What would you do if you paid $6000.00 to build a new motor, $2000.00 for a Raptor 700R4 and another $600 to install it. Now, the new tranny all of a sudden doesn't engine brake in 1, 2, 3 gears. So now the guy that built the motor takes a look at the valve body, now it won't shift into OD.

So now you come back after lunch and the car is sitting there with pools of fluid under it and the motor has been blasted with fire extinguishers. He explains that he took it out on the freeway, wasn't paying attention to the temp. ran it up to 280º and it blew/up. Now it's 2 months later and the car is sitting outside with no motor in it through the biggest rain season in history.

Now the motor has been completely rebuilt and has been sitting at the machine shop for a month or more, I had to give them a credit card, which they put $2400.00 on to fix the motor. The Raptor has been back for a month after warranty repairs. He keeps saying he's gonna put it back together, but after a month of this I've lost my patience and I don't believe he is ever going to do it. As of now I'm planning on showing up on Monday with a tow truck and taking my car back. What sort of responsibility does he have, should I take him to small claims court for the machine shop costs?

 

I don't know what the dollar limit is for Small Claims Court in CA. If the shop is giving you the run-around, it looks like legal time to me.

Jake

 

So let me get this right..

Engine builder blows up your engine, then charges you for the fixes? He'd be in court so fast, his head would spin!

 

YOU SHOULD HAUL HIS A** INTO COURT.THE MOTOR SHOULD BE FIXED @ THE SHOPS $$$$, NOT YOURS ,YOU DID'NT BLOW IT UP THEY/HE DID. THATS BULL SHI* , THEY SHOULD FIX IT!!!
P.S. DO NOT GO THERE ANYMORE, THEY SOUND LIKE A BUNCH OF HACKS

 

OMG... Man, youv'e had a BAD string of luck lately! The limit in small claims court is $5000, unless it has changed from last year. Sounds like negligence to me . Sorry to hear about that! I would file right away unless they are going to make good on it ASAP!

 

I have been in a similar pickle. Get a truck and get it out of that shop. If you have the ability, get it back together yourself. Once things get ugly , they never get better. Car will sit, get nicked, scratched and otherwise s**t on buy the shop.

Edit: just noticed the last line about getting it out on monday....
Good deal.

 

Very often, when shops receive a letter of intent to litigate, they settle. I had a similar experience with a shop and all it took was a well written letter. I received all my money and I didn't even need to see an attorney. If you don't feel comfortable writing the letter, seek help from an attorney and pay him a fee to simply compose a letter and mail it to the shop, ensuring that the attorney's letterhead is on the letter. You might find that is all that's needed.

 

I didn't like that guy from day one when you told us of the oil ring issue. Anyway, me a couple other guys and yourself can put that motor and trans in no problem. It's an option. Is the TPI on top?

 

Id' get a lawyer to write a letter.

 

Sounds like an engine pulling party in the making

 

Ya, he has really become a jerk. The motor is completely assembled, TPI on, clean as new. The guys at the machine shop feel pretty bad about the whole thing, they really did a nice job on it. The Raptor is in a crate. I have a picture of the motor with my umbrella girl, I'll post it if someone can tell me how? under insert image http: format text/ how do you do it?

 

The pic has to be on the web somewhere. On the internet. Then, mouse over it, right click it and choose properties. Copy and paste the URL into your response here on the forum, but put [ img]
before the address, then after the address type [ /img]
Just don't put the space between the bracket and the i or the backslash.

 

I would trade it and get a 6-spd.

Not trying to turn this into an auto vs 6-spd war but that's what it's gonna boil down to. Even the best builders have issues with an auto trans. If you're not just sticking strictly to drag racing, get a manual and your life will be a LOT easier.

 

Thanks for your support guys, I'm going down in the morning and getting my vette. 357

 

Well, used my AAA/plus .. went in and asked Wendell what he planned to do with my car, he kinda ignored me and said when I get time. I said I have a flatbed coming to get it, and I want the whole car, the new tranny and all the parts. He said like, sure .. and then disappeared .. gone. So me and the tow truck driver pushed it out from between other the other junk sitting around and got it on the truck.

I got the tranny in the crate, a box with the headers and the torque converter, I think I got it all. tomorrow am. I'm going over to the machine shop with my trailer and getting the motor! I brought it over to my buddies exclusive german shop, but he offered to help me out, since we're both from the old country (Denmark). He has a younger guy there, Brent who's gonna help me out on the side, so I can work on it in a really awesome shop! Right away they took her in the detail area and started steam cleaning the engine compartment, cleaning the whole thing up before bringing her inside, where she will have her own spot in an immaculate shop.

I can't tell you how much better I feel now, I really want to thank you Paul for your offer to help me put the motor back in, that made my day! I want to come up and buy you a beer when she's running again.
Anyway, as Arnold said: I'll be back!

 

Good to hear you got the beast out of there with no parts missing!

 

Glad to hear you are getting it on track. I would definately not let this slide though, drag this guy thru court and get as much $$ as you can out of him-i can't belive a mechanic would do stuff like that, also report him to the BBB
Pics when you get time!
~B~

 

make sure to get a GOOD reciept for the work your friends shop is doing, to take to court with you, PLus the reciept from the engine shop and a good documentated letter stating the cause and the repairs, pic's go along way too. Go to court prepared and you'll win. Also go for the maximum, what ever it is.

 

Got the motor over there today. wow .. they were all glad to see it ..one of the older mech's told me how he worked building top fuel rails .. Anders, that owns the shop just had a baby boy this morning, nicholas, Nick .. what can I say ..we're home!

 

Spend a few more dollars and find an attorney who specializes in P.I. and he or she will write a letter and that should do the trick. If not, the attorney will take it to the next step and file for a court date.