Headwork question

[AaronGAGT]

Ok... I'm looking into gettin some headwork done seeing how people get pretty good gains from it. The thing is... where the heck do I go???

Do I just start going to random shops asking... Hey... can you do some headwork for my Grand am GT?

How will I know if they'll do a good job or not? I dont know anything about heads, so I'd like some help from you guys.

What would be a good price.. and how long would downtime be?

[phantom505]

I went through FDP, they have pretty good rates and they can do just about anything you want them to do. Which includes better springs and retainers. You are on your own for the valves though.

[AaronGAGT]

Hmm... I was thinking of local performance shops.... Would local shops do new springs, retainers and whatever else? Cuz I sure as hell wont know what I'm lookin to buy.

[bszopi]

There is no way to find out what local shops will do or what they will charge unless you go talk to them. And unless you have a slight amount of knowledge on the subject, they probably won't even want to waste their time with you. The best way to go about it go to the track or local cruise areas and talk to people who have built engines. This includes ALL engines, not just similar engines. The only way to find out the quality of a shop is to talk to people who have done business with them. So here is the way to start out...

-Find out the basics behind headwork. We have some good info on the 60degreeV6.com site about headwork in general, so that will give you an idea of what to ask about.
-Browse through threads on here or preferable the 60V6 forums about head work, valves, springs, etc... if the shop has never worked on these heads at all, they will only go with stock unless YOU tell them where to look for aftermarket parts
-Talk to people in your area, preferably race car people. They will know the best shops to go to in the area for the work you are looking for. Hot rod cruise nights or car shows are also good places to meet and talk to people about where to get work done.

[kubiache]

Aaron - Is Westland over by Detroit? I ask because if you felt like a trip to Lansing, Johnson's Speed Shop and Roger's Speed Shop are both really good. Roger's did all the machine work for a engine I built for a freinds Camaro. You most likely will, like Brad said, have to learn what specs you're looking for yourself. Most shops have done a million Chevy 350's, but a GA head is more than likely foreign territory. A good engine builder could probably tell you ways to improve, but it takes research to get things closer to perfect, and that research may fall on you.

[AaronGAGT]

Yea--Westland is about 15 mins from Detroit... a couple buddies have their SS's, z28s and Ws-6s referred me to some place called A.P.E. American Performance Engineering... I'm gonna go with one of them to talk to some chump over there... hope I dont get laughed at heheheh

[phantom505]

FDP is in St. Thomas, Ontario. It's really not that far from you. I would at least get a quote from them for the amount of work you want, even if you don't go through them.

[SOCKS99SE]

Originally posted by AaronGAGT
Yea--Westland is about 15 mins from Detroit... a couple buddies have their SS's, z28s and Ws-6s referred me to some place called A.P.E. American Performance Engineering... I'm gonna go with one of them to talk to some chump over there... hope I dont get laughed at heheheh
additude plays a big role too, any shop that gives you crap for what you are up to should never get any of your business. if they have no idea on head work for your car they should be up front and tell you they have never worked on one before. guessing at specs and parts will only cause you a failure soon down the road. DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!