BAD NEWS

Returned today from a four day getaway to Vancouver Island. Before leaving I took my '69 back to the shop where I had recently (about 700 miles ago) had the original engine, a 350/300, rebuilt top to bottom. I had put 500 miles on it and had taken it back for an oil change. A small oil leak was observed on my garage floor so I told the shop about that. They removed the pan and installed a new gasket. Brought it home and put a couple hundred more miles on it having checked the oil several times during this period. Still a very light oil spotting on my garage floor.

Today upon return from my trip I called the shop to see about picking it up tomorrow. The shop owner informed me the engine was back out of the car.....when they pulled the pan they discovered metal in the bottom of the pan. Checked further, several bearings totally shot! I had great faith in this shop from references from other Corvette and specialty car owners who have had years of experience with him.

The owner told me the machine shop he had utilized for years had gone out of business and he was using another machine shop. All this was just discovered and I am going to the shop tomorrow to investigate.

During the period I had the car after the rebuild the oil pressure was great, cooling was great and the car ran great with no noise or unusual occurrences.

Stand by for chapter II.

 

That is bad news, but it sounds like a reputable shop. I'm sure they will make good on the build for you. Just be glad it isn't a crate motor from across the county trying to address the same problem and you paying for shipping.

Hope it works out the way you want!

 

NOT good news but at least the builder didn't just
button everything up and send you on your way while
he's crossing hes fingers it holds together long enough.
I worked with a guy in the 80's that had bought a pickup
with a factory 454 that had JUST been rebuilt. I don't
remember why but he had dropped the pan and found that
some of the rod caps were not on the right rod.
New bearings and some cleanup it was fine. Hope your
as lucky too.

 

As long as they don't try to charge for the repair, it's kind of a good thing. Other shops would try to blame it on you and charge you again to repair it. In a way you're kind of lucky that they were honest with you because they told you that this was their mistake, so you shouldn't be charged for the repairs. Good luck.

 

Hello Gentlemen and Ladies, I'm new to CF, but been in the industry for couple of decades now!

1955pirate, I understand your frustration and pain! Cars or for that matter anything that man creates, it can break, fail, or leave you in a undesirable situation.
If your vehicle is truly in good hands and they are fair to their customers they will treat you right. Problems/failures can and will happen with cars! What matters the most is how the company handles the problems with you and your vehicle. I hope everything goes well, please keep us updated! If there is anything I can help with or for advise call me @ 602-437-2727 and ask for Chris.

 

This is true many shops will magically turn the problem over to something you did. You are lucky they are doing what they are doing for you. I would tell them I'm not giving them a cent, their problem they fix it

 

You better make sure they're not going to charge you anything. Any updates on this?

 

Actually it sounds like a up front shop since they already pulled the motor before you telling them. This seems OK in this case since they did all the work originally and this also shows no cost should be involved from you. I think if cost was involved they would of asked you first...or??
c-ya
ToddG

 

No new info yet but I talked with the shop owner yesterday and he was taking the engine back to the machine shop where it will be torn down in his presence and inspected. One of the possibilities is that after the machining processes the block was not entirely cleaned of metal shavings. Other possibilities exist however.

The shop has told me no matter what the cause or who made a mistake I will not be paying for another rebuild/repair. But dang, it's good weather time.....I want my baby back now.

 

Sounds like a good shop if they're doing all of that.

 

Yep, they are doing the right thing. They know these forums exist and the last thing he wants is you to give him a bad review in public forum. Word of forum travels fast around here...

 

When you get it back, you may want to send some oil samples for testing just to make sure everything is wearing normally. Blackstone labs is who I have been using.

 

I think I'll do that. Can I find Blackstone labs with a Google search?