Calif RG engine builders

Sub forum for RG400/RG500 owners and enthusiasts

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Questo vecchio rz
Posts: 198
Joined: Sun Aug 30, 2015 2:36 pm

Calif RG engine builders

#1 Post by Questo vecchio rz » Wed Apr 26, 2017 1:42 pm

I know of Rick. Brian and the guy in the So. Bay area, but is anyone aware of any West coast qualified mechanics for rebuilds and fabrication in the So Cal region. I thought about reaching out to Yoshi @ the Garage Co. This is in regards to my friends RG, It runs stro f and hits hard..but its a ex track bike and all motor history is 100% unknown, so obviouslly hes worried about something letting go and spoiling the fun, so he doent ride it. He wants to modify it w a swingarm conversion,Airtech RGV bodywork & pipes w a basiclly stock rebuild. Fab work can be sourced here..but the motor has to go to someone qualified and w a reasonably prudent turn around time. He has the means & wants this completed in short order, when hes ready.

Anyone here ship overseas to Mark Dent or Stan Stephens? Worried about motor & costs and legality of shipping a non US VIN# through customs, its recently "legally" Calif registered..lol..but would hate Murphy Law to get involved.

To those here whom do this, If the motor has to be shipped to you, whats your average "definitive" turn around time, and whats required. Could you lay out a "ballpark" cost..lets say basic rebuild vs full on breakdown w cranks , options such as bore increase, portwork, clutch modifications etc... Id like to get him an idea of what hes looking at. And a resonable guaranteed turn around time, provided nithinf catostropic is revealed.

Any reply is appreciated.
Banshee (Baja) Full Tilt desert race bike
Royal Enfield 500
96 GSXR SRAD, Future Yoshimura TT-F1 Lucky Strike rep.
85 custom Tri-Z
RZ421/YZR track bike(project)
86 VFR750 Flying Fred Merkel replica (project)

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giron
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Re: Calif RG engine builders

#2 Post by giron » Wed Apr 26, 2017 3:41 pm

Does RG500.com still do any work?
1991 3MATZR250SP
!993 3XVTZR250SP
1996 RGV250(Lucky Strike)
1994 MC28SP
1995 MC28SP
1996 MC28SP
1985 RG500(Walter Wolfe)
1984 IT490
1985 RZV500R
1985 NS400R
1985 NS400R
1997 VFR750
1992 FZR1000
RGV400
TZR500
TZR350
1990 RZ350
1971 Porsche911S

Questo vecchio rz
Posts: 198
Joined: Sun Aug 30, 2015 2:36 pm

Re: Calif RG engine builders

#3 Post by Questo vecchio rz » Wed Apr 26, 2017 6:06 pm

giron wrote:Does RG500.com still do any work?
I believe he still does limited work however I had previously referred him and sent him over there to meet with him however , He did not feel comfortable for whatever reason and decided to pass on his services.
I had also referred him to back to Dr. Johns for fabrication of adding quick fills and they kept his fuel tank for 7 weeks to install quick fills, after six weeks they said they couldn't do it ?..pretty frustrating there's so many shops like this it makes you want to pull your hair out. We've both been doing business with dr. John since 1984.. but when somebody does s*** like that it just flat-out makes you angry.
He has some performance work being done on a Kawasaki Tecate the man building the engine has had it for two damn years!!! there's just no excuse for that, none whatsoever. Client A money should be just as good as client B, within reason exceptions do come up but years is just not cool especially at our age LOL.
A motor rebuild even a custom cylinder job like this man is doing should take no longer than 1-2 months due to shop volume, especially after everything is ordered and parts are assembled. Case and point an example I contacted a engine builder in Arizona regarding my Trii Z , to do portwork and 350cc big bore cylinder, he told me.. send it ONLY when I am ready he does not want motor sitting around in his shop..lol he said 3 to 4 weeks complete rebuild ready for me to pick up that's reasonable, and said friend he recently also dropped off a Banshee @ CTRacing it has CPI industries cylinders & assoc pistions they did a complete top end tear down & rebuild all diagnostic Seals Everything and Dyno Tune in two weeks.. now obviously these are much more common machines I can realistically expect a 4 cylinder RZ or RG motor taking more time. Duh, but turnaround time should at least be reasonable & realistic.
Last edited by Questo vecchio rz on Thu Apr 27, 2017 10:35 am, edited 2 times in total.
Banshee (Baja) Full Tilt desert race bike
Royal Enfield 500
96 GSXR SRAD, Future Yoshimura TT-F1 Lucky Strike rep.
85 custom Tri-Z
RZ421/YZR track bike(project)
86 VFR750 Flying Fred Merkel replica (project)

silverstrom
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Re: Calif RG engine builders

#4 Post by silverstrom » Wed Apr 26, 2017 7:04 pm

You could try talking to Andrew at ATR. His RG500 engine building skills are very well known. He did mine :smt003

I'm sure he knows how to handle the US shipping as well.

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giron
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Re: Calif RG engine builders

#5 Post by giron » Wed Apr 26, 2017 9:48 pm

Questo

I faced and prepare myself when I did my 911 restoration. I don't know if you heard of jack Kimono. He probably passed away. I first met him at his shop in Fairfax and melrose. The joke was that it would take at least 10 years to get your car out. I did mine and it was a ground up restoration in three years. I removed everything. Jack install a new roof skin for the sunroof without cutting the posts. I bought 73RS flares. bumpers and below deco strips from the Vasek Polak agency. Jack did it since I did all the grunt work. I have been burned by Dr.John and I won't go into detail. As far as Karl. This is more like a hobby since that is not his primary job. I'm fortunate that I'm close to Brian and he always complains jokingly that I bring him my $h!t. I keep remind him that New Zealand English is $h!t while American English is my bucket list. The joking continues. There is a shop in Stockton (Stockton Motto)and the mechanic there is Richard. Call Brian and see what he says and Richard says. He was part of Brian's 250 team.
1991 3MATZR250SP
!993 3XVTZR250SP
1996 RGV250(Lucky Strike)
1994 MC28SP
1995 MC28SP
1996 MC28SP
1985 RG500(Walter Wolfe)
1984 IT490
1985 RZV500R
1985 NS400R
1985 NS400R
1997 VFR750
1992 FZR1000
RGV400
TZR500
TZR350
1990 RZ350
1971 Porsche911S

RZtuner
Posts: 32
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2016 12:10 pm

Re: Calif RG engine builders

#6 Post by RZtuner » Fri Apr 28, 2017 9:41 pm

RG500's are not cheap to rebuild. Rebuilt cranks, re-bore 4 jugs, pistons,rings,small ends, clutch plates, factory gasket set, all new bearings and seals is over 3 grand right there in parts and machine shop services alone. Then you have to look at the gearbox! Be prepared for a spend a few grand there to build it right. Nova, Ellis Moore or a Maranello kit is needed to fix the issues.

Then there's porting and assembly on top of that. The only guy in So.Cal I would recommend is Scott Clough Racing. Scott really knows his stuff.

The Skidmarks RGV bodywork from UK is really good quality. It is imported by Streetfighters by Design. It will come with all the holes drilled in all the right places and the proper mounting lugs for the OEM headlight and support frame, and a proper gel coat finish. Much, much better than the competition.
350cc prod. SCTA Bonneville World Land Speed Record holder
350cc prod AMA Bonneville National Land Speed Record holder
500cc prod SCTA Bonneville World Land Speed Record holder
AMA no.1 Plate holder x 2
Pioneer of Motorsport Hall of fame

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