If the buyer or builder knew a weld was supposed to be in a certain place and didn't spot that it was missing, then I'd agree with you. But if you're not familiar with how a manufacturer engineers a certain part and you don't know that a weld is missing...

IMO, the manufacturer has superior knowledge of how that part was engineered, and has the responsibility to thoroughly inspect the part to ensure it meets specs before shipping it out the the customer.

 

I would be pissed if it happened to me, but the pick came off of the oil pump. That's elementary stuff that happens to everybody sooner or later, you learned a lesson now it's up to you not to let it happen again. That's a part that people usually pay attention to, next time take the pump apart and weld it up solid to the pump housing. I used to drive the tube into the pump without welding it but everytime I hit a bump or pothole I think about the pickup coming outta the pump.

Basically lesson learned, take the $200 and be glad you got that.

 

.....Milodon's quality control should have caught this.... Let me quote part of Milodon's ad; "thick wall tubing heliarc WELDED to Milodon's own high flow, compact pickup head for long term durability". What if it WAS welded, the weld visually looked good BUT the weld broke because of faulty welding ablity??? Does this mean that the customer is supposed to x ray check the welds??? Also the irridite finish that they put over the product could hide a cracked weld..... Take them to court..... Bill

 

There is NO guarantee on performance parts,period.

 

....now that I think about it I had a somewhat similar experience once. I bought an engine kit {block & rotating assembly} from a major catalog company {not Summit or Jeg's} and had a big time, well known engine builder build my motor. It already had the block prep done & the assembly was balanced. Well the motor blew up on the builders dyno. The builder blamed the catalog company & the catalog company blamed the builder. Well guess who ended up paying for the mistake??? Yep, you got it on the first guess! ME..... Although the catalog company did supply another block & the builder gave me a good price on doing it again, still it cost me. Actually I learned a very important lession; Always have ONE person {or company} do ALL the work. Have the same person do the machine work that assembles the motor, other wise if something goes wrong everyone just blames everyone else!!! Bill

 

Check out this post from the Chevelle board:

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/show...d=1#post996140

It is a widespread QC issue.

 

More like a widespread lack of engine balance.

You can't just wirefeed weld on a mild steel tube to cast iron and expect it to really stay. For some reason the factory tube stays pressed in for 100,000 miles (fairly heavy and swept out away from the pump) and the old way of just bolting on the strap that is part of the aftermarket pickup has always been sufficient for me. Other people seem to be able to break an anvil in a sandbox.

 

Good detective work 396!

"Mine was part number 18314. I spoke to Tom at Milodon and he filled me in on what the issue is. They say that for ANY motor that exceeds 350HP and 5500 RPM to use part number 18316. It is heavily re-enforced and has 2 straps that go to the oil pump rather than just one. I WISH I had spoken to him prior to installing the 18314 a few days ago because it was a ROYAL pain in the butt."

I'm not buying this BS from Milodon. I've used the factory pickup on plenty of engines > 350 hp/5,500 rpm with just a tack weld as insurance and have NEVER had one fall apart. So they are saying that their pickup with one strap can't handle a typical warmed over street engine.

The REAL issue, IMO, is that their manufacturing process sukks along with their QC.

 

.....Well, I went to the Milodon web site, it lists part #18312 as being for the street, part # 18314 as being H/V Low Profile, part # 18315 as Drag Race & part # 18316 as Extreem Duty. As the part numbers rise so do the prices, so I would imagine that the strength rating also rises. So if the Extreem Duty is for over 350 HP, WHAT is the Drag Race one good for??? 300 HP??? 325???....
Anyway, Jeg's has a oil pump pick up retainer for $10 {#555-23620}. It's a bracket that bolts the p/u tube to the oil pump. I ordered one this morning along with an oil pan {oh, & NOT a Milodon pan ..... Bill

 

Gentlemen I apologize, from reading http://www.chevelles.com/forums/show...d=1#post996140 it looks like there really is a problem at Milodon. I have a suggestion, call Milodon back and let them know that you already know there is a widespread problem with their product and you expect them to take full responsibility since they are a reputable company (you're just acting) If the person you talk to can't do anything for you ask to speak with their supervisor and then their supervisor if they can't satisfy you.

 

Just vote with your wallet, and boycott Milodon products. They have poor product quality and QC processes. My incedent was not an isolated one.

Their response to me was the worst in my entire lifetime, and I have been in this hobby since the 1960's.......

A great company like Summit rallies around their customers' problems, and will go the extra mile to "make it right".

Milodon will spend 10X the effort to discredit, dodge, and deflect.

My car has been down for 10+ weeks, and it will cost me $3,000 to get it running. In New England, that is 80% of the cruising season.

If that situation happened to you, how would you react???????

My lawyer is talking to them now.

 

......I might start the process of sueing them but if they fought the suit it would cost more than $3 g's to win. May be a hard core official letter from a lawyer??? Bill

 

Seriously, get out of the hobby. It will be better for everyone involved. Your only contribution to this site is to try to slam Milodon for an isolated incident that you could have prevented.

I certainly don't like my parts to get more expensive because a part-timer isn't the competent engine builder he thought he was.

Thankfully though we're mostly grownups who can make their own decisions.

I just really resent your litigation attitude and lack of willingness TO ACCEPT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS!

 

Thats what I originally thought but after looking around the internet it's not an isolated incident at all.

 

Seriously mr396, get out of the hobby. Can't you get it thru your head that it's YOUR fault the improperly manufactured pickup failed? And take all those other guys who had their pickups fail too with you. Go take up knitting or something. lols!