Recommendations for a local Machine Shop

[Andrew7dg]

I am fitting some 2g pistons on some 1g rods. I know red rooster close to 35W has a machine shop but was wondering if anyone had any favorites or any one here work at one?

[Pushit2.0]

Why, just get Eagle rods.

~John

[xveganxcowboyx]

I haven't had much work done, but I've always thought Aaron's machine shop in St. Paul was reputable. It's in the basement of the building GT paint used to be in. Right around Victoria (a block or two down) and University.

[niterydr]

Eagle rods: $319.00

Average machine cost to narrow rods, bush them,arp's, $320.

[Shane@DBPerformance]

But you can't use Eagle rods with stock 2G pistons. I think I paid about $180 to get a set of 1G rods mated to 2G pistons a few years ago.

[Pushit2.0]

I say if you are going to do anything to a mitsu motor just buy eagle rods and wiseco pistons, do it once, do it right. Do you know if that was press fit for the wrist pins for the $180?

~John

[Goat Blower]

I had it done once and I want to say it was right about that as well. $280 for used 2G pistons, new rings and machining total is a lot cheaper than $750 for Eagles and Wiseco's if you're on a tight budget.

[Shane@DBPerformance]

It was a while ago. I gave him a set of used 2G pistons and bunch of 1G rods, told him to pick 4 good ones. I got them back assembled and put them in the motor.

But I would recommend doing the Eagle and Wiseco combo too, if it is much of a performance build and you are going through the trouble of redoing the bottom end. I ran a Crower rod with very modded 2G piston combo for a while, but that was back before parts were as cheap as they are now. It used to be $800 for a set of rods and $500+ for pistons. Now you can get a set of Eagles and Wisecos for the price of just a set of rods back then.

[niterydr]

Originally Posted by ecoli

But you can't use Eagle rods with stock 2G pistons. I think I paid about $180 to get a set of 1G rods mated to 2G pistons a few years ago.

True. I didn't catch the 2g piston part. I thought he was talking about a forced piston/1g big rod setup.

[Andrew7dg]

I was wondering if I was going to get criticism over this combo. This car isn't going to be a high horse power car. I am hoping to see 350hp, 400 at most which the stock internals on a 6 bolt motor can handle. This isn't going to be a high reving machine either. I still have to find a 4 bolt rear end for the car also.

I just want the higher compression on my daily driver. I think the higher compression will provide better responce and more torque before the boost kicks in. I will do the Eagle rods with wiseco pistons on another engine later. Right now I am on a very small budget with this car plus i have to get the head rebuilt.
These are the big rod that i have in the motor. I did think about buying aftermarket pistons just for reassurance but i think the money could be better spent somewhere else.
But roughly this will cost about $250-$300 with pistons, and new rings?

If anyone has some 2g pistons laying around PM me

Why would I get eagle rods when the piston would break first?

[Shane@DBPerformance]

Stock rods usually break or bend before stock pistons.

You will want some way to tune the timing on the car. Raising the compression from 7.8:1 or lower(worn motor) to 8.5:1 or higher after deck/head milling usually turns the car into a detonation machine with the stock ECU and the boost levels we normally run on pump gas.

[niterydr]

Well John and I both thought he said forged pistons on 1g rods.

The factory mitsu pistons are much weaker than the rods, so he should be just fine on 1g rods. I am just not a fan on spending money on used rods w/o replacing everything that is serviceable on them.

[Jakey]

Originally Posted by niterydr

Well John and I both thought he said forged pistons on 1g rods.

Where?

Originally Posted by Andrew7dg

I am fitting some 2g pistons on some 1g rods.

[niterydr]

Originally Posted by Jakey

Where?

I don't know. For some reason I thought he was saying forged pistons. The last time someone asked about using a stock mitsu piston was so long ago...

Whatever. I don't really see the point of even bothering to put 2g pistons on 1g rods. If your stock motor is good, use it. If your stock motor isn't good, go with forged internals.


This isn't like the 3000gt's where the only rod option that is worth a shit is $1100

All that being said, Andrew...any machine shop with 1/2 a brain can follow the instructions on vfaq.com. I would shop around. I personally do not use the carquests, napa's, and red roosters for anything more than just flywheel machining (and that is rarely) as I have seen my fair share of mess-ups from "machine operators" at parts stores.

[b00stcreep21]

I've got a 4 bolt rear end if your interested

[Andrew7dg]

I might be interested in the 4 bolt!

I am going to use a standalone aftermarket computer on the car so it can run comfortably on the 8:5 compression.

The engine needs some freshing up. The motor right now is burning (or leaking) oil right now and I just want to do a simple rebuild just so I know it is fresh. I think I am even low in compression in a cylinder somewhere so new rings wouldn't hurt. I even have ARP head studs that I want to install. I haven't put my car on the dyno in fear of being laughed at because it will have black smoke at WOT.

I am not rich so I can't afford Forged internals and if I were to do so, it wouldn't be on this car right now.

I did find the vfaq machining data so I am set there. So back to the main point of the thread where would people recomend doing the 1g rod 2g combo
I will check out the place near the university. I am close to there anyway.

[Pushit2.0]

I would do a comp/leak down test, and some base line dyno numbers to see where you are at and where you want/need to go.

~John