Gentleman was short with me on the phone when I called asking some beginner's questions about my first rebuild. Over the 5-10 minute call, I felt as though he was uninterested in meeting me where I was at, offering me advice, or perhaps he just didn't want to touch my engine. To give him benefit of the doubt, I HAD called near closing time. Also possible that he's overworked... whatever it was, I understand. That was my sole verbal interaction with a representative of this company. Several weeks since then, I've emailed Action Machine Shop with specific questions regarding work I'd like done on my engine and requesting a quote. I have not heard back in 4 business days. By this point I've seen zero interest from Action Machine in taking my money & business. I may not be their ideal client. At this point, between two well-known shops in the Seattle area, I'm happy sitting on the 6-month waiting list for Pacific Auto Machine. I'd rather wait my turn than beg this shop on my hands and knees to work on my lowly Toyota 4 cylinder, let alone teach me a thing or two. read more

I'm a retired guy and like to help out family and neighbors with their cars. Had a car with a rough idle and a leak down showed the problem to be a bad exhaust valve. Action Machine has detailed pricing on their website and from that I quoted the customer a price. 2 hours of my labor to remove the head and an hour to drive to Action only to find out the prices on their website aren't accurate. The new price was +$200 more than what I had quoted my customer. This is called Bait and Switch, is dishonest and broke any trust I had with this business. Didn't feel I could trust them if they told me I had bent valves, worn guides or a warped surface. Discussed with the customer and they decided this was out of their budget and had also lost confidence in this shop to do honest work. I retrieved the head before they did any thing. My customer will bank the $$$ and just put up with the rough idle. read more

Fixing up an old Ford and needed the heads cleaned up, they did a real bang up job. If I ever need machine work done again I will 100% be coming here. The guy behind the counter is very friendly and knowledgeable and even offered some advice we didn't even know we could do. (Flip the heads) again if you are looking for a machine shop this is definitely the place to go. read more

Action Machine Shop - The heads. - Machine Shops Near Me - Shoreline, Washington

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Action Machine is an excellent place to do business. I was just reading the review from John H. who lives in Snoqualmie. Doesn't make sense. Action Machine does post basic prices on their websites, but repair work, including machine work, is subject to the work required on a part. If you take in a head to be repaired, you may need to replace some things. In addition, if John is an experienced mechanic, he has faced this many times himself. This is bull$@#%. I trust Action Machine so much it is the only place I will go because I know the work will be done right. They won't try to do it cheaply and cut corners, but they'll also not rip you off (I've been told by other machine shops their work is "cost plus time" which violates the law.) I trust their recommendations. I've had two engines built there and they've done heads, drums, flywheels, and more for me. Other members of my car club have also done engines and smaller jobs. All have been excellent work. When I walk into a business, I expect to pay a fair price and I know I get that at Action. I expect the folks who work there and own the business will need to make money. It goes without saying, especially a small, local business. I know Action will make a little cash, but they'll work to keep me coming back. Action machine is a busy place. That is a testament to Jason and Rob's excellent work. I have a high spinning turbocharged engine in there right now and look forward to working with them. read more

Called to have them do a simple drill and tap of an aluminum fuel rail. He told me he probably couldn't do it, that he was too busy to take me right now, and that there are too many variables to account for. All you need is a drill press, and a tap for 1/4" NPT. If i had those I'd do it myself. Guy on the phone was not friendly and not looking to help me at all. read more

I have been dealing with Rob and company for over 15 years now and have had the best service of any machine shop I've dealt with. I am a machinist at UW making really tiny things but needed a machine shop to handle my engine parts. The first thing I do to judge a machine shop is to look in their shop and see if they are cluttered or have a lot of metal chips all over. Their shop is VERY clean and organized. Once they pass that test I usually take them work and see how they do. Their machine work is great! They take care to do it right, without shortcuts. Rob will tell you if you have a good idea or are wasting your money, looking at the way you will be driving your car/truck. He will tell you if your parts are crap or worthy of that mega-horsepower power-adder. I should know as I went thru 8 Nailhead Buick blocks and 16 cylinder heads before I found good parts. This may hurt your feelings since you think your rusty pile of junk will be the next ZL1 or LS, but they want you to have a great product when they are done. They have done 2 small block Chevys, 10 Nailheads, two 22R's and countless cylinder heads for me in the past 15 years. I would trust him with ANY of my projects. read more

Fast and friendly service. Convenient location. The staff are great, they will help you load and unload heavy equipment. They can get quite busy, so that will effect the turn around time for your project. But if they are not too busy, same day service is very possible. read more

Very quick turnaround, price is fantastic and my head has been great since they re machined it. It's been good two years and 2000+ miles on track and no problem! read more

Action Machine in my opinion is the best machine shop in the Seattle area. They take great care of your project, and do the work right the first time. The machinists are great and do awesome work. I have rebuilt numerous engines with them and custom built numerous race engines with Rob, Jason and the crew over the years. read more

I am still finding and paying for mistakes made by the machine shop. Having a motor built was a huge thing for me. $5500.00 dollars for a boat anchor really hurts. Then being told I messed up (on a fully assembled block) and they can get me the new parts to BUY..... never again. All other experiences were good however. flywheels and rotors.....small cheap things. read more

Rob is the absolute best around in the Seattle area. He will let you know what he can do and cannot do over the phone. Their shop has all the latest and greatest tooling for rebuilding damn near any engine. If they can't do it they know where to send you. Their honesty and integrity is second to none, their quality of service and final product is second to none. This is the place to go if you have machine work in the automotive world needing to be done. read more

These guys were great. I brought a very small job to them: a cold-welded, hardened set screw that needed to be removed from a decorative stainless handle. All my attempts to remove it had only made things worse. They worked my job into their afternoon's schedule, and charged about half what I expected. They were friendly and explained clearly what they would do. They took care not to mar the handle, and returned it clean. They even saved the stuck screw so I could see it. They clearly enjoy and take great pride in their work. If I ever have a bigger job, I will go to them with no hesitation. read more

I just rebuilt a Pontiac V-8. Before I started the project I asked a few people in my car club for a recommendation. I went with Action Machine in Shoreline and I'm really glad I did. They cleaned, bored, zero-decked, and balanced my engine parts. Rob, the manager there, was very helpful even though this was my first rebuild. They were not fast or cheap. But all the work was very accurate and I will definitely use their services again. read more

I have had two flywheels resurfaced with this shop and they do good work. Got the parts back in a timely fashion and they were done well with no problems. The customer service is direct and to the point, but professional. read more