Rimco / Fat Performance / Hilldebrandt Machine

[Rickyk22]

Everytime I feel like a I find a shop I would consider doing some work, it seems like they do some real disappointing stuff. Are there any good machine shops out there?

[westy66]

Thank God for this thread.... I was considering using them
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'68 Double Cab
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[TomSimon]

Rimco and FAT are businesse(s) in name only, the tool and die shop that also machined VW cases and heads called Rimco is gone. I read FAT shut it's doors, now the name is back, WTF? This thread leads me to believe someone bought the names, and is riding the coat tails of past reputations.

Everyone I know stopped using whatever machine shop is using either/both names a while ago, after having bad experiences, and now go to Brother's Machine in Ontario CA. A guy I crew for just had a new mag case race prepped by Brothers. On schedule, within 10% of the quoted price, did exactly what I asked for, no up-sell, no excuses, no BS. Just like the old Rimco!

The other place I would send people to is Blackline in Blackfoot Utah. Justin and Shayla bought Art Thraen out 10yrs ago, have all the equipment, and know how to use it. They are not only engine builders, but enthusiasts who race at Bonneville.
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2-time NASA Pro Racing Champion, Bonneville 130 Club and 150 Club Memeber, BRS Pro Gas racer

[Busstom]

[GPRacing]

Is Rimco still in business? I've been trying to call them for two weeks now. Voicemail is full, zero social media response.
If they do not want work, who else does machining on VW cases?

[GPRacing]

[jbbugs]

I've called 3 times asking about lineboring a case. Each time, the Woman that answered the phone told me she would check with the Machinist, and and get back to me. She hasn't. The 4th time I called, she told me to email them to remind them. I did that, and Still haven't heard back from them.

I called Brother's Machine.
Problem solved.
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[shanered]

I can't believe thes guys are still doing business. I never heard from them after they broke my cylinder head.

[DesignBuild]

[EverettB]

[DesignBuild]

Yeah, I know, but others read these old postings and don't realize that the buyer is is responsible for determining if what was purchased was the correct thing before using it.

The destroyed engine is not anyone's fault but the jerk that didn't check the parts clearances.

Bob Hoover calls these people, "Kiddies" and he was correct in his assumption that this hobby group is loaded with "Kiddies". That is one of the reasons there is so much high priced crappy reproduction parts. Though I am not so sure that $1,500 for an engine block that is a reproduction of a part made without any significant improvements since the 1930s is a very good expenditure. There is the known defect in oil distribution between the block halves yet the new castings haven't corrected that defect. Why not make the casting so all stroked crankshafts fit without any additional clearance being done after the casting is made? The camshaft could be located lower in the block to reduce interference from longer stroke crankshafts. This can be done by modifying the ratio between the crankshaft gear and the camshaft gear.

[vwinnovator]

“The buyer responsible “..lol

I’m not sure of that if the buyer is relying on the “expert” to provide correct components…

As for re-engineering engine cases…other companies are doing so, cost reflect that.

The redo existing molds “stock” cases to meet the aftermarket and high performance mods you describe would be costly and drive up their price as well.
Not to mention add a necessity to require additional non std larger cam crank gears purchasing.

[Braukuche]

[DesignBuild]

Among any group of professional engine builders, that excuse doesn't pass muster.
I remember rebuilding my first engine from my 1951 Studebaker in 1971 and my mentor told me, "check every thing, check the piston rings gap clearance, piston to cylinder clearance, all of the plain bearing clearances with shim stock or plastigage." He also said when I questioned what about the factory supplied bearings of the correct size? "Do you know if the bearings in that box are actually the size that you need without checking them?" I had to admit that I didn't know for sure. Then he said,"That is why we check them." He added, "When I went to the Studebaker Training School we were told to check all bearings in the engine for proper clearance because things get mis-boxed or miss labeled all the time." "It only takes a few minutes to be sure."

My mentor told me that this is what is called 'common sense' and that seems to be in short supply now. That could be why Robert Hoover referred to most of the VW crowd as 'Kiddies'. Kiddies rarely have any common sense because they have no experience. If this Kiddie had been rebuilding the engine for someone else whose fault would it have been when the engine failed on startup?

[risk]

Are these guys out of business? None of their phone numbers are working, website is dead, their facebook has not posted anything since 2020.

[tommu]

[DesignBuild]

I'm not stroking my ego. I just seems that many folks don't know that they should check to make sure what they bought is what they got. To me that is common sense. But maybe it isn't common sense to some folks.