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March 2024 by Aaron Warren
I'll give this place 5 stars. They saved me alot of money by fixing a cylinder head that another machine shop said was no good. So for now on, Clay's my first choice.
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November 2023 by Matthew Martinez
Eh, I always get referred to here, but the answer I always get is "No, we can't do it"
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September 2023 by Chris W
Great Harley ride Great service and prices
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September 2023 by Lou Reyes
I'm sure at some point Clay's was a top shelf shop. In my experience, it's NOT that anymore.
It's been almost a year since my dealings with Clay and JR and felt/feel completely fugged-over by them. I've since chalked it up to lesson learned and moved on to another shop.
GOOD: courteous and extremely knowledgeable staff. Machine work prices are fair and the tolerances are accurate. Also, they're no strangers to classic engines - which is rare.
Background: 1963 Cadillac 390. Stock, spare no expense, rebuild.
I spoke directly with Clay and requested that the engine block and heads get hot-tank cleaned and carefully inspected for cracks or damage. If ok, check dimensionally. If ok, a quote including parts, labor, and necessary machine work. Clay recommended machining the heads to accept newer-style valve guide seals. I agreed and asked for an estimate on turnaround time but I made it clear I was not trying to rush. Clay committed to getting a quote to me the following week and that, if I approve, the work will be done within a week or two after that. I paid for the clean-and-check up front and left a deposit for machine work. Then it all went downhill from there.
BAD: I didn't hear back for several weeks. When I finally called, I spoke with JR. He apologized and explained that Clay is only in the shop Tuesday-Thursday and that he didn't know what Clay was doing with this project but that he would give him the message and he'd surely call me back. He didn't. This cycle repeated for close to 4 months. Not one call from them to me. Not once.
When I had a belly full of it, I called called and said I'd come pick up my parts. Suddenly, not to worry, my engine would be ready for pick up in 2 days.
2 days later, I take time off work to pick up my stuff (not open weekends and they close at 5) before they close. I do a cursory look over everything, looks good, and load everything in my work van and pay the balance. All-in the tab was just shy of $4k. Yes. $4,000 for parts, machine work, and labor - no assembly. If you're thinking part price drove this price, they didn't. A complete engine rebuild parts kit from a reputable source with quality parts is around $1500.
Ok, I DID said "spare no expense" right? So I would not squeak if in return for my money and long wait I received top-notch work with quality parts.
Nope.
The block and heads looked great! Fresh and clean cast iron with fresh valves on the heads! So what's wrong with that? For starters, the valves were new but the springs, retainers, and seals were not. Remember those new-style seals Clay sold me on? Nope. Old style AND old reused seals were reinstalled (pics). Second, the fresh cast iron look was not because they were clean. It's because they were all spray painted with cast iron paint!!! Over grease blobs too. So now I'm really mad and look deeper at the work.
Since I now know that the fresh appearance comes from a rattle can, I suspect that the block/heads were NOT properly hot-tanked as promised (and charged for). I turn my attention to the block/head expansion plugs and see that they were never removed. Just painted over with iron paint (which I now have to remove to repaint in the original color). I scrape away the paint around the perimeter of one of the plugs and my pick pokes right through - rusty from the inside. The plugs weren't checked, much less removed. Removing them revealed cooling jackets fully clogged with years of gunk and debris - the reason for hot-tanking an engine block and heads in the first place.
I ended up taking my engine block and heads to another shop that fully cleaned and re inspected the block/heads before assembly work began - costing me even more money.
Eventually, called Clay's and JR answered. I asked why parts were not hot-tanked as promised and he explained they don't have a hot tank at all. Just a commercial parts w
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September 2023 by Jery Gallegos
Good service :)
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September 2023 by Hector Perez
The Machinist here at clays are very professional
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September 2023 by Steelbodywork
They've done many heads and engine overhauls, and did great work. AWESOME, thank you!
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June 2023 by dWiGhT Mulcahy
Lots of parts knowledge here. Bring in the part, and they will identify it.
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May 2023 by Melton Cerritos
Call and ask for an estimate on valve job and did the valve job for $130 plus $55 for resurface. The seals for the valves are extra which were buy $23 and the cleaning of the head was not done which would assume that Poor workmanship will never ever have them do any work for me
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April 2023 by Lou R.
I'm sure at some point Clay's was a top shelf machine and auto parts shop. In my experience, it's not that anymore.It's been almost a year since my dealings with Clay and JR and felt/feel completely fugged-over by them. I've since chalked it up to lesson learned and moved on to another shop.GOOD: courteous and extremely knowledgeable staff. Machine work prices are fair and the tolerances are accurate. Also, they're no strangers to classic engines - which is rare.Background: 1963 Cadillac 390. Stock, spare no expense machine and rebuild.I spoke directly with Clay and requested that the engine block and heads get hot-tank cleaned and carefully inspected for cracks or damage. If ok, check dimensionally. If ok, a quote including parts, labor, and necessary machine work. Clay agreed and recommended machining the heads to accept newer-style valve guide seals. I agreed and asked for an estimate on turnaround time but I made it clear I was not trying to rush. Clay committed to getting a quote to me the following week and that, if I approve, the work will be done within a week or two after that. I paid for the clean-and-check up front and left a deposit for machine work. Then it all went downhill from there.BAD: I didn't hear back for several weeks. When I finally called, I spoke with JR. He apologized and explained that Clay is only in the shop Tuesday-Thursday and that he didn't know what Clay was doing with this project but that he would give him the message and he'd surely call me back. He didn't. This cycle repeated for close to 4 months. Not one call from them to me. Not once.When I had a belly full of it, I called called and said I'd come pick up my parts. Suddenly, not to worry, my engine would be ready for pick up in 2 days.2 days later, I take time off work to pick up my stuff (not open weekends and they close at 5) before they close. I do a cursory look over everything, looks good, and load everything in my work van and pay the balance. All-in the tab was just shy of $4k. Yes. $4,000 for parts, machine work, and labor - no assembly. If you're thinking part price drove this price, they didn't. A complete engine rebuild parts kit from a reputable source with quality parts is around $1500.Ok, I DID said "spare no expense" right? So I would not squeak if in return for my money and long wait I received top-notch work with quality parts.Nope.The block and heads looked great! Fresh and clean cast iron with fresh valves on the heads! So what's wrong with that? For starters, the valves were new but the springs, retainers, and seals were not. Remember those new-style seals Clay sold me on? Nope. Old style AND old reused seals were reinstalled (pics). Second, the fresh cast iron look was not because they were clean. It's because they were all spray painted with cast iron paint!!! Over grease blobs too. So now I'm really mad and look deeper at the work.Since I now know that the fresh appearance comes from a rattle can, I suspect that the block/heads were NOT properly hot-tanked as promised (and charged for). I turn my attention to the block/head expansion plugs and see that they were never removed. Just painted over with iron paint (which I now have to remove to repaint in the original color). I scrape away the paint around the perimeter of one of the plugs and my pick pokes right through - rusty from the inside. The plugs weren't checked, much less removed. Removing them revealed cooling jackets fully clogged with years of gunk and debris - the reason for hot-tanking an engine block and heads in the first place.I ended up taking my engine block and heads to another shop that fully cleaned and re inspected the block/heads before assembly work began - costing me even more money.Eventually, called Clay's and JR answered. I asked why parts were not hot-tanked as promised and he explained they don't have a hot tank at all. Just a commercial parts washer. He didn't have an answer for the paint. Oh and the new oil pump gears are
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October 2022 by Lucy Aranda
Love the rocks they have here
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September 2022 by Esther Hernandez
I truly fall in love with this place. Fair prices
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September 2022 by Carlos Charly
Very treatable
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August 2022 by elissa bars
Cool place, has a nice crystal shop inside to the right of the store
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March 2022 by Terry Ueckert
Good people.....Best machine shop in town...
