European Motor Works feedback

[piledriver]

I am about to spend some mad money at European Motor Works.

***<added>***Out of Hawthorne, California, a more or less type 4 only parts and machine shop.

They have been around for years, and occasionally advertise in the US VW mags
Does anyone have either positive or negative comments?

Their prices are scary cheap an almost everything, and the few I have spoken to who ARE customers have all been happy... A larger sample size would make me more comfortable.

They are about to get a pair of 914/2.0 heads for a 48x38 8mm stem valve/seat job, 44x35.5 on some AMC heads (<1200 miles, but suggested to fix known issues with the seats and machining) plus 2 virtual motor rebuild "kits", all seals/bearings etc...

Any info would be appreciated.

If unable to comment online:

my email---gjmcgee@NOSPAMcableone.net (remove the obvious...)

[Oliver Knuf]

I like the stuff Eurorace's Jorge is doing. I know him for years now and he's a fair shop owner, who knows, what he's doing!

The heads were ok, some minor quality changes in the years, but don't let him weld too much and go better for a 48mm x 40mm and 44mm x 38mm combinations.
The 911 exhaust port conversions look pretty good and another favourate firm from GB says, that the exhaust style is quite powerful!

[piledriver]

I (too late) realized there are probably 2000 places called "European Motor Works" in the world...

Just for clarification:

This one is in Hawthorne, California, and only does T4/vanagon stuff, been around for a long time, and have long been the "usual" place to get 100-105mm T4 big bore P&L in the US.

[MdR]

I bought parts from them about 7-8 years ago (103mm barrels & pistons, cam, cam followers, oil pump etc.) whilst out in Florida on holiday & had them shipped to my Motel.
Good prices & great service.

[piledriver]

That sounds like it has an interesting story to go with it ;-)

Thanks!

[MdR]

Bought pretty much all my engine components in the USofA & then carried them back as hand baggage . . . :silly: but I had to put the anti-roll bars in the hold.
Got back to Gatwick airport at 3am, woke the customs officer up, showed her my 'creatively worded' receipts & was told 'why did you bother coming thru the red channel?' & paid no duty.

2.4litre 914/4 = fun :D I should never have sold her :(
Martin

[WipEout]

I got a set of T-4 heaterbox replacements and a lot of answers to my engine build questions from them. I liked the service and the info was very helpful. Unfortunately, the heaterbox replacements (just the tubes, for my T-4>Bug conversion)wouldn't fit the engine when it was in the car. They were a couple inches too long to fit flush on the exhaust ports, the flanges hit the bottom lip on either side of the engine compartment (under the bumper bracket bolts) so I had to order the BAS Ahnendorp header. Other than that, though, I had no problems With European Motorworks themselves!


DAVID MANN

[piledriver]

" The 911 exhaust port conversions look pretty good "
EMW doesn't really advertise much they do or sell apparently, are you talking `bout the same place, and do you have any more info on the port mod in any case?

Thanks for all the feedback, folks, how about their machine work quality?

[Oliver Knuf]

Check your parts twice and write down, what you want, then you're on the safe side. We mean both the same shop in Hawthorne, looks nice there :)