Rimco / Fat Performance / Hilldebrandt Machine

[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.

[tommu]

[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.

[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?

[Braukuche]

[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.

[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.

[EverettB]

[DesignBuild]

[shanered]

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

[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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[GPRacing]

[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?

[Busstom]

[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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[westy66]

Thank God for this thread.... I was considering using them
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[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?

[vwinnovator]

WOW
just getting a broken case back would have been grounds to go after a full refund and an undamaged replacement case...

so glad I stopped using them a decade ago after they played the "we cut your thrust main on both sides so you have to buy our special cut to size thrust brgs" game..
4 cases with different thrust brg measurements...

[Ian]

Here is my review of Rimco 2019.

I packaged a Type 4 case, a Type 4 crank, and a set of 2L rods and shipped to Rimco. I sent through USPS with insurance. Parts arrived at Rimco and they promptly inspected and called. I made arrangements with my customer to call in the payment to Don and get everything taken care of.

Don mentioned that the rods needed to be sent out to be reconditioned. OK.

We agreed on trying to polish the crank as it had a couple knicks in one of the journals, which did not work out, so the crank was sent off for grinding. OK.

Engine case needed oil galley plugs fixed and line bored. Don mentioned that he thought the case should be decked as well, so that was agreed to. Don also said that he would back cut a main bearing for the Type 4 case as .020" oversize with a standard thrust and a .010" crank isn't available. OK.

Machine work was completed to the tune of $1000 plus return shipping.

When the parts arrived, I noticed that a big chunk was literally broken off of the engine case. I called Rimco and was super duper polite, as I always am, and Don said that the case did not arrive broken when I shipped it, and he did not remember a piece being broken off of it. The missing piece was not in the return shipping box. Don agreed to send me a junk case half so I could have my buddy weld the missing piece back on.

I wanted to inspect the line bore and crank grind before messing with the welding, because after I read this review thread I noticed a couple people mentioning they had bad line bores. I opened up the box of main bearings and what do I see...a super squished main bearing. Then I tried to put the bearing that they back cut the thrust, onto the crankshaft, and it wouldn't fit. It had a flat spot from also getting squished. They charged $125 for the main bearings with the thrust cut.

After reading the reviews here, I decided to cut my losses with these guys and have my friend who is local weld the case and cut a main bearing for me. I had to order a complete new set of main bearings and pay to have the case welded and the thrust cut. Even though it was my friend I still pay for his work.

I was finally able to put the crankshaft in the case with the new main bearings and it spins smoothly.

The case is welded and the new bearing is fit, but the issue is that with a machine shop, you are expecting and paying for perfection. It literally is all that matters in machine work. It was quite obvious to me that the crankshaft was never fit to the engine case or the main bearings. If it was, then why are the main bearings all squished. I believe that Fat Performance bought RIMCO simply for the name and previous reputation of a good company. RIMCO as we used to know it does not exist anymore.

I speak the truth and don't make up stories. I wish I would have looked at this feedback thread first. I can't believe these guys build racing engines.

Engine upon teardown, note no case chip.

How I packaged the engine case, crank, and rods for shipping (socks not included).

Engine case returned to me with a piece missing.

Crooked oil galley plug.

Squished main bearing.

Backcut thrust bearing and squished main bearing (sharpie marks are mine)

Engine case with the repair piece welded on.

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[nlorntson]

These guys are THIEVES! DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THEM.

I had a 36hp case line bored, a crank polished and rods rebuilt. All were done quite well and the engine went together just fine.

A month later I send a pair of disassembled and perfectly clean heads to them to get new guides, seats, and studs where needed. I get a call back from Don saying they will totally rebuild the heads with new everything for $936. I say absolutely not, just do the seats and guides and replace three studs.

Don calls me back and says the place doing the heads refuses to do only what I want done. I asked him to let me know the name of the place doing the work so I could call them and work it out. I had assumed it would be done in their shop. Don refused to give me the name of the shop doing the work so I told him to just ship the heads back to me.

A week later still no heads or tracking number so I call. I get the office gal and tell her I want my heads shipped back now. She packages them up and sends me tracking information. I get the box a week or so later and inside is a pair of filthy corroded heads that are completely unusable and unrepairable.

I call them back and tell them I got someone else's heads. I can send pictures of the ones I sent showing all the markings, casting numbers and condition so they send the right ones. A while later someone that says he is the owner calls me back and offers to take $200 off the bill. I tell him that Don refused to give me the name of the shop that was doing the work. The owner says he has no idea what Don was saying, they do the work there. What a joke. I say no, just send my heads back now. Then this joker tells me the machinist had just started welding on them. I ask why when no work has been authorized and no welding was needed? He says he'll call me back.

Here we are two weeks later. No call, no contact, they won't answer their phone. I send an email saying I want pictures before they box up my heads and send them so we can agree they are mine and on the condition when they arrive. I get an email back saying OK they'll get them boxed up and returned.

Three days later and still nothing.

I conclude these guys are totally dishonest and for all I know are out of business. I'll likely never see those heads again. I'm probably gonna call the police and see what they recommend, and will likely have to sue them in small claims court to at least get it on the record that these guys are totally dishonest and have stolen my parts.

So terribly disappointing that business like this are out there and have no problem stealing.