S4Cruiser
SILVER Star
For those following my yellow truck build, my F135 needs main bearings...at a minimum. Figured I'd then have the head magnafluxed, valve job, blah blah blah.
THoff in Raleigh has been the only shop I've used, mainly b/c all the other shops around this area all directed me to them. They've done a 2F head and 2 flywheels for me previously, both in a reasonable time frame and what appears to be decent work.
...well, not any longer. I went there to drop off my already torn down, stamped, bagged and tagged long block earlier today. I was surprised when the guy working the front hinted at it likely taking a while to get done, sure, fine, I'm (semi) reasonable. A couple months is what I was expecting, but not so much...turns out they just aren't interested in doing the work (without saying they aren't).
Couple zingers from a very short (5 mins) conversation with the 'front guy':
- I seriously recommend you swap in a 350, that's what everyone does these days.
- We had one of these in before and it took us a year to finish.
- These 3 main engines are just not that desirable (3 main...ok, sure).
- We can't do the cranks, we've got the machine but no one knows how to use it.
- Times these days are just tough, you know.
- We can store it for you if needed.
- If you want us to take a look, we can work around it for six months or so and maybe get to it.
- We need 3 more employees.
- Our building is too small and we are having trouble taking on work and not getting it done, but we could store it outside.
He then asked if I wanted them to do it? Yeah, no...but thanks! Honestly, it's a blessing in disguise they conveyed incompetence and lack of willingness to work on it at the beginning vs the end.
Moving on...so I need recommendations of a machine shop that is
1. willing to work on older toyota / chevy inline 6 engines
2. is competent and knowledgeable regarding the above
3. can complete some (what seems to me) fairly stratightforward machine work in a reasonable time (~3 months)
4. is within a 6 hour drive of the RDU area
Cost is not that much of a concern. I'd rather do it right and pay a fair price vs building based on budget.
Hit me with suggestions
THoff in Raleigh has been the only shop I've used, mainly b/c all the other shops around this area all directed me to them. They've done a 2F head and 2 flywheels for me previously, both in a reasonable time frame and what appears to be decent work.
...well, not any longer. I went there to drop off my already torn down, stamped, bagged and tagged long block earlier today. I was surprised when the guy working the front hinted at it likely taking a while to get done, sure, fine, I'm (semi) reasonable. A couple months is what I was expecting, but not so much...turns out they just aren't interested in doing the work (without saying they aren't).
Couple zingers from a very short (5 mins) conversation with the 'front guy':
- I seriously recommend you swap in a 350, that's what everyone does these days.
- We had one of these in before and it took us a year to finish.
- These 3 main engines are just not that desirable (3 main...ok, sure).
- We can't do the cranks, we've got the machine but no one knows how to use it.
- Times these days are just tough, you know.
- We can store it for you if needed.
- If you want us to take a look, we can work around it for six months or so and maybe get to it.
- We need 3 more employees.
- Our building is too small and we are having trouble taking on work and not getting it done, but we could store it outside.
He then asked if I wanted them to do it? Yeah, no...but thanks! Honestly, it's a blessing in disguise they conveyed incompetence and lack of willingness to work on it at the beginning vs the end.
Moving on...so I need recommendations of a machine shop that is
1. willing to work on older toyota / chevy inline 6 engines
2. is competent and knowledgeable regarding the above
3. can complete some (what seems to me) fairly stratightforward machine work in a reasonable time (~3 months)
4. is within a 6 hour drive of the RDU area
Cost is not that much of a concern. I'd rather do it right and pay a fair price vs building based on budget.
Hit me with suggestions
