Good AR Experience...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,162
Likes: 2
From: Beaverton, OR
Good AR Experience...
Thought I'd let everyone know my latest info on what's going on with my 383 that has to go back to AR. I pulled the engine and crated it up on Saturday. Sunday I called Yellow (the shipper) and they quoted me over $800 to ship dock-to-dock, so needless to say I was a bit shocked and did not ship it back this weekend. Called Mark today and he was very pleasant and told me he'd arrange the shipping with them and fax me the documents I need since he gets a volume discount that must be significant.
Reassured me he would take a very short while to look over this engine and then would be sending me a NEW one, not reusing any parts from this one when I asked what I would get back. So far, I feel that he is being very professional about the whole thing. I will keep everyone posted on the progress. I am paying shipping one way, though Mark probably would have if I had complained strongly enough, but I don't feel so bad about it since he is avidly standing behind his work and will be eating any profit he may have made on this thing in the first place.
Reassured me he would take a very short while to look over this engine and then would be sending me a NEW one, not reusing any parts from this one when I asked what I would get back. So far, I feel that he is being very professional about the whole thing. I will keep everyone posted on the progress. I am paying shipping one way, though Mark probably would have if I had complained strongly enough, but I don't feel so bad about it since he is avidly standing behind his work and will be eating any profit he may have made on this thing in the first place.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Re: Good AR Experience... (dath)
Good to hear!! I'm glad that it looks like everything is going to work out..
:thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:
:thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 7,865
Likes: 9
From: PA
Re: Good AR Experience... (dath)
I hear nothing but strong praise from everyone that has dealt with them. I know where I'll be getting my engine from when I'm ready. Someone should encourage these guys to be a sponsor on the forum. I am sure it would benefit them.....and us!!! :cheers:
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,844
Likes: 0
From: Pearland TX
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Good AR Experience... (dath)
dath,
You can ship a whole car half way across the country for $800. It just proves the freight companies can make a profit... at least if they get us regular people shipping things. I try to ship everything I can at work and when the bill comes in I write them a check for the amount. Saves me at least 30% if I brought a package to UPS.
What did you use as a template to crate the engine up by the way? Or did you still have their crate? Glad hear you are at least feeling a little better about this. Mark(mpro72vette) can verify the warpath I was about to go on when it took longer to get my engine, but he knocked some sense into me. He didn't actually knock the sense into me.... he just calmed me down and helped rationalize things. I thank him for that. Nine months later here I sit not finished, so Duh! :lol:
You can ship a whole car half way across the country for $800. It just proves the freight companies can make a profit... at least if they get us regular people shipping things. I try to ship everything I can at work and when the bill comes in I write them a check for the amount. Saves me at least 30% if I brought a package to UPS.
What did you use as a template to crate the engine up by the way? Or did you still have their crate? Glad hear you are at least feeling a little better about this. Mark(mpro72vette) can verify the warpath I was about to go on when it took longer to get my engine, but he knocked some sense into me. He didn't actually knock the sense into me.... he just calmed me down and helped rationalize things. I thank him for that. Nine months later here I sit not finished, so Duh! :lol:
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Re: Good AR Experience... (Weird Science)
Any buiilder can make a mistake. After seeing how they take care of thier customers after the sale, I would buy from them.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,162
Likes: 2
From: Beaverton, OR
Re: Good AR Experience... (bgrice)
Thanks Everyone! I just want to let everyone know the blow-by-blow progress of my project so that you get my up-to-date feelings on the subject rather than 6 month stale babbling...
Barry, as for the crate, I had their palate and built around the engine while it was hanging on the hoist. I built it kind of like the one Mark built originally, though I'm going to slap heavier plywood across the top and I'll cross brace it I think...
I've decided that there is no use in being mad about any of this. I've found Mark very easy to deal with and I've always been polite, probably that has helped a lot. I'm reserving my final judgement for after the new engine comes in and the results of that. I want to break it in, dyno it, and run it on the track before I say one way or the other, but I will keep up with these sorts of posts as long as I have new progress.
I was definitely pissed at first, but everyone here has helped with so much advice and kindness that I've come back down to earth... THANKS!
Barry, as for the crate, I had their palate and built around the engine while it was hanging on the hoist. I built it kind of like the one Mark built originally, though I'm going to slap heavier plywood across the top and I'll cross brace it I think...
I've decided that there is no use in being mad about any of this. I've found Mark very easy to deal with and I've always been polite, probably that has helped a lot. I'm reserving my final judgement for after the new engine comes in and the results of that. I want to break it in, dyno it, and run it on the track before I say one way or the other, but I will keep up with these sorts of posts as long as I have new progress.
I was definitely pissed at first, but everyone here has helped with so much advice and kindness that I've come back down to earth... THANKS!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 9,662
Likes: 7
From: Semper ubi, sub ubi
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Good AR Experience... (dath)
It is really good to hear that there are vendors and engine builders that will stand behind their work. I still remember some horror stories from the past from other engine builders that made their clients eat their mistakes.
I think Cappy got hosed pretty good by a rather well known builder who advertises in the major magazines.
When I go looking for another crate engine, I'll put them on my list of preferred vendors! :D
I hope the new engine hauls azz!
I think Cappy got hosed pretty good by a rather well known builder who advertises in the major magazines.
When I go looking for another crate engine, I'll put them on my list of preferred vendors! :D
I hope the new engine hauls azz!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,162
Likes: 2
From: Beaverton, OR
Re: Good AR Experience... (Alwyn678)
Good luck........I was curious what Lars had to say about the engine that they took apart :confused:
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 43,136
Likes: 155
From: Thomson Georgia
Re: Good AR Experience... (QuickVet)
Good luck........I was curious what Lars had to say about the engine that they took apart :confused:
me too. I wont buy one till I hear.
me too. I wont buy one till I hear.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
Re: Good AR Experience... (QuickVet)
very true, but does it matter if he is not telling the truth from the start?
We need to know what lars found
We need to know what lars found
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,379
Likes: 6,390
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Re: Good AR Experience... (QuickVet)
Guys -
My home computer is completely crashed right now, so I can't respond to e-mails. Give me a few days and I'll be back up.
My home computer is completely crashed right now, so I can't respond to e-mails. Give me a few days and I'll be back up.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,162
Likes: 2
From: Beaverton, OR
Re: Good AR Experience... (lars)
Guys -
My home computer is completely crashed right now, so I can't respond to e-mails. Give me a few days and I'll be back up.
My home computer is completely crashed right now, so I can't respond to e-mails. Give me a few days and I'll be back up.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 61,414
Likes: 478
From: Here to make friends
St. Jude Donor '11, '16-'17
Re: Good AR Experience... (dath)
Dath, I know you're pretty committed to the AR engine, so this is really FYI. This is who I've used in the Portland area. I haven't fired up the engine yet, but his price was very reasonable for the work he did and he appears to really pay close attention to detail. Plus, if anything is wrong, you save the shipping charges. http://www.paoloengine.com/
:cheers:
:cheers: