California contacts for short or long block sales

[2wrench]

Twenty miles away is a business in Stockton, CA.
Sorry, but 10K for an engine rebuild sounds like
too much. No need to mention them.

California Forum Members, where do you go for engine block
or heads? TRF will do a long block. It is presumed
I have no core, so they charge nearly 500 for that;
nearly 500 to ship and 4,200 for the long block puts it
at about 5,200 and then there is crating and tax.

There has got to be somebody on the West Coast who
builds long or short blocks for less than that.
I do live close to Sacramento, CA.

Can anybody provide an optional California resource
for a, preferably, long block, for my '74 TR6?

Thanks.

PS Fresno, CA is not out of range; southern CA is
still worth investigating, I suppose.

 

[tdskip]

There are machine shops all over SoCal that do this sort of work, and there are at least several British Car shops in Orange County and San Diego that do rebuilds but I have not priced them.

I can dig up some contacts if you want.

 

[richards]

Try Walter at Britalia, Fullerton Cailf.
714 879 7531

NFI


Richard S
1974 TR6

 

[tomshobby]

Re: California contacts for short or long block sa

Depends is more than a TV commercial.

It also pertains to your engine rebuild.

For an engine that is in fair condition it is high and half that would be closer to being in line and include parts.

Bore it oversize, add cam bearings, raise compression, valves, exhaust seats, etc. and you could expect $7500.

Build a really nice street engine and you could reach $10000.

I did a nice job on mine last spring and got a great price from an exceptional machine shop along with a guarantee. I also did much of the work myself and some favors for the shop. The result was a considerable savings and it still cost well over half what you were quoted.

At any price, get a guarantee and if the price seems way out of line maybe the guy does not want the job or he is really, really good.

Just remember that horsepower costs money and the more you want the faster it increases.

 

[2wrench]

There are machine shops all over SoCal that do this sort of work, and there are at least several British Car shops in Orange County and San Diego that do rebuilds but I have not priced them.

I can dig up some contacts if you want.

Sure, if it's not too much trouble.

 

[PeterK]

This might be a good place to start. My TR3A came from this club before I purchased it.

https://web.mac.com/sctoa/SCTOA/Welcome.html

 

[TR6oldtimer]

There is nothing special about a TR6 engine. In fact it is as basic as it gets. Any good engine re-builder can do one, and any good auto machine shop can do the heads. Finding someone to do the cam bearing bore is challenging but is probably not necessary.

Keep looking around (without the British car specialist requirement), once you find a shop then you buy the parts and they do the work.

 

[TR6oldtimer]

If distance is not a big deal...

Here in Santa Cruz, Greg has a shop that specializes in English cars. He is also a collector with a Healy, MG's, and a Morgan to mention a couple. May want to check him out.


Jaguar-mg-Triumph Specialists-Greg Solow's Engine 125 Front St
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 429-1800

Next year I will be re-building my 73 and while I plan to do the assembly myself, I will be using this machine shop for the milling and boring work. The machinist is into racing motorcycles and Porsches and a very nice guy. His shop is always kept spotless.

NAPA AUTO PARTS
Carr Parts
1822 Soquel Ave
Santa Cruz CA , 95062 (831) 426-6700

 

[trbob]

I don't know if you have tried Triumphs Only already or not but I have had good luck with them for NOS and used parts for my SIX. Wayne is a good guy and he is located close to you. I've not used him for any rebuilding work but he does offer it. https://www.triumphsonly.com

 

[TR3driver]

I'll second Greg Solow, he knows his stuff.

But honestly, if cost is an object, my suggestion is to pick up some tools and do it (mostly) yourself. As noted, there are lots of machine shops that can easily handle the needed machining operations; and doing the R&R, disassembly and assembly yourself will save a lot of hours of labor at $100/hour or more. Pay attention to what you are doing, triple check everything, and you'll likely do a better job than a professional anyway. Especially if you tell him to hurry (or work for a fixed price which amounts to the same thing).

Unless you are going racing, or the bores are significantly worn/damaged already, I wouldn't bother with boring for cam bearing inserts.

In fact, that's another advantage of doing it yourself; you and your pocketbook (and the condition of your motor) can decide what level of rebuild you need. It's a lot like restoring a car, you don't necessarily have to do a frame-off restoration every time; sometimes just new carpets, a little Bondo and a coat of paint is "good enough".

 

[tdskip]

You can try these guys. They know their stuff.

British Motor Service Incorporated, Orange CA 92867 ...British Motor Service Incorporated, 521 W Katella Ave, Orange, CA. Tel: 714-997-1122.

 

[TR3driver]

This might be a good place to start. My TR3A came from this club before I purchased it.

https://web.mac.com/sctoa/SCTOA/Welcome.html

Hey, thanks for the vote of confidence, Peter !

Randall - TR2/3 consultant, Electrical consultant and Helpdesk for SCTOA

 

[PeterK]

See, I knew there was someone there who knows their TRs! Surely with Herman and the gang someone would know where a good block exists in SoCal.

My car used to belong to a club member there until around 2004.

 

[2wrench]

Thanks for all of the responses. Actually, on the
run at the moment and don't really have proper time
to digest, but will revisit.

Best to all,

 

[TR3driver]

Problem is, it's a long ol way from Tracy to So CA. I think those east coast guys tend to forget just how big CA is ... Tracy, CA to my place is farther than Portland, ME to New York, NY.

 

[TR6oldtimer]

Yep, here when asked how far away some place is we answer in hours. However, an hours drive in Southern California is not as far as in the north. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

[TR3driver]

Depends on where you are in the north ... I sure wouldn't call Silicon Valley any better than where I am. But Santa Cruz is practically rural by comparison with either one.

We have dinner plans tonight at a place less than 30 miles away, and I'm not sure I can get there in only an hour ...

 

[Guest]

I'd have suggested APT (www.aptfast.com), but google maps has them too far away. They may know someone further north though - might be worth a call.

 

[Bugeye58]

Try LJs' Machine Shop in Napa. Down at the south side, close to Vallejo. He also does work for Huffaker.
Jeff

 

[AngliaGT]

There should be a shop at Sears Point Raceway
that could do the work.
I know that Rich Kamp,who has Kampena Motors-
- (a Lotus repair/restoration shop),does great work.

- Doug