So Cal block & head work?

[MohavValley]

Going through a 525SC, got it down to the block and need some machine / block work in either OC, LA, IE

I looked through old threads and called some numbers but most are not in business anymore. So far I have Paff, L&R, & JMS. JMS has the best prices, should I take that as an indicator, or they do good work and know how to set up blower motors?

Anybody else you guys recommend?

Thanks

 

[Racer56]

http://www.vandyneengineering.com/

 

[Wizard29]

JMS went through the blown 632 in my Monte Carlo when it chewed up a roller lifter and Rivermobster worked there. They did a great job and it runs better now than it ever has. Highly recommend them.

 

[ltbaney1]

contemporary auto machine, guys name is Yo. they do all of our block work for our nitro 392 motors. super nice guy, knows what he is doing and sticks to a budget well. 714-842-3144 he is in Huntington beach.

 

[Ragged Edge]

Never used them myself but I have heard good things about QMP Racing in the past. They are in Chatsworth and do everything in house.

 

[jones performance]

pettis performance in hesperia is who i have used. jason knows his shit.

 

[4Waters]

X2 on Pettis
-1 On QMP

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Clay Smith Cams in Buena Park.

Great work and reasonable prices.

 

[tkrrox]

What about jim Grubbs?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[nrbr]

pfaff has never let us down

 

[Dkahnjob]

QMP in Chatsworth built the Alcohol motor for my flat bottom. They did a great job.

 

[DEEZNUTS]

Dougans.

 

[Boat Potato]

Jeff Ginter Racing Engines in Artesia

 

[wzuber]

Going through a 525SC, got it down to the block and need some machine / block work in either OC, LA, IE

I looked through old threads and called some numbers but most are not in business anymore. So far I have Paff, L&R, & JMS. JMS has the best prices, should I take that as an indicator, or they do good work and know how to set up blower motors?

Anybody else you guys recommend?

Thanks

JMS IS SHIT...period.

 

[Bigbore500r]

Head work - West Coast Cylinder heads. You'd be hard pressed to find a better head shop.

 

[MohavValley]

JMS IS SHIT...period.

Care to expand on this? seems like people like them and there close so they where at the top of the list.

 

[Maw]

pfaff has never let us down

We used Pfaff for 30 years, but once Paul sold and retired then Gordy went to Toyota it all changed. I went in to discuss a new engine build and couldn't get anyone to sit down and discuss it.

 

[MohavValley]

Yeah I called and asked for Gordie and the flighty (and I'm sure young cute receptionist) said Gordie is only "in a few days a week" but I could talk to someone else.

So have they jumped the shark too on block & head work?

 

[wzuber]

Care to expand on this? seems like people like them and there close so they where at the top of the list.

I'll keep it brief.
Mike Johnson, the owner, built a n/a, pump gas 540 for me a several years ago. This was my first ever, significant b-day present to myself @ abt. 40 yrs. old and was a big deal for me as I had never given myself anything like this (I was very excited), a new custom built motor for my used hot rod boat that I was upgrading/building. To my discredit, I knew little specifically going in, i.e proper clearances, valve train geometry etc. and relied on him "to give a shit and do it right" (first epic mistake). As we walked through his shop and he was selling me on his engine building "prowess" he said "he was fixing Pfaff and Lew Larson built motors (pointing at motors) that had many unresolved problems by them" (their builders). I made an epic mistake in buying into his many, many lies (sales pitch). Hindsight is 20/20. We used all new, good quality parts, 9.8" Dart Big M block, Brc forged crank, eagle h-beams rods, Pro top line 320 heads, (were supposed to be Dart's but he swapped them out last minute and convinced me they were "just as good", they turned out ok) Comp. S.S. roller rockers, Moroso vacuum pump etc. Everything was done in house including dyno tuning. After about 4-5 weekend river trips I pulled the valve covers just to have a look to verify all was good and "struck gold" (bronze guide shavings) laying in the bottom of the heads. I call Mike and tell him and he tells me it's no big deal just break in material. Still buying his B.S. I clean it out and continue along on the road to major disappointment. The following summer after a couple weekend trips I pull the valve covers (while @ the river) and "strike it rich" again, more shavings. I look closer and realize the guides are lifting and are at different heights. I now realize this is a real problem and pack it up and head home. On the trip home I get caught in a major monsoon storm. I literally drove into a wall of rainfall water about 5 miles west of Vidal junction, visibility immediately went to about 20'. It just looked like a gray day out ahead and not apparent of the severity of the storm. The boats uncovered, old cover no longer fit due to the tunnel ram etc., the K&N velocity stacks are uncovered (fuck me, my bad) and I have no where to turn around or even pull off to attempt to cover them due to the volume of water and the subsequent saturation of the sandy shoulder and no visibility. I get home abt. midnight after an 8 hr. drive as opposed to the typical 4 hrs. and start to attempt to pickle the motor pouring oil down the carbs. pull the plugs, rolling it over etc., pull the carbs, dump more oil, rolling over till I think I've covered my ass sufficiently and crash in bed now that it's abt. 2 am. A couple days later I get back to it to realize my pickling efforts weren't as good as I thought so I pulled the motor and began tearing it down. This is when the real problems began to show up. The oil pump body was broke at the dowel pin due to them mushrooming the dowel pin and driving the pump body down anyway, the bolt was barely finger tight. Two wrist pins were sticking and were a trip from total failure, the quench was so bad the pistons had "black death" as I later learned and last but not least the valve train geometry was so bad the edges of the valve tips were chamferred from the roller rolling OVER the edge, severely side loading the valves and lifting the guides. As I sat there reviewing my pile of decent/good parts, turned to shit, I was exceeding disappointed to say the least. I went to their shop to talk to mike about it. His response to the valve train issue was "well I looked in the crane catalog and went straight across the line and used the push rods and stuff that it said to use". Now, to an ignorant person such as myself at the time, that didn't sound so unreasonable. I soon learned just how bad of a statement that was. I've learned alot since then and in retrospect realize the totality of his many, many lies throughout that process. When I started into this process I had considered a Shaffiroff package type motor (or a similar package type deal) but decided to go with a local builder in case there was an issue, I figured it would be easier to deal with. So much for that. I then realized if he didn't give a flying fuck then, he sure as hell won't now either. These issues weren't ignorance of how to build a high perf., pump gas motor this was straight up negligence. He didn't give a fuck to do what he knew how to do. At the time, he spoke often of his building nascar grade motors and sponsoring a guys local roundy round car with motors. This certainly wasn't his first motor build. After all, he learned from his dad and took over the family business. And to think he calls him/them "Racing engines". The things I learned about them afterward thru my repair/rebuild process completely supported my findings and conclusions. That was a tough pill to swallow. Hindsight is 20/20.
I saw mike at a SCSC circle boat race at parker a couple years ago when he was driving somebody's beautiful Raysoncraft GN boat. We were walking toward each other solo in the pits. I started to tense and feel very angry inside, my fists clinching. He recognized me and started to smile a bit and then must have remembered who I was as he turned white as a ghost and appeared to begin sweating a bit and suddenly looked very nervous. I just walked by without a word, as though he didn't exist. Had I done anything other it wouldn't have been good for either of us. Later that day he flipped that beautiful GN boat, I felt bad for the boat owner.
I hope this helps clarify my previous statement. Sorry if I ran on a little. haha.... I wrote all this more for the guy like me from back then that comes across this thread in search of his "dream boat motor" and is considering having that little, lying ass piece of shit, mike johnson, take up an ounce of their valuable time and interest in their H.P. goals/dreams. I wish the best to you in your rebuild process.

 

[MohavValley]

I'm exactly where you where, except I'll be doing my own assembely with some guidance.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll steer clear.

 

[wzuber]

I'm exactly where you where, except I'll be doing my own assembely with some guidance.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll steer clear.

Prolly best.. haha
Maybe call George Streigel at Clay Smith Cams. I always hear good things about his knowledge, experience and work results. Good luck with whomever you choose.

 

[lard ass]

Try Mike at engine supply in Santa Ana. He does a lot of work for some of the top notch builders.

 

[JordanDangerfield]

James Bostick in El Cajon. He has an excellent reputation and several motors in everything from cruisers to drag boats. Definitely hit him up!!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MohavValley]

Well I took it to QMP based on posts here and their flashy website and I eventually pulled it, if you're looking for a machinist I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND QMP.

They don't measure anything, they tried to bore it +.030 right off the bat, no accounting for hone or Measuring Pistons, just straight bore it to + .030 and when I asked multiple times what their processes is, crickets. Also they don't tell you but once it's dropped off, is email only and if you call they give you the run around for days on end. They out source their tank and mag, and when it can back, none of the galley & freeze plugs where pulled, so doubt they brushed out any of the internal passages though I told them it most likely ground 2 can lobes with the previous owner. They did manage to get my cap studs installed and align-hone which I paid for but there where no cross hatch in the caps just 90 degree scratches on 1 & 2 what looks like a line bore, which I don't think it needed, but I'll know for sure what they did to the caps once it gets bore gauged and the deck height gets checked at the new place. Also they installed the longer windage studs on 2&3 though I told them in writting they go in 2&4, so that's just more proof they don't listen, pay attention, or give a shit.

From what I can gather they do not measure anything, they just stick it in the CNC and push the button and don't give 2 shits. In fact the guy I was dealing with, Mike didn't even show his face when I came to pick up my parts, not even concerned with why I'm pulling my stuff, all talk to get the parts in the door IMO.


It's at L&R now because the're close but I think there more of a re-manafacturer than a machinist, so will so how this goes.


Seems like clay smith and Pettis are will spoken of as actual machinists, any more recommendations for actual machinists ( someones that knows how to use a mic & a bore gauge, and double checks their work) not machine operators?

Thanks

 

[Gelcoater]

Prolly best.. haha
Maybe call George Streigel at Clay Smith Cams. I always hear good things about his knowledge, experience and work results. Good luck with whomever you choose.

There’s probably reasons those guys are still around after all these decades!

 

[4Waters]

Well I took it to QMP based on posts here and their flashy website and I eventually pulled it, if you're looking for a machinist I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND QMP.

They don't measure anything, they tried to bore it +.030 right off the bat, no accounting for hone or Measuring Pistons, just straight bore it to + .030 and when I asked multiple times what their processes is, crickets. Also they don't tell you but once it's dropped off, is email only and if you call they give you the run around for days on end. They out source their tank and mag, and when it can back, none of the galley & freeze plugs where pulled, so doubt they brushed out any of the internal passages though I told them it most likely ground 2 can lobes with the previous owner. They did manage to get my cap studs installed and align-hone which I paid for but there where no cross hatch in the caps just 90 degree scratches on 1 & 2 what looks like a line bore, which I don't think it needed, but I'll know for sure what they did to the caps once it gets bore gauged and the deck height gets checked at the new place. Also they installed the longer windage studs on 2&3 though I told them in writting they go in 2&4, so that's just more proof they don't listen, pay attention, or give a shit.

From what I can gather they do not measure anything, they just stick it in the CNC and push the button and don't give 2 shits. In fact the guy I was dealing with, Mike didn't even show his face when I came to pick up my parts, not even concerned with why I'm pulling my stuff, all talk to get the parts in the door IMO.


It's at L&R now because the're close but I think there more of a re-manafacturer than a machinist, so will so how this goes.


Seems like clay smith and Pettis are will spoken of as actual machinists, any more recommendations for actual machinists ( someones that knows how to use a mic & a bore gauge, and double checks their work) not machine operators?

Thanks

I had same issues with QMP, the only reason I went to them was I couldn't get a hold my regular guy, they had my shit for a month they got the block cleaned and crank turned that's it. My regular guy called me back (health issues) and I pulled my shit out of QMP and took it to my guy he did the rest in a week, unfortunately he has since semi retired and moved. I would go to Jason Pettis.

 

[MohavValley]

I would go to Jason Pettis.

Do you know people that used Pettis and double checked (verified clearances) his work and it was done correctly?

 

[4Waters]

Do you know people that used Pettis and double checked (verified clearances) his work and it was done correctly?

Yes, they were putting 3000hp to his workmanship, just talk to him let him know what you are looking for, I have talked to him about some head work and was very helpful and a wealth of knowledge. One thing my friends said was he would give a completion date and 9 times out of 10 he would call them 2 days early to come get it, if something was holding the job up he called.

Added: the only bad things I have heard about Jason was from another engine builder that is no longer in business. The fact that he is no longer in business should answer your question as to what the bad things were. Nothing substantiated.

 

[Hallett Dave]

What about jim Grubbs?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Jim Grubbs has retired but his shop still does good work.
RiverMobster was not the back bone of JMS Racing. Sorry Joe.

 

[rivermobster]

Jim Grubbs has retired but his shop still does good work.
RiverMobster was not the back bone of JMS Racing. Sorry Joe.

Don't recall anyone saying I was, so no need to apologize.

Haven't worked there for a couple years now. Most of the work I did on Wizard's car was dealing with his electrical gremlins. It was I interesting to say the least!

And x2 on the PF deal. Gordy has been gone for awhile now. No clue who even works there.

Heath is a bit new to this game, but he is building some winning engines in the GN circuit these days.

He might be worth a look too .

http://advancedracingengines.net

 

[wzuber]

Don't recall anyone saying I was, so no need to apologize.

Haven't worked there for a couple years now. Most of the work I did on Wizard's car was dealing with his electrical gremlins. It was I interesting to say the least!

And x2 on the PF deal. Gordy has been gone for awhile now. No clue who even works there.

Heath is a bit new to this game, but he is building some winning engines in the GN circuit these days.

He might be worth a look too .

http://advancedracingengines.net

x2 on Heath based on his success in GN racing and how well he delt with a friend of mines motor for his jet boat. He was very fair with Lou, does all the machine work etc. in house and delivered it in a timely manner despite no specific time frame/date was established as they are still working on the hull etc. and then have to rig it.

 

[rivermobster]

x2 on Heath based on his success in GN racing and how well he delt with a friend of mines motor for his jet boat. He was very fair with Lou, does all the machine work etc. in house and delivered it in a timely manner despite no specific time frame/date was established as they are still working on the hull etc. and then have to rig it.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BahPZCWBBin/