# Good place to have cylinder head checked/machined/cleaned
**URL:** https://forums.speedlife.net/t/good-place-to-have-cylinder-head-checked-machined-cleaned/267411
**Category:** Shift518 Automotive
**Created:** [July 16, 2013, 11:33am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/good-place-to-have-cylinder-head-checked-machined-cleaned/267411 "2013-07-16T11:33:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@GearheadNY.com](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/GearheadNY.com)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2013, 11:33am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/good-place-to-have-cylinder-head-checked-machined-cleaned/267411/1 "2013-07-16T11:33:12Z")
So, I have once again gone and done it. I picked up a car that needs a head gasket (on purpose this time I promise), and would like to get some opinions/recommendations on a good machine shop to have a BMW M52TU cylinder head inspected, valve seals replaced, and machined if necessary.
I’ve asked my father in law and he uses Napa, but I have heard of some less stellar results. However, this is basic machine work and I klnow results may vary. In the past I used Hunts, but if anyone on here knows better, please let me know!
Thanks in advance guys!
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### Author:  [@bennyfizzle](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bennyfizzle)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2013, 11:42am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/good-place-to-have-cylinder-head-checked-machined-cleaned/267411/2 "2013-07-16T11:42:38Z")
I’ve heard good things about Mark (I believe) at Applied Flow
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### Author:  [@JSEnclosures](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JSEnclosures)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2013, 12:05pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/good-place-to-have-cylinder-head-checked-machined-cleaned/267411/3 "2013-07-16T12:05:07Z")
noels machine shop. never had any engine work done by them personally but they’ve done a few flywheels for me. Always have a few engines in there torn apart every time I’ve been there. they look like they know what they are doing
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### Author:  [@GearheadNY.com](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/GearheadNY.com)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2013, 12:05pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/good-place-to-have-cylinder-head-checked-machined-cleaned/267411/4 "2013-07-16T12:05:07Z")
Good to know. Relatively quick turnaround? Somewhere within a week, perhaps?
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### Author:  [@JSEnclosures](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JSEnclosures)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2013, 12:36pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/good-place-to-have-cylinder-head-checked-machined-cleaned/267411/5 "2013-07-16T12:36:17Z")
they are same day for flywheels
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### Author:  [@GearheadNY.com](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/GearheadNY.com)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2013, 12:37pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/good-place-to-have-cylinder-head-checked-machined-cleaned/267411/6 "2013-07-16T12:37:56Z")
Oh cool, sounds like it wouldn’t be too bad for a cylinder head then.
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### Author:  [@toomanycamaros](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/toomanycamaros)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2013, 4:19pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/good-place-to-have-cylinder-head-checked-machined-cleaned/267411/7 "2013-07-16T16:19:31Z")
Benny is talking about mark atkins at applied floe technologies. Best thing is to e mail him [mark@aftracingheads.com](mailto:mark@aftracingheads.com)
In my opinion he is bar none the best machinist in the area.
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### Author:  [@GearheadNY.com](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/GearheadNY.com)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2013, 7:54am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/good-place-to-have-cylinder-head-checked-machined-cleaned/267411/8 "2013-07-17T07:54:30Z")
Good to know, I may have to send him the Buick stuff to get checked out when I pull the drivetrain this fall/winter.
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### Author:  [@scott88LX](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/scott88LX)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2013, 11:23am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/good-place-to-have-cylinder-head-checked-machined-cleaned/267411/9 "2013-07-17T11:23:34Z")
Atkins fixed my AFR head and it looked better than brand new. Pricey, but definitely worth it in my opinion.
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### Author:  [@big\_red](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/big_red)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2013, 11:39am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/good-place-to-have-cylinder-head-checked-machined-cleaned/267411/10 "2013-07-17T11:39:12Z")
Mark Atkins is THE best. hands down. I wouldnt trust anyone else.
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### Author:  [@low\_n\_slow](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/low_n_slow)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2013, 12:52pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/good-place-to-have-cylinder-head-checked-machined-cleaned/267411/11 "2013-07-17T12:52:15Z")
now that this has been answered, what do you guys think about the napa machine shop on wolf road? I already got a lot of machine work done over their but engine is not put back together yet.
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### Author:  [@88slowmarro](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/88slowmarro)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2013, 1:32pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/good-place-to-have-cylinder-head-checked-machined-cleaned/267411/12 "2013-07-17T13:32:55Z")
Napa sucks
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### Author:  [@toomanycamaros](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/toomanycamaros)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/good-place-to-have-cylinder-head-checked-machined-cleaned/267411/13 "2013-07-17T16:09:59Z")
> [@NYSpeed Photo Scavenger Hunt](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/nyspeed-photo-scavenger-hunt/53147/24):
>
> Napa sucks
agreed we used to use them at the dealership since they were only 15 minutes away but switched to hunts after getting burned by napa a couple times.