Help! mechanic needed Coober Pedy or Alice

[andrews]

Just wondering if anyone can help with a recommendation for a good mechanic in either Coober Pedy or Alice Springs.

We're three weeks into a six month trip up through the centre and down the west coast of WA in our 1996 80 cruiser (FZJ 4.5L) and we have what looks like a leaking head gasket - visible trickle of coolant weeping out at the joint where the head meets the block just above the oil filter, it was a steady drip every couple of seconds but has reduced substantially after dosing with Bars radiator stop leak - but its still slowly leaking.

The car was put in for renewal of valve stem seals and a few other preventative things in Sydney shortly before we left during which cracking of the head was found and it ended up having a new head, head gasket, water pump etc fitted - so that work was only finished around 6 weeks ago. I have discussed with the Sydney workshop today and we've agreed I will find a mechanic where I am to confirm the problem as a first step - clearly if my diagnosis is correct we will be chatting some more.

The system holds pressure OK and the coolant treatment stuff seems to have slowed the leak pretty well for the time being so I guess it can be run with regular checking and topping up if required (?) but with the family on board and five months of touring (in the remotest areas we can get into towing a camper trailer) it needs to be fixed ASAP.

Just got into Coober Pedy tonight and aiming to be in Alice in a week or so - the sooner I can get someone to look at it the better.

I have searched OL and a couple of other forums and found a couple of recommendations on other forums for Outback Automotive and Opposite Lock in Alice so I suppose if I can't sort it out here in Coober Pedy I'll try one of those workshops.

Any tips or recommendations for mechanics either here in Coober Pedy or Alice would be much appreciated.

cheers

Greg

[RockyF75]

Does the head just need to be re-tensioned maybe? Usually sposed to do it a few hundred k's after doing the head.

[98lux]

Have you tried the pub? best place to start looking for anything.

[RockyF75]

not in coober peedy lol. I can't remember even seeing a workshop when I was there, I'd wait till Alice springs there'll be a few there to choose from and they'd have a better chance of knowing what they're doing and access to parts.

[bcrheat]

2 years ago was in stranded in coober pedy for a few days waithing on seals for leaking fuel injectors. Got doug at Bulls mechanical to fit them . Really happy with the service.

[chunks]

There's plenty of mechanics in Alice shouldn't be a problem.