Anyone know this engine builder????
 

I know it's a long shot but figured I'd give it a try. I recently purchased a 27k mile 68 L78 Chevelle. Upon speaking to the previous owners I found out the original engine was kept by an the engine builder in 1980. He was the owner of a Chicago area machine shop. This shop was located in unincorporated Leyden Township/Melrose Park on Grand ave. just W. of Mannheim Rd. Can anyone from the area help me with the name of the shop or the whereabouts of the owner? Again it's a long shot but it's all I have. Thanks, Don https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/crazy.gif

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

Don. Sounds like you can use some old telephone books. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

Darren, I had the same thought but with all the local racers I thought I'd luck out! You need to get by the shop and check out the car. By the way, my niece says "Thank You" for the baby contribution. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif Don

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

don, if the shop is on grand and mannhiem, its probably GRAND AUTOMOTIVE in des plaines.not sure if they are still there .

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

Grand Automotive and Motorsport Research are long gone from Des Plaines.

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

This post made me think about Grand Automotive. A cash receipt I found in my stuff that I purchased for my 68 Firebird 400.

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

very cool.........love that old paperwork stuff !! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

Jeff, ask your local public library if they have the old R.L. Polk city directories for that town, and then check the reverse address lookup or the classified section. If they don't, ask which public library might have them.
Amazing what you can find in those old directories. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/scholar.gif

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

Motor Sport Research Brochure.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...0Velle0007.jpg

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...0Velle0009.jpg

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...0Velle0008.jpg
Motor Sport Research later became Pro Motor Engineering and moved to Mooresville North Carolina to Build Nascar Engines.

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

There was an MSR franchise in Milwaukee on Loomis Road, maybe 1971-1974 or so.

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

Does anybody remember the names of the people at MSR? And I believe that had a location up in the Waukeagn area too.

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

Gary Baker?

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

I lived in Leyden township from 1982-1992 near grand & wolf road and I don't remember any machine shop on grand west of mannheim at that time.The only automotive machine shops that I remember in the local area at that time were Franklin park auto parts which is at 9514 grand which is just east of mannheim, E M S at 3300 N mannheim a few blocks north of grand and Chicago performance 9316 franklin av.Franklin pk. Which was the place that did all the machine work for the ET shop.

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

Hold the bus folks, I believe I know who ran the Auto repair shop in question. This shop was west of Mannheim on the north side of Grand just east of the fire station. This persons name is John Cunningham. I know a couple employees names of Leo something and Mike and Robbie Phillips. Had work done there back in the late 70's. Closed in the middle of a bunch of work I had in there for unrelated to business reasons. I know these guys.

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

Hey Tim, Is'nt John Cunningham the guy who ran that 10k mile original paint 68 Blue Nova at Byron the last couple seasons? I think thats the place. Now I believe there is a Tucon bird on the side of that building. I need to talk to someone who was at that shop in 1980. Any help or contacts would be appreciated. P.M. me if you'd like. Thanks, Don https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/ooo.gif

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

That whole block is now a printing company. They used to be known as Tukaiz Printing, but believe that they have changed their name.

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

[ QUOTE ]
Does anybody remember the names of the people at MSR? And I believe that had a location up in the Waukeagn area too.

[/ QUOTE ]
A friend of mine has an invoice for some engine work he had done at their Des Plaines shop in 1977.The name on the work order is Buzz Fyhrie....I can't remember if it was Gary Baker that worked there or not? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/hmmm.gif

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

Don

I don't beleive that John ever ran a speed shop. I will give him a call and call you on Monday.

P.S. I hope to ge my 68 Chevy II over to the shop before the end of the month.

Tony

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

Thanks Tony! I was actually going to call you tomorrow. I know you stay in touch with John. Any help would be great. Stop by the shop when you can. We got some really nice restos. in progress. I look forward to bidding the Nova resto. for you. Talk Soon, Don

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

I run by the Elgin-O'Hare every day westbound around 4:30PM. Are there any days when you or Dan are at the shop during the week around this time? Would like to stop by.

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

Tom, Dan and I are there everyday until at least 5:00 p.m. usually later. If your not sure where were at click on the website link for a map to our location. See you soon, Don

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

Hey can I stop by to see you some time! And stay away from the post chevelle.

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

Hey Rick, You know your welcome anytime. Plenty of other projects to look at! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/haha.gif

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

The only shop I REMEMBER IN THAT AREA WAS ONE BLOCK WEST OF MANHEIM ON GRAND AND YOU MADE A RIGHT IT WAS RIGHT THEIR. It was Whitey Gerkens speed shop. He used to race 67 Chevelle stock cars at ohare Speedway.I had my 67 SS396 there for some super tuning in 71. That is the only shop I know that was in that area. I do not know when it closed.

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

Thanks for the input everyone. I'm still searching... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/crazy.gif

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

Wow, I love hearing this type of local history. I was a little young in 1971 but could imagine there had to be all kinds of these smaller local speed shops back in the day. Just from this post I am going to make it a point to show my kids just where my favorite shops/eateries/go-to-spots are. So they can have a memory of it.

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

[ QUOTE ]
Does anybody remember the names of the people at MSR? And I believe that had a location up in the Waukeagn area too.

[/ QUOTE ]

Jim Swan was the main guy that started Motor Sports Research. I believe he currently owns or is affiliated with the Yamaha dealership in Downers Grove (DGY Motorsports).

-Jon

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

John P you remember Whitey Gerkens Don't you?

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

Tom I remember the speed shop on the north east corner just a couples blocks west of Manhiem on Grand ave but I do not remember the name some reason I thought it was called Speed something.

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

wasnt the E.T. shop over there too ? my dad said something about 2 guys ,one named jim and one named robin that used to run a speed shop over there.

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

There were 3 ET shops one in Chicago on Grand Ave East of Harlem one on Belmont in Chicago East of Cumberland and one in Addison on Lake street. There machine shop was in Franklin Park on Franklin ave.

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

[ QUOTE ]
There was an MSR franchise in Milwaukee on Loomis Road, maybe 1971-1974 or so.

[/ QUOTE ]

I found out today that there were 4 MSR locations, all owned by the same people. The locations were Waukegan, Des Plaines, Milwuakee area and I believe Downers Grove. Des Plaines was the main location that housed the machine shop.

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

Yep on Oakton street in Des Plaines..couple miles west of me. They were within spitting distance of Grand Automotive. Now there are only a couple speed shops within a reasonable distance. Street Stuff in Addison, MPG Racing in Highland Park which is a great place ....anyone know of others around Chicago ????

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

[ QUOTE ]
I found out today that there were 4 MSR locations, all owned by the same people. The locations were Waukegan, Des Plaines, Milwuakee area and I believe Downers Grove.

[/ QUOTE ]

The Downers Grove store was on Ogden Ave. and is now Cassidy Tires. Two of my high school buddies worked there.

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

[ QUOTE ]
....anyone know of others around Chicago ????

[/ QUOTE ]

I know E+R Automotive in Villa Park has plenty of race car parts.

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

Gary Baker sold his ownership to partner Peter Miglin after they moved from Des Plaines to the UOP Shadow Facility at 400 Lively blvd. in Elk Grove Village Illinois. He and Bob Olson are still at the Moorseville facility. They both are friends, and have been since the mid 70's. Great people, and VERY good with L-88's. Peter had a 69 JL-8, crossram Z-28 in the early 80's.

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

The partner that I was aware of was Peter Guild, I thought he had the Z?. He and Bob Olsen developed MSR into Pro-Motor Engineering. They went on to develop one the first motor leasing companies in Nascar. They are still in business in NC. Some of the old staff that I remember included Gary Roden,Rick Gerardi,Dave Pedigrou. I recall they even had a women named Birdie that worked the counter in the Des Plaines location back in the mid-70's

Re: Anyone know this engine builder????
 

That Speed Shop was called Speedcraft, owned by an Ohare Statium stock car racer named Jerry Vandermere, I worked there for a while in the 70s