GeorgeC

I need to clear up a few things here, and would like to make it public. I'm a big enough man to know when I've said or done something wrong, and more importantly I can admit to it.

I made a decision earlier this year to have some needed repairs done on my ARE cylinder heads locally, instead of sending them back to ARE for Wade to handle. At the time, I was very frustrated and a little angry, since my planned engine "freshening" up wasn't going as well as I had hoped. There were a few mismatched components in the cylinder heads that were causing problems with the intake valve seats. I have to point out that these cylinder heads were prepped by ARE before Wade took over, and started cleaning house and making ARE a better place. When I called Wade to let him know what I found in the heads and what appeared to be needed, he did not hesitate to offer to do whatever was necessary to fix them and make them right. For whatever reason, I was in a stubborn frame of mind at the time, and elected to have them done locally, as I thought it would save some time. In hindsight, I now see that it wasn't fair for me not to have given ARE the chance to make good on their heads.

In the meantime, as many of you are aware, I've been battling a very stubborn oil leak since putting the engine back in the car. Wade contacted me this afternoon with some ideas of what he suspected the problem to be, as he had run across a very similar problem in a customer's car some time ago. I haven't been able to verify with 100% accuracy yet, but it does appear that Wade is correct, and I have a small fracture in the back of the engine block. Seeing as how the car has always had a small oil leak from the rear, this scenario seems to make the most sense right now. Because the oil leak was previously just a few drops here and there, I never saw the need to make an issue out of it, since it was by no means out of control. In fact, I thought so little about it that I never even mentioned it to Wade.

If it is indeed the block, I have no doubt that Wade is going to stand behind his product, even though this failure really can only be a result of a bad core or some sort of damage during the initial shipping of the block. I believe it to be "just one of those racing deals" that unfortunately happen to even the best of us from time to time.

I've just been very frustrated as of late, since things just refuse to go my way (although you'd think I'd be more used to it by now). Wade, Barry, and the rest of the crew up at ARE, I do apologize for anything I may have said that was harmful or hurtful to you guys at all. Sometimes my mouth (and keyboard) can work faster than my brain. You guys have done nothing but support me ever since I've been dealing with you. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

In spite of my butt-headedness, Wade still saw fit to call me as soon as he learned of the current situation with the car. He wasn't concerned with who I said what to, but instead was concerned about helping out a customer and fellow racer (even if that customer can be a little hot-tempered at times <img border="0" title="" alt="[Embarrassed]" src="gr_emb.gif" /> ).

I feel confident that we'll have things fixed in a timely manner, and I can be back out ripping off some more 9-second NA passes. Fortunately ARE put together one hell of a bad-*** motor for me, as I plan on giving it quite a workout this year with a full season of points racing! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

So guys, don't base your judgement of ARE on a couple of stupid little comments I made when I was angry and exhausted. Who else has a 9-second NA car with a stock crankshaft around here?........... I didn't think so. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

ExtremeZ28

i just want to say it takes a big person to admit when they are wrong, kudos to you george and kudos to ARE for being such a stand up company!

Ragtop 99

iTrader: (7)

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" />

Wade really does he a customer focused orientation. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

SuperZ28

Very nice to hear....

OSR 1

your a good man
<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

1CAMWNDR

iTrader: (21)

Way to step up to the plate there George <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" /> .
Sorry to hear about the possible cracked block. Goodness knows that car sounded bad *** when I heard it at Silver Dollar Raceway last November <img border="0" alt="[driving]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_driving3.gif" /> . It ran pretty damn good also for not leaving on the transbrake.
Hope you get things all worked out and I can't wait to see some more wheels up 9 second videos out of a car with a STOCK CRANK !

Chicago Crew UnderBoss

iTrader: (1)

Takes a big man to admit that he was wrong like you publically and i applaud you for that! <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" /> Very classy POST indeed! <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />


Best of luck to you in getting that MONSTER back running the way it has in the past, with unprecendeted 9.99 time slips with stock crank and 382cid! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[judgement]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_judge.gif" />

MTI 427 C5 Roadster

99ragtopSS

Great Post George. Not having your car togather is flustraiting as hell. I can relate, my car has been tied up since before Thanksgiving with different problems. I think we need to get MTI or ARE to open a shop in FL. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

GeorgeC

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by 99ragtopSS:
<strong>I think we need to get MTI or ARE to open a shop in FL. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Now there's an idea! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Ed Potter @ LPE

iTrader: (1)

Hi George -

Way to stand up, you bring up a good topic. Just like all of us tuners, ARE tries very hard to satisfy everybody, and sometimes, things don't go right no matter how hard you try. Some forum members are quick to start slamming their tuner of choice at the first sign of the slightest problem, only to realize later that harsh words on the keyboard, can have a big effect.

Anyway, my point is that anybody can start slamming, but it takes a stand up person to realize a mistake, and publicly apologize for anything that was said.

Hats off to you George!

Ed

Tim98TA

iTrader: (7)

I had several issues with my motor a few years ago when Nick was still the owner. Even then, Nick took care of me in the BIGEST way. Even after it was determined that the problem wasn'e ARE related at all, Nick STILL took care of the problems without hesitation. They have a top notch operation up there.

I can also say the same about Thunder Racing. With the same situation going on, Thunder Racing took care of me BIG TIME. More than once also. Geoff and Angie have a great crew there.

My hats off to both of these companies. Maybe some of these other companies can follow suit.

Tim

10.5 Dave

iTrader: (5)

GEORGEC way too correct your boo-boo.I have complete confidence in them for initial quality and to handle any issues that may come up.I dropped my car at ARE on wednesday for a BIG BIG turbo buildup,have nothing but good thing to say about Wade Barry whole crew for that matter.I just hope as many people read the retraction as read the slamfest. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Black Sunshine/ 00SS

iTrader: (1)

It is easy to say the wrong things when things aren't going your way. I know the feeling. But Wade and Barry are doing their best to make things right, even the things that were not of their doing. That says alot about them. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" /> to ARE. Good luck in working everything out George.

CHRISPY

Good stuff George! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

The folks at ARE are great!!

(Not just Wade and Barry but the whole lot of them <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> )

They'll continue to have my business

cheers,
Chris

kent

Nice article and takes a special person to step up to the plate and admit he was wrong. Last year I was mad and fumming because my car got blown up on a dyno with just tunning the car. I did not even blow up my own car. I was very furious because I had just spent thousands on the car and felt like I was not being treated right because I had conducted business with them. You are very fortunate to have a vendor to take the time to care and resolve the issue with you. My car was down months and no much concern was never shown. I constantly had to call to see if this is being done or that--but I felt I maintain my cool. A settlement was finally reached, but I feel like I did most of the giving and was not met halfway. But the old saying is live and learn. Just wanted to share my experience in a similar manner with an uncaring vendor which I will leave nameless. However, it is nice to know there are still a very few people who do the right things and have the courage to admit they were wrong. My hat is off to you for doing the right thing. Thanks for your help on the board. Cheers.

SPEED DOG

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by GeorgeC:
<strong> I need to clear up a few things here, and would like to make it public. I'm a big enough man to know when I've said or done something wrong, and more importantly I can admit to it.

I made a decision earlier this year to have some needed repairs done on my ARE cylinder heads locally, instead of sending them back to ARE for Wade to handle. At the time, I was very frustrated and a little angry, since my planned engine "freshening" up wasn't going as well as I had hoped. There were a few mismatched components in the cylinder heads that were causing problems with the intake valve seats. I have to point out that these cylinder heads were prepped by ARE before Wade took over, and started cleaning house and making ARE a better place. When I called Wade to let him know what I found in the heads and what appeared to be needed, he did not hesitate to offer to do whatever was necessary to fix them and make them right. For whatever reason, I was in a stubborn frame of mind at the time, and elected to have them done locally, as I thought it would save some time. In hindsight, I now see that it wasn't fair for me not to have given ARE the chance to make good on their heads.

In the meantime, as many of you are aware, I've been battling a very stubborn oil leak since putting the engine back in the car. Wade contacted me this afternoon with some ideas of what he suspected the problem to be, as he had run across a very similar problem in a customer's car some time ago. I haven't been able to verify with 100% accuracy yet, but it does appear that Wade is correct, and I have a small fracture in the back of the engine block. Seeing as how the car has always had a small oil leak from the rear, this scenario seems to make the most sense right now. Because the oil leak was previously just a few drops here and there, I never saw the need to make an issue out of it, since it was by no means out of control. In fact, I thought so little about it that I never even mentioned it to Wade.

If it is indeed the block, I have no doubt that Wade is going to stand behind his product, even though this failure really can only be a result of a bad core or some sort of damage during the initial shipping of the block. I believe it to be "just one of those racing deals" that unfortunately happen to even the best of us from time to time.

I've just been very frustrated as of late, since things just refuse to go my way (although you'd think I'd be more used to it by now). Wade, Barry, and the rest of the crew up at ARE, I do apologize for anything I may have said that was harmful or hurtful to you guys at all. Sometimes my mouth (and keyboard) can work faster than my brain. You guys have done nothing but support me ever since I've been dealing with you. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

In spite of my butt-headedness, Wade still saw fit to call me as soon as he learned of the current situation with the car. He wasn't concerned with who I said what to, but instead was concerned about helping out a customer and fellow racer (even if that customer can be a little hot-tempered at times <img border="0" title="" alt="[Embarrassed]" src="gr_emb.gif" /> ).

I feel confident that we'll have things fixed in a timely manner, and I can be back out ripping off some more 9-second NA passes. Fortunately ARE put together one hell of a bad-*** motor for me, as I plan on giving it quite a workout this year with a full season of points racing! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

So guys, don't base your judgement of ARE on a couple of stupid little comments I made when I was angry and exhausted. Who else has a 9-second NA car with a stock crankshaft around here?........... I didn't think so. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Just thought I'd chime in. I trashed an ARE H/C setup with a few hundred miles on it when a Comp Cam 918 let go last summer (during Comp's famous few months of failure). While Comp wouldn't stand behind their product and make things whole, Wade did. He built me the 436 at a very fair cost, and shared the burden of another company's failure with me. While I wish the original setup hadn't broken (no fault of theirs) ARE certainly helped me survive a most unpleasant incident. I'm grateful for their help, and have been enjoying the fruits of their labor since October.

<small>[ March 07, 2003, 10:38 PM: Message edited by: SPEED DOG ]</small>

dug

iTrader: (10)

Hey George, did ARE give you a new motor to shut you up? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

Seriously, I must of missed the problems you had. Last I heard you ran high 9's with only a 382. If there are problems, thats racing right?

Fenris Ulf

Lots of respect here for those words, George. All of us act hasty at one time or another, it is what we do after that matters.

GeorgeC

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by dug:
<strong> Hey George, did ARE give you a new motor to shut you up? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

Seriously, I must of missed the problems you had. Last I heard you ran high 9's with only a 382. If there are problems, thats racing right? </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No, I'm having some issues with the current motor. It's had a persistent oil leak which has turned out to be a cracked block. It appears at this point that it has been cracked all along, but just gotten worse as time has gone on.

Jay Johnson

iTrader: (16)

Please indicate where the crack is generally located.

That may help others catch a problem early in their
buildup.


Jay Johnson
jayjohnson@rocketmail.com