Washington Mechanics Thread

If you're in the Seattle area and are needing to get your radiator replaced or serviced I would highly recommend Greenwood Radiator Services. They're old school and deal in copper radiators only and managed to save the terrible radiator that was installed in my van when I bought it. He also specializes in overlanding builds and can re-core our radiators for ultra heavy duty service if desired

A very sad radiator
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Chunks of silicone
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Cleaned rad - Temps are staying nice and cool now.

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I just thought I should mention that Auto Tech Services of Centralia (Was LeDuc's Service Center) is still willing to work on Delicas. I have my L400 there now for some minor work.
 
I just thought I should mention that Auto Tech Services of Centralia (Was LeDuc's Service Center) is still willing to work on Delicas. I have my L400 there now for some minor work.
What? Another L400 in Lewis County???

Curious what work you are having done and how well they do it. I have a local guy our in Mossyrock that I trust to do the heavy lifting but you have to schedule a few weeks out because he is that good he's always busy.
 
What? Another L400 in Lewis County???

Curious what work you are having done and how well they do it. I have a local guy our in Mossyrock that I trust to do the heavy lifting but you have to schedule a few weeks out because he is that good he's always busy.
Well, not in Lewis, but Pierce. I had a broken injector line and being of large belly and old back I couldn't contort enough to do the connection at the pump. I also went ahead and had them change the transmission fluid while it was there. I mainly commute via motorcycle so I was able to drop the van there and they worked it in for me.
 
Well, not in Lewis, but Pierce. I had a broken injector line and being of large belly and old back I couldn't contort enough to do the connection at the pump. I also went ahead and had them change the transmission fluid while it was there. I mainly commute via motorcycle so I was able to drop the van there and they worked it in for me.
Im with ya on the getting old. I used to think it was too much money to pay when I could do it myself. These past years though the money is starting to seem more and more worth it.

Let us know how they do. Always looking for good mechanics and a solid shop.
 
Just joining the club down in Tacoma! Does anyone know of any shops or mechanics down on the south end? Thanks!

Dick
 
Anyone have a recommendation for the Olympic peninsula? I'm out in Port Townsend.
I'm looking too. Would love to know. I am going to contact Hiro's Japanese Auto in Poulsbo. They used to work on my Subie and did great work. Just not sure if they do the JDMs.
 
Adding some updates to this thread, I’m pretty sure Zach is no longer in Bham anymore doing work on Delicas, however a few shops in the area will work on them.
Rod’s Japanese
Rising sun auto, Kai is a legend and is always busy but will get you in.
Unlimited Auto service in Baker view.
All these shops are in the Bellingham area, you will have to provide parts for all of them. Rare to find a shop in the US that will supply parts for you.
 
Looking for competent shop in Spokane/Northern Idaho area. Any suggestions? Need general maintenance and probably a head gasket. '91 L300
Thanks!
 
Looking for competent shop in Spokane/Northern Idaho area. Any suggestions? Need general maintenance and probably a head gasket. '91 L300
Thanks!
If you’re willing to make the drive to Nomadic Van in Sun Valley, I’d make the drive! Those boys know what’s up with these vans.
 
If you’re willing to make the drive to Nomadic Van in Sun Valley, I’d make the drive! Those boys know what’s up with these vans.
See post #55 Not recommended
Took your advice, it was a 500 mile drive, the west is big
I’m hoping for a manageable diagnosis, but these guys seem to live Delicas.
 
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Two more possible shops for the greater Seattle/Eastside area:

Doctor Don's automotive
1136 NW 50th St, Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 783-6303

Loyal Automotive
7724 24th AVE NW Seattle, WA 98117
206.453.5466

Haven't used either of these shops personally, but JDM Car & Motorcycle suggested them. Doctor Don's said they work on a lot of Delicas and I'm (hopefully) having Loyal Automotive take care of my engine swap.
Hey! Wondering if you ended up using loyal for your engine swap and if so, would you mind sharing some details on the process. Our delica threw a rod in LA this weekend. In additional, our transmission is going out so we decided to have the van shipped back to Seattle so we can figure it out.
 
I'll ask my guy on East Lake in Seattle what he thinks - he did a lot of work on my JDM Land Cruiser. I'm sure he'd dig working on these as well.

I tend to do most of my own work, but from time to time I need someone with more experience or the time.
 
If you’re willing to make the drive to Nomadic Van in Sun Valley, I’d make the drive! Those boys know what’s up with these vans.
Update: Nomadic not recommended
I wouldn’t recommend this shop, very nice guys, they had my L300 for 4 months, misdiagnosed an obvious head gasket issue, tried to pitch parts that weren’t needed, told me my radiator was “full of pinholes” (still going strong and diagnosis retracted) and had an internal lack of communication, making it difficult to get a straight answer. When I originally asked for a service repair order, to show that the van was there, they told me, “people usually just trust us”. Maybe these guys are great for bolt on upgrades, but diagnosing mechanical issues is not in their skill set. I was told it was completed, traveled 500 miles back to get it, only to be told that morning, in Ketchum, it was misdiagnosed, and now needed a cylinder head and head gasket. When I finally could pick it up, my bumper end was missing, a steering wheel I asked to swap out, was upstairs in their storage. Insult to injury, the new alternator they installed, failed within 100 miles, and they wanted to send a replacement for me to pay to install. I limped it back to them, for replacement. I paid $200 for an inspection, yet they missed a simple front brake issue, which had me metal to metal within a few hundred miles. I sorted that out elsewhere. I was also told that the plastic hub covers fall off, so they didn’t put them back on. Well, if you line up the clips correctly, they work great. (For 30 years) Rear wheel clips were reinstalled at the brake shop and my covers are back on correctly. I’m still at a loss.

Updated:
Replaced alternator that failed next day also failed shortly thereafter. Either another bad regulator, or damaged by the mess of oil from the rocker cover gasket that Nomadic installed and it also failed. Entire side of the engine was soaked with oil, including the alternator. To Ron’s credit, he sent me a new alternator. But I’d already paid labor to install the first, had to drive back for the second, and had to install the 2nd replacement on my own.
 
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I wouldn’t recommend this shop, very nice guys, they had my L300 for 4 months, misdiagnosed an obvious head gasket issue, tried to pitch parts that weren’t needed, told me my radiator was “full of pinholes” (still going strong and diagnosis retracted) and had an internal lack of communication, making it difficult to get a straight answer. When I originally asked for a service repair order, to show that the van was there, they told me, “people usually just trust us”. Maybe these guys are great for bolt on upgrades, but diagnosing mechanical issues is not in their skill set. I was told it was completed, traveled 500 miles back to get it, only to be told that morning, in Ketchum, it was misdiagnosed, and now needed a cylinder head and head gasket. When I finally could pick it up, my bumper end was missing, a steering wheel I asked to swap out, was upstairs in their storage. Insult to injury, the new alternator they installed, failed within 100 miles, and they wanted to send a replacement for me to pay to install. I limped it back to them, for replacement. I paid $200 for an inspection, yet they missed a simple front brake issue, which had me metal to metal within a few hundred miles. I sorted that out elsewhere. I was also told that the plastic hub covers fall off, so they didn’t put them back on. Well, if you line up the clips correctly, they work great. (For 30 years) Rear wheel clips were reinstalled at the brake shop and my covers are back on correctly. I’m still at a loss.
Damn that fucking sucks
 
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