Re: What do you look for in a Machine Shop/ Engine Buil
[Re: RAMM]
#1249553
06/12/12 02:50 PM
06/12/12 02:50 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 75,282 A gulag near you.
JohnRR
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 75,282
A gulag near you.
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You will get many responses to this one--But I bet very few will be honest. In most cases--ALL that matters to the customer is the price$$$$---Until they have problems that is. J.Rob
I can honestly say cost had zero influence on where I took my last build, in fact I chose one of the more expensive options, for other reasons of course.
REPUTATION, quality of equipment, the facility looks more like a doctors office than a machine shop, word of mouth, experience, speed. Lots of factors went into the decision.
You guys are the exception--NOT the rule. J.Rob
I have to agree , especially reading posts on the internet from those asking how much it costs to build an engine from people living AROUND THE WORLD and the to a certian parts supplier ... COST is the #1 factor , more important than quality.
I'm going thru this now, the shop i used for decades, and to a lesser degree, the new one I switched to haven't been giving me the warm and fuzzies for my race oriented builds to the point I ship my stuff almost 2000 miles one way now to get machined and almost 200 miles one way for cylinder head work.
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Re: What do you look for in a Machine Shop/ Engine Builder?
[Re: DJVCuda]
#1249554
06/12/12 06:32 PM
06/12/12 06:32 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,091 Delray beach, Florida
Performance Only
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,091
Delray beach, Florida
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interesting topic. we do a lot of work for other machine shops in the area. as far as the average customer goes, the conversation usually starts out with "how much do you charge to" (fill in the blank). i'd have to think that's usually the foremost thought in peoples minds when they call. we have a very good local racer client base and those guys don't usually ask for prices on anything, they just want the work done and done right. i think a lot of them have gotten burned by a couple of the other local shops, so price shopping isn't what they do. it seems like every time we get a new customer referral they want to come by and tour the shop. we're alway's happy to show them around and answer any questions they might have. we're proud of our shop and our capabilities, so any of you guys in the area, stop by any time.
machine shop owner and engine builder
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Re: What do you look for in a Machine Shop/ Engine Builder?
[Re: Performance Only]
#1249555
06/12/12 06:43 PM
06/12/12 06:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,376
dogdays
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,376
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For me, by the time I get to the shop I already have narrowed down the choices. So when I ask, "How much will it cost?" I'm more seeing if I can afford it or maybe have to go a different direction. So the shop owner may hear that question first but that's not the first priority. For example, my 318 project could really use 0.030" shaved off the deck. But it costs $180 around here, and I don't know if it's worth that to me. Both places I checked were close to that number, and they both are good. So the deal isn't what's the least amount, but rather, if it costs that much to get a decent job, do I want to spend the money? Obviously, I'm operating on a shoestring.
R.
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Re: What do you look for in a Machine Shop/ Engine Builder?
[Re: dogdays]
#1249556
06/13/12 08:28 AM
06/13/12 08:28 AM
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,057 The Great White North
RAMM
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,057
The Great White North
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This post is timely--I have jacked my rates into the stratosphere because I'm SICK of being nickel and dimed to death! J.Rob
2009 PHR\EMC Competitor 2010 PHR\EMC Competitor 2011 PHR\EMC Competitor 2012 PHR\EMC Competitor 2013 PHR\EMC Competitor 2014 HotRod/EMC Competitor 2015 HotRod/EMC NoShow 2016 HotRod/EMC 3rd place SPEC Bigblock 2018 HotRod/EMC 7th place G3
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Re: What do you look for in a Machine Shop/ Engine Builder?
[Re: RAMM]
#1249557
06/13/12 09:58 AM
06/13/12 09:58 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 75,282 A gulag near you.
JohnRR
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 75,282
A gulag near you.
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Quote:
This post is timely--I have jacked my rates into the stratosphere because I'm SICK of being nickel and dimed to death! J.Rob
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Re: What do you look for in a Machine Shop/ Engine Builder?
[Re: JohnRR]
#1249558
06/13/12 06:54 PM
06/13/12 06:54 PM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 103 NEW JERSEY
BIGSPEED
member
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member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 103
NEW JERSEY
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We are not interested in doing work for the Nickle,Dime,Nonsense crowd,in the past every time we tried to save a customer money ,We shot ourselves in the foot,Eighty percent of sportsman racers race by price alone ,the other twenty percent win most of the races and spend less money in the long run with More runs per dollar spent on the right people and parts.Bill C.
Last edited by BIGSPEED; 06/13/12 06:55 PM.
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Re: What do you look for in a Machine Shop/ Engine Builder?
[Re: Moparnut426]
#1249561
06/17/12 05:25 AM
06/17/12 05:25 AM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 653 Fort Worth, TX
Dago Red
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 653
Fort Worth, TX
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EASY............. The machine shop that doesn't think every engine is based on a small block Chevy.
If You Can't Be Good, At Least Be Colorful
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Re: What do you look for in a Machine Shop/ Engine Builder?
[Re: fourgearsavoy]
#1249563
06/17/12 04:28 PM
06/17/12 04:28 PM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,532 off the grid
340B5
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,532
off the grid
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He' gotta know how to use a mic.
I had a conversation with the machinist I use now when he was about to bush my block, and he measured a lifter for sizing. .9043 he says...and I said I had measured that one @.9042. He promptly told me that temp makes a difference while holding the lifter in a clenched fist, then opened his hand and measured the lifter @.9044. I thought back, and sure enough when I measured it, the garage was quite chilly in the morning. I was a little embarassed, but happy to know I'd found a competent machinist.
Yeah, it's got a smallblock.
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Re: What do you look for in a Machine Shop/ Engine Builder?
[Re: Eric]
#1249567
06/17/12 05:31 PM
06/17/12 05:31 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,547 Syracuse,NY
CompWedgeEngines
master
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master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,547
Syracuse,NY
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So Eric, what your saying here is BG has nice ta-ta's....why i never knew...
RIP Monte Smith
Your work is a reflection of yourself, autograph it with quality.
WD for Diamond Pistons,Sidewinder cylinder heads, Wiseco, K1 rods and cranks,BAM lifters, Morel lifters, Molnar Technologies, Harland Sharp, Pro Gear, Cometic, King Engine Bearings and many others.
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Re: What do you look for in a Machine Shop/ Engine Builder?
[Re: CompWedgeEngines]
#1249568
06/17/12 08:19 PM
06/17/12 08:19 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,082 St. Paul , Mn.
tubtar
master
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master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,082
St. Paul , Mn.
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I never mentioned money until it was time to pick up my stuff.....then I asked " what do I owe you ?". Reputation and experience.......not just with MoPars , but the wide variety of interesting stuff he has put his hands on told me he knew his business. I did have a ball park figure in mind for pricing on this last build , and he was anywhere from right on to a touch less for all I had done. If I were having him assemble it , then it would be more important to have a " MoPar guy " , but for machining , it is right or not. For porting , knowing what a certain head likes is more of a factor I suppose. But I was very happy with the numbers so far. The dyno will tell the rest of the tale , but I am not worried in the least. Reputation and experience ( how long he has been in the business ) are primary for any high end work I need done.
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Re: What do you look for in a Machine Shop/ Engine Buil
[Re: tubtar]
#1249569
06/17/12 09:34 PM
06/17/12 09:34 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,163 Melbourne , Australia
LA360
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,163
Melbourne , Australia
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I think on the engine building side of things, the internet has been a thorn in the side of many, many engine builders. Unfortunately there are many instances of mis-information out there and in some cases of too much information. I am sure that some of the magazine build up over the years have created a few headaches as well. Whilst it may not affect the US & Canadian based engine builders as much, selling parts for Australian engine Builders has basically all but ceased. In many cases the customer can land certain items for less than the builder can buy it for. Certain distibutors of performance parts over here can be somewhat over priced compared to others. The problem is the one in question is probably the largest here in Australia. No matter where you are, you are going to get guys wanting work done for next to nothing, and they are usually the ones to complain the most when something goes wrong. Further on to what Jim said, with class style racing, if the engine builder doesn't have a National record or a championship, I won't be handing my $$$ to someone else to come second or be first round fodder. This thread has been a very interesting read
Alan Jones
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Re: What do you look for in a Machine Shop/ Engine Buil
[Re: LA360]
#1249570
06/17/12 09:48 PM
06/17/12 09:48 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,547 Syracuse,NY
CompWedgeEngines
master
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master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,547
Syracuse,NY
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Very well put Alan...
RIP Monte Smith
Your work is a reflection of yourself, autograph it with quality.
WD for Diamond Pistons,Sidewinder cylinder heads, Wiseco, K1 rods and cranks,BAM lifters, Morel lifters, Molnar Technologies, Harland Sharp, Pro Gear, Cometic, King Engine Bearings and many others.
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Re: What do you look for in a Machine Shop/ Engine Buil
[Re: CompWedgeEngines]
#1249571
06/18/12 01:53 AM
06/18/12 01:53 AM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 103 NEW JERSEY
BIGSPEED
member
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member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 103
NEW JERSEY
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A GOOD engine builder,machine shop will get good results with ANY Brand of engine ,The process is the same for Chevy,Ford,Chrysler,Pontiac etc.Bill C.
Last edited by BIGSPEED; 06/18/12 01:54 AM.
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