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Engine Rebuilder SOCAL

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Lhead View Drop Down
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    Posted: 20 May 2019 at 1:34am
Does anyone know of a good machine shop that has experience rebuilding L134 engines in the Southern California area, preferable the San Diego area?

Thanks,

Larry...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jeepsterjim Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 May 2019 at 5:12am
Originally posted by Lhead Lhead wrote:

Does anyone know of a good machine shop that has experience rebuilding L134 engines in the Southern California area, preferable the San Diego area?

Thanks,

Larry...

Larry

Give Border Parts a call and see what they have to offer.

I grew up in Escondido and know VC well....too well...LOL  Spent a lot of coins at the Valley Center Inn. 


Jim
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lhead Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 May 2019 at 5:00pm
Great idea to call Border Parts. They are pretty much driveline only these days but will certainly know who to go to. I've bought T90 parts from them. Unfortunately the VCI is long gone to make way for new development. Come down to Crusin Grand some Friday night. I'm usually there with my Jeep.

Thanks,

Larry...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jeepsterjim Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 May 2019 at 5:29pm
Originally posted by Lhead Lhead wrote:

Great idea to call Border Parts. They are pretty much driveline only these days but will certainly know who to go to. I've bought T90 parts from them. Unfortunately the VCI is long gone to make way for new development. Come down to Crusin Grand some Friday night. I'm usually there with my Jeep.

Thanks,

Larry...
WHAT!!!   NO VCI? Shocked      No more local Saturday night country brawling with the Rincon boys. A true Cowboys & Indains style greet and meet. Now that's sad! 

One other idea.  I knew of a repair shop that did Jeeps and serviced a lot ot the grove vehicles.  Try John's Automotive.  John  maybe retired  but his son Rick may have a lead for ya.
Jim
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote IronAge52 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 May 2019 at 5:56am
call John Baxters Auto Machine. 1400 Hoover ave National City.
Border Parts send most of his Willy's 134 L head engines for rebuild their.
Baxter's is only a one man shop he does my machine work.
Pm me, I will give you his phone number

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lhead Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 May 2019 at 5:58pm
I've used John Baxter for my flathead ford engines, I never thought of him for flathead jeep engines but it makes sense. I'll go there for sure. I'm building up a spare engine, or for the next jeep project for which I have plenty of parts. I haven't decided whether to go for a really nice restoration or a rat rod project. Or both. It only takes time and money, both of which are in short supply!LOL

Thanks IronAge52 for the tip.
Jim, is this the same John's automotive you were talking about?

Thanks,

Larry...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jeepsterjim Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 May 2019 at 6:11pm
Originally posted by Lhead Lhead wrote:

I've used John Baxter for my flathead ford engines, I never thought of him for flathead jeep engines but it makes sense. I'll go there for sure. I'm building up a spare engine, or for the next jeep project for which I have plenty of parts. I haven't decided whether to go for a really nice restoration or a rat rod project. Or both. It only takes time and money, both of which are in short supply!LOL

Thanks IronAge52 for the tip.
Jim, is this the same John's automotive you were talking about?

Thanks,

Larry...

No it's not       Johns automotive  2235 Barham Dr., Escondido, CA 92029.   West of town near Normans auto wrecking...if that's still there. LOL



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lhead Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 May 2019 at 7:26pm
If Norman's is still there it's a tiny fraction of what it used to be. I'll check into it and let you know. I was in the AF in 1970 stationed in Davis CA. We had a Receiver Site in Lincoln. I've been to that part of paradise a few times. I'm sure it has grown up. I still make it to SACTO and Cool frequently.

Larry...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jeepsterjim Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 May 2019 at 5:52pm
[QUOTE=Lhead]If Norman's is still there it's a tiny fraction of what it used to be. I'll check into it and let you know. I was in the AF in 1970 stationed in Davis CA. We had a Receiver Site in Lincoln. I've been to that part of paradise a few times. I'm sure it has grown up. I still make it to SACTO and Cool frequently.

Larry...
[/QUOT

Larry

Normans was great for 4WD stuff. Used to 4-wheel with larry and bill norman.  Did you get to go down into the missile site here in Lincoln?

If in my area, please come by!!!!!   FREE LUNCHBig smile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Robert66 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 May 2019 at 8:40pm
I am using a guy in Temecula who owns a shop called Arrow Engines. He’s rebuilt an F head for me and I’ve had good luck. He currently has two flat heads of mine that are in the process of being rebuilt. He does good work and is a great guy. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote nofender Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 May 2019 at 11:34pm
H+H? 

They are Ford specialists. But i wonder if they would do up a Jeep. 

When I was exploring some Ford flathead stuff I talked to them a few times. They were great. Other than that, I don't have experience with them. But they have a hell of a reputation from what I gather. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lhead Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 May 2019 at 12:06am
I just finished dealing with H&H having them rebuild a Model T engine. I have mixed feelings about them. On the positive side, I think their work is excellent. It took them about 4 months which was ok. They did an extensive upgrade on the Model T engine including a Scat stroker crank, new rods with insert bearings, etc. Nice work. But on the other side, I never felt appreciated as a customer, maybe even like they were doing me the favor of working on my engine (for a huge amount of $ by the way). They could have saved me a lot of time and grief if they would have taken 10 or 15 minutes to explain the ramifications of the stroker crank. Instead I had to figure things out trial and error, like modifying the pan, adding pan spacers, etc. I was going to have them build a 51 flathead Merc engine for me but after the experience with the T, I don't think I'll go that way. H&H certainly has a good reputation though.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jeepsterjim Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 May 2019 at 2:57am
Larry
My cousin is heavy into T's and A's.  Even races  them.  Have you heard of the "Miller Head"?  He makes them and is just about ready to bring back another racing head.  Look him up....Steven Serr, Ventura,CA. His brother Stan is into millitary vehicles and had/has a bussiness called 5 star millitary vehicles.  He did restoration and rented millitary stuff for TV ads & movies.   


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Greaser007 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 May 2019 at 6:51pm
Larry (Lhead):

   Hmm, where is Norman ?   _ _ could this be Norman Sappenfield ?

   I ask, because last month when I went to visit Jimmy Strauss Jeeps in Diamond Springs, California, just below Placerville, I got to visit with Norm, age 91, who told me he used to have a shop in the San Diego area. He sold and moved his business up to Diamond Springs, and sold it to Jimmy 7-years ago.
Norm is the engine builder for several individual businesses including Ron Fitzpatrick in Central Point, Oregon. And I had him look at a water jacket crack on One of my GPW engine blocks, for me to get a cost of his repair work. Norm said he would pin that rather than weld, and it would be approx. $150 for the 4-inch long repair.
   I would love to have Norm mentor me with 4-engine builds to learn his little "secrets" of the trade. He must love building engines, and supposedly Norm is a very expert welder. Let's see, if you began welding at age 16, and today you are 91 then that would equal to 75-years Experience ! he is grandfathered IN.
I hope I am still welding and building engines at age 91.

   I am wondering if Norm, age 91, at Jimmy's is the same Norman you guys are mentioning. I just plucked the following photo from Jimmy's website showing one of Norman's engine builds. Might be the same one that Norm showed me that he had just finished up. he is so Cool !




   For those interested, Jimmy Strauss Jeeps has a website !

   https://www.jimmystraussjeeps.com/

Edited by Greaser007 - 26 May 2019 at 7:23pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jeepsterjim Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 May 2019 at 7:17pm
Larry
 Jimmy Strauss's shop is top notch. Over seas Guys crate their rigs up and ship them to jimmy for restoration.  I'm going to visit his shop soon.





 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lhead Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 May 2019 at 7:51pm
I'll swing by Norman's in the next few days to see if it's still there and I'll ask about Norm. Jimmy Strauss's website is impressive to say the least. I have occasion to visit the Sacramento/Placerville area a couple times a year (family) so I'll plan to stop in Jimmy's shop sometime soon. I'll also check out the other leads everyone has mentioned. I'm not in any hurry on an engine rebuild. I just finished my 46 CJ2A and although it isn't perfect it works pretty well except for the leaks. In the course of this build, I've gathered a lot of parts so I'll start another build before long. I don't mind doing the gear rebuilds but I'll outsource the engine work.

Jim, I have heard of Miller Heads and I'll look up your cousin. 

Thanks for all the inputs! 

Larry...

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jeepsterjim Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 May 2019 at 8:09pm
Originally posted by Lhead Lhead wrote:

I'll swing by Norman's in the next few days to see if it's still there and I'll ask about Norm. Jimmy Strauss's website is impressive to say the least. I have occasion to visit the Sacramento/Placerville area a couple times a year (family) so I'll plan to stop in Jimmy's shop sometime soon. I'll also check out the other leads everyone has mentioned. I'm not in any hurry on an engine rebuild. I just finished my 46 CJ2A and although it isn't perfect it works pretty well except for the leaks. In the course of this build, I've gathered a lot of parts so I'll start another build before long. I don't mind doing the gear rebuilds but I'll outsource the engine work.

Jim, I have heard of Miller Heads and I'll look up your cousin. 

Thanks for all the inputs! 

Larry...


larry

Please let me know when your heading this way.....a free lunch is waiting for ya!!!!

maybe we can get Len to join us.

Jim
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Greaser007 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 May 2019 at 8:33pm
Jim,

   I was just through Rocklin last weekend on my way to Squaw Valley USA to go snow skiing. I will have to remember to let you know in advance when i am coming down to Sacto, and we should get together for a Cold-Pop or lunch. yes !

   There may be a good chance later this winter. hahaha it feels like winter.
And skiing last Saturday it was like a normal cold winter day at 32-degrees.
Squaw Valley is my favorite of all the ski areas in the Lake Tahoe basin.

   and thanks for the suggested Lunch with you guys too, it may happen !
And would be fun to be able to run up to Diamond Springs and have lunch with Jimmy's crew right or have them give us the "Tour" like Norm did for me.
    Today, i looked through the Gallery on Jimmy's webpage. I'm going to call him Paris, because he is very photo-genic, like Paris Hilton.   What a goof-ball.   I like him, and he has done very well, and a Clean-Shop too, most impressive.   I bet he knows of some entertaining trails in the Sierrra's.

   Note Jim:
   Doug O'Neil (NDnile) from the "oldwillys" and "g503" forums stopped by last Sunday with his wife Lotee and dropped off a $40 bell housing for me to use for my T-18 to L134 conversion / consortium project. I didn't want to weld tabs onto the GPW Ford bellhousing and de-face it.

Edited by Greaser007 - 26 May 2019 at 8:36pm
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