mtx28

i know several engine shops here in town, but most of the motor heads i know built their own motor(literally, THEY built it). i dont really know anyone to talk to who would know the rep's of some machine shops... do some of you send your parts off to be assembled, or just happen to know the right place to go?

MRZ28HO

As far as assembling the parts, I also do that myself. But for actual machine work (ie: boring, line hone, magnaflux, balancing) I take it to a machine shop. I doubt these guys that "build their own" do all that at home, the equipment is too expensive for the DIY. If they are diehard racers then ok. I found my machine shop by asking local street racers (not the +/-14.xx sec racers that go to illegal races, but -8.xx sec. bracket racers) at the track and performance centers. So go to your local track and talk with some serious racers, they can teach you alot.

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George P. Lara
1994 Z28 LT1 T56
1984 Z28 High Output
Member: SCCA, SCFB, SC3GFB
Chevy Info --> MadMike's

[This message has been edited by MRZ28HO (edited December 16, 2000).]

RB83L69

I'm like George, I do all my own assembly and light prep work, but send out for boring, crank grinding, balancing, head work, etc.

Hang out at the track (circle track is better) and see where the guys that are winning the classes with limited motors are getting their work done. That's where you want to go. I guarantee it won't be the low bidder on your work. You get what you pay for in engine work, just like body work; and they basically bill by the hour, although they'll charge by the task because they know how long each task takes. You can either pay good money for a skilled racing veteran, or pay minimum wage for a production-line drone.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."

ede

i do all my own assembly work. i also do some minor mill and lathe work at home, magnflux and dye pen too. for me the choice of a machine shop is easier, there's only one to pick from with in a hours drive for me. they also happen to do great work and cheaper than most of the prices i see posted here. there is a very large racing community in my area so that helps i believe. the only thing i don't have them do is grinding my valves and seats. guy i work with has a grinder and he does that for me.

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ICON Motorsports
1st & 3rd

Pat Hall

iTrader: (31)

When I was looking for a good machine shop, I went and asked my old boss who's a mechanic. I asked him to refer me to the shop he'd take his own personal race engine to. He uses one shop for most of his high volume general work, but he referred me to a more expensive shop for particular type of work. Like the other guy said, you get what you pay for when it comes to quality machine work



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89RS w/350 TPI; 69RS/SS w/450 HP 350/Muncie 4-Speed "Too weird to live, too rare to die."

stingerssx

Well, I live in ca, and I took a class for automotive machine shop at Ceritos College. I did all of the work there. That way, not only is it always cheaper, and the school usually have some "practice pieces", (people that left their stuff years ago, and never came back) if you get stuck, there is someone to help you. You also get a better understanding of how engines work. I also worked at a machine shop and learned what not to look for in a machine shop. I agree, you get what you pay for, but not only did I want an engine machined, I also wanted an education. If anyone around So. Cal. wants a machine shop, I highly recomend Johnsons Machine Shop. They helped me when I did my first engine. They are really good and inexpesive, although they say they're not.

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'82 Firebird, dead stock, 9 bolt disc rear, over 200,000 miles and still going strong, more to come...

Box of Rocks

28,

Same as RB - check out the local dirt track or dragstrip. Talk to the guys with serious cars - they know who the professional local machinists are.

You might also check the advertising billboards inside the track - who is paying for ads ?

If you keep hearing from racers about a particular shop, and notice they also spend their money at the track for sponsorships/advertising, it's a pretty safe bet they're good with race motors.

Just remember to tell them to act like yours is a race motor when they do the macine work - tell 'em it has to live to say........

Oh, 7,000 RPM (SBC 350)

Good luck,

BOR

TomP

Say a machine shop takes care of the hardcore stuff, and you want to just do assembly...

Do you wait until the block is prepped & bored & etc until ordering pistons/rings/bearings? It seems to be that's the way it's done.

MRZ28HO

Is there any other way? It best (cheaper) to do it this way. Because after all is machined and done, you will know what size overbore pistons to get. But before any machine work starts, have them check it (ie: sonic, magna, etc ...) to see if you have a workable block (for your intended purpose).