This will be an ongoing review as information comes in, currently the head is still at the shop, being finished, and these are the pictures sent so I know whats being done and how far along they are.
It took me a long time and a lot of research to settle on a good machine shop, that wouldn't try and bend me over based on their reputation, but still knew 4g63's specifically
I finally settled on Apex Auto Engineering, in Bensenville, Ill.
Apex Automotive Engineering - Since 1973
They seem to be a pretty small operation, but with a lot of import experience, and they did a lot of work with AMS before AMS set up their own machine shop. This quote from AMS sealed the deal for me:
"Apex Automotive performs all of the services that we request. All work is top notch
and completed promptly and on schedule. We couldn't ask for a better machine shop!
http://www.amsperformance.com/ (DSM & Nissan) "
You can see in my profile what I'm having installed. Its going to be a FULLY built head when all is said and done, NOTHING is going to be stock anymore except the valve size...SS valves. I sent the head and all parts in by UPS, and packed the F^ck out of it...glad I did, UPS dropped the container hard enough to break it, but everything inside checked out fine.
So thats a decent amount of work to be done, removing the old guides, rockers, and springs, cutting new seats, and porting. There was no specific porting package offered, they requested my turbo specs, intake plenum size, exhaust size, intake and FMIC size, and my goals, then recommended I go with light intake porting and a moderate amount of exhaust porting, blending the bowls, and smoothing out the rest..all in all they did 3 hours of porting. Taking the head down to bare aluminum, cleaning, porting, valve job, and installing:
In/Exh. guides
SS valves
valvesprings
valve seals
rockers
lifters
cams
and anything else I'm forgetting,
He said the bill will be between $700 and $800.
The guy I talked to on the phone was very informative about the condition of the head, and the fact that it had been decked once before. He asked what Headgasket I was planning on using, saying that the composite gasket I was planning on using was a little thin considering the head had been decked, but that it should be ok.
So far they have been very good to deal with, I sent the head out 2 weeks ago then left the country on business, left them with the knowledge that its not a rush order, today he offered to send me pictures of the progress, and that they should be done assembling by the end of the week.
Payment is going to be a bit tricky though. He has no way to take CC, and says he might be ok with Paypal. I might have to send a money order though.
Here are the pictures of the progress. When I have the head in my possession I'll post many more pictures, and update it through the install. Hopefully I'll be able to compare it as a direct bolt on against a factory head.
Any thoughts, good, bad, or ugly?
It took me a long time and a lot of research to settle on a good machine shop, that wouldn't try and bend me over based on their reputation, but still knew 4g63's specifically
I finally settled on Apex Auto Engineering, in Bensenville, Ill.
Apex Automotive Engineering - Since 1973
They seem to be a pretty small operation, but with a lot of import experience, and they did a lot of work with AMS before AMS set up their own machine shop. This quote from AMS sealed the deal for me:
"Apex Automotive performs all of the services that we request. All work is top notch
and completed promptly and on schedule. We couldn't ask for a better machine shop!
http://www.amsperformance.com/ (DSM & Nissan) "
You can see in my profile what I'm having installed. Its going to be a FULLY built head when all is said and done, NOTHING is going to be stock anymore except the valve size...SS valves. I sent the head and all parts in by UPS, and packed the F^ck out of it...glad I did, UPS dropped the container hard enough to break it, but everything inside checked out fine.
So thats a decent amount of work to be done, removing the old guides, rockers, and springs, cutting new seats, and porting. There was no specific porting package offered, they requested my turbo specs, intake plenum size, exhaust size, intake and FMIC size, and my goals, then recommended I go with light intake porting and a moderate amount of exhaust porting, blending the bowls, and smoothing out the rest..all in all they did 3 hours of porting. Taking the head down to bare aluminum, cleaning, porting, valve job, and installing:
In/Exh. guides
SS valves
valvesprings
valve seals
rockers
lifters
cams
and anything else I'm forgetting,
He said the bill will be between $700 and $800.
The guy I talked to on the phone was very informative about the condition of the head, and the fact that it had been decked once before. He asked what Headgasket I was planning on using, saying that the composite gasket I was planning on using was a little thin considering the head had been decked, but that it should be ok.
So far they have been very good to deal with, I sent the head out 2 weeks ago then left the country on business, left them with the knowledge that its not a rush order, today he offered to send me pictures of the progress, and that they should be done assembling by the end of the week.
Payment is going to be a bit tricky though. He has no way to take CC, and says he might be ok with Paypal. I might have to send a money order though.
Here are the pictures of the progress. When I have the head in my possession I'll post many more pictures, and update it through the install. Hopefully I'll be able to compare it as a direct bolt on against a factory head.
Any thoughts, good, bad, or ugly?
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