Profiling Machiner/Builder

[adicken1]

For those of you that have dealt extensively with the building/rebuilding of the 7m, I have a question.

To my knowledge, there is only 1 builder in the Memphis, TN area that specializes in building Toyota Motors. The name of the company is G-Man Toyota Specialist. I called there a couple of weeks ago and the guy that I talked to was an ass, and acted as if he didn't want my business. :nono: Anyway, after speaking with so forum locals here, I've come to find out that G-man doesn't have the best of reputations... this may be hearsay, but then again it may not.

What is the best way to profile a builder or machine shop when considering a complete tear down and rebuild. After reading many threads, I've found that for whatever reason, many times something is not assembled or machined to spec, causing in much frustration later. (Not to mention much $$$)

How do you distinguish between a decent, dependable, reputable builder/machiner and one that is decent and dependable in building 7m's? Furthermore, what are the key profiling questions to ask a potential shop if/when considering doing business with them?

Many thanks,


- Andrew

 

[WhtMa71]

If youre getting machine work done to the block the first thing you should ask is if they have a torque plate for the 7m. If not, look elsewhere.
The torque plate is supossed to simulate the head being torqued down for machine work being done on the cylinders.

Id wait for IJ to chime in here or maybe pm him. He has done extensive machine work to the 7m platform and knows his shit. He'll probably give you some good tips.

 

[GrimJack]

Ask to see the shop, and some samples of their work. Shady shops are usually unwilling to show you around.

Tell them what you want to achieve with the motor, and ask what they recommend in the way of work, and what kind of clearances they suggest. Get a list and an estimate, then post it up here, see what we think of it.

 

[jdub]

^^^ True statement. I just got back from a machine shop an hour ago...the owner was proud of his work. Showed me a block off an Eclipse...the deck was mirror smooth. Only problem is he doesn't have a torque plate for a 7M...not enough demand.

 

[Sawbladz]

^^^ True statement. I just got back from a machine shop an hour ago...the owner was proud of his work. Showed me a block off an Eclipse...the deck was mirror smooth. Only problem is he doesn't have a torque plate for a 7M...not enough demand.

Is having a torque plate 100% necessary? I fully understand that it would be preferable to have it but I would bet that there isn't a single one in Toronto.

 

[pimptrizkit]

^^^ True statement. I just got back from a machine shop an hour ago...the owner was proud of his work. Showed me a block off an Eclipse...the deck was mirror smooth. Only problem is he doesn't have a torque plate for a 7M...not enough demand.

as far as i know there are only 3 torque plates created so far for the 7m, ron has one,i think there's one floating around in texas, and maybe the third is hidding in ausi...


my machincist said it wasn't needed unless for an all out build,
also said not enough demand to make one , and they cost about 2k, though he did have torque plates for z cars, 4bangers, and a few other motor's

 

[WhtMa71]

I really doubt it would cost 2g's to make a torque plate..Its a big piece of steel with some holes drilled in it correct?

 

[pimptrizkit]

the way my machinest explained it to me was, labor, R&D, material cost.

he told me you needed to use the same material that the head is made out of so when the head is bolted on the cylinders are still at the tolerence they were bored.

the exact cost wasn't mentioned but he said could be done, just not some thing there is enough demand for in the area.

 

[jdub]

Is having a torque plate 100% necessary? I fully understand that it would be preferable to have it but I would bet that there isn't a single one in Toronto.

IMO, it is. Can you get away without it...sure. The problem is when you look at the tolerances for after market pistions. Take Ross for example...they list 6 thou as the piston to wall clearance for a turbo motor. Not using a torque plate can induce as much as a 3 thou error. Ross pistions are know to "rattle" when cold...if that error is to the high side (which it usually is) they will not only rattle cold, but will continue to do so warm. Not to mention blow-by on the rings.

 

[suprarich]

Hard to believe there is only 3 torque plates floating around. I have one made from Titanium cut on a water jet.

 

[slidebabyslide]

Im about to rebuild my engine. can't find machine shops that have work on blocks for the supra. So if they have no torque plate then, im fu**ed>?

 

[Enraged]

this may be a totally stupid question, but couldn't you make a torque plate using a crappy stock head? maybe a head with torn up cam journals or something similar?

 

[adicken1]

OK, let me ask this. I've done a couple of searches and have not been able to find a complete answer in a thread... furthermore, there is a lot of conflicting information.

What are the differences in what a machine shop would do traditionally to a "sports engine" in comparison to what we NEED done to our engines.

Also, what are the particualar things we need to make sure a machine shop is capable of and competent in doing. We've already listed the use of a torque plate, what else?

 

[jdub]

I look for a shop that has CBN capability and doesn't mind showing you their work. Important points:
- Torque plate
- Ability to machine a deck surface at ~30 RA
- Ability to hit cylinder bore diameter at .0005" accuracy
- Ability to measure and line hone the main bearing saddles if necessary.

Things to make sure of:
- Machine with a torque plate (did I say that again)
- Machine with the main bearing caps in place and torqued to spec
- Machine with the front timing plate in place to match the top surface with the block deck
- Machine with the timing belt tensioning pulley installed and torqued down

 

[NewWestSupras]

We should start a list of shops in North America that can/have fulfill(ed) our 7M requirements. If anyone has had proper engine job/machine work done by XXXXX's shop, the details could be posted.... of course ymmv, but at least it would be a starting point.

 

[nosman4]

I had a torque plate made for my current build and it only cost me about $460. The aluminum was about $90 and the labor was $370. So I guess that makes 4-5 torqueplates in the country. LOL, I know there has to be more than that.

 

[Rennat]

does anybody know of a good shop in northern CA? or even East Bay?
Somebody has to have a damn torque plate for the 7m in Ca.....