The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Looking for a machine shop in the midwest

I have an already rebuilt 54’ 235 that came in my ‘46. It developed a knock. After some inspection, I found that #1 rod bearing/crank has damage. I only pulled 1 rod and 1 main cap for inspection. This does have inserts and the rod had .020” over and the main has .010 over. I pulled it and disassembled it to a short block. Cylinders look good and it has been bored .060”.
The only shop I would trust with tear down and assembly and crank repair is now 6-7 months behind. He has an extreme amount of race car engine work scheduled.
I am looking for advice and suggestions of quality shops in the Midwest or even a quality replacement.
I prefer not to be down for an entire show season.
I am located in Des Moines, Iowa

Rick, Just a note that I moved your question to the engine shop as it may get the best input from fellow Bolters about Midwest machine shops. Sent you a PM to explain, along with some suggestions on other posts you can create to look for "...a quality replacement".

You might try these guys in Omaha. They have been around a long time.

Daly's Machine Company
13725 C St, Omaha, NE 68144
(402) 330-3300

Good luck.

John

Thanks for the heads up on the post.

John thanks for info on Daly’s.
I was told about a shop in Dysart, Iowa-
also, 12 bolt.

I would think there would be machine shops everywhere in the Midwest, NO?

Good machine shops are getting scarce regardless of where you reside. There is a huge void being created regardless of the area of expertise by baby boomers retiring and there not being enough people following in their footsteps to carry over all of their accumulated knowledge.

Finding someone who can run a machine tool without half a dozen computers on it is part of the problem. I've been buying good condition manual machinery for pennies on the dollar for about 20 years. All I need to buy now is enough time to use them! Maybe my son and my grandson will be interested enough to carry on the "family tradition"- - - - - -hope so!
Jerry

That’s a good call out. I have no idea what he charges or how booked out he is, but the fellow you mention in Dysart is a specialist in inline 6’s.

Isn’t the 54 engine the one with bottom end parts that are getting mighty scarce?

Main bearings are getting to be unobtanium, but it's a simple procedure to modify the block to accept mains for the 56-63 engines. Just a few minutes with a Dremel tool will make the block accept the later bearings. Pistons, rings, rod and cam bearings are all interchangeable, on early to late engines.
Jerry

What has to be done to the block?

The later model main bearings (midyear 1955-63) have locator tabs at the parting line between the block and the cap, instead of a dowel pin built into the upper bearing at the center. It's about a 15 minute job with a Dremel tool to put the divots into the block at the proper position to use the later bearing in the early (1954-midyear 55) block. All the other dimensions are identical.
Jerry

The machine shop I took it to got extremely busy since I first talked to him, it was a while later before I finally got the short block assembly to him.He (the owner) said that he would be only one to work on it, and with him running the shop it would take extra time. He didn’t comment on any issues he might have repairing or getting bearings.
Yes there are numerous automotive machine shops in my area, just looking for a quicker quality alternative doing short block tear down and assembly also.
Jerry, I know what you mean about difficulty getting manual machinists. The business I work for does have a limited machine shop on site. We have a couple of retired machinists run manual jobs. Otherwise a couple of guys setup cnc machines for “button pushers “ to run other jobs.
I will follow up on leads, thanks all!