Hi, all; winter break is over, and I've sussed out my immediate fixes with the Riviera with what time I was able to spend on it. Weather's not been terrible, but enough rain that doing some driveway work was iffy when I actually had time. Since I have a surfeit of resources compared to time, I'm hopeful I can trade one for the other - at least for the brake job needed (definitely a leak in a fitting or line, but couldn't track down which before I had to put it away last). I'm out in White Marsh near Route 40 and Route 7, and finding someone "trusted" to do some of the work when I can't would be a win. The time and space constraints are the hardest part of this for me right now: I have to be able to roll the car in and out for the work (too tight in the garage right now), so I can't leave it in a prohibitive state. Not often having long hours at a clip for the work, that makes it take the literal "month of Sundays." Well, and I want to drive it. Can't rightly do that without proper brakes. If anyone has recommendations, I'm all ears. I called the folk that work on our dailies (modern-ish Nissans), and they "aren't set up for older cars" (which I suspect is code for "we don't want to be accountable for your older car," which is fine). I intend to call around locally, but a good word always feels better to me than flying blind. Thanks, all, for any lift you can give. Hope everyone's holiday season was marvelous!
Hi , A good shop is Maryland Performance Specialty , 9817 Pulaski hwy just north of Middle River Rd , close to you . Ask for Brian , the owner , Good people !!! 410-687-1200 More performance associated but they might do you work . Bill
If the car is mobile you can take it to a number of reliable shops, however, shop time/money adds up in a hurry. I have trusted Hollenshades Garage on Joppa Road in Towson. They may not want to work on your older car, though. Call and ask. Classic Car Shop in Mt. Washington works on old cars all the time, but, again things can get expensive. There is a small shop in the middle of Towson that gets good reviews from the neighbors Towson Garage Auto Service. Brakes are no very difficult to work on and you can buy lots of parts for less than the cost of paying someone to work on them. If you have a service manual and some tools it goes pretty smooth. Problems with corrosion are usually the big issue.
Strewth, but I've more resources than time at the moment. Also, I'm impatient to take it on a proper shakedown cruise so I can figure out what else I need to fix soonest. ^_^ Like the flashing light that says Stop Engine on it... probably ought to address it (but it's probably just the sensor failed, right?). I'll set up a mini-meet with locals once the Riviera's roadworthy. Would be great to meet everybody in meatspace and appreciate our old iron. Thanks for the rec's, gents.
I have never met a mechanic/technician who likes to do brake lines (including me). Installing a made-up set sometimes isn't too bad, but I'm not sure that a set would be available for your car. Remember that on a full-frame car, the factory installs the brake lines before the body goes on.
