Please help - Engine builder recommendation Chicago
 

I am building a VVT engine that will be swapped into a 1991. I just bought the engine, the intent is to build the bottom end this year, swap it in, turbo next year with an EFR, then the following year build the head. I'm concerned about going to any random machine shop that shows up on a google search since I don't really have the ability to check their work, and I don't want to have to pull the engine out again if there is a problem. I finally found a shop I was confident in, Opel Engineering, and they're booked a solid year out, which obviously sucks. Most machine shops around the Chicago area specialize in V8s, which is fine, but I don't want to be the first Miata engine they ever touch.

The original 1.6 in my car is drinking coolant faster than a sad clown at an open bar, so I would prefer not to wait a year. On the other hand, a backlog is good indication of customer trust and loyalty, so I expect to wait a few months at least. The machine work I intend to have done:

-Bore for 84mm pistons
-Balance everything
-Align bore the crank
-Torque plate hone the cylinders
-Deck the block for squareness and flatness
-Hot tank/thermal clean

In other words. general bottom end blueprinting, balancing, and a 1mm overbore.

Anyone have any experience getting Miata engines machined in the Chicago area? I'm willing to travel as necessary, but not ship the engine

For machine work, I'd go with Opel Engineering, or Apex Engineering in Bensenville. I've never heard of Opel being that far backed up, They did a bore/hone on a block for me earlier this year.

Apex just turned around two cylinder heads for me in four days. The place looks a bit sketchy from the outside but they have been around forever and Bill does good work. Many friends have used them with success.

Expect any decent machine shop to be more expensive then expected, and slower then expected. Especially now which is the start of race season.

I'm OK with slow, like I said I'm a little suspect of any shop that doesn't have some backlog. I would like the car to be driving by the winter though, which means I need the engine back by September or so. I'll try calling Opel again. Anyone have any experience with Per Race Engines?