I've been a member for many years, but have never posted much at all. I'm getting ready to put my '66 Belvedere back on the road after sitting in my garage for way too many years. I'm looking for a good machine shop to put together a 500" big block stroker. I live in the Rockford, Il area. I am willing to drive an hour or two for a good machine shop, but obviously would rather be closer to home. I haven't decided whether to assemble it myself, or have the machine shop do it. I have never assembled an engine before, but really want to try building it myself. Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

Dennis

Opel Engineering in Streamwood, IL. About an hour from you. Ted (owner) has built bulletproof MoPars for decades.
http://opelengineering.com/

OPEL Engineering.... one of the best... very busy.. may have to wait long time.

Could also consider AUTO MACHINE (St. Charles, IL)... top quality shop... very busy... I had work done by them for my stroker SB.

Thanks guys, looks like Opel could be a good choice and knows Mopar.

You could give Kilpatrick a call and run your ideas past him. I've known Jim for years...he's Mopar through and through. A bit more than an hour from you straight up 43 towards Milwaukee in Waukesha. Just throwing ideas out for ya

http://www.kilpatrickengine.com/index.htm

Thanks! Not too far from me.

I also agree with Kilpatrick (I've spoken with him in the past)... excellent Mopar knowledge and builder

Probably also very busy and backed up...

Regardless whoever you go with, expect to pay dearly for quality... and to wait for their schedule to take you on... and don't shop for cheap prices. Also, best to work on the choices of parts (kits, etc) through them so there won't be surprise delays if something isn't right from parts that you would've supplied. Typically, machine shops don't like it when the customer brings in their own purchased parts... just asking for problems.

The best shops are the busiest... and most expensive.

i haven't used them but I have heard that there is a Mopar oriented shop out towards Joliet. I'll have to look around again for their name. Ive never built anything that "hopped up" so I have just used the local guys that do anything that comes in the door. I have been having a harder time finding one lately, due to the machinists getting old-- retirement age.... There's a decent one in Wilmington (a lil south of Joliet) the owner's son has branched out and bought out a long standing machine shop here in kankakee. I've dealt with the Dad and uncle before in Wilmington, got good service. Begler's machine. The son (also goes by that name) here in Kankakee, bought out the old long standing Albers Automotive, machine shop. My son has an "in" with a local diesel shop that uses them alot, and my son had a 360 built into a 408 by them and seems happy so far.
a lil far from home to work, have a hard time getting back by home to get to the local machine shop in time. I found one in Kentland IN, only 15 min from work, that has my slant 6. He's done other work for me, and so far so good. Newco Performance.