Recommend a PNW machine shop?

gbody455

New member
Oct 3, 2018
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Tacoma, WA
Hey guys, I missed the first iteration of this site but am excited to see this community grow here. I understand the number of registered users is still pretty small, but can any of you recommend a machine shop with Oldsmobile experience in Washington? I've talked to a few machine shops and gotten some quotes for a shortblock, but I'm a little uneasy reading horror stories about improper bearing clearances/machining done.

Thanks!
Austin
 
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Kennybill

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Oct 3, 2018
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Braceville Ohio
The first thing I'd do is learn all you can about Oldsmobile engines, get Joe Mondello's "booklet" and get Bill Travado's of BTRacing. Each has their own ideas on building an Oldsmobile engine. Then keep asking questions, as you are doing now. Chevrolets are the "bread and butter" of a machine shop, then Ford, Mopar, Pontiac, Buick, AMC, yada yada then Hudson and finally Oldsmobile. It's not that bad but a good machine shop can do any engine to your specs.
 

gbody455

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Oct 3, 2018
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Tacoma, WA
Thanks for the responses, I have Bill Travado's book and have read it cover to cover a few times. I'm pretty excited about this project, I just want to make sure its done right.
 

Kennybill

Active member
Oct 3, 2018
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Braceville Ohio
Ya, I don't have anything bad to say about Joe Mondello either. I was a Chevrolet guy. I ran across an 1983 Green Prix with a bad V6, oil pump problem common back then. I thought I'd put together a car for my 17 y/o Son. I went to a small nearby bone yard. I wanted a 350 Chevy but he didn't have any. He had 2 Olds, one was a 330 the other was a 455. I said, oh yeah, 455. We dug it out of a school bus. It was a J headed tornado engine, yes tornado not Toronado. In 1985 we had the biggest tornado ever to hit this part of Ohio this engine was in a station wagon that the tornado picked up and slammed it through a Plaza wall. The owner had a tow truck and towed lots of cars out of there. He told me no even bothered him and he kept all the cars and parted/scrapped them, keeping the engines. Re-ringed, bearings, hy-vol oil pump, hand lapped the valves and stuck it in the GP, 2:41 one wheelie peelie. It would smother the tire, actually ran good. Everything was good till I puta 4:10 posi, it really "woke" it up. 2 days my Son says, the engine is "squeaking." Hmmm, hy-vol pump, stock pan, #5 rod bearing. (He later said he was racing and in high gear.) I'd found a little add for "Joe Mondello's Oldsmobile", I called the number. Joe answered. I says, "do Olds have an oiling problem?" Joe yells, " F*#×KING A, THEY GOT A PROBLEM!!!" BUY MY BOOK! I bought the book and started down Oldsmobile tunnel. My Son never like to get dirty so he never got into cars but I'm still plugging away. Joe's stuff worked, restictors, notched rods, yada yada, never spun another bearing. Now days I just put a big oil pan and keep the RPM's down.
 
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gbody455

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Oct 3, 2018
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Tacoma, WA
Joe's stuff worked, restictors, notched rods, yada yada, never spun another bearing.

There is so much conflicting information out there regarding how to build these engines. Oil restrictors or not, high volume oil pump or not, etc.

Thank you for the information though, your successes following these methods is good to know.
 

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