Midwest 124

zachmac · Post by **zachmac** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 5:36 pm

Does anyone know if Midwest 124 is still in business? Can't seem to get a response.

RJ80 · Post by **RJ80** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 6:13 pm

Midwest is pretty lackluster these days, which is a shame because I liked them in the past. A few weeks ago, I sent an email asking about a part that Midwest had available on the website that I was thinking about ordering with my wheel bearing order. Two weeks went by with no response, then I noticed Midwest selling the same part on eBay. I sent a message there explaining that I hadn't heard back previously. Midwest's response was, in a nutshell, "Sorry, but we're too busy to reply to every customer email." Pretty shocking.

I guess they're too busy for my business, then. I ordered the wheel bearings the next day for less money through Vick's Auto. If your business is online parts sales, you need to answer your emails. Every single one.

toyfiats · Post by **toyfiats** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 6:56 pm

Note that there are two companies with similar names - Midwest-124 run by Jon Logan (which I think the original poster was referring to), and Midwest-Bayless (which the second poster was referencing).

joelittel · Post by **joelittel** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 11:08 pm

Anyone know if Midwest 124 is still in operation?

I left a message a while back but never heard back from anyone.

zachmac · Post by **zachmac** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 4:53 am

I am indeed trying to contact Jon at Midwest 124, NOT Midwest Bayless. No reply. Can someone recommend an alternative to have my 124 head reconditioned / performance modified (other than the usual suspects of Auto Ricambi, Vicks, IAP)?

seabeelt · Post by **seabeelt** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 7:09 am

Midwest -Bayless is better via phone. Never had any issues

aj81spider · Post by **aj81spider** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 7:33 am

+1 on that

joelittel · Post by **joelittel** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 9:57 am

zachmac wrote:I am indeed trying to contact Jon at Midwest 124, NOT Midwest Bayless. No reply. Can someone recommend an alternative to have my 124 head reconditioned / performance modified (other than the usual suspects of Auto Ricambi, Vicks, IAP)?

I've heard good things about Apple Motors. I believe they are in Washington.

RJ80 · Post by **RJ80** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 4:08 pm

Apologies, my post was indeed referencing Midwest-Bayless. I need to read more carefully!

zachmac · Post by **zachmac** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 5:52 pm

Okay, Jon (Midwest-124) responded and is still working but I'm not sure yet if he has time to work on me head (we'll see). If he cannot does anyone know of an experienced machine shop for Fiat heads? Looking for bigger valve seat grind, guides and seals, install Isky springs and port and polish. Beek (Southern Machine in FL) seems to also have vaporized from planet earth; no response to phone calls or emails.

I can have the work done locally but all these good ole boys "ain't never seen such a cute littler head". Mostly they work on Chevies.

joelittel · Post by **joelittel** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 6:38 pm

Why not buy one that's built up the way you'd like and then sell yours?

Autoricambi sells high performance heads, and I believe they will take your old one as a core credit. I don't want to speak for them but I believe this is something they offer.

narfire · Post by **narfire** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 8:14 pm

zachmac wrote: If he cannot does anyone know of an experienced machine shop for Fiat heads? Looking for bigger valve seat grind, guides and seals, install Isky springs and port and polish.

Bummer, you're wrong side of the continent. Fellow that did mine I think did a great job.

vandor · Post by **vandor** » Sat Apr 25, 2015 12:31 am

Yes, we do sell high performance cylinder heads. FWIW, nearly any machine shop can do a stock reconditioning or valve job, as long as they know what the valve heights are supposed to be. But once porting is done (enlarging the ports) all bets are off. Unless the shop has a flow bench and is willing to spend 10 hours experimenting, or spend the same amount of time reading the Guy Croft book, the chances of getting an effective porting job are tiny. It does not matter if they've been doing this for 50 years, or if they are racers - without a flow bench there is no way to quantify the results.

zachmac · Post by **zachmac** » Sat Apr 25, 2015 6:12 am

To be honest I hadn't budgeted the kind of money the bolt on hi-po vendor heads cost, BUT, once I price out all the good parts, factor in machine shop work and having to actually find someone who knows what they are doing (few and far between), maybe that's the way to go? Guess I'll be calling AR to cancel the pieces / parts order and get the built head.

Vandor, if you see this before we talk please hold my order.

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