67bonnie455
08-28-2009, 07:02 PM
If you read no further, Gregg Merrick's service is EXCEPTIONAL. How do I know, just an annomious guy? At this time, he is helping me build a 455 (462 BAD BOY!). I just talked to him about fitting a new windage tray on a motor and he saved me megga time and let me know to size the front pan bolts so as not to have a leak or strip them out. He knows more about the Poncho V-8 than anyone I have met.
Who the am I to say? First I am a customer. Second, I grew up working in my family's Pontiac dealership. Browning Motors from 1955 to 2007. I started out holding the hot trouble lights when I was 10 and later became the service manager for 3 years before moving on as a Chemist. I thought my oldest brother was the best authority on the Pontiac motor, but that is not true. Gregg Merrick is the most knowledgable I have ever met. My brother even had me call Gregg two years ago when restoring a 326. By the way, the 326 engine kit was high quality and the cam was perfect for the car. About half the price too boot.
We still have a service center and I have access to all of the major parts vendors at discounts that would make your heads swim. But I found that Gregg's prices were better than I could buy from the service center's vendors because of the age of these motors. Also, his parts and engines sets have all been exactly what he said they were and the highest quality. I have found a LOT OF JUNK is being sold knowingly and unknowing by vendors. Again, the age of these engines.
Even though I have worked on Pontiacs for 15 years, it has been 20 years ago. My motor was sourced from picking through parts bins and chasing down pieces. I needed some help (hard for me to admit), but Gregg has been spot on and save me lots of time and money. I have gotten a lot of expert advise from Gregg; so much so that I definately owe him more for his time. I know enough about the Pontiac motor recognize real expertise.
I had trouble with the valve geometry; Gregg helped me get it correct. I had trouble with the rope seal, Gregg supplied a custom cut rear seal that was way better. I had trouble with my carb, Gregg sent me the parts my kids lost on me and calibrated it correctly.
RODS: I bought a set of Gregg's polished and resized original Pontiac rods. When I had my machinist (one of the best race motor machinist in the area) turn the crank, my machinist call Gregg and spoke to him about the specs. When I followed up, he stated Gregg just wanted the main bearing crush set up the same way he sets his tractor pulling motors that turn 10,000 rpms. Correctly.
When I put the bottom end together, I plastigauged the rods and EVERYONE came out at EXACTLY 0.015. It was like each one was photo copy of the other. All 8. Perfect. I don't know of any shop that would not have returned the rods in a range of fits. It take a lot of time to get them exactly the same.
When I installed the last piston, something did not feel right. I called Gregg and from his questions and REAL experience he thought I broke a ring. I found the 2nd compression ring had caught the block and broke. He had ONE 0.040 ring and shipped it. I finished the install the motor turned over with the exactly the amount of torque he said it would.
Not wanting this motor to be a stocker, I ported the heads. Again Gregg helped and even sent me photos. A friend took his 400 TA to a local shop. $3500 for porting and new valve train. NO real increase in power and it was not very driveable. After 200 miles, he knocked the main bearings out of it because his "shop" did not know late model Pontiacs don't have harmonic balancers. He spent $3500 and got a gear drive on the motor and not a harmonic balancer? Real experts.
These motors are not Chevy's and take someone with Pontiac knowledge, like Gregg.
I am not a buddy of Gregg's; just an appreciative customer and a Pontiac guy. I am willing to stand by my statements.
Daryn Browning
608-393-2033
Who the am I to say? First I am a customer. Second, I grew up working in my family's Pontiac dealership. Browning Motors from 1955 to 2007. I started out holding the hot trouble lights when I was 10 and later became the service manager for 3 years before moving on as a Chemist. I thought my oldest brother was the best authority on the Pontiac motor, but that is not true. Gregg Merrick is the most knowledgable I have ever met. My brother even had me call Gregg two years ago when restoring a 326. By the way, the 326 engine kit was high quality and the cam was perfect for the car. About half the price too boot.
We still have a service center and I have access to all of the major parts vendors at discounts that would make your heads swim. But I found that Gregg's prices were better than I could buy from the service center's vendors because of the age of these motors. Also, his parts and engines sets have all been exactly what he said they were and the highest quality. I have found a LOT OF JUNK is being sold knowingly and unknowing by vendors. Again, the age of these engines.
Even though I have worked on Pontiacs for 15 years, it has been 20 years ago. My motor was sourced from picking through parts bins and chasing down pieces. I needed some help (hard for me to admit), but Gregg has been spot on and save me lots of time and money. I have gotten a lot of expert advise from Gregg; so much so that I definately owe him more for his time. I know enough about the Pontiac motor recognize real expertise.
I had trouble with the valve geometry; Gregg helped me get it correct. I had trouble with the rope seal, Gregg supplied a custom cut rear seal that was way better. I had trouble with my carb, Gregg sent me the parts my kids lost on me and calibrated it correctly.
RODS: I bought a set of Gregg's polished and resized original Pontiac rods. When I had my machinist (one of the best race motor machinist in the area) turn the crank, my machinist call Gregg and spoke to him about the specs. When I followed up, he stated Gregg just wanted the main bearing crush set up the same way he sets his tractor pulling motors that turn 10,000 rpms. Correctly.
When I put the bottom end together, I plastigauged the rods and EVERYONE came out at EXACTLY 0.015. It was like each one was photo copy of the other. All 8. Perfect. I don't know of any shop that would not have returned the rods in a range of fits. It take a lot of time to get them exactly the same.
When I installed the last piston, something did not feel right. I called Gregg and from his questions and REAL experience he thought I broke a ring. I found the 2nd compression ring had caught the block and broke. He had ONE 0.040 ring and shipped it. I finished the install the motor turned over with the exactly the amount of torque he said it would.
Not wanting this motor to be a stocker, I ported the heads. Again Gregg helped and even sent me photos. A friend took his 400 TA to a local shop. $3500 for porting and new valve train. NO real increase in power and it was not very driveable. After 200 miles, he knocked the main bearings out of it because his "shop" did not know late model Pontiacs don't have harmonic balancers. He spent $3500 and got a gear drive on the motor and not a harmonic balancer? Real experts.
These motors are not Chevy's and take someone with Pontiac knowledge, like Gregg.
I am not a buddy of Gregg's; just an appreciative customer and a Pontiac guy. I am willing to stand by my statements.
Daryn Browning
608-393-2033