Do we have a need in the bay area for a specifc shop for rotaries?
Geared towards maintenance, modification, engine rebuilds, tuning and race prep?


What's already out there? Do anyone have a listing? If not let's create one.

 

you should open up one =]...

 

Don't we have one of these on the West forum already? As of right now, there are three that i know of, Rotorsport (Santa Clara), Rick's Performance (Pleasenton) and PR Motorsport (Hayward). I think there is a new one popping up, Larson's Rotary?

 

Not a specific rotary shop per se, but the owner has an FD and they know how to work on rotaries. Used to go to Rick's out in Pleasanton, but being in SF, it's too far for me and going back and forth on BART and the bus got to be a drag. Perfect for the rotary car owners in SF/DC/SSF, San Mateo and on the peninsula.

San Francisco Bay Area Automotive Repair Services - SBGarage

 

I would probably go here one day to check it out. Place looks awesome.

 

I've sent several people there and they all love the place. Talk to Ariel or Jason, they're the owners. They're a couple of gearheads and the shop hosts track days at Thunderhill. Check out their IG page too. Lots of interesting rides there.

https://www.instagram.com/sbgarage/

 

Thanks for the heads up! Will do!

 

Werkshop is another option in San Francisco. Looks like SBGarage is down the road from them.

Werkshop llc.

Stanley, the rotary tech at Werkshop also owns a 93 R1. He knows these cars and has a very disciplined, detail oriented work ethic.

For alignments, I recommend Rishie from AutoRnd in Fremont. Their alignment rack is set up to accommodate lowered/slammed vehicles.

 

On top of going to autoRnd for alignments, they can get you wheels and tires plus he was big in the rotary scene and still has his fully built super low mileage FC in the shop i believe. Great guy!

 

Yup, that's Stanley Yu. He was formerly of Pro Inspection in SSF and this is his current shop.

 

Dropped by Rotorsport a few days ago and spoke with Paul Elenga, the owner. Couldn't believe my ears but he told me he no longer works on FDs! Says most FDs (in his words), "...are old and crusty" and "he can't get parts for them any more." He wasn't coming across as an ***, but more the gist was that these cars are 20+ years old now and were just too much trouble to bother with. Fair enough I guess. I asked for a recommendation and he mentioned Rick's in Pleasanton.

Mr. Mazda in Campbell was 10 miles away from Rotorsport so I swung by and Tim was the tech I talked to. Knowledgeable guy, WORKS on FDs and seemed pretty honest and straightforward. If you're in the area I would totally gives these guys a shot!

 

I'm in SF and just bought a car from a guy who's been taking it to Rick for the last 14 or so years so I'm having Rick work on the car. I sent Werkshop an email (filled out their form) about looking at the FD but didn't hear anything back, and figured Rick knew the car so went with him. I wouldn't mind having a closer shop for more basic stuff though like in SF somewhere.

Also, I'd love to do a Thill track day with other RX-7s so I will have to go check out sb garage!

 

For the basic stuff, just have SB work on your car. There's also The Shop in San Bruno, about half mile from SB, and up the street from Werkshop. Forget the e-mail stuff. Best to go in person and talk to them.

The ShopThe Shop San Bruno

 

I'm looking for a Repair shop in the S.F. Bay Area ( i'm in the East bay) that can trouble shoot Mechanical and EFI problems on my 85 GSL SE ?
Last posting here is 2016. Any recent experiences?

 

Im in the east bay. I do side jobs on the weekend. Been working on 1st gens for 15+ years.

 

Thank you Holdfast.
You can call or text me at 510-eight 2 five-2737.
Darrell. Fremont.

 

That eggy old man at Rotorsport is the one who's crusty. Years ago he wouldn't work on my FD because he had some other lame excuse. He told me my car was "modded" so he wouldn't work on it. Y'know, my crazy downpipe and ast mods.
I dunno how the hell those guys ever got a good rep in the Bay Area, the guy's always been a douche nozzle....to me at least.

Call Sakebomb. Those guys are cool, support this website, know their way around an RX-7 since they all drive em, and will NEVER tell you your FD is too "crusty" to work on..

 

Hey man,

Thanks for recommending us, we're a full service shop here in Fremont, CA.
shoot us an email: info@sakebombgarage.com
Shop phone: 510-356-3556 call/text

 

Anyone local who does rebuilds? The coolant seals on my engine finally gave out..

 

I know of one individual. Which generation ? Whats your location in the Bay Area. pm me the details.

 

SB Garage (https://sb-garage.com/) in San Bruno is different from Sake Bomb Garage (https://www.sakebombgarage.com/) in Fremont. I am putting this out there because when I first got my 7 I didn't know the difference!

I will wholeheartedly second Natey's recommendation for SAKE BOMB GARAGE - they took care of me and my 7 tracking down a leak, explaining the options for a standalone ECU with the # mods on it from the last owner, and giving me cost-conscious choices as I was on a budget at the time for reliability modifications. Every choice they allowed me to make, rather than forcing their will. They will take care of you. THEY ARE AN HONEST AND HARD-WORKING GROUP! They also make the only headlights that do any good as a replacement for the stock popup halogens for the FD - I'm saving up for a set They make some well thought and fantastic parts for the 7s and Miatas.

As I say: IN SAKEBOMB WE TRUST https://www.sakebombgarage.com/

As for SB Garage, I stopped by to check out their shop originally thinking SB Garage and Sake Bomb were the same to ask a few questions about some future potential work....they informed me of the difference. After visiting both shops, I found SAKE BOMB was more the team I wanted behind me and my 7 - they had 7s and Miatas, with a Corvette and S2000 as well, in their work bays. Just preference - I had no work done at SB Garage but I just got that warm fuzzy feeling about SAKE BOMB. Communication at Sake Bomb was always good.

For those with Miatas, SAKE BOMB also has their Miataspeed offerings: https://www.miataspeed.com.

I have no personal opinion/experience with SB Garage and they seem to do great work on Miatas and other Japanese/Euro speedsters from their FB website, but chose Sake Bomb for my perception that they were specifically dedicated to the Rotaries and Miatas. Seems they helped out a few of our forum members when other shops couldn't and that weighed in to my decision. Love those guys at Sake Bomb!

 

Thanks to everyone who replied.
My 85 GSL SE is a stock one owner car with 72K miles.
I brought it to California from Colorado and It has to Pass California's Smog test.
What I'm looking for is a shop that can do a Pre Test on it Before I take it to a Smog Station for the State Test.
Official Smog Test stations Can't (or Won't) do a pretest. All of them have to report the results of any car they Test directly to the State.
I need to know IF it can pass Smog Before the State Test because failing the Test sets off a chain of C--P I don't want to deal with.
The car is 100% original and has all the factory emission's equipment but all that Is 34 years old.
I have no plans to modify the car as it's Value is being an unmolested Survivor.
It even has the Original Brake Pads and Clutch.

 

I cant believe no one has mentioned IVAN!

 

Like long time ago Sunnyvale Mazda Ivan? And Paul at Rotorsport was always kinda craggy imo, long story. I feel you could get him to do stuff but sometimes it took some smooth talking. He used to always give me a hard time when trying to pick his brain. I worked for OTM and later Mr. Mazda back when I was a tech myself.

+1 for SB garage. Seriously there's no comparison.

 

Yes THAT Ivan! Only one that worked on my car. I sold my car a while ago but he still works on them as far as I know. The guys at SB garage have a great reputation as well.