Machinists in Omaha area driving me crazy

[My427stang]

An unfortunate byproduct of moving every three years is you have to build a new relationship with machinists...like old mechanics & AF officers, they can be a bit unreliable, self centered and grumpy 

Regardless, I need to rant a little

Dropped my heads off for two weeks at one place, were supposed to be done, weren't started.  Shipped them off to Les Schmader, done early, came in cheaper even with shipping, and better numbers than expected.

Dropped the block off to another place, supposedly the best in town, and it's probably accurate when talking to him, even had heated torque plates for some of the real common race stuff, standard torque plates for my FE   

Torque plate hone, square deck to 10.160, balance scat crank internally to my bobweight numbers (paperwork given to him if he wanted to use his own math).  All freeze plugs were out of block, cam bearings out, block was pressure washed, all rotating parts trial fit and ready for balancer.

Easy job..... "Two weeks"

2.5 weeks later, 27 July, block is 1/2 done, crank isn't balanced.  Says, see me the end of the month, meaning end of August...that was 4 more weeks and he wouldn't commit even then 

Unfortunately it seems to be the norm in this town,  it's killing me LOL  I think it may be the farmer mentality of corn "growing when it grows" or maybe something else, but I can't get a guy to commit to anything, not for lawn mowing services, not for HVAC work, and not for machine work. It amazes me in this economy.

I have a super high powered 3 cylinder Oliver engine in the wings and a couple of off brand SBs I need to do, but I can't trust a delivery schedule to even promise they'll hit within the same month they say!

Rant over....I'd much rather have a relationship with one guy, so I am going to hang with him, pay the bill and get some credibility and see what happens.  No doubt the 445 block and crank prep will be nice, but after this one,  I may need to find someone that grew up in the big city LOL

[65er]

I've been in one place here for about 15 years but have only had a couple engines done.  Both were more or less on schedule and both done by top reputable places, especially high performance racing type engines.  First one rebuilt my 352.  I told him not to bore it unless it really needed it so naturally he took it out .030 as standard procedure. I thought it looked perfect and probably should have just reringed the thing but I trusted the guy with the reputation.  He did some oiling mod that he claimed FE's needed which was cool.  I think it was just just drilling out the passage to the oil filter adapter.  #5 piston was installed with the notch facing the back of the motor.  Oops, lost some confidence points with me right there.  Figuring anyone can make a mistake once in a while, I took another block in to him at a later date to build my 390.  It was .040 over and he was going to take it .060.  No sonic check or anything, they bore 390's .060 over all the time, no problem.  In fact, they don't even have a sonic tester.  Told me (nicely, he was serious) that I could take it to Reher-Morrison in Dallas if I really was concerned about the thickness.   

So I took that block instead to another, more FE specialized guy a bit farther away and he immediately discovered that it had one sleeve already at .040 over so I junked that block and got another that was only .030 over.  He sonic checked it and it was ok but not overly thick.  Honed it to .040 over and with my blessing gave me .002" clearance for the hyper pistons I had delivered to his shop.  So far so good and I think he does good work but then again he said he checked the decks and they were within .001" or .002" so he didn't cut them. Cool!  That's the one I'm driving now, with the long rods and the piston tops milled .008" above the decks. Funny thing is (real funny) that I didn't cut the same amount off all the pistons.  To get them all .008" above decks, I took off anywhere from .009" to .025 depending on what I measured at mockup.  I though that was pretty strange so I swapped some pistons around to different holes.  Sure enough the decks are all over the place.  Flat, but not parallel with the crank.  Oh well, I said screw it because I got the deck I wanted with the pistons anyway and I really didn't want to deal with these guys anymore.

On top of that, both places did a set of rods for me and both sets of rods when I checked them had the wrist pins out of square and a couple twisted as well.  #2 place a little worse than #1 place, but MAN!  Can't these places get it right?  Do people just get their stuff and screw it together without checking it  or what?  Maybe I just look like an idiot so they feel like they can do whatever crap they want and I'll like it, I don't know.   Sure makes me FEEL like an idiot when that crap happens though.

Hopefully when I get to do that stroker everything will be top notch though because I'll be sending the block and heads out of town.  I'll be glad to pay the extra $$ for shipping.  Can't get no good work done here I guess, it's sad. 


I wish you the best on your stuff man, hope you get it back and it's right.  As least you aren't permanently located in a place where all the great shops crap all over you. 

[My427stang]

I am not as mad as the post sounded, it just tends to be a trend around here, regardless of the product or service.

I certainly understand that at a motor or less a month I am not going to get anyone rich, not to mention I am also just off the street, they don't know me from Adam.

On the other hand, its all cash labor, what a great way to grab a handful of weekend money!

[Carnut427]

  I have no idea how soon they can get to your parts, but try Bill's Machine in NE Omaha or Daly's in W Omaha.
Best of luck,

Dan

[My427stang]

Thanks Dan, I didn't think Bill's was still in business, I used him 15 years ago when I was here the first time.

Daly's has a good rep too, however, I talked to this shop and we'll see what happens, I should know what I am going to do by the 20th.

[Chad D]

A couple others to try if you're feeling like traveling a bit farther west:

Eckley Racing Engines, Mead.  Jay Eckley does mostly SBC sprint car engines, but will build anything and has a long time love affair with FEs, they were his first build in his high school Mustang.  IIRC, he's a veteran of Raymond Beadle's shop in Texas.  He has a very complete, modern, sanitary shop with a flow bench and a Superflow dyno in the back room if you're looking for those services.  http://www.eckleyracingengines.com/

Engine Dynamics, Davey.  Ken Schneider has been building mostly motorcycle engines lately, but knows a lot of tricks where the FE is concerned, he's built a ton of them.  He's an absolute stickler for detail.  Ken is old school, and sometimes a bit peculiar, but is a super nice, intelligent guy that turns out excellent work.  He did return to the railroad for a while, not sure if he's back in the building game full time again or not.  (402) 785-2020

You may be running into the 'end of season' crunch for the sprint/late model crowd, everybody is freshening or rebuilding for the late season dash.  Or, they're just slow.  Hope you have better luck.

[My427stang]

Thanks Chad, I appreciate it

Believe it or not I am driving nearly as far to get to my current guy in North O, so if there is a hiccup, I'll see what those guys can do,

[drdano]

Gessford Machine is not far away and have a decent reputation for FE work.

[Chad D]

Gessford Machine (George Anderson, owner) has a stellar reputation, and I'd put their work up against anybody's.  They do lots of race, tractor pull, and offshore boat engines, and loads of 427s (many for European 427 Cobra lovers).  George is a super cool dude, the mind behind MPH (Motorsports Park Hastings), as well as an uncompromising master when it comes to the best for his customers.  The boys in the shop have all the right stuff to create precise, durable, high horsepower engines of any sort.  I spent a day of George's time being escorted through the shop for a dog and pony show, their blueprinting processes are quite thorough, *everything* is fitted individually to a specific clearance.  'Twas quite an education on the finer points of making an FE live under a heavy foot.  Unfortunately, they are almost three hours from Ross' location (Hastings), which is why I didn't suggest them.

[Heo]

My Machinist that i known for atleast 20 years is a very god
if you want new bearings cast for a model t or a race engine
machined or a gigantic powerplant turbine arbored....but
dont leave the parts at his place and think you could pic them
up later.I found out i have to be there when he do the job and
keep him company in the shop. And dont ask him some questions
then he stops and starts talking about what you asked and he knows alot
so he talk far a loooooong time and then its time to smoke
and then its time for cofee and then he is hungry and time 
fore some hotdogs that he cooks in a pressure cooker to
save time . I spent many nights in his shop .
but if he tells you your deck is square to the crank it is square
And dont call him and tell him you just want a regular 4 cyl engine
just bored then he have to much work.But if you have a Willys knight
slide valve engine or something like that thats need a ful rebuild
 then you can come the next day

[My427stang]

Well I got the parts back, they were a bit late and he wasn't cheap, but I measured every thing and it is exactly where he said

When I walked in there was an FE on the bench getting screw in galley plugs, I was sure it was mine and not quite finished however, it wasn't, it was an irrigation 428 with a center oiler next to it and a 406 further down.

He didn't love the SCAT crank, although I am surprised he is an Eagle fan.  Ended up turning the rear counterweight down .150 to lighten it, added 2 small sticks of Mallory to the front, then made up any "tuning" left over by working the knife edges. 

He claims the Eagles are easier to balance, but I just heard too many stories of breakage to try one.

All in all I am happy, and today he was very friendly, of course I had just handed him a check too LOL