Good Machine shops in Regina

helrazr · Feb 2, 2006

I'm building a 400M motor for my '77 F150 Supercab and I like some recomendations on where to go for best service and prices. I called Continental and was quoted $1000 for the shortblock. I also am using some custom parts like ARP fasteners , 9.5 cast pistons and a Comp cam so I need a place that can get these parts without costing an arm and a leg. I'd also like to run the motor on the Dyno at ABS to break in the cam and rings as well as tuning (the motor will be propane/gas). Has anyone dealt with them before? I've heard good and bad things. Thanks

xplict · Feb 3, 2006

I have been taking all my stuff to Continental for the last 3-4 years now. They have always treated me right and given me great prices. I haven't had a single problem with them yet.
I did have a bad experience with Trac Auto on McDonald st. They screwed a bunch of stuff up and last most of my fasteners that went in with the motor. ABS is the only place with an engine dyno that I know of, but I have heard many a story of Bruce ripping alot of people a new A-Hole.

Hope that helps.

Big John

DELUXE MW · Feb 8, 2006

ABS is by far the best place in Sask Ive dealt with bruce for over 15 years and never ever once had a problem I drive the hell out of my car and everything else I build and its the best machine work Ive ever seen

helrazr · Feb 9, 2006

Thanks guys. I called ABS the other day for a complete motor job; (400 crank and rods, ported heads, Edelbrock Carb & intake, 9.5 pistons, Comp 268 cam kit)and was quoted $3000 - $4000. Seems pretty fair to me.

DELUXE MW · Feb 12, 2006

yup and its great quality I just pulled my 360 apart for its every 3 year inspection and everything is exactly as it was when i installed it

helrazr · Feb 13, 2006

Ya, after talking to the guys on the phone I feel pretty confident in their work.

SPEED FREAK · Feb 13, 2006

I can honestly say I am DEFINETLY on the negative end of the spectrum as far as ABS goes. I have had awesome luck with continental and with trac. They didnt make me wait 6 months and didnt reuse gaskets

DELUXE MW · Feb 14, 2006

reuse gaskets yeah right we've already discussed this that is a rediculous claim I highly doubt he would reuse a 6.00 gasket hahahahahahahaha ask Sheldon Ward if thats true he worked there at that time

SPEED FREAK · Feb 14, 2006

DELUXE MW said:
reuse gaskets yeah right we've already discussed this that is a rediculous claim I highly doubt he would reuse a 6.00 gasket hahahahahahahaha ask Sheldon Ward if thats true he worked there at that time

If you were capable of doing such a thing would you admit to it?

Fact is I have witnesses for the disasembly I will leave it up to them to pipe up as one of them is a member. If you spent 3 grand on a less quality than what was quoted short block it lasted 1 week then spend 800 to have it redone to last 2 more weeks before it hydrolocked because coolant seeped between the coolant passage and the number 5 cylinder where the intake gasket was ripped from obvious incompetence, not to mention watch your heads peel back from gross overtorqing during removal. Would you be impressed? I'm not I know he's your buddy and all but fact is he screwed me with a clearly inferior product and will never see me or my money again. I have had fantastic turnaround/quality and price with both trac and continental who are more than happy to deal with me so I am positive it wasn't just me.

Ask around and you will hear one of two things from his customers. 1. Best guy ever (reason I went to him in the first place) and 2. Nothing but disdain and contempt. (reason why he will never see me again)

I have heard all sorts of crazy stuff like him swapping out good parts for inferior ones and selling the good ones and such etc.... You really have to sift through a lot of bs but like most works of fiction there is a lot of fact in it.

Either way I stand behind my conviction that his company made dishonest sales on both parts and service.

DELUXE MW · Feb 14, 2006

All I can add is that I have had Bruce Machine all my engines I have sold and built for my own use since 1993 and I have seen nothing but High quality and good prices or I wouldn't ruin my own reputation with their work I run my bracket car up to 7000 rpm carefree and confident and I have raced several people on this forum my car weighs damn near a third as much as any 5.0 and I run a 360 mopar in it with no power adders of any kind (nitrous,or artificial aspiration) other shops undoubtedly have good machinists working there too but as far as performance engine building goes we are lucky to have bruce

Girl22 · Feb 15, 2006

I don't know I would have to agree with Kevin (Ohh my god did I say that out loud ) I've heard and seen more than a few horror stories coming from ABS. Personally I would take anything I had to Zaryn (SP??) But thats my .02 you can take it whereever you want!

DELUXE MW · Feb 15, 2006

Im not interested in participating in any flame war in any way shape or form I'm not going to diss any other shops I don't have experience with but the stuff that abs works on daily by far supercedes any stock engine rebuilding facility I don't know of many other places that can have a True real Boss 429, several chrysler Hemis, Mercedes,Jag and several very serious Drag racing engines being built at the same time ! nobody is perfect but bruce is definitely qualified, skilled, and has a good reputation I personally have not seen anything to raise a red flag about in my experiences there and when you go to a drag race in saskatchewan, most times when you go up aginst a fast car chances are he's had his hand in it

Red2000GT · Feb 15, 2006

I have pictures of clearly re-used gaskets on an ABS built engine. Other than that I have no experience with him and probably never will.

351LX · Feb 16, 2006

I had my Cleveland heads rebuilt at Zaran's and was happy with the price and service.They were recomended to me by Abe at Queen City Performance and seem to have a pretty good reputation.

DELUXE MW · Feb 16, 2006

can you email me the pics please to look at?

DELUXE MW · Feb 16, 2006

who is Zaran?

Girl22 · Feb 16, 2006

Zaran would be Rod Zaran (I believe that is his first name! ) He runs Zaran's Cylinder Head Service. He is a well known car guy in the city here.

Red2000GT · Feb 16, 2006

DELUXE MW said:
can you email me the pics please to look at?

I will try and find them on my computrer and send them to you.

DELUXE MW · Feb 16, 2006

Ok thanks Im not going to judge anyones claims without seeing something, it's only fair

helrazr · Mar 9, 2006

Well I finally got my motor delivered last friday. I ended up going with Continental because ABS is so busy and I didn't fell like waiting up to 3 months to get it back. Continental said they could get it done by the end of the month which works good for me. I'm looking forward to burning lots of rubber this summer and blowing the doors off alot of imports as well with a ****ty looking old farm truck. I'll scan and post some pics when completed.

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