Milwaukee 4 wheel drive shop?

[jdbwrx]

I just bought a '99 XJ and am looking to have some work done on it, namely a lift. Can anyone recomend a good shop in the Milwaukee area to deal with? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Please e-mail me at [email protected]

Thanks!

 

[bgcntry72]

I have a '99.
Lots of junk on it, too.
So call Moose's up by Slinger if you want to spend a load of money.
PM me if you want to learn how to work on Jeeps.
That is all.

 

[Bloose]

There used to be a 4wd shop in West Allis but the guy is gone. He had no idea how to run a business which explains why he is gone. If you want a nice shop to do the work yourself check out the West Allis Auto Club. It is really a unique place and a great place to do work like this. As far as I know it is the only place like it in the entire country.

You become a member of the place and then are allowed to work on your junk when ever they are open. Usually till 10pm on week nights and I think the same on Sat and then every other Sun till like 5pm. Usually there are guys there later but you can only count on there official hours. Anyway, they have a mechanics shop and a body shop. In the body shop they have a full sized paint booth, a couple of MIG welders and some other assorted tools. In the Mechanics shop they have two lifts, a two post and a four post, a wash bay and a couple of stalls for general work. On top of that they have several stalls in both the body and mechanics shops for long term work. You can have them for up to 90 days if you are a "full" member. If you are an "Associate" member you cannot have a long term stall but you can keep a car in there for up to a week if you need to and space is available. Some other cool tools they have are, tire changer, spin ballancer, plasma cutter, press, steam cleaner, and more I'm sure.

It is a "club" so they expect members to help with the up keep and up grades of the place. They have a system of minimum work hours needed each year.

It is a great place to work on your junk and there are usually people around to help you out and give you pointers. Lots of these guys have been wrenching on their own junk for many many years and can really help you out. They do limit their membership to only some many people so you would have to call there and see if there are any openings. It is under $200 a year for even a full membership so it is a bargain.

Check them out,

B-loose

 

[bgcntry72]

Nice info.
Thanks Bob.

 

[Bloose]

Nice info.
Thanks Bob.

Thanks.

I was a member there when I was 14. I stayed a member until I got married and bought a house. It was originally started by the West Allis School District to get kids off the street, give them some positive role models, and help lead them towards a vocation. I think it was a great success. I guess because of budgetary reasons they dropped it but a few of the members worked out a deal to keep it open but off the school's budget. By the time I joined the school's involvement was long over and I didn't even live in West Allis but it wasn't too far away. I spent many hours of my young life there. I learned so much about cars from many people there.

For a long time I did little wrenching and decided not to be a member. I've been a member for the last three years now. For me it is sort of tough because I'm an hour away. But I have to say that when my wifes Jeep went south it was very nice to have a clean warm place to pull the motor. I got the motor out and the new one in in 2 nights. No way I could have done that at home. It really is a great place to wrench. It isn't perfect though. Everthing is first come first served. Other than the paint booth and long term stalls there are no reservations. So if you need a lift and they are both taken you wait, or maybe don't even get on. When you are on a lift there are many times someone else is waiting. Between this and having to finish by the time they close (especially if the junk your working on is your ride home) you alway feel like your under the gun to finish up. Your also are required to do the work hour stuff.

The pluses are many though. Like, you never work alone and there is usually someone around to give a quick hand or advice. If you have to make a run to the parts store there is usually someone there to give you one. The lift, the welders, the paint booth, etc. It's heated, well lit, and they have all the air you will ever need for any air tool. It's a great place to wash you junk in the winter. And it's always fun to bring in a really nice old car or lifted Jeep because every one gathers around to oogle. Remember it's a shop full of gear heads!

If anyone is interested in checking the place out give me a call. E-mail or PM me and I'll give you the number (rather not post it on the net).

B-loose