Dover Cylinder Head Service, Inc.

Reviews

Reviews are sorted by relevance, with the most helpful and insightful feedback listed first for easy reference.

  WrathOfTheKing
6 months ago
Took them my sports bike cylinder head just wanting it cleaned Chris Dover explained he could media blast it and cut new valve seats and set the clearances after being explained that I decided to go ahead and let him do the work. I had everything apart and labeled took them 3.5 weeks to get the cylinder head done came back to pick it up . Came into the shop with a assembled cylinder head and exhaust ports still caked with carbon I do believe they just cleaned the valves and reassembled the cylinder head was not media blasted. I could have reassembled the head myself complete waste of money and nothing but disappointed with this shop . Was my first and definitely will be the last time I let them do anything . Take your money and run all these 1 star reviews of them not cleaning heads and causing damage because they weren't assembled right are facts. I'm nervous now that the cylinder head will ruin my fresh built motorcycle but we will see when I start it up .Edit: Dover replied below he said he apologized for not cleaning the head and it would take them another week he's being honest that's what's he said!! After 3.5 weeks lol how can you be a machine shop and not send out a clean cylinder head when that's what you specialize in and was talked about before starting on the job.... as far as the discounted price I would have paid in full whatever price if the work was done that was discussed absolute last time they get my money.

  Troy Smith
8 months ago
Fast, excellent, quality machine work on my original date coded 1967 SS Camaro heads! Thanks Chris!

  Alec Cabrera
a year ago
I installed a cylinder head that was supposedly refreshed by Dover about two minutes after starting the car, the engine seized after having it taken apart by a shop, they concluded that the head was machined incorrectly and the cam cams ate through the journals and seized. Also, the front timing cover had to be a machine to fit since so much material had taken off. It would no longer form a proper seal. Do not recommend the shop. Also, if you leave a review, they ll just badmouth you in the comments as an added bonus, they will block your number and make it impossible to get in touch. Thank you very much Chris Dover absolutely do not hand them your money and run away. There is a reason they are the only shop in the area with a short lead time on service.Service: Engine repair

  Tuna Clone
2 months ago
I have 2004 suburban Dover cylinder sold me cylinder heads, lifters,push rods and a Apex gasket set everything worked and fitted beautifully HIGHLY RECOMMEND

  Isaac Mullins
4 months ago
I had them repair a broken off spark plug in my Cylinder Head. They were fast and drilled out the broken part and repaired it with a thread insert. Service was great and they did a good job.

  Mike LightSpeedSnail
3 years ago
If you're only getting parts cleaned, prepare for disappointment. Waste of a 2hr drive, uncleaned parts, damaged block and a weeks worth of time.Completely unacceptable work!Edit:The parts were never washed. Cylinder walls were left completely dry to flash rust. Duct tape still completely bonded to intake and exhaust ports. Mineral spirits spilling into the trunk as I placed them back inside. If they needed to be media blasted, then why was it never suggested to have done to meet your customers expectations? You run the machine shop, not me. You know what 'clean' is, so that's too much trouble to even offer a simple explaination? Obviously a complete lack of communication\care because you can't make money off of machine time by just washing.Blatantly damaging parts, disregarded while handling them.As someone who respects a company that's been around for so long, these people are still making entry level excuses while producing work that's worse than it started off to be.

  Ben Sutherland
2 years ago
I have used Dover s for many years as my go to shop for automotive machining services. All work is performed by the book, the best you will find in the Upstate.Great folks, always happy to answer questions and take the time to help you with your project.We are thankful to have such a fantastic, family owned business right here in the area.Services: Engine repair, Motor building

  zach rogers
a month ago
Super professional and quick. Love it

  tim taylor
2 years ago
I was told this placeWas top-notch for engine rebuilding and cylinder head repair. Chris Dover treated me like I was the only customer there even though they have a heavy work load . What I heard about them impressed me so much that I drove 40 miles. I'm looking forward to them working on my engine and cylinder heads .Highly Recommend!

  Larry Downs
2 years ago
Took 2 heads for repair for Jim's Auto Repair. He has used them for years as they do quality work. Long drive but worth it. The only problem is it is going to be two weeks to do them. They are off our race car and we have a big 3 day race at Bristol Tennessee in two weeks. Had to find another set of heads. They are swamped with wok. That is the price they pay for doing quality work. I still highly recommend them.

  mike garvey
4 years ago
I can t express the gratitude I have for the hard work and quick turn around time from Chris and his team at Dover Cylinder Head Service, Inc. not only did they have my head back to me in under a week but the service and communication through the process was impeccable. From the moment it arrived receiving a message to other things he recommended be done, to contacting me with shipping information when it was headed back. His prices can t be beat. Thanks again gents I will forever be a customer. Oh and their prices can t be beat.

  david penney
a year ago
Edelbrock E-street aftermarket aluminum heads were completely rebuilt with new valve guides, keepers, six exhaust, and two intake valves. The original 74k-mile timing chain set failed at high speed, causing the damage. Dover did the work quickly and reasonably. '68 Mercury Cougar is back running great.Service: Engine repairService: Engine repair

  Iulian Pilip
2 weeks ago
I don t recommend to do a deal with them

  bob barton
10 months ago
I called about a 2.4 cylinder head. I was told on the phone that the only one they had did not have the camshafts. No proble, I drove 26 miles to pick it up and was told when I arrived that they didn't have any ready. By being told over the phone that all they had didn't include the camshafts, one would presumably think it was ready to go.

  ed kelly
6 years ago
Great service ! The only place I recommend to do my corvair head work. These are tricky heads to do, and Dover does a great job. I have set one my car they replaced all guides, seats, valves, did some welding,etc. These now have 50k hard miles on them, no problems. I have sent several corvair friends to them, everyone has been happy . thanks Chris and co.

  MARK E LOVE
a year ago
They sold me new heads and the rocker studs were not sealed and water filled the oil pan and called to see if they would stand behind them and they said NO they had pulled them out of the box and gave them to me...i asked if they could go back to who they got them from and they said NO... So basically they don't stand behind what they sell.... $700 to them and $2000 motor ruined .. they dont care

  Hubert Kusak
6 years ago
Great service, awesome people. I went to drop off a head to be surfaced and they were able to fit me in on the spot, so that I wouldn't have to make the drive again to pick it up. Very nice people. Highly recommended.

  Barry Ellison
3 years ago
I'm just a local hobbyist that likes to work on his own stuff. Dover has always been polite, honest and willing to answer any question. They will always get my business, little that it is.

  Bailey Ludy
4 years ago
Dover done an amazing job on the heads for my 5.3 100% will be back in the future. Great customer service quick turn around. The heads are absolutely spotless!

  Matt
8 years ago
Dropped my 2008 Mini Cooper S N14 head off on Monday and just picked it up! It looks brand new! The customer service was great and remembered who I was from the phone when I dropped it off. I would recommend this place as their work and service is great!

  Pavlik Reznic
6 months ago
Amazing timing and quality. Very good on the price

  Neil Gilliand
3 years ago
Chris was pleasant to work with, had an issue with a damaged part but he took care of it,. took a little longer than expected but I will be back in the future when I need machine work done, highly recommendService: Engine repairService: Engine repair

  ben gamble
a year ago
RUN... RUN FAR AWAY FROM THIS SHOP... I had them do all the machine work for my engine build. I found 4 major problems before even assembling without even having the tools to measure all of their Machining work.(update) MY HEADGASKET IS NOW BLOWN or the head is cracked between cylinders 2 and 3 after only 5k miles which is either caused by their poor machine work and pressure test to the head or their bad recommendation not to deck the block also.(update) THEY SET MY BEARING CLEARANCES WAY TOO LOOSE. when assembling I noticed they set my mains and rods at roughly .001 per inch of bearing diameter which may work on some engines but is way above the maximum spec for my isuzu engine. I ended up having to run 20w50 oil just to maintain oil pressure when it used to run on 10w30. The new oil pump couldn't keep up with normal oil)THEY CROSS THREADED 10 OF THE BOLT HOLES on the side of my aluminum cylinder head. They clearly rammed bolts in that were the wrong thread pitch.I told them I was going to be using a speedi sleeve on the crank and without asking they polished down the front seal surface so much that I couldn't use the sleeve but not far enough to remove the groove in the crank. They took off so much that I had to hunt for a different size sleeve.They also told me the cylinder head was ready to install and right before I installed it I discovered that the valves were not lapped at all so I had to completely disassemble and reassemble the head.I had them install threaded inserts for all the spark plugs. they promised me that they would use the specific brand and type that I asked for. When I picked it up it had a different type of enormous threaded inserts in it that have a tapered seat instead of the flat seats needed for the Crush Washers on my spark plugs.

  Hunter Knight
2 years ago
Took a bare sbc to have cleaned, they called me a month later, I went and picked up the block and it still looked the same on the outside. Got back to my shop and ran a small brush down in the oil ports for the crank mains and dirt and grease came out stuck to the small brush, looks like they just sat my engine block in the back and waited a month and called and said it was ready for pickup. Tried calling to get my money back for their services but they never refunded me or actually re-did what they never did in the first place. Will not be going back to Dover.Service: Motor building

  SD Racing
7 years ago
Great place to send your cylinder head(s) to get it done right the first time. They were able to squeeze my EVO 8 head into their busy schedule to get me to a race in time. I will be using them going forward.

  Luke Schlabach
a year ago
Great place to do business at, thanks for fast and professional service you have always performed for us

  Josh Smith
4 years ago
Best customer service and amazing on time. They are An amazing company and do an amazing job I highly recommend Dover for all your head work and more good job guys thanks.

  Brad Duncan
4 years ago
Been going to these guys before Google. It's been many years, but I needed quick service and they provided. Honest, quality, and timely service. Definitely a local shop to use!

  Michelle Sinacori
4 years ago
I WISH I took pictures of the surface they put on my 2004-2008 f150 cylinder heads. That truck uses MLS gaskets, which most require a surface finish of 25 or less Ra. These idiots had huge lines all along the surface that easily catch on my finger nail. I had to get them resurfaced... They are suppose to be shiny smooth. Not look like waves in an ocean that majorly catch your nail.... Guys do NOT surface heads good. They do not know what Ra surface finish measurements are.. They have old equipment clearly.I wish I would have lapped the valves too after their "valve job". Who knows how detailed it was. And i'm pretty sure they don't check sealing after a valve job. but oh well. All I know for sure is their surface cutter sucks.

  Joshua Melocik
6 years ago
Top of the line service!! Excellent quality!! Fast shipping!!! This is the only place I trust for everything from my rare, hard to find cylinder heads all the way to my daily driver cylinder heads!! No job to big or small!!