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Post by ajschult on Jan 27, 2006 0:49:56 GMT -6
Ok, I am in great need of everyone who has any experience or knows anyone with experience with any local machine shops. Up until today I thought Gustaf's was a reputable shop, as well as Abraham's. Someone brought to my attention American Speed, which I will be checking into within the week. Basically I am looking for any thoughts or experience from any machine shop in the qca (good or bad). I want to go with the best, but I am definately on a budget. So any info would be greatly appreciated.
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Post by MystiChrome04 on Jan 27, 2006 8:44:48 GMT -6
American Speed does very good work as well as Stealy's. I personally use Stealy's but would not think twice about taken anything to American speed. The Car Shop isn't to bad if you need a block checked and bored.
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Post by MeanYellowZ on Jan 27, 2006 10:34:39 GMT -6
Car shop no longer does machine work. I wasnt trying to be a dick about Gustaf, but I am not alone in saying they are the worst. YES, you will pay more at places like American Speed and Stealys, but you get better quality work. I like to have the best machine work doen possible, and rule out any problems that could be related to that. There are two guys at American speed, the owner and the machinist. The owner is very difficult to deal with, he doesnt dislike you, he dislikes everyone. Willie, the machinist is an excellent guy to deal with. If you go, tell him Randy sent you up there. FYI, Jeff Stealy, owner of Stealy Performance, started out machining for American Speed before opening his own business. He was taught by the best.
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Post by Sukkoi19 on Jan 27, 2006 11:24:59 GMT -6
Yes I will join in the condemnation of Gustaf. $70 to turn a flywheel is highway robbery.
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Post by MeanYellowZ on Jan 27, 2006 11:48:16 GMT -6
especially since they use 80 grit sandpaper to do it by hand
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Post by ajschult on Jan 27, 2006 11:57:48 GMT -6
I never heard anything bad about Gustafs before so this is good info. Thanks guys, if you have any thing to share on the subject, please do so.
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Post by ygetv8 on Jan 27, 2006 20:15:34 GMT -6
I've heard first hand of Gustav's mixing and matching used valve springs on an engine rebuild. We always referred to them as "Blastoff's"!
I've known Jeff Stealy (somewhere between acquaintance and friend) for years and would trust him very much with my GM stuff! Wait... I don't HAVE any GM stuff any more! Doh!
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Post by Thewhitenotch on Jan 28, 2006 1:01:34 GMT -6
I have had work done at american speed and stealys both did great work. Gustafs bad.
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Post by NOTAGT2 on Jan 28, 2006 12:09:48 GMT -6
I never heard anything bad about Gustafs before so this is good info. Thanks guys, if you have any thing to share on the subject, please do so. You must be friends with a bunch of dirt track racers... dont worry I've been there before. Im the story of the $70 fly wheel turn... ooo he stuck the knife in and twisted ...OUCH!! |
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Post by glennster on Jan 28, 2006 16:33:02 GMT -6
A few years back a customer had a bad engine in a tempo and came and loaded it up to take it to another shop,he told me gustafs had shot him a good price and I was hesitant to say anything.A month later he came back with the the car after having the engine built and said the check engine light was on.I made a diagnosis after pulling a "cam sensor circuit" code that involved checking it with a lab scope,no signal so I removed the cam sensor and checked it,good.Using a mirror I looked in the hole and there was no reluctor wheel on the crank! I called him and told him to take it back to gustafs.He came back the next day and told me they said I was a "shadetree no knowledge idiot" and that it didn't need the wheel because it wouldn't run if that was the case.I told him to get a lawyer and washed my hands on the whole mess explaining it would run but in a base timing situation.Later he called and said the made it right and installed the correct crank.Sorry so long but food for thought.
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Post by LT1 ANDY on Jan 28, 2006 17:47:20 GMT -6
American Speed....just having willy touch your motor is worth a couple donkeys....but then im a willy MARK sooo whats my two cents worth. With a recent turn of events I wouldnt use them to assemble my motors...but then im have my own personal engine builder sooooo. I personally am unsure of stealy's he did a mtor for a freinds classic mustang and really didnt stand up that well for some of the issues it had it seemed nice guy and great equipment and shop, but you have to know how to use it... Jeff may have been trained by the best...but he still isnt the teacher!
Andy
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Post by spuds on Jan 29, 2006 15:38:15 GMT -6
What about thumper???
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10pt
Tenative First Steps
Posts: 17
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Post by 10pt on Jan 30, 2006 10:23:09 GMT -6
I have heard good and bad things about every machine shop in town, thats why I suggest out of town. Weber racing in Ohio is supposed to be good for 3.8 turbo's and you have to know your stuff whith these......I know he does lt1's and ls1's also. WWW.4wre.comHTH Bo |
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Post by ajschult on Jan 30, 2006 14:10:56 GMT -6
I'm really not looking for a place to build my motor, only to replace bearings, mill heads, hone, and maybe grind the crank. I contacted Dan at Thumper and he sounded like he knows his stuff. I'm awaiting an estimate from him.
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Post by MeanYellowZ on Jan 30, 2006 15:46:31 GMT -6
oh my
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Post by ygetv8 on Jan 30, 2006 15:52:45 GMT -6
Yeah, I've heard bad and good stories about all the local shops. I'm sure every shop out there has had an issue or two. Gotta sort out who has "occasional" problems, and those with "chronic" problems! Then again, I've also heard about people doing their own build, fugging something up, and blaming the shop that did the machine work... that alone probably accounts for several bad "stories."
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Post by MeanYellowZ on Jan 30, 2006 17:58:19 GMT -6
I agree totally, but based off of multiple bad stories, I would say the worst is Gustaf, followed by thumper, then abrahams.....
better shops would be american speed, stealys, even auto Rons isn't too bad I would say.
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Post by 72streetbird on Jan 30, 2006 20:40:35 GMT -6
I worked at Gustafs twenty years ago or so. I only stayed there one week. I couldn't work installing engines for them after seeing the way they were built.
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Post by ajschult on Jan 30, 2006 20:45:24 GMT -6
I agree totally, but based off of multiple bad stories, I would say the worst is Gustaf, followed by thumper, then abrahams..... better shops would be american speed, stealys, even auto Rons isn't too bad I would say. What are the stories you have heard about Thumper? I am seriously considering them right now after talking to Dan. |
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Post by MeanYellowZ on Jan 30, 2006 22:37:55 GMT -6
I delt with him on a semi daily basis.......guy has a lot of nice equipment, just noone good to run the stuff. He is a smoooth talker, like any shady businessman
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Imback
Potty Trained
Founding Member
Posts: 279 
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Post by Imback on Jan 31, 2006 20:05:27 GMT -6
Out of business.
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Post by blown383stroker on Feb 6, 2006 2:42:09 GMT -6
Gustaf's is not that bad of place i take all my stuff there. no motor has gone bad yet
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Post by towtruck on Feb 6, 2006 7:34:01 GMT -6
Gustaf's is not that bad of place i take all my stuff there. no motor has gone bad yet I hope you are not serious? They are by far the wors't shop in the area, Unless you are building one night claimer motors. left turn guys! |
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Post by MeanYellowZ on Feb 6, 2006 11:43:35 GMT -6
He is
Come on.....share the story about the align honing.....we could all sit around the campfire while you tell it
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allgo
Potty Trained
Founding Member
Posts: 335
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Post by allgo on Feb 6, 2006 15:29:11 GMT -6
I have heard good and bad things about every machine shop in town, thats why I suggest out of town. Weber racing in Ohio is supposed to be good for 3.8 turbo's and you have to know your stuff whith these......I know he does lt1's and ls1's also. WWW.4wre.comHTH I am having Webers build me a new motor right know for my GN, he also built the one that is in there now. My Fox body motor was built by Stealys!! |
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Post by Superdave on Feb 6, 2006 23:45:24 GMT -6
I've always used Abrahams... never a problem or concern, always fair pricing etc...
It would be nice if someone around here could regrind a cam for me tho.. lol
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Post by blown383stroker on Feb 8, 2006 4:16:14 GMT -6
I am serious. No left turn one nighters here
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Post by NOTAGT2 on Feb 8, 2006 13:40:08 GMT -6
Gustaf's is not that bad of place i take all my stuff there. no motor has gone bad yet  |
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Post by towtruck on Feb 9, 2006 13:13:40 GMT -6
Gustaf's is not that bad of place i take all my stuff there. no motor has gone bad yet Thats funny! |
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chevelle509
Potty Trained
Car Shop INC.
old slow and heavy dam it!!!
Posts: 226
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Post by chevelle509 on Feb 17, 2006 19:58:13 GMT -6
Right on line go with your feelings if the price is to low compared to other shops some thing smells. Also its best to ask around at the track or  ? Also all shops do have bad days meaning they can not control all the bases such as a person starting a motor with out cooling the the radiator. yes this did happen and of course well all make mistakes we are only human |
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