Any Michigan or N Ohio engine builders

Living in Michigan it is hard to find VW parts let alone someone to help build a Engine. Can order from out west, but shipping is costly and a hassle. Is there anyone from Michigan on this site? or maybe someone who put a nice new big fat engine in their car and want to sell that stock or semi stock hunk of metal taking up space in the garage. A old CMC speedster landed in my lap and I'm putting it back together on a budget. thanks.

Hey there! Michigander in the house!! Where are you at? I'm over near GR on the west side. There are three Spyders in the GR area, one over near the Detroit area. There is a very healthy air cooled community around the state, mostly centered around restorations, etc. I have a few sources around here that could definately help you out. You may also want to check out thesamba.com and also michiganvw.org (MIVE) The MIVE Club is having a track day April 9 at Gingerman in South Haven, I'll be there with my Spyder, stop by and introduce yourself!

Doug, Thanks for the reply, I'll start beating the bushes for info. Your car looks great, I live in Waterford about 8 miles from the old Silverdome. I got this car to replace the bike... The wife thought 3 knee surgeries was enough. I probably need about a year to straighten this thing out.

HAHA! Our stories sound similar, I sold off all of my bikes (except my favorite two) to get the Spyder. What kind of bike did you have?

Over on your side I would contact Steve's European, they sponsor the VW Club (MIVE) and are a fantastic shop. There is also Monks Motors near you. I have never dealt with them, however the guy who has a spyder that I know of over there takes his to them and says they do good work.

Keep us posted on your project!

Doug, I may have hit the jackpot. Back in the late 80's I did the custom bug thing for a while and the guy that built the engines worked out of his garage, good builder, I finally tracked him down and although he hasn't worked on VW's for 15 years, he said he still had most of his tools and some parts including a short block with new crank. balanced rods and a mild cam. He said he needed to have a garage sale, I told him to put it all in a pile and give me a call.

Sweet. Grab it while you can! Are you going to put it all together yourself then? I've always thought about it, but I have so little time these days...2 jobs, 2 kids, 2 wives....wait, scratch the two wives, one is enough work!

Hey Chuck. I live in Romeo. You could also try Munk in Waterford.
http://www.munks.com/ He is down the street from you.

Hey Doug! How is it going? Is the roll bar complete? I just got my tag yesterday, and I'm going for my first ride this afternoon.

Tony

Hi Tony! Funny you should ask! I just did a track day at Gingerman in South Haven yesterday. All I can say is this has to be more addictive than crack!

Hey Doug:

I live over here in Holland. I picked up a ThunderRanch 550 last summer. I'm trying to work through some backfiring issues right now to have it ready for a small car show/ BIG party next weekend in Moline.

I saw your pic of the track day @ Gingerman. That does look like GREAT FUN.

Dale

Ahhh Dale! There you are! Do you work at Tiara Yachts? Anyway I heard that there was another one lurking over in Holland! Someone saw you last year and swore up and down it was me. There are three of us in Grand Rapids, believe it or not. A Vintage, Beck #222, and me!

What car show? Send me some details and I'll see if I can make it over.

Driving the Spyder on the track is more adictive than Crack! I'll probably be driving it at Grattan on Memorial Day as well, you should see if you can make it over!

Hey Doug:

Yes I do work at Tiara. I manage the design team there.

The car show is a small show but a BIG party! I am throwing the party along with my buddy Marty Boysen as a fundraiser for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. We're holding it at theABC auto auction in Moline on Division just past 100th st. We have two great rockabilly bands, a couple of pigs roastin' The Furrin car club will be running an autocross with ridealongs for donations. We have lots of great auction and raffle items including some automotive art, garden furniture, fooseball table, golf packages...all kinds of stuff. Kids are welcome. The whole deal is free. Where just hoping that the atmosphere will encourage those that can to spend freely lol. We even have a big ol pile of dirt and a bobcat just for the lil kid in all of us.

We will be getting going around 2:00 and going until 10:00 or 12:00? who knows? Bring the car and have some fun. It looks like I'm going to get mine there afterall. With the exception of a small throttle linkage problem, I just about have it back and running. Hopefully I'll have the new passenger seat in as well.

Hope to see you there.

If you want more info, email me dale@dalefrye.com
Check out my website for some of the artwork that'll be there as well. www.dalefrye.com There will be more than just my work there. Even some corvette sketches by Tom Peters direct from the GM design studios.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

Dale

Hey everyone, my busy time of year, spring and all. I want to find out more about open track day, looks like a lot of fun. There is a track in Waterford called waterford hills. I think they do the same thing a couple times a year. As far as the speedster, I tore the engine and trans out and am going to rebuild. I hooked up with the guy with the vw parts and asked about the block and engine stand. He said give me a couple hundred bucks and take it all. I now have 8 dist caps, 17 sets of points, 4 sets of rings, a couple of shrouds, lots of crand bearings and all kinds of vw stuff........a kid in toyland. Now to put it all together. Maybe next year when this project is done we can all get together at one of these tracks and get our wifes really pissed off!!!