Good Chassis Shop

Discussion in 'PSI Superchargers Tech Questions' started by controlledInsanity, Oct 26, 2009.

  1. controlledInsanity

    controlledInsanity New Member

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    I've been looking on the internet at chassis shops who can build Promod / Top sportsman chassis and body kits in various stages. I would like to get some views from people who have purchased from them. I live in Australia and i am looking to buy. Any info would be appreciated.

    Thanks
     
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  2. WANNABE

    WANNABE New Member

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    There are a few that are having finincial problems and closing up in the last little while. Be careful. (It is a total shame too, as some of those companies built really killer cars.)
    I really like American Racecraft cars. I have worked on a few and really like the attention to detail and the way they run right out of the box. I had a chance to look at the newest pro mod to leave that shop real recently and I was totally impressed. Decent prices too.
    http://www.americanracecraft.com
    Lots of good used stuff on racing junk, but tough to really know what is what when you are across big blue oceans.
     
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  3. Dragsterbus

    Dragsterbus Member

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    One of my customers bought a car from racing junk and had it shipped here to England, the cage wasn't welded around the top (or gusseted) and wasn't really attached to the chassis, i ended up cutting it all out and making a new 'moly one and had to re do most of the truck (53 chevy truck)
    If i was you i'd buy my self a cheap flight and have a good look at anything that you are thinking of importing ,
    Doesn't Ken Lowe know anyone over there that does good chassis work ?
     
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  4. Will Hanna

    Will Hanna We put the 'inside' in Top Alcohol
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    Ballistic Race Craft

    Shane Heckel's Ballistic Racecraft has done everything from Top Sportsman to Comp door cars and dragsters. His lead man in the shop is Dewayne Custer who grew up working in his dad's well-known chassis shop, Eastexas Racecars. Check out their website at www.ballisticracecraft.com
     
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  5. Iron Mike

    Iron Mike New Member

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    Controled,

    The B&L Steel car is (was) for sale again in Dragster in the last few weeks. I saw it on the web.

    $75k as a roller
    $155 ready to go

    car is in Brisbane by the add

    Tyson
     
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  6. jim phillips

    jim phillips ta/fc

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    BRC RACE CARS (bitchin race cars ) newburgh indiana owned by matt wright 812 853 8780 i have seen several pro mods he has built this year a 57 chevy 70 camaro 40 willys 63 split window corvette and many more very trick pieces and they work he is worth the effort to check out
     
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  7. SCO1035

    SCO1035 New Member

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    #7
  8. HemiCuda

    HemiCuda New Member

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    #8
  9. Slayer

    Slayer Member

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    Torrelli Pro Cars. John built Mike Janis' championship Corvette as well as a few of Oddy's cars and does a lot of top sportsman cars. Call him at 716-438-0966
     
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  10. Danny Humphreys

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    If it were me, purchasing a car unseen like what you are looking for, i would go through mcamis or bickel. Call them and tell them what you need. They may not be the cheapest, but it will be right.
    Especially if you want to piece it together, they have components that you can add later that are designed to work with their stuff. I do my own work and have used mcamis, bickel, and quartermax components, they are all top notch.
     
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    Last edited: Oct 29, 2009
  11. chuck weck

    chuck weck Member

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    Chris Duncan!
     
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  12. MTI Racing

    MTI Racing New Member

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    Ballistic Burned me

    I have been in the performance business for over 20 years and was one of the owners of Houston based MTI (Motorsport Technologies) and currently still own an operate a performance part manufacturing business (Ultimate Performance and Design). Last October I was looking for a local company to fabricate and do an initial production run on several sets of high end performance headers. After doing some research and reading various forums - including this particular post -it appeared that Shane Heckel's Ballistic Racecraft was the reputable company that I was looking for. We called and spoke with Shane Heckel on the phone and he told us to go to the shop and meet with Dewayne Custer, within a week we went to the shop to meet with Dewayne in person. While it should have raised some suspicion when the front of the building read HHH Canopies, the shop in the back was packed with race cars and parts and in general seemed to be comprised of the things that a chassis shop should have and had Shane Heckel's name on the wall and on various other items in the shop. We were assured that this job was well within their capabilities and left a $3000 deposit to get the project started. Kathy Heckel emailed a receipt for the money and we thought every thing was good to go.

    Now, 10 months later we have received neither our parts nor our money back. Shane Heckel, Dewayne Custer and Kathy Heckel all point to each other and all say that each one has nothing to do with this. We have now turned this over to our legal council, and in the time that we have spent trying to recover our money, I have discovered that Ballistic was never legitimately registered with the State of Texas and was never a legitimate business. I would appreciate if anyone else has a similar story to PM me or send me an email to ultimatepd@yahoo.com.

    Thanks
     
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  13. Comax Racing

    Comax Racing Member

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    Chassis Shop

    Last time I was at the RockyMountain Nationals here in Edmonton the promod field was pretty much split down the middle with Jerry Bickel Cars and Tim Mcamis cars. They both offer staged kits. I have purchased some stuff from Tim Mcamis and they are very good to deal with and build beautiful stuff. IMO


    Corey
     
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  14. JustinatAce

    JustinatAce Member

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    For a guy who deals with more door car stuff than I'd care to admit, I can tell you Haas, Bickel, McAmis and RJ, all build beautiful and some of the most functional cars right out of the box. They've all been in the game long enough to know what they can and can't do in a given amount of time and what it will cost you without guessing. The smaller shops build great stuff too, but you may not be able to rely on the original time frame given at the time of order, or that your deposit money wasn't taken by an ex wife or the IRS. The one benefit you have with the bigger shops is they were here yesterday and they'll be here tomorrow barring a nuclear winter. My current state seems to breed car builders (Missouri), between Haas, Bickel, McAmis, McCoy, Garrett, Janes, with Larson and RJ close by too.. (sorry if I forgot somebody in the area). All very talented! Garrett damn near owns the market on those crazy ass ADRL blower cars.
     
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  15. aj481x

    aj481x Member

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    Andy McCoy is a small shop but we are very happy with our car.
     
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  16. HemiCuda

    HemiCuda New Member

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    Should've Called ProStart...:mad:
     
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  17. MTI Racing

    MTI Racing New Member

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    Yep - wishing I had
     
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  18. SoDak

    SoDak Active Member

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  19. bandit496

    bandit496 Member

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    Give Dan Bowers at Advanced Chassis in Antwerp, Ohio a call (419-258-2100 or www.advancedchassisllc.com). He and his staff can do anything race wise. I have seen all kinds of race chassis and even some concept vehicles. They ship lots of parts and assemblies to Australia. They are racers themselves and know what it takes to make safe, good performing units.
    JW
     
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