aes 390
The warrenty for my 1100hp rated motor basically says that it should hold 1100hp without breaking for a year, even if you drove it 15k miles that year.
Launching!
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
You probably got my PM about my AES 390ci.......runs great.
As far as the different opinions in this thread go......I can tell you the only unhappy thing I had happen....as someone above mentioned....I ordered my engine with Flat Top pistons. It said -15cc pistons. It took me 3-4 months to get a proper receipt sent to me.....and it was still wrong. I figured **** it....at least I have a receipt.
As far as the internal parts go. I told AES the engine was to be sent to a local shop near my house in Ft. Lauderdale where it would be finished...heads,intake, pushrods, cam, etc.....all the parts I ordered were verified correct as to what I ordered.
When I ordered the engine they were out of 3.825" Callies cranks. They said it could be awhile their new shipment would come in so they were upfront about that. Lucky for me I called callies myself and they had a 3.825" unfinished crank sitting on the shelf. I paid for it over the phone, they finished it and sent it to AES in about 1 week. They put my engine together and shipped it out to me IIRC....in 2 weeks.
So they were a little hard to get hold of on the phone for awhile.....email was tough to get an answer. But the engine build and ordering and shipping went just fine.
But its a friggin engine......lots of shops will build the same thing. Its just that AES was building these 390ci's and people were putting down crazy boosted numbers and having no failures......so they were doing it right. Hopefully they still are.
One thing is for sure in engine building.....NO SHOP will last forever.....and NO SHOP will retain the same quality forever. Agostino, Wheel-to-Wheel, Morgan Motorsports, MORE Performance, and many more shops who have built the fastest cars and highest HP engines....all gone now. The best LSx engine builder I know has been in the same shop for 34 years......he's right here in Ft. Lauderdale, FL...... Hundreds of LSx engines in this area built by him....not a single failure I've ever heard of. 2yr/24,000 mile warranty with every N/A build. Try getting that anywhere else. He finished my AES 390ci, mainly because I wanted him to have something to do with checking it and finishing it off. I didn't use him to build my 390ci because he was WAY too busy and I needed my engine in a few weeks time....and the AES 390ci was a good deal at the time, hard to beat.
I say choose a shop with great customer service.......local to you if possible or within a doable drive so you can do a face-to-face if needed. Do not pay all up front....no more than half down. Thats what I did with AES. If a shop can't handle 50% down / 50% when finished....walk away.
.
As far as the different opinions in this thread go......I can tell you the only unhappy thing I had happen....as someone above mentioned....I ordered my engine with Flat Top pistons. It said -15cc pistons. It took me 3-4 months to get a proper receipt sent to me.....and it was still wrong. I figured **** it....at least I have a receipt.
As far as the internal parts go. I told AES the engine was to be sent to a local shop near my house in Ft. Lauderdale where it would be finished...heads,intake, pushrods, cam, etc.....all the parts I ordered were verified correct as to what I ordered.
When I ordered the engine they were out of 3.825" Callies cranks. They said it could be awhile their new shipment would come in so they were upfront about that. Lucky for me I called callies myself and they had a 3.825" unfinished crank sitting on the shelf. I paid for it over the phone, they finished it and sent it to AES in about 1 week. They put my engine together and shipped it out to me IIRC....in 2 weeks.
So they were a little hard to get hold of on the phone for awhile.....email was tough to get an answer. But the engine build and ordering and shipping went just fine.
But its a friggin engine......lots of shops will build the same thing. Its just that AES was building these 390ci's and people were putting down crazy boosted numbers and having no failures......so they were doing it right. Hopefully they still are.
One thing is for sure in engine building.....NO SHOP will last forever.....and NO SHOP will retain the same quality forever. Agostino, Wheel-to-Wheel, Morgan Motorsports, MORE Performance, and many more shops who have built the fastest cars and highest HP engines....all gone now. The best LSx engine builder I know has been in the same shop for 34 years......he's right here in Ft. Lauderdale, FL...... Hundreds of LSx engines in this area built by him....not a single failure I've ever heard of. 2yr/24,000 mile warranty with every N/A build. Try getting that anywhere else. He finished my AES 390ci, mainly because I wanted him to have something to do with checking it and finishing it off. I didn't use him to build my 390ci because he was WAY too busy and I needed my engine in a few weeks time....and the AES 390ci was a good deal at the time, hard to beat.
I say choose a shop with great customer service.......local to you if possible or within a doable drive so you can do a face-to-face if needed. Do not pay all up front....no more than half down. Thats what I did with AES. If a shop can't handle 50% down / 50% when finished....walk away.
.
Sad to see so many people with negative experiences over the recent past with AES.
Truth be told, I'm one of them.
I've discovered Borowski Racing, Legend Racing, and PER Racing Engines in the meantime and haven't had one single problem with any of them. They actually answer the phone when you call during business hours. They've responded to all of my emails within 24 hours. Those two statements are both more than I can say for AES. I won't accept excuses for stupid business etiquette like that, my money can go elsewhere.
For the OP, whichever you decide on, make your goals first. Literally write them down on paper. When it comes to buying your gear then, you can buy once/cry once.
Truth be told, I'm one of them.
I've discovered Borowski Racing, Legend Racing, and PER Racing Engines in the meantime and haven't had one single problem with any of them. They actually answer the phone when you call during business hours. They've responded to all of my emails within 24 hours. Those two statements are both more than I can say for AES. I won't accept excuses for stupid business etiquette like that, my money can go elsewhere.
For the OP, whichever you decide on, make your goals first. Literally write them down on paper. When it comes to buying your gear then, you can buy once/cry once.
TECH Regular
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 405
Likes: 1
From: SOFLO
I say choose a shop with great customer service.......local to you if possible or within a doable drive so you can do a face-to-face if needed. Do not pay all up front....no more than half down. Thats what I did with AES. If a shop can't handle 50% down / 50% when finished....walk away.
Solid advice right there.
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PER Racing will be doing my machine work. I'm backing out of AES, as the communication and customer service have been nothing short of pitiful.
Wouldn't surprise me if they became the next Thunder Racing to be completely honest with you.
Wouldn't surprise me if they became the next Thunder Racing to be completely honest with you.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
From: Aus
I used to be an AES fan. About to pull my 398 to bits this weekend to make sure it's as I ordered and check everything over. Took over 18 months from initial payment to engine shipped and some stuff still wasn't done right. They new it was going overseas, engine wasn't plugged up or wrapped properly. Sawdust from crate got everywhere, etc etc etc. Parts missing that I had to pay for to the sum of nearly $4000... Don't have solid proof if that was AES or Importer as the photos I asked for before shipping don't show enough... Importer gave me $2000 off his own back, AES gave me around $200 discount on new parts. That i'd already paid for once.
IMO, stay away. I'm yet to even run my engine here in Aus.
Mike tried to make it right but really there's only so much one person can do when the general customer service and communication doesn't even rate 1/10.
IMO, stay away. I'm yet to even run my engine here in Aus.
Mike tried to make it right but really there's only so much one person can do when the general customer service and communication doesn't even rate 1/10.
9 Second Club
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 13,616
Likes: 185
From: Norn Iron
Mike makes a lot of claims.
Claims being the operative word.
There's never any real evidence to support his claims though. Like the $665 refund I'm still waiting on because he never supplied parts that were supposed to be here before Xmas 2014.
And that's only the most recent one
Claims being the operative word.
There's never any real evidence to support his claims though. Like the $665 refund I'm still waiting on because he never supplied parts that were supposed to be here before Xmas 2014.
And that's only the most recent one
I think the shop needs a business manager. They clearly do excellent machine work but communication is a huge problem. They build engines for super high dollar race programs and in my opinion, aren't tight with the details around the lower end common LS engine build.
I am about 10 miles from this shop and Brian when you can get him is a good guy. They need an MBA to go in there and streamline processes, clean up paper work, figure out the phones, develop a marketing program and a PR team to manage threads like this and the bevy of customers who have issues arise. All shops have those issues. Some choose to stay on top of their PR. Others don't give a ****. Others give a **** but don't allocate resources to move through them with speed. That's AES in my view.
Resource deficient. They should just be a race program shop only and close down their services to the general public.
I am about 10 miles from this shop and Brian when you can get him is a good guy. They need an MBA to go in there and streamline processes, clean up paper work, figure out the phones, develop a marketing program and a PR team to manage threads like this and the bevy of customers who have issues arise. All shops have those issues. Some choose to stay on top of their PR. Others don't give a ****. Others give a **** but don't allocate resources to move through them with speed. That's AES in my view.
Resource deficient. They should just be a race program shop only and close down their services to the general public.
Yea that sucks he seems like he knows his stuff,
So i planed out a 370ci built for about 3500, under my budget so maybe ill throw on some nice heads an see where it takes me.
So i planed out a 370ci built for about 3500, under my budget so maybe ill throw on some nice heads an see where it takes me.
I ordered a Dart 427 from AES last week that I hope to be pushing 2kHP with.
I know they have a newer phone lady now that always seems to answer when I call, believe her name is Sue?
For me, I am local. I can pop in whenever and see what's going on and/or just BS with the guys. I have seen other guys that have never spent a dollar there, go in the shop, get a tour, BS with the guys, and ask questions. Like I stated in my first post, they make some of the baddest motors around.
I can say I know Steve from LRE, good guy! I also briefly spoke with Ken @ Borowski, seems like a nice guy also.
In the end I went with AES. IMO, all three are good shops. Go with whoever makes you feel conformable.
Personally, I would never make a big dollar purchase out of state again, learned that the hard way from a very old vendor on this board. I have also learned, Chicago is a great place! We have it all! Minus the nice year round warm weather
I know they have a newer phone lady now that always seems to answer when I call, believe her name is Sue?
For me, I am local. I can pop in whenever and see what's going on and/or just BS with the guys. I have seen other guys that have never spent a dollar there, go in the shop, get a tour, BS with the guys, and ask questions. Like I stated in my first post, they make some of the baddest motors around.
I can say I know Steve from LRE, good guy! I also briefly spoke with Ken @ Borowski, seems like a nice guy also.
In the end I went with AES. IMO, all three are good shops. Go with whoever makes you feel conformable.
Personally, I would never make a big dollar purchase out of state again, learned that the hard way from a very old vendor on this board. I have also learned, Chicago is a great place! We have it all! Minus the nice year round warm weather
9 Second Club
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 13,616
Likes: 185
From: Norn Iron
And they are top notch at telling lies, if you can get any communication from them
I'm sure many would accept some delays etc if they were at least told the truth and not filled with bullshit.
The simple off the shelf stuff I ordered back In November and was supposed to be here before Xmas 2014...was finally supposedly posted on 04 Feb.
They even argued that FedEx had lifted the goods. One item was a set of piston rings that I was told were in stock from October after I pre-ordered them in September as I knew there could be a delay there.
When some of the goods finally arrived 25 Feb...the sticker on the top ring package was dated 19 Feb 2015. Pretty amazing if AES had these in stock in September last year, and were already shipped 04 Feb 2015. Over 2 weeks before Total Seal supplied them. Cool trick.
When I had to wait over a year to get my LS2 block I was told some delays were due to Mike's wife just having a baby....only to be told by others the baby is over a year old. If I could get contact, was just told repeated lies during the wait.
And that isnt even going into the damage on the block surface where the oil in/out is for the filter part of the pan. It sure didnt happen in shipping, as it was very well packaged, so clearly it left them like that.
The first rotating assembly I bought around 3 years ago...took almost 9 months, told repeated lies during the wait.
The refund I'm waiting on now for parts they failed to supply, for **** knows what reason...again being lied to again and again.
If they only did one thing with the business to improve things, it would be TO STOP TELLING BLATANT ******* LIES.
That costs them nothing, and could gain them plenty.
And yes, that refund that was supposed to be through over a week ago...still isnt here. Seriously.. WTF !
It feels like it is closed anyway. Open for taking money, closed for giving any level of service.
And they are top notch at telling lies, if you can get any communication from them
I'm sure many would accept some delays etc if they were at least told the truth and not filled with bullshit.
The simple off the shelf stuff I ordered back In November and was supposed to be here before Xmas 2014...was finally supposedly posted on 04 Feb.
They even argued that FedEx had lifted the goods. One item was a set of piston rings that I was told were in stock from October after I pre-ordered them in September as I knew there could be a delay there.
When some of the goods finally arrived 25 Feb...the sticker on the top ring package was dated 19 Feb 2015. Pretty amazing if AES had these in stock in September last year, and were already shipped 04 Feb 2015. Over 2 weeks before Total Seal supplied them. Cool trick.
When I had to wait over a year to get my LS2 block I was told some delays were due to Mike's wife just having a baby....only to be told by others the baby is over a year old. If I could get contact, was just told repeated lies during the wait.
And that isnt even going into the damage on the block surface where the oil in/out is for the filter part of the pan. It sure didnt happen in shipping, as it was very well packaged, so clearly it left them like that.
The first rotating assembly I bought around 3 years ago...took almost 9 months, told repeated lies during the wait.
The refund I'm waiting on now for parts they failed to supply, for **** knows what reason...again being lied to again and again.
If they only did one thing with the business to improve things, it would be TO STOP TELLING BLATANT ******* LIES.
That costs them nothing, and could gain them plenty.
And yes, that refund that was supposed to be through over a week ago...still isnt here. Seriously.. WTF !
And they are top notch at telling lies, if you can get any communication from them
I'm sure many would accept some delays etc if they were at least told the truth and not filled with bullshit.
The simple off the shelf stuff I ordered back In November and was supposed to be here before Xmas 2014...was finally supposedly posted on 04 Feb.
They even argued that FedEx had lifted the goods. One item was a set of piston rings that I was told were in stock from October after I pre-ordered them in September as I knew there could be a delay there.
When some of the goods finally arrived 25 Feb...the sticker on the top ring package was dated 19 Feb 2015. Pretty amazing if AES had these in stock in September last year, and were already shipped 04 Feb 2015. Over 2 weeks before Total Seal supplied them. Cool trick.
When I had to wait over a year to get my LS2 block I was told some delays were due to Mike's wife just having a baby....only to be told by others the baby is over a year old. If I could get contact, was just told repeated lies during the wait.
And that isnt even going into the damage on the block surface where the oil in/out is for the filter part of the pan. It sure didnt happen in shipping, as it was very well packaged, so clearly it left them like that.
The first rotating assembly I bought around 3 years ago...took almost 9 months, told repeated lies during the wait.
The refund I'm waiting on now for parts they failed to supply, for **** knows what reason...again being lied to again and again.
If they only did one thing with the business to improve things, it would be TO STOP TELLING BLATANT ******* LIES.
That costs them nothing, and could gain them plenty.
And yes, that refund that was supposed to be through over a week ago...still isnt here. Seriously.. WTF !
9 Second Club
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 13,616
Likes: 185
From: Norn Iron
He knows exactly what's up.
He failed to supply goods I paid for months ago. Eventually some arrived, and now he's failed to give me a refund for the CA625's he didnt supply.
And nowhere was there ever an explanation as to why for either. Just lies that they were on their way etc.
I'm as patient as anyone could be, but I've just had enough which is why I've no hesitation now in posting about it.
He failed to supply goods I paid for months ago. Eventually some arrived, and now he's failed to give me a refund for the CA625's he didnt supply.
And nowhere was there ever an explanation as to why for either. Just lies that they were on their way etc.
I'm as patient as anyone could be, but I've just had enough which is why I've no hesitation now in posting about it.