About
Painter's Grinding VW Specialists
4.8 from 168 Google reviews
Dayton Painter started out as a freelancer doing Volkswagen engine work, like lifter repair and cylinder head reconditioning, out of a small shop behind his friend's shop.
He later moved to a larger shop on Custer Street, and the business grew from there. Dayton passed away, and members of his family now run the business.
The shop has expanded to offer a full range of services for air-cooled Volkswagen engines: repair, engine rebuilding and machine work. We work on water-cooled VWs too.
Ross Maitland is a mechanic and machinist who grew up around his dad's Beetle and Westfalia campers, and he owns a restored ragtop Beetle. Eddie Radillo is our transmission builder and a lifelong drag racing enthusiast. Keith Gosselin, engine builder and mechanic, got his start working on a Baja Bug and is into off-road racing.
We're rated 4.8 from 168 Google reviews. One customer picked up his bug after a new clutch and muffler and said it rides and sounds sweet.
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A family-run shop
Members of Dayton Painter's family now run the business.
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Builders and machinists in house
Ross works as both mechanic and machinist, Eddie builds transmissions and Keith builds engines, so the machine work and the assembly happen under one roof.
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Work done without dragging on
One reviewer was shocked at how quickly Keith worked through his to-do list: carburetor, idle, brake lights and electrical. Another mentioned good turn around times.
What people say
“Amazing shop, with super cool dude's building badass bugs.. Update!! March 2025, I've always been a bug lover. I've known about Painters Grinding for years and ive always dreamed of having Painters build me a motor. I didn't realize, the honor it would be to meet the guys at the shop in person, and get to know the "PRO'S" in person. What shop would drop what their doing, to come Tow my car back to their shop and in a flash, throw a new fuel pump into "SQUEEKS" my 1967 bug and back on the road we were in 30 minutes. I felt like I was part of the Painters Grinding Pit crew, for a minute.. 🤣🤣 Best in the business!! Thanks guys for everything helping me bring "SQUEEKS" back to Life”
“Incredibly knowledgeable, fast and efficient. I took this '69 Beetle to Painter's Grinding and was shocked at how quickly Keith completed my to-do list. My carburetor is like factory-new, my idle is now amazing, my brake lights and all electrical are perfect now. This is the kind of repair shop we all dream of finding and hanging onto. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!”
“These guys are awesome! They did a rebuild on my VW Bus, Everything they promised they delivered plus extra. I highly recommend these guys good work, Good prices and awesome customer service.”
“Picked up my bug and what a nice change, new clutch and muffler, rides and sounds sweet. Ive been in the automotive business for 30 years and can see quality repairs 5 stars for sure”
“Good place to buy parts. They know how to build air-cooled VW engines. Good turn around times.”