I'm moving to CA from FL in a few months and am wondering if anyone has any information on auto shops around the Vacaville area (between San Francisco and Sacramento). I've got a good amount of work i'd like to get done, the car currently runs fine, but i'd like to upgrade the engine some and change the color of the interior and exterior. Just kind of trying to get an idea of whats out there. thanks for any info.
I'm moving to CA from FL in a few months and am wondering if anyone has any information on auto shops around the Vacaville area (between San Francisco and Sacramento). I've got a good amount of work i'd like to get done, the car currently runs fine, but i'd like to upgrade the engine some and change the color of the interior and exterior. Just kind of trying to get an idea of whats out there. thanks for any info.
You must be transfering to Travis. Corvette Express is nearby on I-80 in Vacaville. I have heard good things about them, they were even featured in a TA rebuild article in Corvette Magazine a few months ago. BUT - I stopped in awhile back to inquire about lowering the front of my '69 about an inch. Not sure if he is the owner, but the guy behind the counter said the 550# springs would lower it about one inch. Then he dropped the bomb, saying he has the springs made locally and they would be $239!!!! Plus labor. You can buy those springs all day long from any of the vendors for abourt eighty bucks, so I don't know what he was trying to pull. Check the place out when you go there, but be aware the prices COULD be way high.
If you are assigned here for duty, aren't you allowed to keep your car registered in your home state? If so, you wont have to worry about CA emmissions requirements since your car wont be registered here.
Welcome to Norcal. If you like racing, you're in a great spot! Infineon has a dragstrip and a road course. Sac Raceway dragstrip is an hour away and Thunderhill and Laguna Seca aren't too far.
There is also a very active local group, pm me for more info.
I have a shop in Sac if you're willing to drive that far. If there's anything I can do for you let me know.
I'm moving to CA from FL in a few months and am wondering if anyone has any information on auto shops around the Vacaville area (between San Francisco and Sacramento). I've got a good amount of work i'd like to get done, the car currently runs fine, but i'd like to upgrade the engine some and change the color of the interior and exterior. Just kind of trying to get an idea of whats out there. thanks for any info.
Welcome! There are a few shops in the Bay Area, unfortunately I'm not familiar with the Vacaville surroundings :-) But for C3 parts you can count on Corvette Clinic in San Jose (Owner Matt).
As long as your vehicle is pre-76, you won't have to have a smog inspection. The base does not require a smog cert for these year vehicles so that won't be a problem.
I'm in the military assigned in LA and moved here from Fl. You can renew your plates on line with the FL DMV, just make sure it reflects your Cali address.
As long as your vehicle is pre-76, you won't have to have a smog inspection. The base does not require a smog cert for these year vehicles so that won't be a problem.
I'm in the military assigned in LA and moved here from Fl. You can renew your plates on line with the FL DMV, just make sure it reflects your Cali address.
If so and its a 78 , gotta have smog unless the military deal works out. If he goes the regular registration, Has to have the initial smog check, plus every 2 years...smog check.
Really SUCKS.... I keep waiting for CA DMV to raise the "year".
It's been a while since I moved out here after getting off Avtive Duty in 1990. It used to be that if you are military and kept your car registered in another State, like FL, you didn't have to get it smoged in the State you're transfered to. You fall under the State that car is reg in.
Unless something has recently changed.... (I moved away from the crazy place two years ago)...Even pre-1975 require one smog check for change of ownership... After that there are no more required but they still expect compliance.
Location: Supporting the Corvette Community at Abel Chevrolet in Rio Vista, CA 707-374-6317 Ext.128
Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteZO6
You must be transfering to Travis. Corvette Express is nearby on I-80 in Vacaville. I have heard good things about them, they were even featured in a TA rebuild article in Corvette Magazine a few months ago. BUT - I stopped in awhile back to inquire about lowering the front of my '69 about an inch. Not sure if he is the owner, but the guy behind the counter said the 550# springs would lower it about one inch. Then he dropped the bomb, saying he has the springs made locally and they would be $239!!!! Plus labor. You can buy those springs all day long from any of the vendors for abourt eighty bucks, so I don't know what he was trying to pull. Check the place out when you go there, but be aware the prices COULD be way high.
Owner is Joe Moesby. He is a good guy. Tell him that Rich sent you.
I dont know weather to welcome you or say sorry for your luck about coming to Cali this state is going to hell in a handbasket real fast. Let us know when you get here.
thanks for all the replies, i am moving over to Travis AFB and intend to keep the car registered in FL. hopefully that'll get me out of some of the regs since i do have a 78. and though i feel bad for you that already owned property there, its kind of a good deal for me. it looks like i can get a house for half what it was a few years ago.
Enjoy the state for a few years, for some it doesn't get much better than
the Bay Area. If you decide to get out on track, as noted above, Thunderhill
is good and Sears Point (Infineon) / Laguana Seca are world class for fun.
The Real Estate timeing is pretty good but remember it may not yet even
be at the bottom. Just for info our daughter caught the wave and picked up
a place in Sacto area for 213k four years ago and sold exactly 2 years later
for 338k. It sold last month for 199k. It has been brutal for many. Getting
into a nice area is key to maintaining value.
Having driven both directions to get work done on my Vette, I will mention
Mark and Terry at Motorsports Image in Roseville and Pat at Precision Motive
in Hayward as doing good work for me. I stopped by C. Express twice to
discuss items but never got a good enough feeling that I had the work done
there. They obviously know Vettes but it never matched with what I thought
made the best solution given the $ or for longevity. Keeping out of the CA
smog grinder will help. Enjoy the move.
Randy
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If you're off line, you only think you're going fast!
2002 EB/Oak Z51, w/MN6, Magnaflow & XPipe, brake ducts w/Z06 wheels & street tires for the track. 2.00.8 at Sears Point, main road course. 1.49.9 at LS, and TH 2.09's. BW 2.08.9 25CCW. Old R-F 1.34, new R-F 2.10/F, 3.11/A . SM at 1.57's, school car. 9/28/01 at Fichtner Chev.
24 June 2004, MY Coupe, 6sp, Z51, 1SB, polished wheels, Z06 screens, Z06 red brake calipers & Corsa Indy.
I'm no help recommending a shop in your new area, but welcome! I'm not military, but I've lived a fair number of places, including FL, and in spite of some of the craziness, NorCal is a LONG way from the worst place to be . . . I was in MD last week . . . my keester is still thawing! And like Randy and Paul above, I'm a road-course junkie, so hope to see you at the track!
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