Got my engine back, but #$&(@)*&%(@#)**$

[shadango]

Just to add my additional support ---- if your current builder documents what he finds, you will be able to go after the first shop. You may or may not win, but for the kind of money we are talking here, I would.

In my case, I asked my second tranny builder to document what he found --- missing upgrades I paid for, bad parts that SHOULD have been replaced during the first two rebuilds, stuff done just plain WRONG.......I called the first shop and explained that I had another shop rebuild the tranny for the third and final time and said I would be looking to him to cover the rebuild plus my extra costs.....then drew up a letter and faxed it to him with the documentation from the second shop.....

The owner of the first shop seemed to want to work it out and came off like a decent person....although he did try low-balling me. In the end we negotiated a bit and I am happy. It didn't take much to get what I wanted.  When I went to pick up the check, he said "I didn't want to go to court....but if it had gone to court I probably would have won."

But like my brother in law said, if he truly felt he would have won, I don't think he would have paid up so easily.

Regardless, its not right that someone should pay their hard earned cash to a shop and have it wasted without a fight.   I *almost* felt so elated by having a properly working tranny after the second shop rebuilt it that I was thinking "just move on".

DONT DO IT!   Its YOUR cash.  Unless you are flush with money, its a LOT of money to just voluntarily give up.

Plus there is the principal involved. Some say its not worth the hassle....but if I hadnt tried to get my money back it would have been a bitter memory for years....it worked out so I can move on now.  Plus, I have $850 back in my pocket for other mods    (dont tell the wife!! LOL)   

Any more updates on your engine?

I am sure that at some point i will be looking to have engine work done....I have been running into folks at cruises that seem to know what they are doing....one guy I ran into had a 69 b body.....and under the hood was a redone and transplanted Hemi.....sounded awesome.....turns out his builder was also at the cruise and we talked.

It is hard to know who to trust, though, for sure, unless you have experience yourself with one particular shop.

[the_engineers]

...Plus, I have $850 back in my pocket for other mods    (dont tell the wife!! LOL)  

My silence is gonna cost you...

[shadango]

LOL....do you need small unmarked bills I assume?   

[the_engineers]

 

[mojavered]

Update to my engine.  I forgot about this post when I ran across it in a search.  I got my engine back a few weeks ago and have a feeling of relief.  I should have some time to get it in over the next month.  I have to repeat that I am glad that I took it in as there were the items I have mentioned above being wrong.  The most recent news when I went to get it was that the oil pump was never changed and was just reinstalled, but without the o ring on the suction side.  That could have been catastrophic.  I ordered a fuel pump and a new carb the other day and am anxiously awaiting them.  I am at the point now that I do not even want to contact the a hole that screwed it up the first time.  Not sure how I am going to deal with that yet, but I am sure I will figure out something.  The good news is it is back and ready to go in.

[dutch]

thats good news finally     make sure you post some pics soon 

[Moparal]

                                              

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Glad to hear you are finally getting things straightened out. The more of this stuff I hear the luckier            I feel to have a few places around here that deal in MOPAR builds.(Kilpatrick & WESTECH)  Best of luck!

[73EStroker]

Jason there are no rules broken (even in the litiguous USA) if you name the shop and tell everyone of your experiences with them - good or bad. You cannot say, however, to not use them. That is where you step into the slander business and can get sued. I only mention this so that if there are other Mopar (or any brand for that matter) fans near you who are contemplating a motor rebuild with this guy.
I had chimed in earlier and said I used a fellow that CP has been using for 5 years. He was not cheap but he was good and we only had to do the motor once. He was recommended and after talking to him one knew he was knowledgeable about every aspect of motor builds. The proof was in the running of the car last summer. Every member here that is looking for a builder should ask for recommendations if they do not know anyone to do the machine work. We are a big family who will look after each other. Just ask and see.

[mojavered]

Good point 73E!  Anyone looking to get some engine work done in the San Luis, Atascadero, Morro Bay area, here is what you can expect from a shop called Fauset Racing.  It can take 9 months to get an engine back from these guys with excuse after excuse of why it is taking so long.  Then, when you do finally get the engine back, you will have missing pushrods, missing "o" rings on your oil pump, a used or old oil pump (when you pay for a new one).  Tower shaft bushing was not replaced after hot tank, head bolts not torqued down.  Then there were medal shavings in the heads, big chunks just sitting there.  The rear seal was not sealed properly, would have started leaking immediately, and there was a ton of JB weld on the rear freeze plug.  In my opinion, this stuff does not happen by accident, or done on purpose, just out of poor working routine.  It was an all around bad deal and could have been catastrophic had I just ran the engine.  J&J Automotive finally came through and took care of all the work and took care of me.   

[shadango]

  How do these types of shops even stay in business?

The kind of stuff you found was similar to stuff I found in my tranny when it was redone a third time (in my story above).

RIDICULOUS that in this day and age these shos can still attempt to screw people out of their hard earned money.

Glad you caught the issues before they were even worse.

GO AFTER that tfirst shop guns a blazin'.  With work like that they shouldnt be in business.     They make it bad for the LEGIT shops.

This is one more reason i would almost prefer to try stuff myself and maybe ruin parts etc...at least I know *I* did it...and I get the same messed up issues for free. LOL

SOOOO hard to know who to trust.