"Best" Top-End Overhaul Person on the East Coast?

[Cory]

Who would that be?

What's with that guy crawling out of an ice-hole in his underwear?

[George]

Who would that be?

What's with that guy crawling out of an ice-hole in his underwear?

He's not bound by frivolous matters such as temperature.

[Mab1957]

Just had a long discussion with the most knowledgable person out there. He scared the crap out of me and just saved me tons of money.
I'm going to just stick with oil changes every 2,000 miles and leave it at that.
Just be thankful that I didn't turn this into an "oil" thread.

I thought this thread was informative and had zero to do with a oil thread...

I also found this informative. so far we've got VSR-Mario, VAC, Boylan-C&C, Burke. oh, and George and Moose Bros. Korman maybe.

There must be at least a hundred qualified machine shops/builders in the original 13, more east of the mighty Mississippi (Goff-MM). Cgraff's point is well taken, but most of us want stock work or a proven upgrade - they were pretty well engineered to begin with. Are these motors so well engineered though that they don't need rebuilt - just regular maintenance? I'd really just like to drive my car and have it perform like it did with 20k on it, maybe a bit better using 22 yrs of advances in technology. I'm willing to pay for that experience.

For a different experience swap in a newer low mileage late model motor or buy a newer car - heck there are at least 50 2000-2003 M5s for sale now with the V8.

[Rich Euro M5]

The topend is the weak point, the valve guides tend to wear needing replacement in the +150K range, and of course the valve guide seals are probably rock hard by now as well. Exhaust valves are a known weak point as well, they tend to get small hairline cracks starting at the edge moving towards the stem. If properly maintained the bottom end is bullet proof and can easily go 300K without major work.

Rich

[m-racer]

The topend is the weak point, the valve guides tend to wear needing replacement in the +150K range, and of course the valve guide seals are probably rock hard by now as well. Exhaust valves are a known weak point as well, they tend to get small hairline cracks starting at the edge moving towards the stem. If properly maintained the bottom end is bullet proof and can easily go 300K without major work.

Rich

What Rich said. He gave me this same advice on my former Euro M5, and that is exactly what I found. There was also a bunch of build-up on the head. In my case it came from a couple of bent valves, but it can happen from injectors as they get old as well. Good idea to have the injectors checked at 100k or sol.

[Karl Grau]

He's not bound by frivolous matters such as temperature.

Isn't it a little narcissistic to refer to yourself in the third person?

[paul burke]

Let me put it this way, if you had to do a STOCK rebuild of an M-head, I could go to VAC, Mario, Korman, Paul Burke, Don Fields, etc. The parts are all from BMW. They have all the specs and can put two and two together with stock hardware no problem.
-Chris

You obviously don't know or have not been paying any attention to my builds. I use parts that I produce which include pistons, camshafts , valves and more. I am actually offended that you included me in the above list.



Paul

[George]

Let me put it this way, if you had to do a STOCK rebuild of an M-head, I could go to VAC, Mario, Korman, Paul Burke, Don Fields, etc. The parts are all from BMW. They have all the specs and can put two and two together with stock hardware no problem.
-Chris

You obviously don't know or have not been paying any attention to my builds. I use parts that I produce which include pistons, camshafts , valves and more. I am actually offended that you included me in the above list.

Paul

Paul, see previous page:

That list pretty much shortens to Paul Burke seeing how he cuts his own valves, pistons and cams from raw material.

[paul burke]

THANKS, George


Paul

[mooseheadm5]

George and Moose Bros. Korman maybe.

I can do a stock or mild performance build of an m20 or M30 standing on my head. I will be sending my S38 to Paul Burke so it can be done perfectly and so it makes tons of power. I'm pretty sure George is on the same page.

[Cory]

Thanks again to all for adding really good perspectives to my concerns. I've evolved a lot through this discussion and in corresponding to all of the above mentioned true experts. Every single one of them are competent, trustworthy and good guys. There's one that earned my business with a level of competence, price, responsiveness, etc. I won't name drop so as to not attempt to compensate for me being an idiot.
I'd like to mention, though, if no one minds that the real experts replied very thoroughly and informatively with a very good understanding of my valid concerns and so on. The local "gurus" (none of whom are mentioned in this thread) who I've given many thousands of dollars to over the years don't even have the common decency to respond to a simple email and I'm extremely sensitive and respectful to their time and always have been. Maybe it's me, but they've all lost my business forever. Maybe they just do better with other types of customers and people like me take them away from that. When it's time to adjust the valves every 15,000 miles I'll likely go to VAC or take the scenic route to VSR.
I just brought that up because no one should feel like they have to use a particular numbnut for whatever reason. There's lots of good guys out there and lots who absolutely do not deserve your extremely hard-earned cash.

[George]

George and Moose Bros. Korman maybe.

I can do a stock or mild performance build of an m20 or M30 standing on my head. I will be sending my S38 to Paul Burke so it can be done perfectly and so it makes tons of power. I'm pretty sure George is on the same page.

Couldn't have said it better. I build engines but I'm by no means an engine builder. And yes, I do have an M30 head on its way to Paul Burke for a wild transformation.

[L_N_Love]

Cory,

Could you share the info provided by the un-named expert? Is it as simple as change the oil every 2K?

[paul burke]

[Cory]

Cory,

Could you share the info provided by the un-named expert? Is it as simple as change the oil every 2K?

There's many options, but it seems like the move is just basic good maintenance and then when time/funds permit do an entire rebuild from the bottom up.
In my case there's really no issues whatsoever, but having a minty total precision overhaul one day seems like what to shoot for.

[L_N_Love]

Cory,

Could you share the info provided by the un-named expert? Is it as simple as change the oil every 2K?

There's many options, but it seems like the move is just basic good maintenance and then when time/funds permit do an entire rebuild from the bottom up.
In my case there's really no issues whatsoever, but having a minty total precision overhaul one day seems like what to shoot for.

OK...I thought that you might have received some super good info for S38 owners.

Don't worry so much about your S38....just drive it and if it blows get it rebuilt. How many S38s have blown up? The only one I know of is Scottie Sharpe's and he probably rev'd it pretty hard. Not many....I think it is an internet myth. M30s blowup more than S38s.

[paul burke]

Nevermind, brain fart.

Paul

[L_N_Love]

That photo is of Lucifer....correct?

[paul burke]

George and Moose Bros. Korman maybe.

I can do a stock or mild performance build of an m20 or M30 standing on my head.

I can't even stand on my head, It's too pointy.


Paul

[Rich Euro M5]

Don't worry so much about your S38....just drive it and if it blows get it rebuilt. How many S38s have blown up? The only one I know of is Scottie Sharpe's and he probably rev'd it pretty hard. Not many....I think it is an internet myth. M30s blowup more than S38s.

IIRC, Scottie's blew up as he was energetically merging onto the freeway. So it's highly probable he was spinning a few RPM when the chain guide broke.

My engine didn't blow up, it simply broke, but it was still damned expensive to repair. I initially thought I had a few bent valves, topend overhaul and it's done. Wrong on all counts, pulled the head and found pitted cylinder walls which was probably caused from inactivity when the car sat while owned by a collector.

I agree that more M30 blow up than S38s, but there's a reason for that, different type of owner, completely different price points involved, and there are huge numbers of them being flogged on a daily basis. An individual can have a pretty cavalier attitude about an engine when he knows he can buy a good replacement for $300. A used, running S38 is at least 10 times that cost, if you can find one. And then the cost to freshen it up before installation can cost another couple of grand.

As I've said before, the topend is the weak point of the engine. Almost all rebuilds are precipitated by problems with the head or cam drive components. Make the investment, have Paul Burke rebuild the topend, replace the cam drive components, you'll have nothing to worry about for another 20 years or 100K miles.

Rich

[cgraff]

Let me put it this way, if you had to do a STOCK rebuild of an M-head, I could go to VAC, Mario, Korman, Paul Burke, Don Fields, etc. The parts are all from BMW. They have all the specs and can put two and two together with stock hardware no problem.
-Chris

You obviously don't know or have not been paying any attention to my builds. I use parts that I produce which include pistons, camshafts , valves and more. I am actually offended that you included me in the above list.

Paul

Paul, see previous page:

That list pretty much shortens to Paul Burke seeing how he cuts his own valves, pistons and cams from raw material.

Wait a second here, Paul. I think there was a misunderstanding. I only saw this post this morning, and the edits, so I don't know what was said before. But I don't know where you would think that I do not follow your builds. Of course I do. And the work has been impressive. If you read my post further on, you'll note that I go on to differentiate between a more stock rebuild and engineering an engine build. The fact that there is a list there that you quoted is to make an example that almost any decent shop or person can do a regular rebuild. And that the list quickly shortens as to whom can engineer an engine build. And as George said, "That list pretty much shortens to Paul Burke seeing how he cuts his own valves, pistons and cams from raw material." Which is what I implied in my post but did not outright state.

Let me know if this clears things up. As I don't see how you should be offended that you're included in a list in the context I said.

-Chris

[fjfar80]

If you want to go "east of the Mississippi" I would definitely recommend Memphis Motorwerks. I have been nothing but pleased and Leo Goff is a master craftsman when it comes to engines.

- Mark

[Mab1957]

^ That's a pretty Avatar there fjfar80.

Here's what my wife put under my tree this year!


With some help from the fine gentlemen mentioned above mine may look as good as yours or jibba jabba's one day. I'm in the Washington D.C. metro area. This motor and trans came from Mr. Plaza, 173k, ran when it was pulled 3+ years ago.[/img]

[Karl Grau]

Here's what my wife put under my tree this year!

Wow! Your wife must work out every day. Don't piss her off.