So there isn’t much to post about this just yet but there will be so I am starting this thread as a place to document all of the issues and the work required to build the car the way the customer requested and paid for. My neighbor the customer is a retired Army veteran btw so that really pisses me off even more to see someone taking advantage of someone that just doesn’t know as much as some of us do and can be sold a line of B.S. because he knows the customer doesn’t know much about these engines or turbo builds or any of this stuff.

This is going to be a long one but try to stick with me. I will post some pictures tomorrow, I don’t feel like doing it right now.

So the car in question is a 2002 camaro z28, the car belongs to my neighbor that just moved in last November. Me and this guy hit it off pretty quick because he noticed I had a 4th gen camaro in the driveway on a drag pack and told me he had a camaro being built right now at a shop. I asked what was being done and he said it was getting a the engine built and having a turbo kit with a 78mm turbo installed. I was like damn that’s exactly what’s in my car it’s an ly6 block and ls3 heads and intake 7875 turbo with a 4l80e, 8.8 rearend and a 4l80e. What are the chances right. Over the next couple months we talked about the cars a bit on and off and I started to notice some of the things he said didn’t make very much sense so I started asking some questions. To start he said it was getting a custom turbo kit and other times he said it was an on3 turbo kit. Ok no biggie not the kit I’d go with but it’ll work I guess (personally I’d never buy a kit I would rather build my own for 1/10 the cost of a kit and get exactly what I want) then he tells me he it is going to have A/C and factory K-member and a full exhaust out the back and I tell him well that’s not possible with what has been purchased. So I question is it a custom turbo kit or an on3 kit and he confirmed it’s an on3 kit so for sure that’s not gonna work. Next he tells me the guy sold him a “427 kit” whatever that means. So I’m like hey that turbo isnt going to work well with a 427 and he just blew it off. Over the next couple weeks I reiterated that it’s not going to work and he just says it’s ok I’ll just rebuild the turbo kit when I get it back and get a bigger turbo, so at this point I’m wondering why the hell you would waste money paying someone to build or install a turbo kit and turbo just to immediately take it off and build a new one and buy a new turbo, why not just return or sell the on3 stuff and do it right the first time. Then as we talk more about the build we start talking about the timeline like how long the shop has had the car and how long they think it will take to finish it and he says they have until June and they have had it since October. Ok that’s doable what’s been done so far. Nothing, nothing has been done, the car is in pieces and has no engine in it no front suspension just a bunch of parts. This is April so that’s 2 months 2 get the engine done, installed, install or build the turbo kit, custom full exhaust out the back and make custom ac lines/condenser because the factory stuff won’t work with all the stuff he has thus far oh and tune the car. But wait there’s more, now is when I find out that it’s also getting a Holley terminator and I thought ok cool but is it getting installed stand alone or piggybacked to retain the gauges and he says it’s getting integrated. I told him “Man I really don’t think what your asking for is possible and are you sure this shop can handle this kind of job. He told me they do ls swaps into old trucks so it’s what they do. Ls swapping old trucks is about as easy as it gets. 3 wire hookup for the harness and some swap mounts bam done. Next on the list of **** that doesn’t add up is he mentions it’s an lq9 block, at the time it didn’t click to me but a couple days later it did. You can’t bore a lq9 to 4.125, so I called him and say he man I just realized this I’m not trying to rain on your parade but this doesn’t make any sense, along with most of the other stuff you’ve told me so far but this is a big one. Problem is this neighbor doesn’t seem to listen to anything I say or believe that I know **** for whatever reason even though I’ve told him all the cars I’ve built and he’s seen my car and even took a ride in it. I also have a couple fast AF bike engines custom built buggies ones a 2016 gsxr750 and the other a 2013 hayabusa and they weigh like 600-800lbs so they are quick and look badass. Anyways I don’t know why he doesn’t listen I very clearly am very knowledgeable on the subject and have 15 years of building ls powered cars. He send me a picture of his “lq9” 427 on a stand and first thing I notice is it’s an aluminum block, then I notice it’s not even a gen 3 or 4 motor it’s a gen5 l83 5.3 it even still has the truck engine mounts on the block. In the picture the guy conveniently put a rag over the place where it would say 5.3 but he doesn’t know any different it looks like an engine to him. Once I told him he definitely started to question things at this point as it’s hard to argue this one. So he says he’s going to call the guy and see what’s going on but also mentioned he’s gone up there once a month since it’s been there and has yet to see the car, the shop has an excuse for why he can’t stop by every time. At what point are there enough red flags that you go up there with police and get your car back. At this point I don’t think I can help this guy any more. I’ve tried and tried he just doesn’t want to hear it. I have nothing to gain from this I don’t do any this stuff for money and I’ve offered him numerous times to go up there with him to get the car and I’ll build him a turbo kit for free just for fun as a project and an excuse to hang out and have some fun building a car. He has paid this guy 9k and has nothing to show for it. No receipts no pictures of the turbo kit or the Holley terminator. I’m fairly certain that there is no turbo kit, there is no Holley, there is no 427. He also doesn’t have any of the supporting mods like injectors or fuel pumps. This guy is getting ripped off and just doesn’t seem to want to believe it. So… what do you guys think, I don’t do social media or anything so this is the only place I could think to post this. I know it’s not as busy as it once was but I know there are a lot of smart people on here that can maybe give some input and maybe if a bunch of you guys can give your 2 cents he will see that it’s not just me the ls1tech “Experts” agree he’s getting scammed.

When he does get the car back this thread will turn into a build thread where I will document the progress on the car as we get it to the point he wants it to be. I hope some of you read through all of this and will comment for me so I can show him he’s getting scammed.

EDIT: Just found out the “shop” is a 25yr old kid, not saying a 25yr old can’t do it cause I did at that age just less likely and he may be in over his head.

 

Reading through the story, my initial gut reaction is there is no car. Not that the shop is scamming him, but that your neighbor is BSing you. Not in a malicious way, but in a wanting to fit in type of way.

If you want to get to the bottom of it with a quickness, take him to the shop. Don't call the shop, just show up. Act dumb, don't criticize, just "Hey my buddy is really excited about his car that he has here and wanted to show it off to me." See the car, see the engine, let the mechanic/shop explain what the plans are. Maybe it's a sleeved 5.3 block, took so long because they sent it out to get the Darton sleeves put in by a reputable shop. Maybe the shop owner/lead mechanic has been in and out of the hospital. Maybe your neighbor just misunderstood what all he was getting.

Other option is just to let it be, and see what happens. If he is getting taken advantage of, you tried. If he is making it up, you know now to take what he says with a grain of salt. Either way, not worth you losing sleep over.

 

 

the car is definitely real and he’s owned it for a long time. This all started because it rained a lot and water seeped into the intake around the injectors and it spit a rod out on start up as many have had happen with 4th gens.

im not losing any sleep for sure. I just wanted to get some other opinions on it. And as far as it being a sleeved 5.3 unless there’s someone out there doing it for $1700 that’s not the case. The machining work required to do a sleeved 5.3 with darton sleeves and all cost more than he has spent on the entire job so far. The shop claims it’s an lq9 block bored out to 4.125 with a 4” stroke, as we all know that’s not possible.
The txt said
“engines back from machine shop” and had a picture of a used gen5 aluminum 5.3. My neighbor was excited and thought it was what he was being told a 427ci LQ9 he just doesn’t know any difference and I think the shop knows it.

Like I said there are pictures I just didn’t post yet cause im gonna clear it with him before I do.

 

I know it’s a long read but I don’t think it was hard to follow or understand. Maybe drink another cup of coffee and give it another read lol.

Or maybe you just don’t understand why I’m even posting it which I can understand. I’m posting it because it seems to be pretty common (atleast here in Texas) that people take their cars to a shop spend thousands of dollars and never get anything in return sometimes never even get the car back. I’ve always done everything myself so I don’t have to worry about it. But it’s a cautionary tale for others and do your research and when you see red flags start asking questions.

 

I like this idea. Shows you have interest in his build. I’m sure by the various conversations you’ve had with him, that he realizes you are more knowledgeable than he on these type of things.

 

Ya I hope he can get it all figured out and at the very least get his car back so he can try to get it going on his own or with some help. 4th gena are a love it or hate it kind of car. Those of us that love them gotta stick together and help eachother out. I enjoy fabricating and know these cars so well at this point having owned and built so many. By the end of June the car will be on a trailer to come back finished or not.

 

While it is great that you want to help him, but these are some huge red flags that will likely continue and potentially get worse as money starts to exchange hands.

$9K for a turbo 427 with an aftermarket ecm won't go very far in the build.

 

Where in Texas is the shop located? Is the owners name Chad?

 

IMO this is a can of worms that you don't need to deal with.
I'm all for helping people out but you can only lead a horse to water in this case.
You've given him your opinion/advise based on your own extensive experience, until he's ready to accept it and ask for your help, I'd let him learn on his own.
I've known guys who will listen to anyone and everyone other than those who have the actual experience/knowledge, once they get bitten, then they come around asking for help to sort out the mess which at that point I'm happy to help.
Some people just have to learn the hard way.