Engine Rebuild in So Cal

S

Sydney

New member
I need to get a new short block for my A. It looks like the front runners are Taylor engine in Whittier or H&H Antique in La Crescenta. Does anyone have any experience, good or bad, with either of these companies or their engines?
 
Either place will be ok to get your engine from but I would ask if the block you are going to get had any crack repairs done to it and make sure they maged the block. The other option is to give Bill Barlow a call and he can re pour the babbit in your own block and one of the local club members could help you put it together. Hope that helps
 
Sydney,
I sent you an e-mail in response to your question. The short answer is, I have never dealt with Taylor but I will next time!
 
Sydney said:
I agree, Hansen's would be a good choice, but a friend told me they are booked until next spring.
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I have recently done some research on babbit in So Ca.

There are 2 rebuilders in that area, They both do babbit. I have always used Taylor for my engines, I have no experience with H&H. The engines I have had rebuilt at Taylors have been converted to inserts. For babbit I would use Antique Engine in Escondido or the afore mentioned shop in Ramona I think Egge still does babbit. It is a matter of how big your wallet is and the proposed usage of your engine. You are looking at $600 to $700+ low end price for babbit including crank grind.

There is a machine shop in the area that will bore cylinders and grind valves. They work with Antique Engine, Bills Auto Machine I beleve
 
I hope to see more responses as I will likely use H&H or Taylor to redo my block next year. Taylor did a motor for me a number of years ago; but it was a different owner then, Jay Steele, rip.
 
Have 2 friends that run flathead V8's and have not heard anything positive from their H&H rebuilds. Maybe others have had better luck.
 
I have had 2 engines built from H-H one has 1500 miles on it and is great,the other one only has 500 miles and is not broken in yet so i do not know yet theh are good to work with other engines from other company in midwet not so good some times you win and other timesyou dont.
 
I have used H&H and will use Taylor next time.
I have delt with Taylor since Jay's passing. They still do the same good work.

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I had an engine done for my 1930 Phaeton two years ago by H & H and it has ran well for me ever since. Since I had my engine done, a couple of my local friends also had engines done by H & H and they are happy with theirs too. H & H turn around time is fantastic. With in a couple of months after my first contact with them, I had a new engine ready to be installed. As with other model A owners with new engines, their new engine first ran a little hot until it was broken in, but that is normal. I bought the engine that was all tricked out with counterweights, insert bearings, high compression head, full oil pressure to the bearings and etc. The increased torque over stock was amazing. I would use them again. Thank you H & H.
 
There is a shop in the City of Orange that does Model A engines. The owner is a member of the Orange County MAFC. A number of us in the club use him. He does good work and his prices are reasonable.

Hollins Auto machine Shop
538 N. Cypress St.
Orange, CA 92867
714-538-3926
John Hollins - owner

Tom Endy
 
Have had a ton of failed motors in Bako Model A club cars. We took one apart and some of the seriously hokey stuff inside made me take a serious stand against ever using the builder. Also have heard not to say the name of the place because they tend to carry serious clout within the hotrod community because of advertising and they are "Popular". I have seen the operation of Taylor and Jays 2 right hand guys are still there and building motors, Model A and very exotic stuff. The new owner is a genuine honest guy who does right by his customers just as Jay did. I see people complain about no young guys getting into the technical side of our cars and he dove right in by saving the Taylor operation and continuing it. He also worked for Jay years ago while working his way to one of the biggest automakers in the world's racing technology division. He retired from the automaker and bought Taylor from Jay's widow. Taylor gets my vote.-Weeks
 
WEEKS 46 said:
Have had a ton of failed motors in Bako Model A club cars. We took one apart and some of the seriously hokey stuff inside made me take a serious stand against ever using the builder. Also have heard not to say the name of the place because they tend to carry serious clout within the hotrod community because of advertising and they are "Popular". I have seen the operation of Taylor and Jays 2 right hand guys are still there and building motors, Model A and very exotic stuff. The new owner is a genuine honest guy who does right by his customers just as Jay did. I see people complain about no young guys getting into the technical side of our cars and he dove right in by saving the Taylor operation and continuing it. He also worked for Jay years ago while working his way to one of the biggest automakers in the world's racing technology division. He retired from the automaker and bought Taylor from Jay's widow. Taylor gets my vote.-Weeks
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Thanks Weeks Our new Address is 170 Gemini ave A-2 Brea Ca. Watch for an open house and car show !!
 
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