I understand you want to get the Vette working, but I suggest you put your work on hold & get an attorney - first. There's possibly a lot more going on here, as is becoming obvious. If it is the wrong motor, you'll get stuck with what you got, if you plan to do anything about it. If you don't want to do anything about it, then go ahead with what you're doing.

See if they ground all the numbers off. If you don't get any numbers, go see an attorney for consultation.

 

The Engine serial number appears to have been grounded off at the oil filter location. But there is a serial number stamping on the front of the engine below the head of "MU116". I will try and contact a lawyer today.

 

That's the best thing to do right now. There's something really wrong with that.
If those numbers were ground off with a grinder: I don't care what the dealer/vendor tells you. They're hiding something. There's other locations, they'd have to grind off all casting numbers.

Look on the head for the head casting number. That may tell you what block you have. There's 3 heads used on Corvette L98 (might be 4 including: 84 to 86) from 84 to 91.

 

It sounds to me like the dealer sent your engine to a guy who deals in stolen car parts. My guess is that they needed a virgin engine with all the serial numbers for something else so they gave you a hot engine. If that is the case your not the only one envolved in this scam. At this point I would not only go to an attorney but would also go to the police and District Attorney. You might be surprised with what you find out. Maybe the police have been waiting for someone like you to come forward. Whatever happens keep us up to date Please

 

Ya, you're probably right on this. I did contact an attorney which is reviewing this thread and gathering a battle plan for me... I'll keep you all informed as soon as the next step is taken.

 

At the website I refered you to has several links you should read.
http://www.mortec.com/castnum.htm
It mentions machine shops machining off some of these numbers on blocks during their process. Was it the serial number location or the casting number location that was ground off?

It would be cool if you tell us what happens. Maybe you can write a book!

 

Let us know the results.

 

I reviewd the mortec sight but it only seems to list factory numbers. The block I now have seems to be a generic block or some type of manufacured generic. The serial number stamped on the front pad underneth the right side head (Passenger side) is simply MU116.

If I refer to an alternate location that a serial number would be, right above the top of the oil filter housing, the pad has been grounded off so who knows what was there... but regardless.... this block is something newly manufactured it appears... I don't know.

I tell ya one thing.... this is truly an interesting development. It is also pretty disheartening.... the Vette that I have loved and pampered for years to which I have devoted 10's of thousand's of dollars, years of time, etc., etc... has simply been stolen from me with no recourse to recover what I have built.

 

The sooner your depression changes to anger, the better. I believe that even though your 'Vette may never be the same, you will get compensated for your loss. But, it won't happen unless you make it. What happened to you shouldn't happen to anyone. Time to get down and dirty, bro.

Keep us updated. We all want to ride shotgun on this ride.

 

Rant On: This crap shouldn't happen to anyone! The service writer (or Ken) should know you're a regular, better than average customer, that you are taking a lot of pride in this car. Anyone at that dealership & in the shop knew that!

He let that "worksmanship " happen to your car without consulting you. The changes made were not approved nor authorized by you (i.e., valve covers, a turnkey or aftermarket engine, painting the runners, etc.), and the dealership/owner should be liable. I know in Cali a shop wouldhn't get away with that. They do pull fast ones, but not on a low level that you are experiencing!! : Rant Off

If you email that website, they'll help, so they said. Remember, they're interested in new casting numbers. Ease them into your story, start with the location of "MU116". Ask them why it doesn't match up with Canada, Kentucky, etc. It might be Mexico. That would be interesting, I don't think any Vette motors were built there. So what did they use?

 

if you need to work on a car in the mean time, my garage is always open! Good luck! I've also got some spare bullets you can borrow to vent some frustration

 

I will first give a disclaimer that given how I dont' know all the factors involved, the following advice may be in error, but here in Massachusetts, they have a consumer protection law that can make someone like this dealer pay for your legal fees in addition to punitive damages. Consequenly, many lawyers take these kind of case's for no up front fee or a lower fee. Most states have a similar situation but I cannot speak for sure about your state. This appears to be more of a fraud/theft case than general incompetance, so you may have some luck with the Attorney General's office. Here, they don't seem to get too excited about people that didn't get ideal results, but more with the out and out theft cases. Either way, I would reccomend a lawyer, but not just any lawyer. You need one that has sued a dealership before. Try calling local or state bar associations, they can give you a referal or if you have used a lawyer in the past for say a real estate closing, call them and ask them for a referal. Unfortunately many lawyers will be happy to take your case, but have no direct exerience in the field. The dealer will have a lawyer that knows the ropes so this isn't a time for a lawyer to learn. Ask them directly if they have ever sued a dealer before. If they hesitate, I would consider looking elsewhere.

I think you are past the point of dealing with this dealer, but in the future, don't waste your time with verbal communications or emails, do everything by letter and copy it to the GM zone represntative. Phone calls do not have the hammer power of a letter. In the mean time, make a written list of the problems and their responses to your complaints, at the top of this written list, write "to my lawyer" like it is a letter. That way it is a privilaged communication. I would also get an estimate for repairs, but at this point I wouldn't get them done because one of your requests might be that they buy the car from you since they probalby cannot realy fix it to be how it was.

Attorney Bruce Green

 

You guys have pretty much summed up the best avenues to take and I will pay full heed to your advice... thank you! At this point, I have ceased work on the vette as I need to find out the attorneys projected claim of relief and what avenues they plan to go. I am awaiting their plan of attack on this and at this point it needs to be for a lot more than simple repairs so, we'll see what they plan on.

This mess unfortunately, can't be repaired... but it can be compensated for and as I relish this experience every day, I become angrier... and angrier and want compensation. Due to my many years of being a patron to this dealer, This was no ambulance chasing attempt on my part to obtain massive compensation... I would trade any attempt at financial compensation for what I originally bargained for that I did not receive. Now... it is and I believe deservingly so.

Interestingly, the casting on the side of the block says MEX so, I think that pretty much sums it up as to where this block came from... regardless though... it's not what was in there and someone has maliciously snatched it

Funny you should mention some ammo... I actually went down to the shooting range and capped off a box of .45 rounds to relieve a tad bit of frustration... imagine that!

Anyway... thank you guys for staying with this thread... it is helping more than you know and hopefully... will be in large part to the end result.

Mark

 

 

Hey all;

My Counsel gave me this as our battle plan... let me know what you all think?

This is to follow up on our conversation the other day. It appears you have a strong claim for breach of contract action against **** **** Chevrolet. I would be happy to assist you at this point by writing a demand letter requesting reimbursement of the money you paid in excess of the value of the work performed, the additional problems they caused, and the devaluation of your vehicle based on their removal of the original parts.

To that end, I advised you it would be necessary to obtain (if possible) two estimates for the price of rebuilding your engine had you brought it to someone else. In addition, if you could provide me with a list of parts that were removed, that would be helpful. You may want to go to a corvette dealer and ask them if they can recommend the names of anyone who can value the car, both with and without the parts that were removed.

I would also like you to create a chronology (to the extent possible) of the matters leading up to your deciding to have the engine rebuilt, including any statements made by individuals at **** **** Chevrolet that you relied on in proceeding with having the engine rebuilt, and any statements about the quality of the workmanship they would provide, and cost. Include a list of problems you discovered after you got the car back, and which problems they fixed, as well as the problems you fixed yourself. You mentioned they had scraped the hood. I told you to get an estimate for repair, but advised you to wait before having it painted so we could photograph it for evidence.

Once we have this information I can send a demand letter, which we will discuss prior to my sending it for purposes of assessing your damages.

I will be out of town until Monday. The above should keep you busy until I return!
Have a good weekend!

 

I'm certainly no expert in these matters but it sounds like a good way to start to me. Best of luck to you.

 

That sounds good to me

 

wow...sounds like he is ready to go to work for you! Good Luck!

 

nice.it may seem overwelming at first to document all the details but just take your time and write out a play by play summation starting at your first sign of engine troubles etc.
the little details will come to memory as you think about the chain of events.
seems like a pain to have to write a novel in order to get satisfaction but with legal matters its all about details.
get started on your book and heres to hoping its a best seller

 

You already posted a nifty outline, the first one I read. That's a start, just add to it. A suggestion:

Engine
problem: valve covers (left side/right side) not original
- picture of what was installed:
- picture of what was originally there:
source #1: Sallee Chevrolet
- cost:
=left side
=right side
=gaskets/seals
=fasteners
- labor cost to replace:

and on ...

Hope this helps. Don't worry about too much detail. Your attorney will be appreciative of the attention to detail you provide. If you leave anything out, it'll cost you more later.