I worked for this place for over a year setting up the new shop and installing engines,tuning and anything that needed done. Dan Atkins and his crooked "wife" ultimately burned me pretty bad. I watched Dan Atkins lie to customers, inflate prices and exaggerate work needed on repairs. The guy is a solid crook and a real piece of sh** to put it nicely.
Bureau Of Automotive Repair has an extensive file on this creep. He was shut down in the Bay Area (S.F.) for his shady business practices and mismanagement of customers money. He will just keep your car trust me.
Customers who leave their cars there can expect them to be dented,scratched and there will absolutely be feral cats living in your pride and joy. You can see for yourself when you visit. It's more of an animal shelter than an Automotive Shop. There are always no less than 60 to 70 feral cats living in the shop and in your car with no intention of cleaning it up.
Dan Atkins is absolutely a con man and a liar. Don't let him charm you. Those of you who have your cars there should retrieve them immediately regardless of their condition.
B.R.C. or "Budget Engine Company " was reopened at 200 Primo Way under Dan's common law wife's name Kathy. He was shut down by B.A.R. and for good reason.
Good luck to anyone who's got a vehicle there or paid him in advance to build an engine. Your money is gone. If you have a transmission in the shop, there's a 95% chance it will not operate correctly when he's finished. He has no clue how to build a transmission and often incorporates used parts such as clutches,pumps and even gaskets into customers engines and transmissions. 95% of the transmissions that I installed at this business had serious problems and usually had to be pulled and reworked and even then they never worked correctly.
I worked hard for Dan,often below minimum wage thinking I was helping get this business started. I did without a lot and Dan promised to make it up to me. At one point he offered a broken down El Camino to compensate for my wages. After fixing it up and making worth having He refused to give me the title and even called the police. He kept the car,probably worth 10k, money he owed me for my hard,honest work.
Keith Sanders--Modesto,CA read more
