Hi Fellas,

Im new to the forums and im looking at buying an AU XR8 S3, always liked the look of them. Ive been looking at peformance shops/ mechanics that specialise in the 5.0 ltr v8. Places like herrod now only work on the BA's and upward so they are a no go so any help will be appreciated.

Initially it will just be exhaust, headers and air intake and then later on stroker and charger. So let me know, Im from melbournes nothern suburbs.

Ray

Bluepower in campbelfield. They do all your performance needs and only deal with fords, they will advise you in the right direction but it depends on your budget. Otherwise start learning and do everything yourself. Iv been to alot of mechanics around the northern suburbs and il tell ya, its been an experience :s

- I get relfex in roxy (no apprentices working there unlike ultratune, bayford etc) to identify my problems when i cant and get them to do basic stuff. Stuff like head gaskets, brakes etc il do myself but il get them to diagnose. There very good to deal with and highly recomend them for general stuff as they dont skim and will actually spend time on your car to find a problem unlike most mechancis. ALSO they do there own machining, so they rebuild engines and heads. Get these guys to do your machine work if you want a stroker and to re-condition your heads. Alot of the perfromance shop sends work to them. You supply stroker kit (eg. scat) and a block and they will build it for you exactly how you wnat it. Eg. do you want it balance, main girdle etc etc.

- Pedders in campbellfield for suspension work, wheel alignments, springs, camber kits and safety check. However i do all bushes, shock/spring related work myself cause they charge a fortune.

- bluepower for tuning or electronic automotive in epping

- glenroy exhaust for exhaust stuff, not the best but go in there and tell them what you want and they will do it. Im highly against them recomending you what to do cause i have been unhappy time and time again from them and other exhaust shops and you will just waste money.

-electrical stuff i do myself, all automotive electritions around here are up themselves from fawkner, epping, campbellfield, tulla and forget anyone around broady cause there dodges and wont
touch modified cars.

- For ECU stuff, LOGICAR a joint in tulla across the road from melrose reception are A1. They can test all your sensors and fix ECU's

-budget body works in laverton (yeah i know a bit of trip) but they are real good for pricing and quality of panel work. I do most work myself to reduce costing and get them to finish. Top blokes and they deal with alot fords over on ford forums as they are a sponsor, there business actuall works with how you wana do things.

- And final, preston automatic differentials in campbellfield for all trans and diff problems. I pull everything out and get them to access or rebuild. They are quick turnaround offer waranties and good with there work.

hope this helps, this is what i found from my experience for modifying your car. Alot of places will stuff you around cause they either dont know how to do it, or dont wana invest time in your car cause they loose money as a business. The best way is to go into a place say you want this this and this done, how much? Do as much as you can by yourself as that is the best and cheapest way.

Oh and i order all my parts through autobarn (wait for 20% sale), wreckers, forums, VPW, summit, burson or ebay.

Sweet thanks for that, really appreciate that