Ok so I picked up a really cheap 5.3 for a 98 mustang that Im building. The car is a beater so I dont want to spend much on it. So I bought this kit https://www.ebay.com/itm/36471974731...r=634253063941 I got it and it looks ok nation seals and decent gaskets. As Im installing the cam it wouldnt turn once I got the chain on. Pulled it off and the cam sprocket was never finish machined. So I contacted the seller and by this time a month had gone by but he was very nice and wanted me to check and make sure everything else was ok.
Then the hurricane took part of the roof off my shop and trees laying everywhere. I touched base with him and he said no problem be safe and take your time. When I got back to him he ghosted my ***. I looked and sure enough the time had passed from when I could leave bad feedback and Ebay also ignores me. Any way I bought a new timing chain and everything. I hope the cam doesnt break in half. Yes I learned my lesson, flame away!

 

This is why one does not buy critical engine parts off Ebay.
Having said that, carefully reassemble everything and see if it all moves correctly.
Hopefully the new timing set is the cure.

 

[QUOTE Yes I learned my lesson![/QUOTE]


All you need to know

 

its funny how someone cant afford to do it right the first time but they can always afford to do it twice

 

I know, I know. In my defense its a $150 engine and I just cleaned the crap out of it and replaced the rings and bearings. Its going in to a car I could get maybe $500 for. But my time is worth something after all.

 

We all learned the hard way somewhere along the way, to get to where we are.

 

sounds like the path I took building my truck, smh

 

Well, early lesson learned here, don't cheap out on critical parts.

Atleast you're not out for thousands like some people are.

 

totally. I wish I could say I’ve only done it once but I seems like a reminder I need on a regular basis.

 

yeh you right, my end result has gotten better though. "all 50 times"

 

"end result", lol. Are any of us ever really finished with a build? I've been changing things on my gto for nearly 20 years.

 

But how many of those changes are the result of Amazon or eBay buys??

 

Some of us are. I enjoy building my stuff and modding it because I have the tools and skills, end of the day all that work gets put into being able to drive the car and enjoy it. That's the final result tho, enjoying the car. I'd rather be driving it than working on it.

 

Sadly, this statement is as true as any statement that anyone will ever make. You usually get what you pay for. Not always, but more often than not. On the other hand, lessons learned the hard way are the ones that are burned into your memory even deeper than they are burned into your ***. Cheap parts on ebay should get the same attention as an ugly stripper-Absolutely none!!!!

 

You say that, I watched plenty of young troops when I was in the military go for that ugly stripper. Beauty is only a few beers and a light switch away.

They did that I played with cars. Question becomes who threw away more money...

 

I haven't been that long but alot of my changes were me not being satisfied with the results or the parts were capable of the power level i was looking for.
I enjoy working on my truck though, but it's time to enjoy it for a while

 

I can't say I put to many Amazon or ebay stuff on my truck, maybe fittings, hoses, stuff of that sort. We'll besides the bullshit cx racing turbo I put on and then took right back off

 

Only 1 bad oil feed line. I am generally careful about not using questionably sourced parts for anything important. Still had my share of taking extra time to fix something instead of doing it right the first time. Getting a little better about that in my old age, lol.

 

I actually beg to differ. I have bought plenty of critical engine parts off Ebay. A lot of times I can get stuff Less expensive and in some cases sooner when they have actual stock.

The difference though, I don't buy Imitation parts from places with names like "super car parts".

I buy from American Business with Physical locations in the USA. Not Chinese or other Over Seas sellers with imitation parts being shipped from a US based warehouse.

Places like:
FA Products Engine & Performance
AMS Racing
performancepartsracing
Panthersales
Modern Automotive Performance
abad71camaro
borstrok-engine-parts
Motor Wizards

 

Good points, IF you can ferret out the legit players, it rights many potential wrongs!