LSMAC

Hey people,

I have a c6 SV widebody with a ECS 1500 kit on it. I had some motor trouble about 3000 miles after installing the kit. I took the car to a shop about 5.5 hours away because I didn't trust any shops local to me. I will give a basic rundown of my experience so far:

* shipped car to the shop for SC install

* Drove car back home with noticeable sputtering issues at part throttle

* Car wouldn't cold start at all. (turned out it needed flood clear method due to meth pumping full time when keyed on)

* Drove car back to shop to check over issues (turned out it was a bad meth pump)

* Drove car back home for 2 weeks

* Took car back for fuel upgrade and more HP; needle bearings from rockers "grenaded" on dyno and went through block; shop flushed block, installed trunion upgrade and upgraded dual springs from weak prc duals previously installed

* Picked car up. Heard ticking noise but figured it was valvetrain that was just upgraded. Tuner was asked about issue but didn't think it was noteworthy.

* Drove car home and noticed lower than normal oil pressure before getting 100 miles away from shop; alerted tuner and kept driving since the car drove normal; car never dropped below 10psi during trip but still went up with rpm.

* Tried to drive the car the next day and it dropped below 10 psi and stopped responding with rpm. Ticking noise also seemed to get louder.

* Contacted Tuner, told him of noise and we agreed it wasn't ok..... I stated if it was bearings I wanted to hold off and do the rebuild on my own. Tuner was confident it was the oil pump. I sent car down on trailer (It drove up on trailer fine) and tuner ordered oil pump. (May 19, 2016)

* Tuner contacted me stating the metal in filter points to bearings and a rebuild would need to be done; Tuner sends oil sample to lab to determine what bearing material it was (needle bearing from rockers or main bearings).

* Tuner gets lab results back and we decide to proceed with rebuild and more small upgrades (cam, pulley, hd oil pump) Aug 4, 2016

* I got a pic saying car was getting ready for service the following Monday on a Friday evening. Aug 17, 2016

* Last night I get a text stating I need to come pick my car up as a roller with the whole S/C kit and wiring harness and accessories off the car because they are shutting down the shop.

Am I the only one who believes a shop should at least finish the cars they have in the shop before closing especially if they still had the manpower to do so? Should I just cut my losses and grab the car? Being 550 miles away doesn't help the matter, the car not being operable doesn't help the matter, and the money it will cost me to transport the immobilizes car with all of the parts 5.5 hours is also not helping the matter when I was expecting a fully functioning car able to be driven home by this time. Nearly 4 months later this is what I am getting....

mcandrew67

what I got out of this was
"I took the car to a shop about 550 miles away because I didn't trust any shops local to me"

Fail

I agree, they should have at least finished the cars they were working on.

ncvette_1FUNRIDE

Sorry for your troubles. That is terrible news. Not a whole lot you can do about it now though.


I guess we know why they are going out of business.

EVRose

I feel bad for you. I really do, but this is a perfect example of why I don't do any performance mods.

DOUG @ ECS

See if the guys at Vengeance can help you out, best of luck with your situation.

BlindSpot

Wow...and for those who wondered, this is why I want to do my own FI tune.

I guess I'd say no. Cut your losses and get the remnants of your car out of there. If they're going out of business there are myriad business issues you will never know about, and no one will be in the right frame of mind to get your car right, and if something else comes up you don't have anywhere to go. 550 miles away is crazy on that merit alone.

Kent1999

"Should" finish? Sure. Love that word.

But a good shop "should" be able to stay in business too.

But Blindspot's right -- a shop shutting down isn't focusing on getting your build 'right'; they're all preoccupied with little things like "where's my next paycheck coming from?" and "how am I going to cover my family's expenses in the meantime?"

Sucks, but here you are. Adapt and overcome.

Mikey_T

Go get your car out of there, that's what I'd do. Try to find a reputable shop near the one it's at now so you don't have to transport the car far. Hell, they might even go pick it up if they want the business bad enough.

LMB-Z

I would be real curious to know what shop you took it to...or at least , what city? Maybe another reputable shop close you can take it to. sorry for your troubles, hope you get it back together.

v26278

Sorry for your troubles brother, but it looks to me like they weren't on the ball to begin with and would only give you more of the same if you kept working with them. At least they gave you a heads up that they were shutting down, most business don't do that when they go **** up, they do a midnight run and leave everyone hanging. I would get he car out of there asap.

Don-Vette

Wow!! Just wow!! Lesson learned I hope.

AORoads

Having heard of what can and does happen when a shop closes down, or even a regular biz, I'd get that car out of there today, tonight, or tomorrow. Before it's gone. Because then, you have no one to go after. They'll be gone, too. Sorry for your troubles, but get the car and fast. jmo

5knives

Maybe someone can recommend another shop in the area.

AORoads

ECS just did above.

RICH 28

Me too!

Not So Fast

Did you have prior good experiences with the shop?
Whatever it looks to be a very very expensive ordeal, and your not thru yet
Good luck
NSF
PS another vote for leaving stock, unless you know the engine builder really well

russ472

I assume your car is at Florida Speed and Power? I would get your car out of there as soon as possible

1968swbbigblock

I would get the car out asap> the shop maybe under lock and key from a lender in short notice.
I encourage you to take the time to go down and make sure you get all of your parts - if you count on someone else to handle all of the parts they will grow legs and walk away.
Sorry this happened.

4SUMERZ

That is a terrible thing to happen, all the issues, then that text! As others have said, cut your losses, gert your stuff and get your car out of there ASAP!

enventr

I know an excellent corvette shop in Jupiter Florida. Eismanns corvette center. Top shelf quality. 561-746-0229. Google it. Great reviews
They can right the wrong. Good luck