Any good shops in San Diego to rebuild my 383?

[Jaysick]

Hi Everyone,
Looking for anyone in the San Diego area that can recommend a good shop to rebuild by tired 383?

Thanks in advance!
Steve

[myk]

Good question.  When it comes to muscle cars in San Diego the buzzword is JBA Racing, but they tried to rip me off a couple of months ago, so I'd be VERY wary or find someone else altogether.

Other names that come up are CCC Motorsports or Pann Auto, but that might be a ricer joint...

[Jaysick]

Thanks buddy
Yeah I hear a lot of bad stuff about that place too.  The Yelp reviews list a lot of similar issues ive had in the past.  My last experience with a shop here in SD rebuilding a motor was 13 years ago and it was a nightmare!  I had to bring it back probably over 10 times when finally they took it all back apart again and found some bent push rods and who knows what else (I had a different cam put in) and they were like "Whoops I guess you were right".  Every time I came back I got this attitude like "OH you again".  All I wanted was my Motor which I payed them a ton of cash to build to work like it should    At least work better than it did before I brought it to them in the first place lol!  They even tried to tell me "Well that's just the way that engine is supposed to feel, its not that strong of an engine" (351c) and tried to sell me a new one.   It worked out in the end and thankfully once they finally got it right, the job stuck and I haven't had to tear it open again since.   BUT, its this situation that's got me scared now that Its time to rebuild my Charger motor.  People make mistakes and that's ok as long as it gets fixed and I dont get hassled about it, treated like a scrub or ripped off.

The hunt continues!  Thanks again for your feedback Myk!

[Rolling_Thunder]

My go to engine shop is up in the Los Angeles area - not sure if you want to road trip it all the way up there or not...   

[myk]

Thanks buddy
Yeah I hear a lot of bad stuff about that place too.  The Yelp reviews list a lot of similar issues ive had in the past.  My last experience with a shop here in SD rebuilding a motor was 13 years ago and it was a nightmare!  I had to bring it back probably over 10 times when finally they took it all back apart again and found some bent push rods and who knows what else (I had a different cam put in) and they were like "Whoops I guess you were right".  Every time I came back I got this attitude like "OH you again".  All I wanted was my Motor which I payed them a ton of cash to build to work like it should    At least work better than it did before I brought it to them in the first place lol!  They even tried to tell me "Well that's just the way that engine is supposed to feel, its not that strong of an engine" (351c) and tried to sell me a new one.   It worked out in the end and thankfully once they finally got it right, the job stuck and I haven't had to tear it open again since.   BUT, its this situation that's got me scared now that Its time to rebuild my Charger motor.  People make mistakes and that's ok as long as it gets fixed and I dont get hassled about it, treated like a scrub or ripped off.

The hunt continues!  Thanks again for your feedback Myk!

Hey lemme know what you find out.  It's experiences like ours that will keep me from building the motor of my liking until the present one literally dies.

I think speed shops look at it like this: if you're taking your car to get worked on they figure you've got money and no skill so they're going to bleed you.  Or, you have no skill but are desperate to get your car worked on so they'll bleed you anyway.  I wonder if I should put my negative experience with JBA on Yelp...

My go to engine shop is up in the Los Angeles area - not sure if you want to road trip it all the way up there or not...   

I think it might come to that: going to an inconvenient but proven and reliable shop...

[Rolling_Thunder]

I know the feeling - taking stuff to hours out of your way to get it done....    been there myself but if it comes to it here's the information

http://www.tgsperformance.com/

They did stock short block builds for my old shop as well as up to 600+ stuff.    Tony G there (the owner) is a legit good guy and above all honest.

[myk]

Hmm....thanks or the link.  I may have to use them when it's time for the motor to come out...