.....even painted the desired Black.......

Mend up with pops......can always save up money again.

 

Post them a link to this thread and also post there name in here so no one else
will get ripped off the way you did. It's guys like this that give mechanics a bad name...
He should have known for you to spend 3500.00 you at least wanted a better carb.
i'll bet he has never worked on anything high performance before

 

Unfortunately, that's the end of the road and story.

 

I wasn't poking at you just saying...

Let me try to explain myself so all know,
When I called the shop this morning I was wicked calm and cool...I made a point to be,
I so badly wanted this to work out well and happy so I could make a good post about this today.
At one point I used the term "shade tree" describing the carb and that upset the wife I apologized and took it back even though it is very true,
My car very well could have caught on fire.

After I presented her with my issues about the build and then she talked with the mech and called me back the first thing out of her mouth was to tell me how mad the mech was that he couldn't even talk to me because he expected a call praising and thanking him....how arrogant can he be?

That pretty much set the precedence that they were not going do anything about any of the issues,
For example,
You know I thought the issues of the balancer for example was open and shut, we agreed on a fluid damper and I paid for that, he then decided to install some stock balancer he spray painted orange when he knew I asked for black and the block is black,

My guess was they would apologize for that mix up and offer a refund or the fluid damper,
Rather than an offer of refund I am told he couldn't call me with every little thing he did during the build and he decided I didn't need the fluid damper.

I know each person and case if different but trust me she was not listing ways to make things right but rather making lame excuses and trying to create reasons what I have is top rate,

 

Tell him you'll report him to the IRS for demanding a cash payment. That will make his cheeks pucker right up and you'll have his attention.

If he says you have an invoice to prove he is not hiding anything, say "what invoice are you talking about".......provided you haven't signed anything and he has a copy of it that is.

 

I dont have it in front of me....I signed it...a generic invoice,
It listed
Engine rebuild
flywheel
starter
balancer

Perhaps not in that order,

Guys should I send a link of this thread to his email????

 

Hi Bats.
You have my sympathies - I'd be really upset about the situation. I think you're totally justified in feeling aggrieved.

Can you list out the things that need to be put right? E.g.
1. throttle return springs location
2. leaking intake manifold bolt(s)
3. starter wiring
etc.

From your post it doesn't sound as though your engine has any major problems after the journey home so hopefully the only things you need to fix are relatively simple and small. If that's the case then maybe it's not worth the upset, the hassle and the arguments with your father - maybe it's simpler to mark it up to experience, fix the problems yourself (or pay the small $$ to have someone local fix them for you) and move on. You could be chasing this bad shop for months to get something back and getting nothing but stress about it.

I'm not trying to tell you what to do - just offering alternative thoughts and an independent view. Whatever you do, I hope it works out, and don't spoil your relationship with your father over this. He won't be around for ever.

 

Bats, there are two sides to every story they say. In this case, I don't even begin to think there is a second side to this story. This guy sounds like an inexperienced parts replacer at the very best, crook at worst.

Why didn't the roller tipped rockers fit your heads. Or was he just incapable of installing them or setting valves? After seeing the spring hooked to a hose clamp(which can move or flex, too) I would not want them messing with my valvetrain.

I wonder why everything you brought in was "junk". Junk v/c's? really??? I bet he actually wanted all of that "junk".

Man I feel bad for you, and pissed off too. I am a natural skeptic, and this whole thing raises red flags with me. How can he just arbitrarily decide to install an old GM balancer, when it was agreed on that a fluid damper go on?

I would also think there is a reason that they are cash only. No fear of someone getting home and disputing a charge on a credit card that way.

 

Go back to him with a witness, tell him you want a itemised invoice, tell him your concerns, give him a chance to make it right in front of a witness or a video. If he tells you to fu*k off, then take your engine good engine shop, explain the situation, have them quote what they would charge to strip the engine and write a report on the internal engine components, thus establish if he has committed fraud by using used or worn parts, poor workmanship. This all can be used in court as evidence, make sure you have records of payment and witnesses to any conversations you have had with him are useful.
He may decide it cheaper to give you your money back than go forward with legal action. All the old engine parts are yours, ask for them to be returned, get them checked to see if what he told you stacks up, if not its more useful info for court.
Don't let these type of crooks operate, give everone a bad name !!

 

At this point, I'd be curious to see what really went inside that engine. Is it a 383, or the tired 350 from his truck?

 

bats , i'm sorry for all your problems with this build. if you get it corrected, and go to get another motor i'll personally come down to florida, and change it out for you. i've done mine enough that its a piece of cake. i'm sure some of our corvette brothers would be willing to help also. if we can get a handfull of people we can have it done in less than 8 hours..let me know..

 

Bats,
Wow! Not pretty stuff. I feel for you. If that 383 was built right, it would shoot like a bullet!
I've had some issues myself with the builder of my 383. He's my neighbor and we're working them out one at a time. Right now, it's using about 1 quart of oil per 100 miles, and it's not leaking a drop. We're addressing the case vent issue thinking it's going into the vacuum or mixing with the air via an intake leak. Second to that is the headers melting the spark plug boots, and I've got parts to fix that now too.
Anyway, rebuilds are very complex, as I helped out first hand every step of the way. Even though it took 3 months to do(and I'm very impatient), I was pleased overall. the total was around $7700. However, I upgraded the starter($95) to a 3HP high torque import from Ebay, a DeWitt's dual fan set-up($450), HEI, 105 amp alt, and several other goodies needed. But that should give you an idea(I know, never start a sentence with "but"). These have all been pretty minor and we're addressing them as we go at no charge, so far. When it runs, and I had it out this weekend, it takes off! I was "at the track" up against a 55 Chevy with a 502 in it last summer and he didn't pass me until I let off the gas. He pulled over and had blown a head gasket!
That thing should fly!
I hate to say, but for $3700, a lawyer will just tell you to take the bath(ask me how I know that!). You should find a respectable mechanic and have him address the issues.
Good Luck and hang tough....oh, and make up with your Dad! Material possessions are mere earthly.

 

I feel your pain buddy, been there. Make Dad some lemonade and Bubba a nice Cocktail (molatov)

 

Hey Bats I'm not sure of your laws in Florida but here in Michigan a licensed mechanic shop is required by law to return all parts, to you, deemed 'bad, damaged, or mal-functioning' that are replaced during any service provided, unless inspected by the customer and agreed to be disposed of. I would ask for my 'junk' parts back, as they were probably not junk at all. Then i would file a claim with the Better Business Bureau. Good Luck!

 

damn, i did nicer work then that when i was 17 and just starting to turn wrenches.

i would have been very skeptical of a shop that demands a cash only payment, and only lists the invoice as general rebuild.

 

Living in the Land of Litigation (Kalifornia), such a tale would have many options. The Bureau of Automotive Repair is know for taking the customer's side, even if wrong. I do not know FL law, so I do not know your legal options there. Still, there are a few things that should apply:

1. He did not deliver the promised product. No roller rockers and no fluid damper. These were contractual, verbal or not. He did not have you sign an agreement to alter this.

2. He upped the price without authorization. I do not know if you signed a work order or not. If he had you sign one on pick up, you are probably screwed on this one.

3. He demanded cash. IRS might be very interested in this. If he does not cooperate, do not threaten. Just turn the @$%^& in.

4. The work was faulty. Overhauling an engine without changing the fuel filter is insane. The carb hookup is the same. Who knows what else, but get it checked out with plenty of photos. Document everything, including pics and conversations.

5. Get ALL old parts and check them out. If he lied here, who knows what else he lied about on the rebuild.

Hindsight is always 20/20 and you are already kicking yourself plenty. Now move ahead, but don't let him bully you. Tell him you will publish his name and everything verifiable (like pics and info on what the engine really is) all over the Net and tell everyone you know. Be careful here to make sure you have reasonable proof and/or witness. Good luck.

 

"Hucksters" never admit they did anything wrong.

 

If you do nothing else, call the IRS and report the "cash" deal.

Most likely this guy isn't paying taxes on those funds, and after a nice audit the IRS will be more than happy to escort him to court. And that's a court case he will never forget.

 

I'm surprised at you........but I'll spare you most of the lecture.

This is the reason "crate motors" are so popular. If you can't find or don't know a good engine builder you bite the bullet and by a crate motor. With that said here goes.........

1st the guy is not a mechanic he's an ANIMAL! His defense is to be nasty to you. You need to bring every agency in the Fla world down on top of him.......AFTER you give him one shot in a face to face meeting to make things right. You need to explain to him what YOUR options are if he doesn't make things right. BBB, DMV, IRS, Attorney Genral, Shame On You, the internet, and what ever else you have in Fla at your disposal. He's not giving you an itemized list because if he did you would have proof of fraud (but in New York he would be required to) so forget that. All you want is what you agreed to and what you paid for. Explain that to him (if he allows you to). If not tell him you will be his worst nightmare EVEN if it means standing in front of his shop warning potential customers NOT TO DO BUSINESS WITH HIM. If that doesn't get his attention then I'm afraid you will have to go to guns. (joking)

Good luck! I hope things work out.

 

Well Bats, sorry to hear all this, especially since it's a long distance repair.

You can always file a letter like your post to the Florida licensing agen
cy, and they have local people in Orlando to discuss with them any realistic recourse, the Dept of Agriculture, I believe.

The Florida Dept of Revenue LOVES businesses that INSIST on cash and for his sake I hope your receipt showed sales tax itemized, not just yours, but for all his customers. Those people are like stink on ****, worse than the IRS.

As far as I know contracts in Florida can be verbal and enforceable.