looking for a reliable and trust shop for complete engine and turbo build

[bruceclaussen]

I am currently overseas working in Afghanistan as a government contractor. I am seeking a shop that is well experienced in engine build and turbos. My main concern is a shop that will work with be since I am overseas. My plan is that when I take my R&R back in the states and roughly have 6 months left.....go and take a busa to there shop and have the work completed by time I get back for good. The location does not matter, cause a nice road trip would be nice..LOL. I would perfer any on the west coast since I live in California, but if the shop is well experienced and will live up to there work then any location would be great. Any help would be great!!! THANKS!!!

[blk02ws6]

sent you a PM

[GNBRETT]

thats a no-brainer. Powerhouse Motorcycles in Long Island. it would not matter where I lived I would send my bike to Frank if I was having another built. people send their cars all around the country when looking for an experienced builder/tuner. no different with a bike.

[Ragu585]

I also have to say frank@powerhouse. I live 7hrs away so its a 14 hour round trip for me to drop my bike off, then another 14 to pick it up. Everything about powerhouse is worth the trip. I would go to him even if i lived farther away.

[POWERHOUSE]

I appreciate the props, guys - thanks. We have done several builds for customers in the military, a few for guys that were still over there and wanted to come to a bike that was done: complete, dyno tuned, ready to do some blasting around right here in the USA. Often, these guys come back and don't have a lot of time - they want to get out, and have some fun, asap. Here is one we did where the guy's father brought us the bike, and he came home on leave to one of the best presents he could have gotten: Powerhouse Motorcycles : Military Powerhouse

Being a military brat myself, I was happy and proud to be able to do something that brought joy to someone in the military.

[piratediverjefff]

Hey again Bruce,

Check your PM'S bro.

Jeff

[POWERHOUSE]

I was hoping somebody would chime in and recommend a west coast shop that Bruce could use . . . from the multiple calls I get from the area, there seems to be a need. I have a bike in my shop right now from the West Coast that an as yet unnamed California shop totally screwed up beyond belief. There has to be somebody good out that way . . . anybody? Bueller? Bueller?

[blk02ws6]

dont want to step on any toes as they're not site sponsor, but there is a pretty good shop in phoenix that has put out some nice turbo, and aspirated bikes.

what was the west coast shop that hacked up the bike?

[POWERHOUSE]

Scott Horner at Heads Up Performance is a good builder and tuner, and a stand up guy. He is in La Verne, California. His website is: headsupturbos.com

I rarely recommend other shops, and I don't like to flame other shops, either. I like to let a shop's work and reputation speak for itself. As far as the Cali shop that charged one of my customers well over 10 grand and essentially destroyed his bike, I will say this: I have never, ever - in over 40 years - seen anything as bad as this build. After I get done sorting out the massacre they made of his kit and wiring, I am still hoping that the motor is okay . . . even though the swing pickup in the oil pan was installed wrong and was stuck in the forward position only, and even in spite of the fact that the exhaust cam was at 105 and the intake at 98, and the valves were all set up loose - beyond the specified range . . . and there was speaker wire all over the place . . . I could go on and on. It is a mess like I have never seen before. Turbo clocked incorrectly, plenum filled with oil, a pro stock car sized scavenge pump welded into the front fairing bracket (when all it needed was an 8" drain hose to the pan), AMS1000 incorrectly setup and wired wrong . . . I've got over 30 hours of work just getting this thing to the point where I can even start it. If someone on this board mentions or recommends this shop, I will spill the beans . . .

[blk02ws6]

southern cali? give me a region, i i have an idea.

btw, Scott Horner is up in salt lake city now. he hasnt been in La Verne for years.

[POWERHOUSE]

southern cali? give me a region, i i have an idea.

btw, Scott Horner is up in salt lake city now. he hasnt been in La Verne for years.

Cool, thanks. I met him several years back at the SEMA show in Vegas. IMO, his is another shop that is worth the trip . . .

[blk02ws6]

Scott definitely knows what he's doing thats for sure. i think now days, he is mostly sand rail, as well as land speed specific. dont hear about alot if street bikes built by him.

[OZBooster]

If your based anywhere near the SanFrancisco area give these guys a call
JT&S Performance - Motorcycle Tuning Specialists - Infineon Raceway - Sonoma, California
Jim and i have been building tuning and racing turbo gsxr's together for Bonneville since 2008 , and he was building and racing turbo Buells before that ,(and i'm pretty sure his conversion to Suzuki is complete )
They have ecu editor ,
Jim is used to dealing with "overseas" as his buell landspeed teammates were very international , and our American/Aussie combination works very well

[Destin07]

If your under government contract and have a boat load of money laying around you should just send it straight to Richard at RCC. Not to take anything away from site sponsors but most of the people on this board will say RCC makes the highest quality and most reliable turbo kits......so why not send your bike to the guy who makes the kit, installs the kit, builds the motor and tunes it all in house. Most of the rates in the industry are pretty close you would just be spending an extra 1K for shipping to Canada. If you going to build the motor and go with a stage 2 or super ultra kit your looking at roughly 12K-26K in expense just for the labor, install, turbo kit and motor build along with tune....so 1K doesn't really make it non economical

[bo knows]

If your under government contract and have a boat load of money laying around you should just send it straight to Richard at RCC. Not to take anything away from site sponsors but most of the people on this board will say RCC makes the highest quality and most reliable turbo kits......so why not send your bike to the guy who makes the kit, installs the kit, builds the motor and tunes it all in house. Most of the rates in the industry are pretty close you would just be spending an extra 1K for shipping to Canada. If you going to build the motor and go with a stage 2 or super ultra kit your looking at roughly 12K-26K in expense just for the labor, install, turbo kit and motor build along with tune....so 1K doesn't really make it non economical

yeah but be careful if u drop byrichards shop and see his prostreet your doom lol... had a 19k budget dropped bike off and saw his prostreet sittting there w bst's and purple paint and da works... long story short, that 19k got doubled in a hurry.... 1 broke n happy customer ps. i still hve 15-19k more to do 2 it lol

[Destin07]

I'm sure it is a work of art.....I guess its just me not caring a thing about racing but I can't imagine spending that kind of money to a bike limited to 7 seconds of riding at a time.

[blk02ws6]

give it a try once, you'll change your mind.

[POWERHOUSE]

give it a try once, you'll change your mind.

I can tell you that going through the traps at 190+ is an unbelievable rush . . . trying to slow down after that is too!

[bo knows]

at 188 too lol i thought that too, now i just go in the garage w my heater and budweiser luving it...

[wahly68]

what part of California are you looking for? I mite have someone to fit the bill!!