Antique Engine Rebuilder complaint

[Tom Wesenberg]

BCCHOPIT that was really funny!
I can hardly type because I'm laughing so hard my eyes are watering.

 

[James Rogers]

Sorry the wife needed the laptop But its good to see we have a English teacher that plays with old cars. I would have liked school better if there was more gear heads teaching. I was trying to say I wouldn't wont to rebuild engines or any thing and then have to give it to the average guy (JOE BLOW) to install and hope he doesn't f@ck it up. Most engine guys have engine stands to run the engine before you pic it up. I went with a friend and the engine shop had his engine on the stand running when we got there. The engine went in the truck still warm.
If I payed big bucks for a engine and I put it in the car and it wasn't what I wanted. I would have brought it back so fast.

I was a solid D English student so I hope this was a little better for you.
Looking back I should have looked at the books more and not at the Teachers ********

I was trying to say I wouldn't wont to rebuild engines or any thing and then have to give it to the average guy (JOE BLOW) to install and hope he doesn't f@ck it up. Most engine guys have engine stands to run the engine before you pic it up.


This is one of the problems since nobody can do everything. It would be very expensive to go to every customers place and install the engines that are rebuilt. Every person that needs an engine is a gearhead but many have that dream or would like to try. Those who don't have the dream usually have someone that does to help. I do have a stand for pre-run and offer this to customers who purchase full rebuilds or supply the parts to do this.

If I payed big bucks for a engine and I put it in the car and it wasn't what I wanted. I would have brought it back so fast.

Now here is the difference in you and the poster, he didn't return the engine. His contact with the builder was on the phone, hard to diagnose problems on the phone. Generally, once the customer opens the engine the warranty is NULL and VOID. I don't know any builder that does this for a living that will honor a warranty when the item has been tampered with. Buy a new computer and remove the case and replace it and try to get warranty service on it, NO DICE, open the motor and same thing. The only things you can tamper with and get a replacement for are cheap krap things that they sell millions of and cover their azz with sales and bet you will throw it away instead of complaining.
If you read Rich's warranty online, it states the engine has to be returned for any problems and warranty service. This is the way most warranties read. I know I am not going to warranty ANY motor that a customer has opened ever again for the exact reason you state, Joe Blow doesn't know what he is doing. A warranty is a warranty and if the steps for repair or replacement are spelled out, you must follow those steps or VOID the warranty.Suppose someone bought one of your intakes and then drilled it with holes and complained it leaked then wanted it replaced at your expense. Would you do it? Then several of his friends did the same, would you replace theirs at your expense? You wouldn't be in business long either because you run out of parts and money or you just get disgusted and quit.

Just trying to look at both sides and play the devils advocate.

 

[John LaVoy]

I don't see how the oil pump drive gear would cause the cam to move in and out, that is the function of the plunger and spring on the timing gear cover. Have you looked to see if the cam is still moving?

I know of about 6 engines done by Richard and they are all great. I hope one response to a possible faulty part isn't too detrimental to his reputation.

 

[BCCHOPIT]

Just trying to look at both sides and play the devils advocate.

I see both sides and I wouldn't wont to be on your side.

One small problem if there was a real problem and some one shits on your name. Now it will take 100+ guys to say there are very happy to undo one


p.s. I think you get a A++ for your reply. You must of had a ugly teacher

 

[pat in Santa Cruz]

I've installed 5 of his engines in the last year and every one was smooth and strong. I have been impressed with the attention to detail in his work. I always get a short block and have never gotten one with the oil pump gear installed. I usually try to get the customer to pop for a Stipe cam, because so many of these old re ground cams have the potential for drive gear slop, even when they look OK. Then the odds of a repro drive gear being mis machined or having an oversize mis labeled are certainly there. too.
I'm sorry you and Rich are having a falling out over this. I have found him to be very accommodating.

 

[rmak]

Teachers ********

No need to capitalize, and use the possessive form-teacher's.

Don't get bent out of shape. I'm just funnin' with ya!

 

[msmaron]

i have dealt with them and always found that Rich has gone out of his way to accommodate me.. When Tom was in town we went to his shop and he stopped what he was doing to put an oil slinger back on and gave us advice and tools to use. I cannot say a bad thing about him..
Good luck to all

 

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Sorry the wife needed the laptop But its good to see we have a English teacher that plays with old cars. I would have liked school better if there was more gear heads teaching. I was trying to say I wouldn't wont to rebuild engines or any thing and then have to give it to the average guy (JOE BLOW) to install and hope he doesn't f@ck it up. Most engine guys have engine stands to run the engine before you pic it up. I went with a friend and the engine shop had his engine on the stand running when we got there. The engine went in the truck still warm.
If I payed big bucks for a engine and I put it in the car and it wasn't what I wanted. I would have brought it back so fast.

I was a solid D English student so I hope this was a little better for you.
Looking back I should have looked at the books more and not at the teacher's big ****

I see both sides and I wouldn't wont to be on your side.

One small problem if there was a real problem and some one shits on your name. Now it will take 100+ guys to say there are very happy to undo one


p.s. I think you get a A++ for your reply. You must of had a ugly teacher

Originally Posted by BCCHOPIT
Teachers ********

No need to capitalize, and use the possessive form-teacher's.

Don't get bent out of shape. I'm just funnin' with ya!

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Hey guys, ...why has the language here all of sudden seemingly gone into the toilets? Cannot we properly communicate here without using language like that?

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[MikeK]

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Hey guys, ...why has the language here all of sudden seemingly gone into the toilets? Cannot we properly communicate here without using language like that?

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HAMB-itis. You can catch it by sitting near an open 'window'.

 

[rmak]

.
.Hey guys, ...why has the language here all of sudden seemingly gone into the toilets? Cannot we properly communicate here without using language like that?

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I was proofreading the grammar. If you want to edit for body parts and body functions, go for it!

 

[BCCHOPIT]

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Hey guys, ...why has the language here all of sudden seemingly gone into the toilets? Cannot we properly communicate here without using language like that?

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SORRY DAD....
But I didn't use the U

Bottom line the guy how started all this POOP is now a no show. He had no real info to give just some crap about 5 6 engines and was never happy.
That doesn't sound very smart to me. 1 bad you let it slide 2 shame on you but 5. I would love to see the paper work on 5 engines.

I have never done work with A.E.R. but I do hope to get some parts for my B engine I have in the works.
I am glade to see some guys stand up and say they are happy with there engines.

 

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

HAMB-itis. You can catch it by sitting near an open 'window'.

--or in front of the 'proverbial' fan? "Dad" ............

/

 

[kelley's restoration]

i have and will continue to use rich for my stock type engine builds. he has never done us wrong, and the one time i can think of in the last 20 plus years he fixed at no charge in his shop (lifter was not ajusted correctly) i would say 1 out of possible 100-120 isnt bad.
tk

 

[Jerry Parr WI]

I have mixed feeling on this subject. I have three engines Rich rebuilt. The first had a rod that was severely twisted. Turning the engine over by hand you could see the crank jerk forward and back as the rod moved. Although he made it good I had to pull the engine to have that done. He did not pour the rod but I always felt that even a casual observation during assembly should have caught it. The second engine has had three valve seats come out. Repaired them myself as that was easier than pulling the engine and returning it. Engine three is setting on the floor years out of warranty and not yet installed. I don't give him a failing grade as he has always been willing to make his work good but I sure can't give him an outstanding for flawless work.

For James these were short blocks and did not require disassembly of any work he performed to analyze the problems. For ldj1002 engines two and three were done before the first one's problem became noticeable. Since I understand he has stopped pouring babbit and I am a babbit fan I won't need to consider using him again.

 

[Bob from Northport]

Message for BCCHOPIT
The guy who started this discussion has read every responce. Whether you believe 5 or 6 engines doesn't matter. Actually, we have purchased and installed 9 engines in the close past. Only 6 from AEB. The point of my discussion was not to belittle the man or his business. I don't like being told I am lying about how an engine runs or a bad part.
Rich supplied the part that was causing the problem. He didn't even offer to cover the cost of the new part, or sending the bad part back to him.
If you are happy with the quality of his work, stay with him. That is what I said in the beginning. How many car owners out there are going to completely disassemble an engine and ship it back at their cost when a problem arises.?? Secondly, this engine, and any other we purchased from him were NEVER test run. How can a warrenty be offered if you can't even verify if it will even operate right??
Didn't mean to upset everyone out there. But I've read more than a few problem/complaints from others on this posting.

Bob Campbell

 

[BCCHOPIT]

That is crazy not testing a engine before you ship it out of state. So many little things and bite you in the butt <<< pg for "DAD"
I wish you luck with your next engine builder. I know a guy up state NY if you need his info PM me.

 

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

While I am not choosing sides necessarily, I will defend Rich and all the other engine builders out there a slight bit in that it is us as the consumer that often times is what has created this situation. We as hobbyists have chosen to be 'tight' with what we will pay for these services so the rebuilders have had to look for ways to charge less and still make a profit.

Also, since someone mentioned "testing each engine" before it is shipped, more often than not we as the consumer are not willing to pay for this. The simple mindset might be the engine builder needs to absorb this into the cost of doing business. I'd venture to say that most people don't have a clue as to the amount of time it takes to go through each of the machining operations, --or what truly is involved to rebuild an engine to meet your expectations. Heck, I doubt many know the actual time/costs it would take to even test run an engine before it is shipped.

My suggestion in all of this is to have a personal relationship with your engine rebuilder and pay him adequately for all the services you desire. I do this with my engine rebuilder. He offers the service of test-running the engine if I am willing to pay for it. I also explain what I want out of each engine I send to him, and I willingly pay for what I want where he can make a living too. It actually saves me and my customer money in the long run because nothing is assumed or left to chance. Now I am not implying this is what happened to Bob or anyone else but for me, I feel like this is the reason why over the years I have a 100% success rate from my current engine rebuilder.

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[1931 flamingo]

Unless I missed it. It's interesting that A.E.R. has not responded on this thread....................JMO
Paul in CT

 

[ratamahata]

Always find a safe, if it fails once, one may wonder why? if it fails twice, maybe three times, it's time to get out of there ...
Time and money wasted, it is better to have a trusted person, that's true, but that does things right, (the cheap, is expensive) they say, but more important is the responsibility of the company to provide its the best customer service ....

 

[MikeK]

Unless I missed it. It's interesting that A.E.R. has not responded on this thread....................JMO
Paul in CT

I've never known Rich to post on any forum. I can definitely see his taking the high ground as a vendor and staying off the battlefields.

I've never had a problem with any of the machine work he has done for me, and when you walk in his door and talk to him at the parts counter, you would see the he is not out to screw anybody.

Several years ago I walked into his shop and snapped this picture- He was doing machine and valve work for Charlie Yapp on a pile of new Yapp/Riley two-port heads.