What would you do..."misplaced" engine
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Stay calm and listen to the owner. Getting into a pissing match will not help anything. Certainly, take note of any offers that he makes to resolve the problem. You need to know what the value of a matching numbers car and a non numbers match car for your year. The owner needs to compensate your for that loss in value with either free services or cash. If you are happy with his offer sit on it for a few days and see how you feel. If not contact him after a few days and tell him his offer is not satisfactory. All else fails hire an attorney.
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,988
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From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
(yes I know 10 is ridiculous)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 5
From: Livonia MI
Unfortunately, legal help probably isn't the best idea, as fees could end up higher, than the engine build. If you know an attorney willing to stop over their with you for little cost, maybe all you need. Know a guy that bought a new Harley, and the engine seized up when he got it home. He wanted a new bike, but they would only agree to rebuild the engine. He has a law degree, and wrote H/D a letter. Got his money back, and got a Kawasaki cruiser. Guy's done with H/D after this. Nothings good here, but would at least expect a free engine from your shop, with no numbers on it.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
No, Mike... You were being a jerk. The shop stole this guy's engine and is trying to make it go away. This is about as bad as it gets for "auto repair shop abuse". And I, for one, would fight it tooth and nail. The shop has NO leg to stand on: the engine is "missing" while it was on their watch; and they deserve to have the kitchen sink thrown at them.
This is grand theft...plain and simple. You should get much more than the 'actual value' of your loss; or you can go for a criminal charge against the owner. Take your pick.
This is grand theft...plain and simple. You should get much more than the 'actual value' of your loss; or you can go for a criminal charge against the owner. Take your pick.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
No, Mike... You were being a jerk. The shop stole this guy's engine and is trying to make it go away. This is about as bad as it gets for "auto repair shop abuse". And I, for one, would fight it tooth and nail. The shop has NO leg to stand on: the engine is "missing" while it was on their watch; and they deserve to have the kitchen sink thrown at them.
This is grand theft...plain and simple. You should get much more than the 'actual value' of your loss; or you can go for a criminal charge against the owner. Take your pick.
This is grand theft...plain and simple. You should get much more than the 'actual value' of your loss; or you can go for a criminal charge against the owner. Take your pick.
My comments are in post #7.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,272
Likes: 17
they should have a record of what block went to what customer. if you dont have paperwork documenting your block, no matter how big the shop or how carefull they are , you dont have much to go on , also without documentation, the legal folks wont help either.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,272
Likes: 17
Unfortunately, legal help probably isn't the best idea, as fees could end up higher, than the engine build. If you know an attorney willing to stop over their with you for little cost, maybe all you need. Know a guy that bought a new Harley, and the engine seized up when he got it home. He wanted a new bike, but they would only agree to rebuild the engine. He has a law degree, and wrote H/D a letter. Got his money back, and got a Kawasaki cruiser. Guy's done with H/D after this. Nothings good here, but would at least expect a free engine from your shop, with no numbers on it.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 109
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From: Goodyear AZ
I have documents and photos of engine...vin stamp
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Madeira Beach, FL
2024 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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I too am so sorry to hear of this.
I do not know where I would go to get it resolved.
I feel it would cost me allot of time and $$$$ just to
get back what I already had before their screw up.
You loose a grub screw not an engine block
Please keep us informed.
A call to the Attorney Generals office in your state inquiring about
shop fraud and deceptive business practices worded
correctly may get an investigation started.
If you find others in a similar situation, you could
get an attorney and initiate a collective law suit.
He'll either settle or go belly up and close the doors.
Marshal
I do not know where I would go to get it resolved.
I feel it would cost me allot of time and $$$$ just to
get back what I already had before their screw up.
You loose a grub screw not an engine block
Please keep us informed.
A call to the Attorney Generals office in your state inquiring about
shop fraud and deceptive business practices worded
correctly may get an investigation started.
If you find others in a similar situation, you could
get an attorney and initiate a collective law suit.
He'll either settle or go belly up and close the doors.
Marshal
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 673
Likes: 2
From: Melbourne Victoria
Sorry 'bout your situation, mate.
I'd be doing "Gorilla imitations" on the owner's desk then I'd be sitting in
their office until this was resolved (or in the parking lot with a VERY large sign) But that's just me and probably wouldn't help much.
As others have said, see what explanation and solution these CLOWNS offer you
and go from there.
Keep us posted of your progress,
CHEERS & Merry Christmas from Downunder,
Gav
I'd be doing "Gorilla imitations" on the owner's desk then I'd be sitting in
their office until this was resolved (or in the parking lot with a VERY large sign) But that's just me and probably wouldn't help much.
As others have said, see what explanation and solution these CLOWNS offer you
and go from there.
Keep us posted of your progress,
CHEERS & Merry Christmas from Downunder,
Gav
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Even if having the numbers matching engine doesn't make that much of a difference in value now, who's to say what a difference in value it might make in 10 years? 20 years? 30 years? There are '68 427 'vettes out there with NOMs because, in 1972, nobody thought it would make much difference. How much value have they lost? Just something to think about, that's all.
The funny thing is, it really only has any value to the OP. To anybody else, it's just another old SBC block. Why would someone steal something of so little value, and are still relatively plentiful? That doesn't make much sense. Maybe they screwed it up, and don't want to own up to it.
Scott
The funny thing is, it really only has any value to the OP. To anybody else, it's just another old SBC block. Why would someone steal something of so little value, and are still relatively plentiful? That doesn't make much sense. Maybe they screwed it up, and don't want to own up to it.
Scott
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 15
From: Oxford Ohio
[QUOTE=AdamMeh;1582611546]They don't misplace motors. If it truly is not there, they used it for someones order.
I worked ina shop that would do that from time to time. They are behind on someone's engine and your's is setting there finished. So the other guy gets yours and it gives them time to get one done for you. Doesn't compute matching numbers.
I'd ask them who has picked up a .030 block in this time frame. There is a chance it's on someone's engine stand and not together yet. That person may like their own engine back.
I'd recommend keeping the main caps when ever you drop off a numbers matching block, or any special block for that matter. For the bore and hone they can use a few caps from some other block setting there.
I worked ina shop that would do that from time to time. They are behind on someone's engine and your's is setting there finished. So the other guy gets yours and it gives them time to get one done for you. Doesn't compute matching numbers.
I'd ask them who has picked up a .030 block in this time frame. There is a chance it's on someone's engine stand and not together yet. That person may like their own engine back.
I'd recommend keeping the main caps when ever you drop off a numbers matching block, or any special block for that matter. For the bore and hone they can use a few caps from some other block setting there.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 259
Likes: 6
Maybe none of these post are from an attorney. I bet that if you do have a question an answer session with one you will come away with a whole different feeling about what you can really do about this. I am always amazed at how I think things should be and then get really professional advice and it's changed my thoughts about how to proceed. Not that anything short of a lot of money or your motor back is going to matter. It really sucks and I agree I would be ready to go at it with the whole crew at the shop.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,487
Likes: 83
From: Titusville Florida