I've owned my 71 BB vert for a month now.
A buddy and I drove 16 hrs return to look at this car.We inspected the under carriage with the car on a hoist,checked the guages,electrical components,listened to it run and this car appeared to be as advertised( 95% completed nut and bolt restoration)everything on this car is new or as new rebuilt.The engine ran a little rough and was stuggling to idle properly,Bubba reassured me that he had built many engines in the past and that carb adjustments would smooth it out .I was told that the engine had approx. 1 hr run time ,just moving it around the shop.
We made the drive a second time to trailer the car home,backed the car of off the trailer were it sat for a day and a half before being towed(flatbed) to an alignment shop.The suspension parts had just been hung on the car and it looked like a dog taking a cr#%p from behind.After the alignment I had it trailered to a mechanic to have it tuned(I'm just days away from driving this beast).My mechanic started the car and quite quickly informed me that it sounded to him like the firing order was messed up.After checking this and finding it ok,he did a compression check and found #6 with 0,yes zero, compression.
he pulled the valve covers and discovered Bubba had tighted two rockers and not backed them off .After setting the lifters the car idled much better but was still far from smooth.Suspecting a vacuum leak and narrowing it down to the intake manifold gasket,he then pulled the intake to replace the gasket and discovered a lobe wiped off of the cam.The engine is coming out tomorrow to be sent for machining and rebuild.I can't help but think that I inspected this car without nearly enough knowledge,but also feel Bubba should shoulder some of the responsibility for this mess.I paid market value money for this car,it was no deal.When I cool off I will call Bubba.
Any ideas on an approach to this guy???
Thanks for letting me ramble.

 

I had walked this road with you a number of times.

When I purchased my vette, I was told the car was perfect; no hidden issues, etc. Much as you did, I paid market value for the car. Once the car rolled off the enclosed trailer and had a few miles put on her, a high RPM miss came to light. Very long story short, the problem got fixed but this was $1,500 later.

I kept the purchaser appraised of the issues, but there was never an offer of help. Perhaps he never drove the car like I do, who knows?

At any rate, in your situation, I would be a bit more forceful in seeking some help on getting that motor fixed. Unbelievable situation my man.

B.

 

sounds like your mechanic is a BUBBA also if he had to pull the intake to find a lobe wiped off the cam.

 

Phil I'm here to learn, educate me and I'll pass it on to him.

 

...yeh Phil, enlighten us.......

 

GEEESH!

 

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

if it weren't for bubba giving up, we would not have our c3's.
Bill u have to be an upper income guy to afford to pay others to fix an old car.

 

Good perspective on Bubba,your right.As for the upper income, no such luck,but there are lots of houses to wire out there and 50 to 60 hr work weeks allow me to pay to have this thing straightened out .I am absorbing as much info as I can to eventually do most of this work myself.

 

well look at the bright side, you now have a corvette and you are among people who have spent ridiculous amounts of money on them. good luck and don't sweat the small stuff like money and you will enjoy this hobby

 

I wish I were "upper income" vs. "NO IMCOME"; bubba should be exposed to a huge azz-whopppin or taken off the planet; best of luck, just been thru the virtually same deal with an Ebay purchase.

 

Good luck in your endevor. Signed, a fellow electrician.

 

Well as the saying goes, Caveat Emptor. Most sales like that are just as such, and if the seller says "as is, where is" you can get really fudged over like it would appear you have. Its an unfortunate situation but I honestly dont think you have a lot of recourse in this one. Just hope hes a nice enough guy to do something about it, although if he was bold-faced lieing to you once already, I wouldnt expect much better.

 

I can relate totally with you Judge 71 , I as as well was taken by Bubba out of Paragou , Arkansas on my 81 .
I gave $5500 for a $1500 max car . Was told new motor , never wrecked . 60 % restored ..... you name it .
When car was stripped of the paint , found both rear quarters to be wrecked and fixed with bondo , not fiberglass . Engine was a patched 305 not a new 350 and to top it all off it had a crack in the side of the block . Now $15,000 later invested , I do have a 80 % restored and slighty modified vehicle .
I knew better than to dwell over the experience with the guy I bought it from nor did I make any attempts to contact him . He is crap and always will be bogus crap ! It would have been a waste of my time .
I chalked it up as a learning lesson and repaired what needed to be repaired so that I may enjoy my Vette . Although I did not intend to invest what I have in this car , I have ...... and its the way I want it and I am happy .

 

When you first realized you had been duped it feels like your the only one that this has ever happened to.After having 4 or 5 days to calm down I'm beginning to again see the ride thats just around the corner,and have all but forgotten the fellow I bought the car from.He and I have both ended up with something from this ,I have something to dream about at night and I'm not so sure he will sleep as soundly.If I had found this forum a year ago I would have gone into this a whole lot better informed.I hope the first bump in the road of corvette ownership is the roughest.Can't wait to get it on the road.