Looking for Shops that Weld/Stroke Crankshafts

[mngforce]

Hi All:

I own a Motorcycle Performance Shop in California. I am looking for a shop that can weld-up, and off-set grind cranks for me. I used to use a Guy named Armando, but he just burned me BAAAAAAD. So, looking for shops that can help me. I've tried Marine, but they're only interested in Busa's and Gixxers.

Any recommendations would be HUGELY APPRECIATED.

Thanks all.

Mike Norman
G-Force Performance Center
www.mngforce.com

[Chris_Hamilton]

Being you are in Cali, have you checked with Joe Castillo? He has a good reputation. Armando has been doing shady things for 20+ years. There are several threads on the Pelican Porsche forum complaining about years in turnaround time.

Castillos Crankshaft Specialist They are in La Mirada.

[vortecpro]

Hi All:

I own a Motorcycle Performance Shop in California. I am looking for a shop that can weld-up, and off-set grind cranks for me. I used to use a Guy named Armando, but he just burned me BAAAAAAD. So, looking for shops that can help me. I've tried Marine, but they're only interested in Busa's and Gixxers.

Any recommendations would be HUGELY APPRECIATED.

Thanks all.

Mike Norman
G-Force Performance Center
www.mngforce.com

What did Armando do to you?

[vortecpro]

Being you are in Cali, have you checked with Joe Castillo? He has a good reputation. Armando has been doing shady things for 20+ years. There are several threads on the Pelican Porsche forum complaining about years in turnaround time.

Castillos Crankshaft Specialist They are in La Mirada.

I use Armando, he's been great for me, but at the same time I've had problems with Mile high and some swear by him, so I understand.

Just to be clear exactly what Armando does for me:

1. Sets my stroke exactly where I tell him too
2. If I tell him I want the rods .0002 above the low, every throw will be .0002 above the low - every time, same with the mains
3. Never more than .0004 runout
4. Cuts the flange, only because I ask him too
5. Nice radius with a beautiful surface finish
6. About 7 days turnaround consistently
7. He asked for 250.00 I pay him 260.00 and try to keep him one crank paid up in advance

I had a in house crank grinder in my Colorado shop, when I moved to Texas Spirro introduced me too Armando, Armando makes my guy in Colorado which did good in his day look incompetent compared to Armando's work, he's been a game changer for me.

[mngforce]

I’ve been using Armando for 30yrs. Since he was In Redwood City. He’s never done me wrong. Until now. And it’s BAD.

I’ll be calling Castillos in the am.

Thanks.

[vortecpro]

Ok, I've used Castillo myself, I think if your looking for high end work in California theres another shop thats done high end work for me as well, I used them before Armando, and you will find there superior to Castillo, (Electronic Chrome) in SantaFe Springs, close to Egge machine.

I should mention the cranks Armando has done for me are not welded just grinds on nice virgin crank cores, I've never had him weld a crank before.

[mngforce]

Armando’s quality of work is top-notch. He’s just inexcusably a flake beyond flakes. He has two of my cranks and won’t give them back. He won’t even respond to me. Insane really.

[vortecpro]

Armando’s quality of work is top-notch. He’s just inexcusably a flake beyond flakes. He has two of my cranks and won’t give them back. He won’t even respond to me. Insane really.

ELECTRONIC CHROME is your answer.

[mngforce]

Does anyone have a number for the Castillos? The number I called [(714) 523-0321] says the number has been changed and the new number is unknown. Not a good sign.

Mike Norman

[englertracing]

He was sick with covid in the hospital last year, last I heard he pulled through and the shop was to reopen

[mngforce]

He was sick with covid in the hospital last year, last I heard he pulled through and the shop was to reopen

Oh crap. Now that the number has been changed, and I can't find a new one, that's not a good sign.

[panic]

Does everyone recognize this pattern?
1. full payment in advance
2. slower & slower delivery
3. phone calls not returned
4. if you visit, your stuff "is in another location"
5. he stops paying rent, utilities
6. he keeps, but does not remit his employee's W2 withholding $$
7. his checks bounce
8. he has a "burglary" and everything is gone
9. collects $$$ insurance
10. all of it is in a new location rented under his wife's name
11. back in business!!

[mngforce]

Does everyone recognize this pattern?
1. full payment in advance
2. slower & slower delivery
3. phone calls not returned
4. if you visit, your stuff "is in another location"
5. he stops paying rent, utilities
6. he keeps, but does not remit his employee's W2 withholding $$
7. his checks bounce
8. he has a "burglary" and everything is gone
9. collects $$$ insurance
10. all of it is in a new location rented under his wife's name
11. back in business!!

Who are you describing? Armando (CCR) or Joe Castillo?

[Paul Kane]

Does anyone have a number for the Castillos? The number I called [(714) 523-0321] says the number has been changed and the new number is unknown. Not a good sign.

Mike Norman

Joe Castillo's shop is open for business and doing fine. I've personally done business with him for twenty years in the same location, and was there literally just last week. The phone bill simply needs to be paid and will come back on--Joe is just super busy on the floor and his part-time assistant normally takes care of the clerical things like bills. The best time to call is 10am-12Noon

He was sick with covid in the hospital last year, last I heard he pulled through and the shop was to reopen

Joe went through a pretty big scare with Covid, and survived. Unfortunately some of his shop workers didn't, and he even lost one employee to a more serious illness. Currently he is running his shop solo and has a great deal of work in front of him. Any crankshaft guys looking for work might want to give Castillo's a call.

[vortecpro]

He was sick with covid in the hospital last year, last I heard he pulled through and the shop was to reopen

Oh crap. Now that the number has been changed, and I can't find a new one, that's not a good sign.

Just curious, why don't you want to try Electronic Chrome?