I did that but they will only verbally confirm it's not their's. Just hung up with Promaxx again and he said without actually inspecting it I can't say for sure but it doesn't appear to be ours. Same with Lunati but that's more obvious it's not their lifter.

I have asked, but neither will put it in an email.

 

this sucks. top end is where the money is. there are 100 buck lifters and 1100 buck lifters. 500 buck aluminum heads (i hope not aluminum spray paint on iron heads.) and 2500 dollar head sets. i will tell you now. THROW THOSE VALVES AND SPRINGS AWAY!!! a lifter or pushrod breaks, it sucks. a valve head pops off either cuz of the cheap spring breaking or just a piece of **** valve, that is sucks to a whole nother order of magnitude. can you find any casting marks on the heads? although even the cheap chinese castings are decent. it is the valvetrain they put in it that is ****. i usually use POS on here. but some threads deserve the actual word. Trans. take a pic of the trans. then google TKO and T5. compare the pic. it would take big ones to clean up an 88 camaro trans, stick it in a box and charge you for a new TKO, but i wouldn't put much past this guy.

 

There are absolutely no casting marks of any kind that I can see. Promaxx guy mentioned that, also, in addition to their logo and serial #.

Rest assured the engine will not run again until all this has been resolved with the correct parts. At this point, I just want my money back and I will take it elsewhere. But then that's a crapshoot, also.

I suppose I could take it to the speed shop that did the last work on it, that I should have left alone, but they did some things that I wasn't too impressed with either. How do you find somebody that cares as much about your stuff as you do? I'm not too sure you can.

 

Go there with cam, lifters and heads in your trunk. Tell him he pays you back price he wrote on receipt and you will give him his parts. He keeps the labor. Then go buy correct parts. Many here will have good cam suggestions once we see what you have for cr and heads. at this point sounds like it is time for you to jump in the deep end. Pull the heads. Get balancer puller from parts store. Buy a timing tape. Verify balancer tdc mark is accurate. Pull balancer, pan and timing cover.

 

Did you pay for this on a Credit Card?

Did you talk to him to give him a chance to fix it?

Does he have a google listing and google reviews?

Did he list the parts that you bought by NAME on the invoice (Lunati, Promax etc) ?

 

I always use quality valvetrain components, even on my stock longblock C4 I upgraded to ARP studs, comp springs & TS retainers, machined locks, Jomar guideplates and moly pushrods.

Some things you can buy cheap, well for me it's kinda the opposite others buy $$$ valvecovers and I spend the money on whats under n get cheap generic valvecovers.

edit: Also comp ultra pro mag rockers

 

a guy bought a 7 or 8k 496. complete engine. a year later a valve head dropped off the stem at idle. procomp heads and hardware. he sold the remaining head and the rotating assy minus 1 piston for 500 bucks. there is no such thing as too high quality valves and springs.

 

On the (exhaust) side of the head look way towards the bottom, near the deck
I bet you find in small print some type of casting #. Probably proheader brand
It wont say that name just some random letters/numbers.


If you get a judgement you can (at least in Ca) have the sheriffs dept collect if he has a business. They take every dime that comes through that door til youre paid.
This sounds more like fraud.....screw the friends thing he screwed you plain and simple go after him.

 

I would send him a letter sent certified mail return receipt requested, spell out your grievance and request a response by mail.
Believe me if he responds and doesn't follow through, that's called mail fraud and the friendly postal Inspectors will be happy to help you.

 

I'm going to his shop Monday morning with the lifters and give him a chance to refund my money for the cam, lifters and heads. I will point blank ask him when I pull the front cover off will I see a Lunati logo? In addition to those parts he made a mistake on the bill, also, and owes me over $1000 just for that. If I don't get satisfaction then I will pursue it legally.

 

Did his invoice spell out the brand name parts that he was supposed to install?

 

THINK FIRST !
You'll be in His territory along with His helpers and on His property. If Anything goes wonky, he WILL get benefit of the doubt (Initially at minimum) ... so Do Bring A Witness !

As before ... Phone & Registered Letter are perfectly acceptable ... you don't have to "call him out." However, if ya got a pal who rides w/ Big Red ... boots & saddles !

 

You can always have a scare letter sent by an atty, may cost a 100 or 2 but may let him know you arent going away.

 

Sad story....are you sure you even got your same engine back....maybe someone else got the upgraded engine.

 

It pisses me off just hearing about this whole mess. I hope you can force him to make it right.

What part of the country do you live in? If you end up having to start over and want to have it done right, by a guy who not only is a total pro but also has integrity in spades, let me know. He built the 396 SB stroker for my avatar car and it's a beast. We also became very close friends in the process. I'd trust him with my life, not to mention my money. We talk all the time. Cuisinartvette knows him too and can also vouch for him. Whatever you do, best of luck.

 

I'm in southeast TN. Thanks.

I did go by and talk to another shop on Friday that was recommended to me by Honest Charley, if anybody remembers them. They do a lot of work on muscle cars. Had an interesting mix of cars in their shop. Spent some time talking to the owner and maybe I will get them to at least pull the cover off and take pics of what they find. I just really don't have the capability to do that myself in my garage.

 

yes you do.

 

I just can't stoop, bend and crawl under like I used to could. I suppose I could jack the front end up and put jackstands under it. OK, maybe I'll rethink it. I'd sure like to have a pic of that cam sooner rather than later. A buddy has helped me do stuff before, maybe I'll give him a shout.

 

I just got back from his shop and I genuinely believe he was hosed by his supplier. I remember seeing the cam in a yellow Lunati case so I really think it's the right cam but the lifters are definitely not Lunati and he agrees after seeing the replacement I got from Summit. As for the heads, he got them from the same supplier. Neither one of us verified they were correct, though. I listened to him order a new set from Promaxx while I was standing there. 4 to 6 weeks. He was just as upset as I was about the whole thing. He called me after I left his shop and apologized again. Said he talked to the guy he got the heads from originally and the guy was basically well, too bad.

He said when the heads come in, I will come get your car, he has a rollback, and I will make everything right. He's out the added labor and the cost of the correct parts. I admit I thought I had been hosed but turns out he is the one out all the money.

Now I've got to decide if I want to pay to have the timing cover pulled off just to make sure it's a Lunati cam. Like I said, I do remember seeing the case. However, trust but verify, right?

It was probably those cheap Chinesium heads that was making it not run right. Some con artist parts supplier that maybe made an extra $1000 and caused all this heartache and grief.

This whole project has been one disaster after another. I suppose another 6 weeks isn't going to matter now anyway.

Thanks to everyone for the help and advice. And thanks again to Lars for checking out the carb.

I kinda feel like Charlie Brown

 

Excellent news! Kudos for the shop owner being a standup guy. Yes, I would pay for the knowledge that the cam was Lunati and that the supplier just didn't have a Lunati tube laying around.

I'm very glad to hear the shop owner was an honest guy, be sure to spread the word that this guy stands behind his work so that he might pick up some extra business to help make up the loss. He should be able to advertise those chinese heads and sell them for a fair price to someone local.

Hope his supplier gets chinese virus.