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River City Motor Works

About Us

River City Motor Works, nestled in the heart of Dubuque, IA, is your locally-owned machine shop with expertise in automotive machining. Since opening in 2019, we have established ourselves as specialists in a wide array of services including boring, honing, crankshaft grinding, engine assembly, and engine parts sourcing. Proudly serving the communities of Dubuque County, Jo Daviess County, and Grant County, our dedicated team is committed to providing superior quality and precision for all your automotive needs. Discover the exceptional workmanship at River City Motor Works today!

Areas Served

Our Professional Associations

American Engine Builders Association (AERA)

What We Offer

Our Specialties include:

Locally-Owned-and-Operated

Our Services include:

Engine Machining & Rebuilding: We specialize in precision engine machining for automotive and agricultural applications. Our services include boring and honing cylinders, crankshaft grinding, and cylinder head rebuilding to restore optimal performance and reliability. Whether you’re working on a car, truck, or farm equipment, we deliver expert craftsmanship for every engine component.
Surface Refinishing & Testing: Ensure your engine components meet exact specifications with our surfacing services for heads and blocks. We also provide crack inspection and pressure testing to detect hidden flaws and guarantee durability before reassembly. These steps help prevent costly failures and keep your engine running strong.
Pick-Up Service: For your convenience, we offer pick-up service to make transporting heavy engine parts hassle-free. Let us handle the logistics so you can focus on getting your project completed.

Our Brands include:

Dart Manufacturing
Motor State Distributing
DNJ Engine Components
Engine Pro
Fel-Pro Gaskets
Federal-Mogul
Melling
Elgin Industries
PerformanceParts
Go-Fast-Parts

Our Products include:

Engine Kits
Engine Oil
All Engine Parts
All Engine Accessories
Trucks
Semi
Automotive

Testimonials

On 12/3/2025 Michael Douglas had this to say:
This is the place to go for all your machining needs Josh is amazing at what he does and has helped me out lots of times

On 8/8/2025 Dustin Shireman had this to say:
Special thanks to Josh at River City Motor Works for professionally refinishing my engine cylinders today. I strongly recommend him for all machining and engine-related services. Very helpful and good at his work!

On 5/29/2025 Mitchell Pfohl had this to say:
Josh is an awesome guy who does awesome work, he gives honest opinions and stands behind his work.

On 4/15/2025 Cory Griffiths had this to say:
Josh has done a bunch of work for me does great work and great guy

On 7/7/2024 Sheila Wieland had this to say:
It's always been a pleasure to do business with River City Motor Works! Curt & Sheila Wieland Wieland Machine & Engine LLC

Contact Us

River City Motor Works
3191 Cedar Cross Ct Dubuque, IA 52003
Phone: (563) 207-1206
Email: rivercitymotorworks@gmail.com

Where To Find Us

Payment Types Accepted

Debit and Credit Cards (4% fee), Personal Checks

Our Hours

Holiday Hours May Vary. Please Call For Details.

Monday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday: By Appointment Only

News

i will email photo of the information he'd like in the post. can you please create a graphic and post verbiage from this. he wants to thank his customers for the great reviews in 2024.

Check out our latest work on this Duramax block! We pressure tested it for top-notch quality, installed Wagler billet main caps and stud girdle, line bored it with our portable line bore machine, decked the block, and perfected the main bores with our precision line hone. Your engine deserves the best!

FAQ

What services does River City Motor Works offer?

River City Motor Works specializes in precision machining and engine work. Our services include:

Crankshaft grinding and balancing

Engine block boring and honing

Cylinder head resurfacing

Custom engine assembly

Rod and crank balancing

Component machining and fabrication

Performance engine building

What types of engines do you work on?

We work on a wide variety of engines — from classic street motors to high-performance and race engines. Our machine shop can handle both domestic and import engine blocks, whether for restoration projects or custom builds.

Do you provide new or reconditioned parts?

Yes. We can fabricate, recondition, or custom-machine engine components such as crankshafts, connecting rods, and valve train parts. If parts need to be replaced, we can either re-machine existing pieces (if salvageable) or make new ones according to your specifications.

How long does an engine machining or rebuild project take?

Timing depends on the complexity of the job. A basic crankshaft grind or honing job may only take a day or two, while a full engine rebuild or custom engine assembly could take several weeks. During your initial consultation, we’ll give you a realistic timeline based on your project.

Do you offer performance upgrades?

Yes. In addition to standard machining services, we offer performance-oriented work. We can help optimize your engine for higher power, better durability, or specific racing applications by offering custom balancing, porting, and precision builds tailored to your performance goals.