Carburetor Rebuilding
It is on the sign out front for a reason. Full rebuilds on carburetors most shops will not touch, for cars that were built before fuel injection took over.
La Habra, California
We still rebuildcarburetors.
Most shops stopped years ago. Louie's did not. Carburetor rebuilding, older engines, transmissions and everyday repair, all from the corner of 1st Avenue. Ask for Ray, he will tell you straight what your car is looking at.
4.7 on Google, 18 reviews
Reviews going back 13 years
Carburetor rebuilding/Classic & pre-injection engines/Transmissions in house/Ask for Ray
The specialism
A skill that is quietly disappearing.
Fuel injection took over decades ago, and with it went most of the shops that knew their way around a carburetor. If you own something older, you already know how that conversation usually goes: a shrug, or a quote to convert the whole thing.
Here it is written on the sign. Carburetor rebuilding is ordinary work at Louie's, not a favour. So is the rest of what comes with an older engine, the parts that are awkward to find and the diagnosis that takes patience rather than a code reader.
One customer put it plainly in a review: he could not recommend the place enough if you have got an old carburetor based car, after a 1972 Dodge Polara came back to life here following two years of neglect.
An engine put back together in this shop.
What comes in
Old cars, daily drivers, and the jobs nobody else wanted.
Everything below is drawn from the shop's own signage or from work customers have described in their Google reviews. Nothing here is a generic list.
Classic & Pre-Injection Engines
Older American iron is welcome here. A 1972 Dodge Polara with a 360 came back to life in this shop after sitting neglected for two years.
Transmissions
Crown Transmission shares the building and the ownership, so gearbox work is handled in house rather than sent down the road.
Engine Work & Rebuilds
Strip downs, rebuilds and the pieces that go with them. The engine bay in the photo on this page was put back together here.
Drivetrain & Running Gear
CV axles, hubs and wheel bearings, plus the things worth keeping an eye on afterwards, which you will be told about before you leave.
Second Opinions
More than one customer has arrived after another shop made things worse, and had it put right here for less than the first quote.
The shop
Three names on the building, one set of hands behind them.
Louie's Auto Repair, Crown Transmission and Carbtech all operate out of the same corner unit on 1st Avenue, under the same ownership. That is why the front of the building says one thing and the pole sign says another, and it is why a car needing engine work and a gearbox does not have to go anywhere else.
Ray is who you speak to. Customers describe him the same way again and again: honest, straight to the point, tells you what needs doing plain as day, and patient with the questions. Jose is on the tools, described by one reviewer as a hell of a mechanic.
The reviews on this shop go back thirteen years. The oldest one is about a customer who shopped around after getting a quote here, and came back having found out it was the good deal all along.
Ask for
Ray
On the tools
Jose
Where
315 E 1st Ave
In their words
Thirteen years of reviews, and they all say honest.
Every quote below is a real Google review, word for word.
4.7
18 Google reviews
“Ray is honest and to the point. He tells you what needs to be done plain as day and gets it done as quick as he can. Jose in the shop turning the wrenches is a hell of a mechanic as well. Can't recommend going here enough if you've got an old carburetor based car. He brought my baby back to life after two years of neglect. For reference, I have a 1972 Dodge Polara with a 360 in 5.9L engine. Shoot him a call and he will tell it to you quick and straight what it's looking like.”
“I had a really good experience at this shop. The owner laid out everything that was wrong with my car and explained what he was going to do and how much it will cost. I thought it was a little steep so I shopped around first and found that he was actually giving me a good deal. What I liked most was that he was extremely patient with me and answered all my questions even the asinine ones. Best of all I haven't had a single problem with my car since he worked on it 5 months ago but if something comes up I won't hesitate to go to Louie's Auto”
“I was trying to changed my flat nearby and encountered a locked nut where I lost the key! They sent someone over and helped me break the lock and helped with a tire repair! Excellent service!”
“Ray is honest and does good work. Will br8ng my truck hack to him if there is another problem i cant fix. He replaced my rear cv axles, hubs and bearings. Also pointed out some things to keep in mind.”
Visit
On the corner of 1st Avenue, under the red awning.
Opening hours
- Monday
- 8:00am - 5:00pm
- Tuesday
- 8:00am - 5:00pm
- Wednesday
- 8:00am - 5:00pm
- Thursday
- 8:00am - 5:00pm
- Friday
- 8:00am - 5:00pm
- Saturday
- Closed
- Sunday
- Closed
Worth calling ahead if it is a job you know needs booking in.
Get in touch
Tell us what it is doing.
Calling is quickest, and you will get a straight answer on the phone. If it is easier to write it down, send the car and the symptoms and you will get a reply.
La Habra, Mon to Fri
Louie's Auto Repair