Old school machine shop, welding, milling turning

Old school machine shop, welding, milling turning

Author
Discussion

trewjohn2001

Original Poster:

10 posts

110 months

Tuesday 21st May
quotequote all
I'm struggling to find an old school machine shop. I'm based in Dorset but I can post the parts as they aren't super heavy.

All I can find on Google are squeaky clean CNC shops. Ideally looking for a place that hasn't been cleaned for over 20 years run by a grumpy old man with more chips on his shoulder than in the lathe bed. Sadly it seems like these places have died out since I last did anything like this - at least in the Dorset area.

I need a Plenum base milled down on two faces, a spline end Tig welded and turned onto a steering shaft - this might need a fitting made up to weld around.

If anyone has any recommendations? This is for an MGB V8 swap.

Thanks,

-Cappo-

19,913 posts

210 months

Tuesday 21st May
quotequote all
Try http://www.goddenengineering.co.uk - they do indeed have CNC machines but they're an old-school engineering shop, and they understand vehicles. I've used them many times over the years. Not far from me.

Riley Blue

21,634 posts

233 months

Tuesday 21st May
quotequote all
Might be worth a look: https://hamlinsengineering.co.uk

BertBert

19,707 posts

218 months

Tuesday 21st May
quotequote all
Used this guy loads https://www.cranford-engineering.co.uk/ Excellent.

AMGSee55

666 posts

109 months

Tuesday 21st May
quotequote all
These guys have quite a reputation also. https://crosthwaiteandgardiner.com/ - sort of place you go if you need someone to sandcast and fabricate a new set of carbs for a '20s Bugatti (as you do..!!)

austin

1,304 posts

210 months

Tuesday 21st May
quotequote all
AMGSee55 said:
These guys have quite a reputation also. https://crosthwaiteandgardiner.com/ - sort of place you go if you need someone to sandcast and fabricate a new set of carbs for a '20s Bugatti (as you do..!!)
I can hear them test engines from my house. Not in Dorset and won't be cheap!

Perfect if you want a brand new Mercedes silver arrow though.

Yertis

18,679 posts

273 months

Tuesday 21st May
quotequote all
trewjohn2001 said:
I'm struggling to find an old school machine shop. I'm based in Dorset but I can post the parts as they aren't super heavy.

All I can find on Google are squeaky clean CNC shops. Ideally looking for a place that hasn't been cleaned for over 20 years run by a grumpy old man with more chips on his shoulder than in the lathe bed. Sadly it seems like these places have died out since I last did anything like this - at least in the Dorset area.

I need a Plenum base milled down on two faces, a spline end Tig welded and turned onto a steering shaft - this might need a fitting made up to weld around.

If anyone has any recommendations? This is for an MGB V8 swap.

Thanks,
Are you East or West Dorset?

Bob CD

265 posts

163 months

Tuesday 21st May
quotequote all
Loving seeing this; there are still people out there, but Crosthwaite and Gardiner are a bit high end!

Hope I'm not gatecrashing this post, but I'm looking for someone to do some limited numbers casting, along the same lines as the OP. Any suggestions? Small stuff, can be posted, so anywhere in the UK

fooman

227 posts

71 months

Tuesday 21st May
quotequote all
They are not the kind of businesses that bother with Google seo. Try yell.co.uk and look for Engine Reconditioning or Engineer near Dorset a few I found you could try;

D & R James Engineering Services Ltd
Fred Pope Engineering Services Ltd
Crusherform Grinding & Engineering Ltd

That's not a recommendation of any of above. I've used a couple of places in Bradford which are very good and have done all sorts for me from milling to welding. but in my experience they are drop in not mail order. They are always busy though;

W Drake (Bradford Ltd)
Panda Engineering

trewjohn2001

Original Poster:

10 posts

110 months

Thursday 23rd May
quotequote all
Riley Blue said:
Might be worth a look: https://hamlinsengineering.co.uk
Thankyou,

trewjohn2001

Original Poster:

10 posts

110 months

Thursday 23rd May
quotequote all
-Cappo- said:
Try http://www.goddenengineering.co.uk - they do indeed have CNC machines but they're an old-school engineering shop, and they understand vehicles. I've used them many times over the years. Not far from me.
Great thanks, I will take a look

trewjohn2001

Original Poster:

10 posts

110 months

Thursday 23rd May
quotequote all
AMGSee55 said:
These guys have quite a reputation also. https://crosthwaiteandgardiner.com/ - sort of place you go if you need someone to sandcast and fabricate a new set of carbs for a '20s Bugatti (as you do..!!)
Might be a bit pricey for an MGB!

trewjohn2001

Original Poster:

10 posts

110 months

Thursday 23rd May
quotequote all
fooman said:
They are not the kind of businesses that bother with Google seo. Try yell.co.uk and look for Engine Reconditioning or Engineer near Dorset a few I found you could try;

D & R James Engineering Services Ltd
Fred Pope Engineering Services Ltd
Crusherform Grinding & Engineering Ltd

That's not a recommendation of any of above. I've used a couple of places in Bradford which are very good and have done all sorts for me from milling to welding. but in my experience they are drop in not mail order. They are always busy though;

W Drake (Bradford Ltd)
Panda Engineering
That's a good point - thanks!

trewjohn2001

Original Poster:

10 posts

110 months

Thursday 23rd May
quotequote all
Yertis said:
Are you East or West Dorset?
I'm East Dorset way but don't mind an excuse to drive out west

trewjohn2001

Original Poster:

10 posts

110 months

Thursday 23rd May
quotequote all
Bob CD said:
Loving seeing this; there are still people out there, but Crosthwaite and Gardiner are a bit high end!

Hope I'm not gatecrashing this post, but I'm looking for someone to do some limited numbers casting, along the same lines as the OP. Any suggestions? Small stuff, can be posted, so anywhere in the UK
Not at all from my point of view, interesting to see what's out there.

Dynion Araf Uchaf

4,683 posts

230 months

LastPoster

2,715 posts

190 months

Thursday 23rd May
quotequote all
Could be worth a call to Elphis Engineering in Wells Somerset. They do lots of one-off stuff and the Directors are car guys

dartissimus

947 posts

181 months

Friday 24th May
quotequote all
Blackpool Road & Rally.

So old school they have no website (don't need it) just a large room full of every type of machine & many years experience

Lotobear

7,148 posts

135 months

Friday 24th May
quotequote all
Just used Bannister Race Engines of Bamber Bridge to fit new seats, valves and guides to my Lotus TC head - Bill is in his 80's and still there every day in his brown overcoat and loving what he does. So knowledgeable and such a nice guy. He's a model aircraft enthusiast too and makes his own engines from scratch, even down to casting the crankcases and pistons.

There's another old boy I use in Whitehaven who is similarly brilliant but likes to stick to more routine stuff now like surface grinding, boring and crank grinding. One of the few who still does motorbike cranks on his Prince machine - he has a few Vincents and still ride them.

These old school eningeers have me in complete awe, total legends.

Huntsman

8,206 posts

257 months

Sunday 26th May
quotequote all
Try Saunder Motor Works in Cadnam.