Dave is the owner of this shop. Initially he comes off as friendly and helpful, but not exactly knowledgeable. His shop is clean and impressive. They unloaded my engine block directly into the hot tank in the ""intake room"". Everything was labeled and clean.
It all stops quickly once the money is handed over.
Dave prints out a very detailed invoice, and asks for 1/2 up front. The prices at this shop are high, and the down payment is a little larger than average, but I thought that I would give them a try. At this time I was still impressed by their shop and equipment.
Then comes the first phone call. ""everything spec'd out a little large, we had to go ahead and bore it. That will be an additional $200."" This was a motor that had been loved for all of its 53,000 miles of use. The only reason I was having the work done was to get the rotating assembly balanced to new pistons, and a light hone.
Then comes Dave's stumbled explanation ""chrysler motors. blah blah.... I have always had to bore them...blah blah.. I have already done the work (!!!???).
This is something you expect from a low dollar machine shop. Not this place. Options at this point, abandon my deposit and my original motor from my truck, or pay him. I chose to move on with the work.
Second phone call. ""These pistons you picked are wrong. They will barely give you 8:1 compression."" I questioned this, as I had not only spoken to the rep at Jegs and Summit, but also the rep at Cambpell Enterprises, who use these pistons in rebuilds all the time. Compression ratio 9.5:1 with stock deck height and heads.
Now I have threatened Dave. Who am I to question his expertise? Well, I didn't tell him that I have been building motors for 20 years, and have, in fact, done my homework. I just want my block back.
So he balances the crankshaft. Worst balancing job I have ever seen. When they added mallory metal, they drilled so close the edge it cracked the counterweight pad when they pressed the metal in. Then they welded this, spun it on a lathe, and added more metal perpendicular to the rotation in an existing hole. Very strange. Oh, and it took 9 hrs to do the work. A bargain for $400 I guess, but wow.
So when I go to pick parts up, I ask Dave ""did your guy happen to add the external weights that were in the box with the new balancer? Magnum motors are external balanced, you know"". This sent Dave into a fit. He began to shake and yelled ""I know what I am doing!"". Really, you can't calculate a compression ratio, and you spent 9 hours balancing a crankshaft. Are you sure your that good? I thought the guy was going to collapse, he was so angry. I paid him the whole amount, including the extra $50 he added on for ""shop fees"" (surprise), and took my parts.
Motor runs fine. Balanced good, accurate boring and nice smooth hone. Very expensive though, and not worth the poor treatment by this jerk.
Oh, and the compression ratio?: 9.6:1. So much for Dave's expertise.
Please do your homework and pick another shop.
Take Care.
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