Rebuilt engines by Precision Engines

[Shaky]

Does anyone have any experience with rebuilt engines from these guys? I'm just looking for a good stocker-type rebuild on a 250.

http://www.precisionengine.com/

[dwcsr]

I had one done by them before they went out of business and were bought by Thunderbolt. Here is thunderbolts BBB file
http://www.bbb.org/houston/business-...ston-tx-78463/

[Shaky]

Thanks. It looks like there were 41 complaints in 36 months, but it lists all 41 as resolved - if I'm reading that right. "Resolved" isn't exactly a keen insight into what happened.

Any other good rebuilding houses for a 6-cylinder?

[jim zag]

Why not have the machine work done by a good shop and asemble it yourself? A six cylinder Chevy is pretty simple! Buy good quality parts and upgrade the head for unleaded fuel and put it together. If you need suggestions send me a PM.

[cdowns]

try finding a local machine shop with rebuilding services//the yellow pages a good place to start

[Shaky]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have a 250 from a '67 GMC, but I haven't been impressed by the local shops around here lately.

I've assembled a 350 before, and done a lot of wrenching on sixes. Part of the issue is time, but I still haven't ruled out doing it myself. Part of me wants to do it that way so that I know for sure that the clearances are all correct.

[adpostel]

If you get the work done by a reputable machine shop, it doesn't even need to be a RACE SHOP or Performance place, once you buy all the parts and the machine work, the assembly is usually a fairly small price for the amount of money you'll have in it, and you don't have to mess with it. I know my place here in Houston is a performance shop, and after they do all the machine work and I buy everything I want, gaskets and all that good stuff, they usually only charge about 125 - 150 to assemble everything.....thats nothing compared to the piece of mind I get......

[Wrenchbender Ret]

Jasper's. They will pick it up, rebuild it to your spec's & bring it back. They are good quality & have a great warranty. When I had a shop that was the only reman I would sell. If the customer wanted a different one I let them buy it themselves. Some of the local re builders almost put me out of business at one time.

[Shaky]

Originally Posted by adpostel

If you get the work done by a reputable machine shop, it doesn't even need to be a RACE SHOP or Performance place, once you buy all the parts and the machine work, the assembly is usually a fairly small price for the amount of money you'll have in it, and you don't have to mess with it. I know my place here in Houston is a performance shop, and after they do all the machine work and I buy everything I want, gaskets and all that good stuff, they usually only charge about 125 - 150 to assemble everything.....thats nothing compared to the piece of mind I get......

I hear you and would go that way except for the two experiences I had:

1. A local shop did the machine work. I double checked everything and put it together. It lasted a good long time.

2. A local shop did the machine work and assembly. In less than 10k miles it was smoking and it broke a rocker arm. I'm a little gun-shy.

[Shaky]

Originally Posted by Wrenchbender Ret

Jasper's. They will pick it up, rebuild it to your spec's & bring it back. They are good quality & have a great warranty. When I had a shop that was the only reman I would sell. If the customer wanted a different one I let them buy it themselves. Some of the local re builders almost put me out of business at one time.

Interesting...

[adpostel]

Originally Posted by Shaky

I hear you and would go that way except for the two experiences I had:

1. A local shop did the machine work. I double checked everything and put it together. It lasted a good long time.

2. A local shop did the machine work and assembly. In less than 10k miles it was smoking and it broke a rocker arm. I'm a little gun-shy.

I hear you Shaky, but to be honest, you have to have a lot of specialized tools to put the engine together yourself, the right way. I mean not everyone has a cam bearing installer, ring filer, I.D. and O.D. Mic's, torque wrench, engine stand, etc.... I mean if you have all these things, then by all means......but if you don't, a hundy and a half is not to much to have them do it. But I feel you about having a bad experience. I mean hopefully the local engine builder has a good reputation, and stands behind his work.

On another note, I would agree about Jasper, I have heard good things about them, and there are several shops that use them exclusively. If your going for a stocker type of job, It should be fairly easy to find a machine shop that will suit your needs. I think a lot of people put a lot of stock into "FROM THE FACTORY" I hardley think the factory is a precision machine shop........ In other words, because of the mass production, their tolerances are pretty wide ranging, so for a stock 6 banger, you shouldn't have any problems with a Jasper or Precision........just don't skimp on anything like new oil pump, shaft and pickup, and make sure you have new everything that is a wearable item.......

[Shaky]

Originally Posted by adpostel

But I feel you about having a bad experience. I mean the local engine builder has a good reputation, and stands behind his work.

The problem was, the local guy who did my last engine had a good rep for a lot of years, and then I caught him just as he was drinking his business into the ground. I'm trying to avoid having this happen again.

I have access to the tools, time is more the issue.

Jasper sounds interesting since I wouldn't end up with a spare engine lying around, know the history of the core, and don't have to deal with shipping a core separately.

[cduster]

Jasper is very good about warrenty work.
I had a 383 that they made for me, and it had Dart heads on it. Once it would warm up it would start squeaking. Adjust the rockers and it went away, but would come back. They had me take the motor out, picked it up and went through the whole thing again installing all new bearings, new oil pump, the whole shootin match. Got it back, and the same problem. They then sent me a set of crane roller rockers (free, since I was putting them on) and problem solved. Turns out the push rod clearance in the heads was close so when it warmed up the stamped rockers allow the pushrod to move whereas the rollers keep the pushrods right in line.

Long story short, Jasper is a good company that I would use again, and have a few times since. The customer service and warrenty is top notch in my book.

[Shaky]

Originally Posted by cduster

Jasper is very good about warrenty work.
I had a 383 that they made for me, and it had Dart heads on it. Once it would warm up it would start squeaking. Adjust the rockers and it went away, but would come back. They had me take the motor out, picked it up and went through the whole thing again installing all new bearings, new oil pump, the whole shootin match. Got it back, and the same problem. They then sent me a set of crane roller rockers (free, since I was putting them on) and problem solved. Turns out the push rod clearance in the heads was close so when it warmed up the stamped rockers allow the pushrod to move whereas the rollers keep the pushrods right in line.

Long story short, Jasper is a good company that I would use again, and have a few times since. The customer service and warrenty is top notch in my book.

I looked at their website, but I can't quite tell how it works. Will they pick up the engine at my house and drop it back off there? Or do I have to find a local garage that deals with them?

[Wrenchbender Ret]

Call them. 1800-827-7455

[cduster]

If I am rembering right, they pick up and deliver to business. For me they came right to the airport since thats where my business is, but I think it just needs to be a business address.

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by jim zag

Why not have the machine work done by a good shop and asemble it yourself? A six cylinder Chevy is pretty simple! Buy good quality parts and upgrade the head for unleaded fuel and put it together. If you need suggestions send me a PM.

I agree 100%. They are fun to work on to plus it keeps the machine shops in business

[Shaky]

Originally Posted by mbgmike

I agree 100%. They are fun to work on to plus it keeps the machine shops in business

Finding a good shop around here is the issue. There's a tendency to give the rebuilds to the new guy while the experienced guys concentrate on the custom stuff...

[Shaky]

OK. After listening to you guys and looking around and crunching numbers I finally went with a local shop.

http://centerautomachineshop.com/

Everything is done under one roof and they had a good attitude. It's going to cost a little more, but like someone else here said, if I need to go talk to someone I can do it face-to-face. Cross your fingers...

[Deenice21]

never heard about them

but a lot of pontiac guys swear by these guys http://www.rebuilt-auto-engines.com/.

[Shaky]

Originally Posted by Deenice21

never heard about them

They're a small local shop with a long history. I was worried that their quality fell off, but they talked the talk, and the shop looked good, so we'll see.