Machine Shop Recommendation - La Verne Area

[Tio Pancho]

Hey all. Working on a project 77 Cherokee Chief for my daughter who will be driving soon. About to pull the engine for a rebuild. Looking for a recommendation of a reputable machine shop. I know they are never cheap, but I am building a stocker, not a race engine.
Engine is an AMC 360 and I am located in La Verne.

Any tips or pointers about these engines would be greatly appreciated as I am still learning about them.

Thanks in advance.

Frank (909) 532-2581

 

[monkeyswrench]

Haven't been out there for a bit, but JMS in Monrovia had been good in the past.

 

[4Waters]

Damn, missed the smog exempt by 2 years, if you didn't have to smog it then the cheapest way to go would have been a basic SBC with a turbo 350

 

[rmarion]

Brian w/ SB Products is in Upland

 

[zx14]

Brian w/ SB Products is in Upland

Yup, wishuwherehere.

 

[Riverbottom]

AMC 304, 360, 390 & 401s are great engines. The oiling system is the weak link. Look up rear oil galley modification , it is pretty simple to drill and tap the block in the valley and run a copper hard line or braided line to feed oil to the rear. Also the distributer gear is known for galling. You can drill and tap the timing cover and run an eighth inch line from the oil sender above it to add lubrication to the gear. When I had V8 Jeeps I did this to my 401 and 360, it is good insurance while you have it apart.

Some machine shops do not like to work on AMC V8s as the block has a real high nickel content and is hard on tools.

 

[Tio Pancho]

Thanks all. My thoughts.
JMS - I know they are good, and rivermobster worked there. Thought they were a high end kind of shop and would be out of by budget range. I will call Joe for info.

Brian/SB - I thought he manufactured parts etc. Does he do automotive machining?

Riverbottom - I know of the oiling weak link at the rear. Will probably do it. I have been on a forum for these FSJ's for a while. Not many people out this way though.

Thanks all. Any other shops in case JMS doesn't work out?

 

[wzuber]

Jody runs the machine shop @ car quest in upland. he's excellent on most all engines f&d. he's been running that shop for prolly 30 +years. they are always very busy. if he's not confident w/an amc he will tell u straight up and refer u to somebody if he knows of a good guy if u ask.
Jms is shit...mike johnson the owner specifically. if u want more info on that feel free to pm me. i hope this is some help to u. good luck

 

[jeteater1]

As long as it's not an Oldsmobile, I'd take it to JMS

 

[redone76]

J&A Engine in Azusa. They’re on Irwindale just south of the 210. I’ve had great experiences with head work and a few buddies have had engines rebuilt with them. Good with stock stuff.


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[240Hallett]

Brian w/ SB Products is in Upland

Not that kind of machine shop.
Of course he would probably rather be on here to say that himself

 

[240Hallett]

Jody runs the machine shop @ car quest in upland. he's excellent on most all engines f&d. he's been running that shop for prolly 30 +years. they are always very busy. if he's not confident w/an amc he will tell u straight up and refer u to somebody if he knows of a good guy if u ask.
Jms is shit...mike johnson the owner specifically. if u want more info on that feel free to pm me. i hope this is some help to u. good luck

Always had good results with Jody’s work in the past.

 

[wzuber]

is Blairs still around and doing good work? They've rebuilt a stock SBC for my work truck some 30 years ago and I've abused that thing good and it's never had an issue, still runnin good.

 

[3queens]

Jody runs the machine shop @ car quest in upland. he's excellent on most all engines f&d. he's been running that shop for prolly 30 +years. they are always very busy. if he's not confident w/an amc he will tell u straight up and refer u to somebody if he knows of a good guy if u ask.
Jms is shit...mike johnson the owner specifically. if u want more info on that feel free to pm me. i hope this is some help to u. good luck

Always had good results with Jody’s work in the past.

909-982-1856
Jody for all your machine shop work he does work for local boat shops too
strait shooter

 

[Mike Honcho]

Ricky at Rancho Machine is another not sure if he does everything still.
Address: 9791 Foothill Blvd, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
Hours:
Open ⋅ Closes 5PM















Phone: (909) 945-2083