Good machine shops near Wichita KS.

[chevyc1068]

Anybody know of some good machine shops that will bore, and machine parts for a good price and good quality around the Wichita area? I will be rebuilding my 307 soon a want to visit a few machine shops and see what they would do for me and for how much. So does anyone have any advice on machine shops that are really cheap but do good work. My budget is pretty low so I need to save as much money as possible.

Does anybody have an estimate at what it would cost to have the cylinders bored?

[Slammed70]

Hit up Midwest Engine. They're just off Lincoln and Ida (right accross from Halls Speed shop)

Talk to a "feller" named Mac Burnette.

These guys are all like.....60 or older so they know their stuff and will be more then happy to hook you up with any thing they can.

[chevyc1068]

Thanks Slammed

Anybody else know of a good one???

[Slammed70]

Theres one in kingman too, I just cant recall the name or where they're at though.

[jacobs]

Don't know if there is a NAPA machine shop there but I've had very good sucess with the one in Denver.

[Yukon Jack]

Chet Wilson Machine Shop 264-5155 - Chet was the original owner and now his son runs it. He is probably 55-60 and did some minor work on the heads on my bbc. Could have been a bit quicker but he did a good job and I thought the price was fair. The shop has a good reputation and does some advertising out at the drag track.

[shopking72]

I will recommend Saum's Engineering. My brother and my dad had there 406's built up there and he does very good work.

Ask for Big Mike!!

[chevyc1068]

Slammed, you really think there is one in Kingman. I don't know I can't recall if there is one. I know that there are repair shops, but never having them repair anything I don't know if they do anything else.

There is a NAPA in town but I don't know if it is a machine shop.

Thanks for the info!!! Keep them coming.

[Slammed70]

Originally Posted by chevyc1068

Slammed, you really think there is one in Kingman. I don't know I can't recall if there is one. I know that there are repair shops, but never having them repair anything I don't know if they do anything else.

There is a NAPA in town but I don't know if it is a machine shop.

Thanks for the info!!! Keep them coming.

Yeah, I came across it a few years ago when I got lost looking for some girls house. I work with a few guys from Kingman....Ill hit them up tomarrow and see whats going on for you.

[piecesparts]

I live in the Emporia area (85 miles from Wichita) and the Machine shop there is a solid forward thinking business. If you were willing to drive that far to get quality work (depending on your feelings for the shops close to you), I owuld recommend the owner. His name is Mark Carney and the business is "Automotive Machine Inc.", phone 620-343-2096. He has built many performance motors and has a up to date shop to support anything that you need. I have a couple of his motors in my vehicles right now.If all else fails, call him and tell him Frank Seeney sent you. His labor rates are reasonable.


Pictured is the 383 stroker that he and I put together.

[Fred T]

Saum does great work, but they specialize in high performance engines. I have a friend there that ports heads. If you're on a budget, you probably can't afford them.

Another shop with an old-timer is AAA Automotive Machine at 2230 s Mead. He bent over backwards to repair an old head screwed up by Hebb, a place I cannot recommend.

A lesson that I learned about machine shops in this town is that most of them won't do the work unless you buy the parts through them. I had to pay 25% extra to have my machining done since I already had the parts. That might have changed in the last six years.

[Stroker]

I've done bussiness with a few shops in Wichita.

Chet Wilson.........the meat of their business is the local racers. If you need your engine work finished before June keep looking. Personally I wasn't impressed but to be fair I know lots of people who would go no where else.

Saum........ does nice work but not a budget machine shop. Also may be backed-up building performance engines for next season.

Smith Auto Machine & Supply ...... It's been a number of years ago, but I thought they did good work for a fair price with good turn around.

I know a few guys here in Wichita that have started using a shop in Emporia for their drag race engines. They seem to be very happy with the results. Not sure what the shops name is. Probably the same shop recommended by piecesparts

[chevyc1068]

Thanks guys for all the recommendations. Now I will have to see what some of them cost and how soon they can get to me.

[piecesparts]

Emporia has the machine shop that I offered up earlier in the thread. However most of the racers are probably going to Gary Stinnet racing (just down the street from Automotive Machine) for their engines. He uses the "Automotive Machine Inc." for his machine work and he is an assembler and builder/dyno. Gary builds pricey motors for the NHRA class cars. The one that Mark Carney owns does work from the daily driver to race motrs and you will appreciate his honesty. The fact that most shops want to sell the parts too, is a thing that makes them money. The guy in Emporia likes that also, but will work with what you have or want. Just don't buy a motor somewhere else and then expect him or any other shop to fix it if it is not right. He will stand behind or in front of his work, your choice. Give him a call---Winter his farm work picks up, but the shop is not overloaded right now. The drive across the Flint Hills is not bad at all, I do it a lot, since the son lives in Wichita. I have my son bring his vehicles to Emporia for any repairs, because I can save money in labor over the higher overhead shops in Wichita.