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Post by sc397 on Sept 22, 2022 4:48:37 GMT -8
Sorry about your luck with machinists Spud... Every time I hear these stories I feel pretty lucky to have what I have around here. I have a pretty good system down now in respect to machinists. All 3 of my Machine shops are within a hour of my house. The closest one is the best and only 12 miles away. Because he is the best he as always buried in work and he doesn't machine cranks or flywheels. If I take a complete engine over there it may be there a year but he will crank out a pair of heads for me in two weeks. So, I take the rest of the engine over to machinist number two who also doesn't machine cranks or flywheels either. This guy gets the short block all machined up in two weeks or less if he has the crank and flywheel with it obviously. Enter Machinist number three who is also buried but has told me that Thursday's and Fridays are crank machining days for him so again, he can "crank" out a crank and or flywheel in two weeks or less. And all three of these guys will get something done for me faster if I really need it but I don't ask unless I am in a bind. And as long as I have the puffy chest going here, not one of them ever ridicules AMC stuff (well, except for the cracked cylinder heads). In fact, last week the crank guy told me that both the cast and forged AMC cranks are the best he has ever machined (as far as stock stuff). He said that on the cast ones the material is better, harder, and more accurate than any ford or chevy one. This is the third crank machinist that has told me the same thing. Sorry about that, kinda went of on a tangent there..
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Post by spud on Sept 22, 2022 5:09:32 GMT -8
There was a guy who started machining cranks here several years back. He was so good and so affordable all the machine shops took everyones cranks to him to do, then they would go get them back and mark up the price. Well he went out of business a few months back. Now no cranks can get ground because everyone has let their skills and machinery go to shit. Lol. Kinda like china and the US. Theres good machine shops around here, but they do chevies and thats it. Once you mention amc they waste no time and suggest the first butcher shop they can think of to rid themselves of you. Reher morrison is like that. They all are to busy soaking up the racers money to mess with hobbyists.
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Post by 69Rebel on Sept 22, 2022 6:08:33 GMT -8
We have two machine shops left in town, both are good and don't mind AMC junk, in fact one is kind of an AMC fan. The owner of one shop is around 72 years old, the other is probably 65 or so. The clock is tickin' away.
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Post by Captain Awesome on Sept 22, 2022 6:28:40 GMT -8
Valve grinding machines/seat cutters show up pretty decent pretty often. Watch for auctions and Marketplace (have to join FB)...
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Post by sc397 on Sept 22, 2022 6:38:02 GMT -8
And my guy is cheap as well. His list price for machining flywheels is $55.00 but he charges me $35.00. His list price for machining crankshafts is $165.00 but he charges me $135.00 I know that it is a sweet deal. I usually take him 2 or 3 cranks at a time.
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Post by spud on May 20, 2023 9:55:32 GMT -8
Well I went down to egan tx this morning to pick up my 304 heads that have been sitting down there rusting since september 2022. I called him this morning asking what the fuck. He thanked me for my patience and said he thought he could “ finish” them by july or so. I said no worries total up my bill i will be there to pick em up at noon. So i picked em up about noon. The bill was 0.00$ since he had not touched them. He was nice and talkative but i had no time for excuses as i fired up little blackie and drove away quite happy. So more than a year later these heads have gone nowhere. “ AUTOMOTIVE MACHINE AND SUPPLY” in Egan Texas. FAIL. “DENNIS WELLS RACING ENGINES” duncanville,texas- FAIL. Why bother.
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Post by sc397 on May 21, 2023 14:40:09 GMT -8
What do you want done to them? Ship them to me and we will get it done.
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Post by spud on May 21, 2023 17:20:10 GMT -8
Its funny that i got these heads from you in the first place. I have considered bringing them to you. I need the valveguides replaced for chevy size stems and new seats cut for 1.84/1.59 305 chevy valves. How much do you think shipping would be for a set of heads?
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Post by sc397 on May 22, 2023 3:38:49 GMT -8
I have no clue. You would have to take one in a box to UPS and find out. They go by size and weight.
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Post by 69Rebel on May 22, 2023 5:44:43 GMT -8
Might be cheaper to LTL freight them via Greyhound or Old Dominion. May have to ship a few sets at once to make it worthwhile.
Do either of you have an account with FedEX or UPS? If not, shipping with either is more than double if you ship from one of their retail locations.
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Post by Captain Awesome on May 22, 2023 6:42:32 GMT -8
You needed to move near Rick, Reb. Spud too. You could be raising all kinds of AMC hell.
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Post by spud on May 22, 2023 7:06:02 GMT -8
I know. Texas has turned into a mexican welfare state. Nobody wants to work.
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Post by sc397 on May 22, 2023 10:59:46 GMT -8
It might be cheaper to sell you another pair of heads then ship them when they are done. Do you want bridged or single pivot? I think I have a pair of single pivot heads on the '72 304 that I have.
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Post by spud on May 22, 2023 12:24:27 GMT -8
That could work. Downside is the heads i have are already ported. Upside is i would get to do some more porting. Which aint exactly a big party😆 i guess i could send you the new valves i already have. But if your machinist used stock 305 chevy valves for setup , i dont think it would be different, i would expect the manley valves would fit the same.
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Post by spud on May 22, 2023 12:35:26 GMT -8
A round trip is about 300 in fuel and a weekend. I’ve already wasted a year waiting on people who were never gonna do them …and I aint getting that back🤣it would take two round trips to drop off and pick up . But i could visit my mom in illinois. So theres a upside😁 and freight aint cheap for heavy parts… sooo… edelbrock heads arent a great fit on a 304 nor are they cheap… but they do come to the front porch pretty quick and trouble free… is it worth it? What do you think it would cost me to machine up a set of pedestal rocker late 304 castings, with bronze guides and a basic three angle 305 chevy intake and exhaust seat, and a light mill?
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