Engine Machine Shop

Southern Rebore Services is an engine reconditioning machine shop. We offer a full range of engine machining facilities and are here to help. This includes crank grinding, cylinder head reconditioning and cylinder block boring and honing.

We can accommodate both classic and modern engines including race engines, commercial and agricultural. You may only need our simple cylinder head pressure testing and skimming service. If you have worn valve guides we can replace them and recut your seats. We can also replace valve seats and reface your valves. On classic car cylinder heads we can offer full unleaded conversions. If your block is worn we can overbore or fit cylinder liners.

Here is a list of some of the services we offer. Click here to contact us.

  • Engine reconditioning machine shop.
  • Cylinder block boring and honing.
  • Fitment of cylinder liners.
  • Crank grinding.
  • Cylinder head pressure testing.
  • Cylinder head skimming and refacing.
  • Valve guides replaced and repaired.
  • Lead free (unleaded) conversions.
  • Valve seat angle machining.
  • Spark plug threads repaired.
  • Broken studs and bolt removal.
  • Threads repaired.
  • Gasket face machining.
  • Top quality Gaskets, Pistons and Bearings….. supplied.

Now part of CCK Historic

Click here to contact us!

crankshaft grinding engine machine shop

Cylinder Heads

We offer a complete cylinder head reconditioning service. Your cylinder head can be cleaned and fully rebuilt so it is ready to bolt back on the car.

We use a ‘Delta Custom’ pressure testing machine to help find cracks or leaks. This test is highly recommended before any further work is carried out.

Gasket faces as well as the cylinder face can be machined flat. We can also machine the face on your inlet manifold. We can measure your combustion chamber volume and skim your head to raise your compression ratio. For aluminium heads we use a polycrystalline diamond tool bit, and for cast iron, a cubit boron nitrite bit to ensure the correct surface finish.

We can replace valve guides, valve seats, valves and valve stem seals. On classic car cylinder heads we can convert them for unleaded fuel. With our VV80 valve seat cutter we can angle cut your valve seats.

Click here to contact us for cylinder head reconditioning and any other service.

cylinder head reconditioning skim

Crankshafts & Engine Blocks

We are experts in engine block boring, honing and crankshaft grinding. We can assess the condition of your crank and block and recommend what work is needed. If the block requires it we can also fit new cylinder liners and bring the bore back to standard size. There are a number of methods we can use to ensure the cylinder liner does not move. For a larger over-bore we can also offset bore your block.

We can reface or deck your engine block to get it flat or to bring your deck height down in relation to the top of your pistons.

We will soon be adding a facility for ‘V’ engine block boring and honing. V6, V8 and V12. Click here to contact us.

engine block boring and honing

Vapour Blasting

We have an in-house vapour blasting service here in East Sussex with our Vixen Aquablast.  The process uses high pressure water and cleans by flow, and not impact, producing a ‘soft’ finish. Additionally, the water acts as a lubricant, avoiding media impregnation. Unlike dry media blasting it will clean the surface without removing any material.

Simply the best way to clean engine components, especially aluminium. Aluminium components come out looking like new, immaculately clean with a subtle sheen. Even heavily oil stained components like gearbox casings, gears, crankshafts and con rods will come out looking like new.

Our vapour blasting service is available on its own for any components that will fit in the machine. Additionally, we can vapour blast any components that you are having machined, such as cylinder heads, engine blocks, crankshafts and con rods. If you need vapour blasting give us a call. Click here for contact details.

About Us

Bill Baker and Terry O’Shea founded Southern Rebore Services in the early 1960’s. They prided themselves on high quality machining services. Based in East Sussex they offered engine machining services for 25 years.

In the 1980’s Bill and Terry passed the company onto Peter Moorey and Colin Carpenter. Colin and Peter continued the tradition of high quality engineering services.

Fast forward 30 years and the time came, once again, for these skills to be passed onto the next generation. CCK Historic took over in 2017 and kept Colin at the helm. Colin Carpenter trained as an engineer from the age of 15 and he’s been doing it ever since. He will be training a new generation of engineers as Southern Rebore Services moves forward into a new era here at CCK Historic.

If you call us or drop in today you will be served by Ben or Colin. They will ensure you receive the best quality machining. Click here for our contact information.

About Southern Rebore Services East Sussex