About 8 or so years back BP was horrible. But the owner caught wind of it and completely revamped the facility, equipment, procedures, quality control etc. In the last 5 or so years we've probably installed at least 10 of their engine with ZERO problems.
Unfortunately they don't do the BB mopars anymore due to core availability.



No torque wrench on the intake bolts??? guy sound too much like a used car salesman to me but being local is a plus, MAYBE?
I would definitely do some Background / review checking on them before writing anyone a check MAYBE a CC deposit but not a very big one. I'm also am not comfortable with cash or check down payments as what happens if the place goes belly up or the owner dies. Where's your money then

I'd check out one of the others like Hensley or BES

Hensley has always been first class.
Another i trust 100% is Valley performance and Machine in Ionia Mi
They just did my 418 stroker. Known the owner for going on 20 years. They do mainly Mopar. Tell Jack Don Gentry told you to call. His partner was the assembly guy at BES for years. They are very handy!

There isn't anything local, or at least in reasonable driving distance from you? I couldn't fathom having a motor built for me a place on the other side of the country. Maybe I'm spoiled though living outside of Detroit.

I have had a 340, and a 440 built by Tony Bischoff (BES) here in Indiana. Top notch in my book, but I'm relatively local and know enough about them to feel comfortable.
www.besracing.com/

Is Koffel's (Place) still doing engines up your way?

http://www.b1heads.com/index.html

They bored my 440 block and some crankshaft, rod and piston work that was excellent work here in Huron, Ohio at Koffel's Place II a few years ago.

Dave Koffel and son Scott sure know Mopars.

http://moparhalloffame.com/2015site/the-inductees/2015/


Mike

That's several who like BES. I don't know of any builders who will start a project without a deposit.

I noticed the tightening without torque wrench and thought maybe it's just initial tightening also thought maybe on an intake some guys got a good feel of torque on something like that without a torque wrench. minimal torque and all.

The best local one was Vic at Brevard Cylinder Head and sadly he just passed away. They are not coming out of the woodwork around here and especially not Mopar builders.

Builders ship motors all over the world, it'll show up on a pallet nicely packaged. Another option could be nicks garage, save on the CAD and watch it get built and dyno'd on youtube. That would be cool

Where the motor is built would be the very least of my concerns. In the whole scheme of things, paying to get the finished product shipped to you is insignificant in the cost of the build.
First motor i ever had built was by Hensley in Knoxville Tennessee. I never saw the motor until it arrived at my door on a pallet, i live in Mi.
Find somebody reputable, and let them build it.
I have already mention two such places already in this thread, that i have personal experience with

Around here the shops are dropping like flies in winter. Several have closed in the last few years. the owners have said they can't find anyone interested in learning the trade. Couple that with crate motor competition and the end result is apparent

I think they stopped building engines by the spring of 2017. I called them to build a 505, but they seemed completely shut a down a month or two after.

I'm taking note of the ones recommended and most likely will be picking from one of them! I appreciate the help! I've bought three crate engines so far and had shipped so I don't have an issue with that. Two were MP Magnum 360's and one Muscle Motors stroker 360. I agree that you have to pick the builder most comfortable with. I only would prefer local so that if there were an issue I could stand face to face with someone and demand satisfaction. That would be a bonus. A warranty practically does me no good. Thankfully on the three crates I've bought in the past I've never needed a warranty.

That in my experience doesn't always work. I've had much better luck and reimbursement from GM on a crate issue and Jasper on another> While selecting your source a good question to ask them is who pays if there is a problem and will they put the respnse in writing. Call me paranoid, but I've had a few customers that got themselves stiffed for 10K +/- on motors they purchased.

When I first heard they were closing I emailed Mike telling him I had heard a rumor.... He told me in no uncertain terms, it's not a rumor, they were done, he had had enough. If I can find it I'll post it....

I remember a few years ago it was news when they closed. Surprised to hear somebody is peddling parts under their name.

Eric was fine to deal with the times I called. I even looked something up while on the line with him one time and he never got upset. Also helps when you call places to be clear that you are spending money that day, that’s just anywhere you call.

There was a local engine MM built. Ran ok, but not great. Owner complained the car was a complete dog until they put nitrous on it. I ended up with that engine and it had stage 6 heads on it. Sent them to Best Machine. Chuck called and said the chambers were over 100cc, no wonder it was low on power! The heads had been worked some and while I didn’t pay to have them flowed, Chuck said they looked pretty good. Other issue was the valve job was just insanely bad. By the time I had them cut, new guides, and fresh correct valve job done, that was one expensive set of heads. Worth it to get done right,

I’d called Best Machine and see what they can do for you.

A good port job wasted by not doing basic checks of everything else. No way I’d run my shop like that. You want a ready to run set of heads, you pay for them, not a reputation trashing for me later when things don’t work out, even if I did good work on what little I touched.

There was a member here a few years ago that had a 600+ inch B1 headed motor built by MM. It was a high effort pump gas street/strip type build, made 1k+ hp IIRC, and he had a LOT of problems w/ it. MM was no help w/ it either. I don't think it even made it to the track.

B342W45 recommended Valley performance and Machine in Ionia MI and I liked their site and emailed them but leaning toward BES or Hensley. Calling all tomorrow and geez I hope to have contracted with one tomorrow.

Hensley gets my vote.

I called BES and spoke with Brett for awhile and told him what I was shooting for. He was easy to talk to and he's going to work something up and email me a proposal in about a week.

Thank you Scratchnfortractn!!! Gave me a GREAT deal on some BB parts that really fill in some gaps!!! AND delivered them as well. Great guy! Thanks Mike!

BES came back with rough quote of $14k NOT INCLUDING BLOCK. Ouch. That probably does not work for me. I probably would go for it including block. I know parts prices are up and I do want quality stuff but a block with all the prep work is going to be several more thousands as you know, so I'd be looking at close to $20k.