Who has a good type IV machinist-engine builder recommendation?, Time to post your secret sources or remind everyone who's good Options

[rick 918-S]

With Jakes most recent posts and his request to have his access to the forum blocked it's time to talk about your good fortune with your local engine builders. It's clear that there are guys all over the world that know these engines very well and can build killer type IV's.

So you guys that race and AX let's hear your stories about the guys you use.

Even though Jake decided to terminate his association with us let's not forget about Len Hoffman. Without His heads Jakes engines would not have been any better than the air cooled Wisconsin I used to run my arch welder. So you could say without Len, jake wouldn't exist. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

So from there, Who has other head sources? How about cam? We all know the secret to a efficient air pump is how it moves it's volume. Who was Jakes cam grinder? I'm sure it's been mentioned but I likely missed that commercial.

There is a number of posts on setting up your rockers and making up your pushrods to the proper length. Anyone have a good experience or posted about this dig up the link and add it to this thread.

My hat's off to a couple guys that I can think of in the first few minutes here.

Sean Malloy. Sean builds engines, does support work for guys that race type IV's and does chassis work and anything else you need. I've been to Sean's shop and spent time really talking with him. Sean will take care of you with no drama.

Chris Folley is another guy that has gone out of his way to keep our cars moving. Chris has built and raced 914's for longer than I have owned my car. There is nothing he doesn't know about these engines. He also has Ed working at his place. Ed is a 914 dictionary on steroids. Chris recently stuck his neck and his wallet out on the chopping block and brought us a kit to repair our MAPS.

Mark De Bernardi, Most resently McMark completed an outragous engine for Rob Simes. We all know how capable Mark is. I have visited Marks shop too. You will never get a cross word from him and you will always get top notch work whether he's building you an engine or repairing your chassis on his Celette.

Let's not forget about Joe O'brien. He is currently working on a custom injected type IV for John Faure. Check out his progress at Series9. I've been to Joe's shop. It's clean and organized. Joe is building an awesome shop and growing fast in Florida's economy.

Let's here about your positive experiences. Keep it about the type IV. No bashing or Drama or I will ask the admins to lock this.

[r_towle]

Type4 unleashed was loosely affiliated with European motorworks.
I have used EMS many times, prices are very good and they sell the pistons I like,,the JE pistons.
they are full of practical knowledge.
they will sell one piston, match the old pistons etc...

For the rebiit rod setup...BTDT.
The rods can allow for a 78mm stroke.
this was a setup that worked before rods where available.
the issue with the longer stroke is still the number three rod seat and the oil passage in that area...

Be careful going to that stroke...its a stressed out crankshaft, even the new ones have that same issue.

the rabbit rod setup just made the problem more apparent due to the smaler diameter rold journal...so you had to take even more meat off the crankshaft.

Type4unleashed did one thing that was super cool...
he used lightweight and smaller diameter lifters...which EMS sells.
You have to press in bushings into the case, but it looked fairly straight forward.
Not sure what happened with that setup because he stopped posting here around that time...have not heard much from him since.

One th East coast we have Shine Racing (www.srsvw.com)
We have a machine shop in Brockton that Foley has used, so ask him his results from that experience...not sure if it was good or bad.

We just had a custom set of heads done at a local shop up here...all went well except we had to bring them back for a CHT sensor to be milled into the head...we had two left side heads...

I have found that most places have worked on Type4 heads at one point in time, and ALL shops now deal with valve seats in aluminum heads....every motor seems to have aluminum heads now.

the nice part of that progress is that its no longer a secret how to put seats in that stay in place...
the metal being used for the seats is also very well tested now, so again, its not a secret at most shops.

I always take the time to visit any shop that I might drop my parts at for machine work.
I like to see the shop and look the person in the eye when we talk about what I need done.

I have yet to be less than satisfied with any machine work I have needed, so I guess it pays to shop around and meet the machinists to determine if you will get what you are looking for.

aircooled.net has always been cool.
EMS has been more than cool, lots of parts, knowledge and timely shipping.

Rich

[rick 918-S]

Type4 unleashed was loosely affiliated with European motorworks.
I have used EMS many times, prices are very good and they sell the pistons I like,,the JE pistons.
they are full of practical knowledge.
they will sell one piston, match the old pistons etc...

For the rebiit rod setup...BTDT.
The rods can allow for a 78mm stroke.
this was a setup that worked before rods where available.
the issue with the longer stroke is still the number three rod seat and the oil passage in that area...

Be careful going to that stroke...its a stressed out crankshaft, even the new ones have that same issue.

the rabbit rod setup just made the problem more apparent due to the smaler diameter rold journal...so you had to take even more meat off the crankshaft.

Type4unleashed did one thing that was super cool...
he used lightweight and smaller diameter lifters...which EMS sells.
You have to press in bushings into the case, but it looked fairly straight forward.
Not sure what happened with that setup because he stopped posting here around that time...have not heard much from him since.

One th East coast we have Shine Racing (www.srsvw.com)
We have a machine shop in Brockton that Foley has used, so ask him his results from that experience...not sure if it was good or bad.

We just had a custom set of heads done at a local shop up here...all went well except we had to bring them back for a CHT sensor to be milled into the head...we had two left side heads...

I have found that most places have worked on Type4 heads at one point in time, and ALL shops now deal with valve seats in aluminum heads....every motor seems to have aluminum heads now.

the nice part of that progress is that its no longer a secret how to put seats in that stay in place...
the metal being used for the seats is also very well tested now, so again, its not a secret at most shops.

I always take the time to visit any shop that I might drop my parts at for machine work.
I like to see the shop and look the person in the eye when we talk about what I need done.

I have yet to be less than satisfied with any machine work I have needed, so I guess it pays to shop around and meet the machinists to determine if you will get what you are looking for.

aircooled.net has always been cool.
EMS has been more than cool, lots of parts, knowledge and timely shipping.

Rich

Great post Rich! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)