Anyways, I placed an order for a rebuilt longblock for my truck to be built on Feb. 10th, 2010. This is the same guy I had build both of my third members for my Truck, and install a locker in one of them. He built them in a timely matter last time so I thought I would order a motor from him this time.

When I first placed my order, he said he could probably have it done by the weekend of Feb.15-16th. I said cool and gave him my credit card #. Then after he got paid the build seemed like it became slower and slower.

He works with only one other person and does good work. He seems to get a lot of praise on another forum by a lot of other people. I don't want to doubt this guy, but it is March 11th and my motor is still not done yet. Should I be worried? How long does a motor take to be built? Honestly.

I talk to him once a week to see the progress and called him Tuesday. He was trying to find out the status of the head and the cam. He said he would call me back. I have called him the last 2 days and he hasn't even answered the phone. I know he isn't going to take my money and run, but I need this engine in my truck soon.

How long should an engine builder take to build a motor?

 

There must be a hundred variables in the completion of an engine build. If this isn't something a shop is set up to do (and focus on) every day, there is no way in hell an engine will be completed in the initial time he quoted you which seems rather odd btw (he gave himself a whopping five days??).

I would expect closer to triple that unless building and selling engines were their specialty which it seems wasn't/isn't the case.

It takes me months typically but I'm very particular about every aspect of the build and Im not a fully equipped shop with all the specialty machining equipment required (not to mention have a hundred other things on my plate during that time).

Cut him some slack and ask him for a realistic completion date....that would be my advice at this point. I still want to know what was going thru his head with his initial timeframe quoted...perhaps he just really wanted to get the job.

Good luck....the most important aspect of this is the completed project being successful so rushing him probably isn't a good idea either.....LOL

Cheers,
Tony

 

While I agree with most of your comments its the quoted one above thats a particular sticky point as it really depends on the type of person in how this plays out. Some people just lose focus and do not have the ability to leave a project and come back to it after a spell and recall EXACTLY where they left off, what they have checked and what they havent and quality suffers.

Just reading your notes and gauging by your rep Tony I can tell that you probably triple check everything you do anyways so this is a moot point for you and others like you. In these cases putting pressure on the builder only creates stress and adds pressure which may affect ability and this can cause problems with the build.

Considering these different conclusions to the exact same reality if it were my money? I'd pay a visit to the shop and just feel out the general morale and vibe in there. If its high tension/stress related Id ask questions about whats going on in general if i could. Whats happening in this guys life etc? Work load too high? Should be able to gauge that easy enough by the buzz in the shop. Wife got the guy by the *****? Probably can assess from how the owner is vs the staff. Ask the underlings at the shop when they're away from the boss if everythings ok etc. Junior staff often know and will confess the TRUTH about what is going on and why so dont discredit them. Maybe the guys crank grinder is away on holiday or? Theres tons of factors one can only guess. Anyways an investigative trip like this should be enough to tell the tale about why your build is taking so much time.

After doing your homework like this you should know if your hold ups are unfortunate, but unforeseeable issues or whether your getting blown off. Then I'd come up with a plan that would work for me and approach the builder with it. Sizing up people is a bit of a black art and a very powerful tool in helping anyone get exactly what they want, when they want, without surprises or causing further problems. This applies to any deals with any subject

All that said? I build my own engines now Too many bull **** artists with excuses and answers for everything that dont comfort me any.

Anyways building is pretty easy if you follow the rules and stay within spec. Only downside is Im so busy with work work that it takes me a lot of effort to clear out the time it takes to do it. A couple days is enough for me if I have all the parts. Im sure it could be done in six hrs or so but I feel more comfortable taking my time and making sure its done to the best of my ability.

 

you wrote that you paid it all up front. If so, he actually has a negative financial incentive to finish the work. He has the money, parts and time now come out of his pocket if that money was spent on other things already. Why would he take time and other resources to finish your work before he takes on other work that will actually get him more money? While a business has to weigh timely service/quality/reputation against costs, especially in these times, if he is worried about making it financially, you are going to find yourself at the bottom of his list. Now, you paid with a CC. You have a verbal contract with him to produce a product by a certain date. He did not live up to that contract. Tell him to refund the money or you will dispute the charge and he can try suing you. Pushing him at this point (or accepting what he gives you after you demand a refund) will likely only get you a rushed, low quality job. You have been burned, you can either minimize the damage to yourself, or continue to go for a ride to your further detriment.

 

You can dispute the charge on your credit card, that will get his attention as he'll get a letter from his Merchant Account telling him a chargeback has been initiated.

Once you do that though, it could get sticky...

My 440 took about 8-9 months, but I was far from in a hurry.

Charlie

 

lol

I have a set of LS3/L92 heads at a well known head specialist being ported.

Porting, install new intake valves, valve job, and install the springs.

Since August 2009....

WTF?



Never tell a machinist "there's no hurry" and never pay upfront. Two rules that I knew and broke this time.

 

My motor took 3-weeks, and they are a busy place! Awesome people to deal with!

 

I think you could apply that to any purchase not just engine building.

Too soon we get old, too late we get wise

 

Never pay up front. Maybe for parts, but even that is sometimes not a good idea. Many shops seem to rob Peter to pay Paul.....even reputable ones.

 

Never tell ANYONE there is no hurry on a service. They will always push your job to the back of the line. My local dealer takes walk ins before appointments. WTF? Thats the whole point of a appointment. Not having to wait because of "walkins"

 

I could kick myself for the times I made the mistake of telling a mechanic, "there's no hurry". You basically f*ck yourself

 

Once they have everything, no more than a week. If you are waiting on custom parts or something then it will take longer. If a guy told me he was a month behind, I'd tell him to call me when he got caught up and under no circumstances does he get a penny until I get my motor. Any shop that wants money up front doesn't do enough of this stuff. Everyone does business different but that's how it has to be to do business with me.

 

Well it took a total of 6.5 weeks to get my new motor. He offered to have his employee drive 2.5 hours to deliver my motor to me, which I thought was fair. After 3 or 4 wasted days and excuses of how he couldn't get this guys truck up to road worthiness, I wanted my money refunded in full. He finally got the GF of his other employee and 2 of her friends to bring me the motor. I get this story of how they are coming to the Bay Area to visit her Grandma and they have my motor in the back of their truck. Thoughts went through my head of how the engine was gonna get stolen out of the back of the truck or something. He assured me the girls were going to park the truck in her Grandma's garage.

Anyways, I come home from work on the day of delivery and there are 3 really cute early 20 year old girls sitting outside my house in a truck with my motor sitting in the back of it. I had to get my neighbor to help me get the motor on a hoist, but it all went well after that.

I have put 500 miles on the motor already and it runs perfect. After all the heart ache I am really happy with my purchase. But I will never buy anything from this guy ever again.

 

Kurlee did you get some pics of the "engine delivery"?

 

Hahahahaha..................ya!!

 

not even with the same delivery people?...lol

 

Sorry guys no pics of said girls. Although I should have taken pics.

Got a 1000 miles on the motor already and it runs like a dream.

 

i pay to one of the engines builder last year in august i received the motor three weeks back iwas blaming him alot but i found out that the problems are from the stroker Manufactures and the blocks Sponsors

 

Buddy, you got to show more patience. Mine took only 6 months and i got fed some stories my son would laugh on. Its unfortunate what happens to some of us who go with vendors of certain forums only to be taken for a ride. Hopefully you get what you ordered and asked for. Good luck