khamai Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 (edited) I'm rebuilding the Kent engine in my Seven. All the engine machine shops that I once used are closed! Does anyone have a recommendation on for a engine machine shop in the San Jose California area that is familiar with the Kent engine? Thanks! Kiyoshi webguy"at"gglotus.org Edited January 22, 2015 by khamai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s2k7 Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 That's amazing, I thought only in my state. I can't find a machine shop too. Most of the machine shop I knew for years also closed. Why do you think the reason? People are buying used engine instead of rebuilding it? Or kids are no longer interested going to trade school ? The old machinist are like dying species. Once its gone, its done and closed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super7guy Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 Been told by a couple of machine shops, that they can't duplicate the factory build. As an example, one of the honda engines requires a double stepped bore for the liner. He machinist said that by the time they moved the alloy block into the sun to take it to another shop, the block was out of spec for the liner. The is "no extra meat left on the bones". The factory engines are designed for max power within emissions and lowest weight within warrantee. Only the old muscle cars provide business for the machinist. YMMV Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffee break Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 I was by a friend's garage yesterday. He was telling me he is expanding his machine shop area. He said "can you tell me what this is?" I couldn't, it was an engine out of an Essex. A 6 cylinder flat head with 3 main bearings. He mainly works on American iron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khamai Posted January 22, 2015 Author Share Posted January 22, 2015 It's combination of pressures and changes... A) Engines and engine parts are disposable. Don't fix you replace. B) Young'uns are digital, everything is done on your phone or internet. And the true artisan machinist are retiring with no one to take over their businesses C) Cities are zoning out auto related business because they are "dirty". The costs and regulations for a machine shop are mind boggling. D) Tuning for HP is done more from a laptop than porting or profiling a cam It's sad. But, makes it a challenge to keep a classic car going. For my saga it's looking like the nearest shop is in Livermore or Santa Rosa. Cheers, Kiyoshi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s2k7 Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 (edited) CNC machine took over the porting. I wonder if one day the CNC can be programmed too to do the block. You have a sets of program specification for Nissan - Ford - Toyota -- high performance cars....etc..etc Bring the block in the morning and pick it up in the afternoon. Edited January 22, 2015 by s2k7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
locost7018 Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 Look for some one that specializes in formula Ford race cars. I just had my Kent done by Farley Race Engines in Platte City, MO. Russ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanG Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Engine rebuilds are expensive! Rebuilding my BMC A engine was many thousands of dollars over what I expected. It is not cost effective to rebuild an engine for a daily driver. Most of the rebuild marked has been priced out of the picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gherkin Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Kiyoshi, I have a customer in Walnut Creek that is a well respected machine shop in the Bay Area. This is a pretty old school shop that does machine work on all sorts of engines from american V8's to Ferrari. They have vintage Ferrari blocks sent to them from all over the country and some international. Morgan's Machine and Marine 1285 Parkside Drive Walnut Creek 925-939-7346 Ask for Chris and tell him that Chris from PIAA sent you Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khamai Posted January 23, 2015 Author Share Posted January 23, 2015 Kiyoshi, I have a customer in Walnut Creek that is a well respected machine shop in the Bay Area. This is a pretty old school shop that does machine work on all sorts of engines from american V8's to Ferrari. They have vintage Ferrari blocks sent to them from all over the country and some international. Morgan's Machine and Marine 1285 Parkside Drive Walnut Creek 925-939-7346 Ask for Chris and tell him that Chris from PIAA sent you Chris Awesome! Thanks Chris, I'll give him a call. BTW, I did have a decent conversation with Gromm Racing this afternoon. I'm going to check them out. And, I need to call Bob Wirth and see if he's interested. At this point I just need the work done. I know it's not going to be cheap. Cheers, Kiyoshi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CASwede Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 I had been referred to Tech Machine in Livermore by a friend who spends his free time restoring cars. They have worked on several engines for him, and he's been very pleased. The internet appears to be generally happy with them as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khamai Posted January 24, 2015 Author Share Posted January 24, 2015 Thanks everyone for the suggestions! From zero ideas I've gone to at least a half dozen in the greater Bay Area. Cheers, Kiyoshi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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