Machine shops in KY?

[brad92t]

Hey guys.. It has been quite a long time since I have been active on SM but I think after well over a year I am ready to dive back in to working on my car again...

I would like some advice from you guys on a proven machine shop to do the machine work on my crank, block, head, and rods. I still haven't decided if I want to put everything together myself or not so maybe a place that can do any or all of the job.

I am in Central KY but I am willing to take it to Louisville, Cinci, anywhere within a couple hours in order to get the job done right.

Any input for me?

 

[dbsupra90]

Bell here in louisville does a really good job. the downfall is they are very slow and very expensive.

on the last build, chris (local mk3 owner) used Worell's instead of Bell and the work they did looked good and was much cheaper (about 1/2). He is running a Gt40 turbo on 15psi and running strong so far.

 

[upgradedsupra]

Don't let price get in your way, just be happy that they do a great job.

 

[selfinfliction]

mike taylor in somerset, he's doing my work and is the best around. some people from louisville come down to get their high power motors done, and he does ALOT of drag and circle dirt track motors. i can get you the number if you want. he's not the cheapest shop in the world, but you get every pennies worth of what you pay

 

[brad92t]

Thanks for the replies guys.. Here is a pm I got from mk3forme when I asked him about this a while back and he just replied. For purposes of helping anyone later who might be looking for the same info.

Hey Brad. Sorry for the delay. I have just been real busy lately. I had my head work done at Backs cylinder head on Regency RD. Phone # 278-3960 name is Keith. I dont know that he does the best work. My head surface looked fair but not perfect like I would have wanted. I havent had any problems yet and I used a cometic head gasket. There is also a place called Performance 1 on Floyd Dr. Its the Road next to Greens Lincoln Mercury on New Circle Rd. phone 225-0909. He said he could mill the smoothest surface in town. I think he also does block work as well. Whether he can or not I dont know since I didnt use him. But keeps his number for resurfacing flywheels. He does a good job at that. And dont get a flywheels resurfaced a brake lathe. My block work was done at Roberts Precision Machine. I liked him cause he has done many 7m and 2JZ. phone number is 389-9201.m Name is Robert.
Let me know if I can help any. Allen

 

[brad92t]

I do have a follow up question. Do any of these shops actually have a torque plate for the 7m? I wouldn't dream of getting it bored without one..

 

[selfinfliction]

I do have a follow up question. Do any of these shops actually have a torque plate for the 7m? I wouldn't dream of getting it bored without one..

mike taylor has been in business for 10-15 years, he's not some guy that does mediocre work with a couple of tools. i don't know what all he has in his shop, there's just alot of huge machines that i don't know what do and wall to wall of engine blocks/parts. when we have motors to be done, all we do is break them down, tell him to prep them and send us the bill. i just dropped off the supra motor to him this morning, and it doesn't matter what it costs, i know if he charges me for it, i need it and it will be done properly without question.

if you're looking to do your engine in the future, give me a couple of weeks and i'll have a tally of what he charges for what. he's only done v8's for us before so i have no idea what costs are like on these engines.

 

[brad92t]

mike taylor has been in business for 10-15 years, he's not some guy that does mediocre work with a couple of tools. i don't know what all he has in his shop, there's just alot of huge machines that i don't know what do and wall to wall of engine blocks/parts. when we have motors to be done, all we do is break them down, tell him to prep them and send us the bill. i just dropped off the supra motor to him this morning, and it doesn't matter what it costs, i know if he charges me for it, i need it and it will be done properly without question.

if you're looking to do your engine in the future, give me a couple of weeks and i'll have a tally of what he charges for what. he's only done v8's for us before so i have no idea what costs are like on these engines.

Thanks for the info. I didn't mean to insinuate anything, its just that no matter how good the tools are its damn near impossible to get a straight bore without a torque plate simulating the head being attached. If you don't use it, once you torque the head down the cylinders get out of round, especially on inline 6s like ours.

I will definitely be waiting for your report on the cost, so pm me or post it up when you get it. Would it be possible to ask him if he uses a torque plate if you get a chance? Thanks for your help/advice so far!

 

[selfinfliction]

i got hooked up with a new set of probe pistons last night at an extremely good price, so i'll be able to tell you how much a bore job costs as well.

as for the torque plate, i'm sure that's done without even thinking. he does ALOT of work on $10k-30k+ race motors, and is recommended from those guys.