Okay, the restification is moving along nicely on my 1967 Chevelle. It's backwards, but for a number of reasons I had to do the paint/body/interior before getting too heavy in to the drivetrain. The body is being stripped and re-painted in the original Marina Blue PPG acrylic enamel. The interior has been 90% stitched (finally, no more paper clips to hold up the headliner!). The engine is solid, but getting a bit tired and is a little noisy up top. I'm swapping rear ends to something more highway and less stump-puller and I'm fitting discs on the front.

I used to live in Oklahoma and so for 10 years I knew exactly where to take the car when I needed exhaust (Max's on Main St), machine work (Truman's on South Main), interior work (Collin's on Lowry St), and so forth. Those were the days!

Now I live in Houston and I don't have the slightest idea where to get any of this type of work done. For instance, I've got a 350 in the garage that I'm building for a friend's project with a slightly chewed up #8 that I need cleaned and (if it specs out), punched, honed, and so forth. I've got a driver's side seat panel that needs replaced in the 71 Nova. I'll need a tranny built for my Chevelle early next year. All of this work and I don't have a clue who's capable of doing it!

Does anyone here live in, around, or near Houston that can recommend someone that's honest, FRIENDLY, reliable, and does the job RIGHT the first time? I'm a firm believer that you can only have two of the three ideals (fast, cheap, and reliable). I'm also a firm believer that courtesy is king. I've waited patiently for over 10 years, but I'm finally in a position to get "fast" and "reliable" with less emphasis on "cheap", but now I don't know who can do the work I need done!

Any advice, opinion, or help of any kind is EXTREMELY appreciated! I really need to start building some connections down here!

www.aquagravy.com/chevelle/chevelle.shtml (http://www.aquagravy.com/chevelle/chevelle.shtml)

The pictures are, at the time of this message, pretty stinking huge, BUT they're not on the main page so you can view at your discretion. Sometime tomorrow I plan on reducing the image size and thumbnailing them for easier viewing.

Greg Major
aka: Turbodog
Houston, TX

Greg, I'd be happy to refer you to Jeff at Custom Automotive Machining. He owns the shop and has been building circle track, drag and I think marine racing engines for many years. He was referred to me two years ago from a buddy who has had him build 6 different applications, everything from a turbo 3.8 litre Buick engine to several big-inch Chevrolet big blocks.

His shop is located off of Pinemont in northwest Houston. He built my 383 about 2 years ago and did a perfect job. He has a high work ethic, gets the job done in less than a week (assuming you have all parts for him) and is extremely professional. He does not cut corners in his work and will tell you if he thinks your build-up plan is not complete. His work IS NOT cheap but his prices are fair. He and I reviewed my build-up on two different ocassions in person and several times by phone. At the time, I had a lot of questions and he was really patient. Give him a call at 713 686-3035. He has a lock on all of my future engine re-builds. If you are curious about the specs of the 383 he built for me, check out my April 99 feature car at Team Chevelle.

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1970 Malibu - 383 'Fog Fed' Stroker! Houston, Texas...Gold Member #39
"Drop a Gear and Disappear in a Chevelle!"

Greg,

I know of two really good shops if you are on the South side of town. Owens Racing Engines in Pearland, 2308 1/2 N. Austin St. 281-485-5257 and The Wop Shop which is a few streets from Hobby Airport 713-645-4000. Both shops do quality work and both have dyno's. Owens will be a little slower getting your work done but I feel they work with you more on a personal level. If you call either of them, talk to Joe at Owens and Bruce at the Wop Shop. I think both shops are close to the same on thier prices. I would call these two shops and Wes' shop and compare prices and turn around time. Welcome to the area and good luck.

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Mike Hurta
(Aug98)
Gold#25
Clute, Texas
www.chevelles.com/feature/aug98.html (http://www.chevelles.com/feature/aug98.html)

For Rear-Ends the consensus (from those I have talked to) seems to be Pyle Bros. in Baytown (1-281-421-5878) They did my 12-bolt and I am very pleased with the results. Interiors and paint I am not sure about. Rutland transmission off of Spring-Steubner has always had good reviwes from the racers I know. The guys that work there are racers themselves. Motors= try the above, and also Northwest Engine Academy (School of Automotive Machinists) AKA Northwest Racing Engines. They do top rate work and they even build motors for some Nascar and NHRA guys. Cylinder Head work= Greg Goode (He is a teacher at Northwest Engine) He did a set of Dart II's for a small-block I had and boy did that thing RIP. His work is not cheap though. 713-683-3817 is the number and its off of 290 and Antoine. Hope this helps and I look forward to seeing you at some shows!

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66 Big-Block Chevelle Houston, TX ACES#3321


[This message has been edited by RatPowr (edited 12-08-99).]