so i was driving up to santa barbara today, heard a grinding noise in the engine compartment and before i could get off the freeway, there was a lud clunk, and then lots of smoke comming from the engine compartment. i pulled over and oil was pouring out the bottom. after i got the car towed home got under it and found a hole in the oild pan. guess i threw a rod? anyway the b**ch needs to be rebuilt. any1 know of any good shops in so cal>?

What exactly do you have, and what kind of rebuild/power are you looking for?

When you have parts of the engine blowing holes in new places you may not have a rebuildable engine. Depending on what you have and what kind of power you need/want, sometimes you will be better off buying a new crate engine. Or if you are not very picky then you can take a chance on a parts house short or long block engine.

One of the best engine builders not too far from you is:
John Beck
Pro Machine
809 S. Lakeview #D
Placentia, 92870
(714)777-1324

John Beck is unique and colorful (a little salty), and one fine engine builder - he built the 496 that is in my '65.

If you are willing to do all the wrenching and assembly here is a machine shop in your area that you should put on your list:
John Edwards
Costa Mesa R&D Automotive Machine
123 Monte Vista Ave
Costa Mesa, 92627
(949)631-6376

John Edwards is retired from the Sunnen Machine Corp., and the author of "Sunnen's Complete Cylinder Head and Engine Rebuilding Handbook". He is a rarity in machine shops because of his educational and research background.

Good luck, Thomas

May want to check out Speed-0-motive there on line with all there offerings. They do it all. www.speedomotive.com There in W. Covina

You blew up on the way to SB but don't say where you live..

sorry i live in torrance, so i had it towed to la...

Mesa Machine in Escondido, CA.

Mesa Machine in Escondido, CA.


Have you had work done by them?

I have heard of a couple shops around here,but I have never dealt with them personnally.There is Westside Performance off the 10 fwy and Pico(this was recommended by a co-worker who worked for them some years ago).I have also heard of Team C Performance on Lakewood blvd off the 91 fwy.These shoulkd be pretty close to you in Torrance. We are practically neighbors,I am in San Pedro.