those of you with the AES 390
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: rockhampton, australia
a small update on my engine, have since found out the reluctor wheel on the compstar crank wasnt attached properly either. the builder could spin it around with his finger. that maybe isnt really a AES issue, maybe callies issue. i dont know. hopefully, my motor will be back in next weekend. 
yay for me, i cant wait.
yay for me, i cant wait. 
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
From: metro detroit, mi
a small update on my engine, have since found out the reluctor wheel on the compstar crank wasnt attached properly either. the builder could spin it around with his finger. that maybe isnt really a AES issue, maybe callies issue. i dont know. hopefully, my motor will be back in next weekend. yay for me, i cant wait.
yay for me, i cant wait.Last edited by dmaxvaz; May 8, 2015 at 10:59 PM.
For what it's worth, when I picked up my engine from them this past Monday, their were 3 RHS block motors being put together. 1 was bare but machined and 2 others were in final assembly phase if memory serves me correct.
Brian is older than Mike and is customer service oriented. Mike is younger and more technical but also customer facing. Their is about 15 other dudes in that shop that people never interact with.
I took some pictures of the shop (they encouraged me to do so). They had about 40 completed engines ready to ship out. About 40 in the waiting line. Probably 100 cranks tagged and ready for turning, polishing etc...
Like I said, their are some big speed shops in Chicago and near Chicago - not all LSX shops - that use AES that people
about. Interesting.
Their were a few LSX block builds. A few 4 bolt headed LS motor builds like mine. Some dart block builds. BBC builds. SBC builds. Ford builds. Mopar builds. 4G63 builds and on and on and on.
I'll report back about how my motor performs both on the dyno and the track. The guys at AES actually let me watch final assembly of my motor as well as entertained my 7 year old boy with lot's of stickers and giving him a sneak peak at their KOTS car etc...
I can't defend anything that has been reported in this thread. Only offer an alternative view point. That is all. Hope everyone else finds resolution to their issues.
Brian is older than Mike and is customer service oriented. Mike is younger and more technical but also customer facing. Their is about 15 other dudes in that shop that people never interact with.
I took some pictures of the shop (they encouraged me to do so). They had about 40 completed engines ready to ship out. About 40 in the waiting line. Probably 100 cranks tagged and ready for turning, polishing etc...
Like I said, their are some big speed shops in Chicago and near Chicago - not all LSX shops - that use AES that people
about. Interesting. Their were a few LSX block builds. A few 4 bolt headed LS motor builds like mine. Some dart block builds. BBC builds. SBC builds. Ford builds. Mopar builds. 4G63 builds and on and on and on.
I'll report back about how my motor performs both on the dyno and the track. The guys at AES actually let me watch final assembly of my motor as well as entertained my 7 year old boy with lot's of stickers and giving him a sneak peak at their KOTS car etc...
I can't defend anything that has been reported in this thread. Only offer an alternative view point. That is all. Hope everyone else finds resolution to their issues.
I'd encourage each of you to leave your comments on Yelp, positive or negative. It's time to admit to ourselves that Brian is not going to help any of us out.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/automotive-e...-grove-village
http://www.yelp.com/biz/automotive-e...-grove-village
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Pretty sure there are NO reported tall deck versions with cracks? Just standard deck with water passages.
Pretty sure AES welds NOTHING in house...
Will go check on my AES Dart 427 this week if I have time, wanted to sooner, but just no time!
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 398
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From: metro detroit, mi
They told me they get the cranks from callies, and tig weld the relucter wheel in house. This was another upcharge to my bill from them, because I questioned why I was charged for this, since callies provides cranks also with relucter wheels installed.
In reality, this whole thing is probably more common than people might think. I was happy I didn't use AES, and now after a year of waiting on another guy, I'm looking at picking up all my parts and starting over. It was the same with my last diesel build.
On The Tree
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 106
Likes: 1
AES does have a Miller MIG welder ; for example when you install tungsten in the crankshaft you have to put a weld on the counterweight so the weight doesn't move out of position.
Often the relcutor doesn't need to be removed, because anyone smart would order a crankshaft with a heavy bobweight (and not too heavy) but lets say 1950g with an actual bobweight of 1850g ; that's a quick drill and spin balance job.
I've seen other shops drill the reluctor wheel to install tungsten, I see that and go WTF. In that case I would like to see the reluctor removed. Drill and install the heavy metal, reinstall the reluctor.
Often the relcutor doesn't need to be removed, because anyone smart would order a crankshaft with a heavy bobweight (and not too heavy) but lets say 1950g with an actual bobweight of 1850g ; that's a quick drill and spin balance job.
I've seen other shops drill the reluctor wheel to install tungsten, I see that and go WTF. In that case I would like to see the reluctor removed. Drill and install the heavy metal, reinstall the reluctor.
AES does have a Miller MIG welder ; for example when you install tungsten in the crankshaft you have to put a weld on the counterweight so the weight doesn't move out of position.
Often the relcutor doesn't need to be removed, because anyone smart would order a crankshaft with a heavy bobweight (and not too heavy) but lets say 1950g with an actual bobweight of 1850g ; that's a quick drill and spin balance job.
I've seen other shops drill the reluctor wheel to install tungsten, I see that and go WTF. In that case I would like to see the reluctor removed. Drill and install the heavy metal, reinstall the reluctor.
Often the relcutor doesn't need to be removed, because anyone smart would order a crankshaft with a heavy bobweight (and not too heavy) but lets say 1950g with an actual bobweight of 1850g ; that's a quick drill and spin balance job.
I've seen other shops drill the reluctor wheel to install tungsten, I see that and go WTF. In that case I would like to see the reluctor removed. Drill and install the heavy metal, reinstall the reluctor.
Good stuff. 
What's your take on AES issues a few have noted above. Curious to hear from an ex employee their perspective.
The 398 they built for me is running excellent right now. Compression and leak down rock solid after break in. Very happy thus far.
What's your take on AES issues a few have noted above. Curious to hear from an ex employee their perspective.
The 398 they built for me is running excellent right now. Compression and leak down rock solid after break in. Very happy thus far.
9 Second Club
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Norn Iron
On The Tree
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 106
Likes: 1
Sounds fancy but its just a boring OEM job.
AES is run by Tony Schroeder, he's a great machinist, when I worked there never had an issue with cylinder finish etc. changed honing stones, honing oil, routinely. I'm surprised I'm seeing complaints regarding cylinder finish lately.
One aspect of business I've learned since leaving AES, everything in business is done with contracts, purchase orders etc. If I was going to make a large purchase I would use a general contract with specific dates for invoicing, payment and delivery. So everything is black and white.
One aspect of business I've learned since leaving AES, everything in business is done with contracts, purchase orders etc. If I was going to make a large purchase I would use a general contract with specific dates for invoicing, payment and delivery. So everything is black and white.
On The Tree
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 106
Likes: 1
Business isn't always complicated, treat customers the way you would like to be treated. I couldn't always deliver on that, but I tried, I pushed buttons with higher ups and vendors, made me a PITA to work with at times.
Sounds fancy but its just a boring OEM job.
AES is run by Tony Schroeder, he's a great machinist, when I worked there never had an issue with cylinder finish etc. changed honing stones, honing oil, routinely. I'm surprised I'm seeing complaints regarding cylinder finish lately.
One aspect of business I've learned since leaving AES, everything in business is done with contracts, purchase orders etc. If I was going to make a large purchase I would use a general contract with specific dates for invoicing, payment and delivery. So everything is black and white.
AES is run by Tony Schroeder, he's a great machinist, when I worked there never had an issue with cylinder finish etc. changed honing stones, honing oil, routinely. I'm surprised I'm seeing complaints regarding cylinder finish lately.
One aspect of business I've learned since leaving AES, everything in business is done with contracts, purchase orders etc. If I was going to make a large purchase I would use a general contract with specific dates for invoicing, payment and delivery. So everything is black and white.
That being said, I'm glad to hear you've moved onto bigger and better things.