of a building on his sons property. Nice guy to deal with but again, hes getting up in years.

I know theres a shop in Bohemia called Long Island Muscle Cars. Not sure what they work on though. Might want to try them. At least its close.

They’re all getting old. I used to work at McBetts Racing engines. And that was 15 years ago!!

 

[Longroof79]

I remember back in the day, I had my Porsche engine's rotating system balanced by McBetts. I know I'm dating myself....this was back in the mid '70's.