Recommendations for custom part manufacture??

[Ian_dw]

I have a engine block, which has 2 engine mounts missing, so I have a slight problem that I can’t bolt and fit it to the frame. Can anyone recommend someone who can make low quantity metal items such as these, Which also  don’t cost a fortune?? Thanks Ian

[cardan]

Hard! I have someone nearby (in Australia!!) who can and will make things that I can't, but I pay for them and he needs a drawing or a part to copy. Such people are hard to find.

Presumably the missing engine clamps are for the McKenzie? If so, they are cast and machined - fiddly. Since there were a lot made (1500-1600 by August 1922), maybe there are parts around. Does the VMCC(GB) have a McKenzie Marque Specialist? This might be a better place to start than making each missing part.

Cheers

Leon

[33d6]

If you’re dead lucky and can capture the interest of your local model engineering club you may find a member willing to have a go but otherwise I’d suggest you stop kidding yourself about some machine shop doing a cheap job for you.

Assuming it is for the McKenzie as cardan says I can tell you the work required to make the appropriate patterns, have them cast and then machined is exactly the same to have two made as it is for two dozen or two hundred or even two thousand. It will be a labour of love for someone or someone practicing his hobby. No commercial firm will want to know.
Having said that, 3D printing is the modern and viable option but still expensive. That still requires proper drawings to work from and you need a crash course in it all so you at least have some vague idea on what is required and how it can be done.
Forget it all until you have a proper set of drawings to to show people what it is you are after. Firms will only quote on clear and complete information from someone who knows exactly what they want. Anything less is just wasting their time and they will make that clear in their quote unless they’ve shown you the door already.

[Rex]

Wouldn't it be possible to fabricate what you need with some basic metalwork and welding?
Not going to pass any originality tests but would allow the resto to progress while searching further for the real ones?

[R]

Are you talking the aluminium crankcase casting here ?

A good aircraft welder could likely mig or tig some aluminium back into place in no time.
I had the chap at the local airport do a variety of small jobs for me, he was QUICK
and thus didn't charge the earth. And if you do the preparatory work and finish-up work,
he charges even less. And he was good - aircraft people insist on that, funnily enough.

This got a variety of projects progressed that would have otherwise have been impossible to finish.

He has to understand what you want to finish up with though - a sketch or a cardboard jig even.

[Ian_dw]

Some good thoughts out there, 3D Printers are great but in metal does seem to be more expensive. I have seen some  “metal pipe joins” which seem to have the profile I am after, so I might be able to repurpose one of these to do the job. If not I can easily make a mould, but never tried metal casting before.Looks like it may be possible from home, depends on how much I want to burn myself lol!!

I have also tested and tried an aluminium block and can sort of make the bracket I need, but it’ll take an awful amount of cutting, grinding etc to get it into a shape which looks original.. perhaps as mentioned my local aero drone, where they repair aluminium engine blocks might have the skills/kit I need??