... take a look at this thread on the VAGDrivers (thats Volkswagens, Audi, Skoda, Seat, etc for the uninitiated). This guy (in Ireland) is a definitive 'don't buy it if you can make it' nut and that includes
  • making his own inlet ducts,
  • stainless steel exhaust,
  • casting his own throttle bodies (if I read it right, his 4 cylinder modified Golf engine will have a throttle body per cylinder),
  • remachining Ferrari pistons to fit,
  • a hotwire cutter to cut foam for casting various parts
  • a hot metal centrifugal casting rig for making accurate high speed pulleys,
but the crowning piece is when he decided the block/head needed skimming to increase compression ratio... so where most of us would take them to a professional place to get them skimmed, he decided to make his own head skimmer.... (becuase the Bridgeport's not big enough!) and to all intents and purposes its a bloody big CNC mill, tho not finished yet. The thread's a long one, but a fascinating read... the guy is inspirational but completely mad! :lol: Definitely one I'll be watching for the future...