I recently had my motor rebuilt and sh*t just piles on top of each other. I've listed some of the bs that's happened on here before so I'll just fast forward 400 miles to this past weekend.

I went to the tuner on Monday to check a SES light. Turns out its a misfire, one of my wires was being rubbed by the power steering pump. Will diagnosing, the guy asks about my rockers because they were quite loud. I told him that I had comp cam pro mags on there and the engine builder set it all up, complete from oil pan to intake.

I leave there knowing I had to replace an ignition wire and by the time I get home, that valve train noise is immensely louder. So, I say [edit], I guess I'll lash those [edit] RRs." I pull off the valve covers and what do I see...???!!!!






Why, those aren't pro mags! Hey, they're all [edit]!!! WTF!!!!

 

Nope, not Pro-mags. Dont know what they are. Look like a cheap knockoff.
Is the top of the valve stem damaged?

Be pissed. Be very pissed.

 

If it was my motor I would be asking about the rest of the components your builder installed. Sucks to think about. Good luck.

 

FYI- those are Proform self aligning rockers and they are cheap crap. I had a set, they did the exact same thing as yours. Be very angry if you were supposed to have pro-mags. Those rockers can be had brand new on ebay here http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LT1-V...spagenameZWDVW for cheap. I would demand the builder get you a set of comp rockers and go with non self aligning with hardened pushrods and guideplates. Might as well get 7/16 ARP studs as well. I would also have someone look into the rest of the engine to see if you got screwed there as well.

 

those look like some dirt cheap proforms. if i were u id go see that engine builder and replace his teeth with those cheap rockers. and also blow up his spot so no one else has to deal with that kind of rip off hack job work.

 

I took them into him and he says he's never put those in a motor before and that he won't ever again. I guess they're "Precision" on the bill he gave me it says PEP, I thought that was shop talk and was under the assumption I was getting the parts I ordered. Never was "Precision" mentioned! At least I'm getting money creditted back to me. What a bunch of crap.

And I sure hope none of those needle bearings decided to ride the happy train to the oil galleries. Damn it all!!!

 

that is a real bummer bro. what ru gunna do, if i were u id be really worried about those needle bearings that were sitting loose.

 

WTF, who mistakes a set of POS rockers for a pro mag. Someone needs slapped, then a free motor for being morons.

 

damn dude that sux... what you gonna do bout the MIA needle bearings?

 

If those needle bearings go through the oil pump pickup screen you are going to be fawked. I am not sure what the best solution is here without pulling the motor.

 

You better tell the engine builder he's going to have to pay to have it pulled or do the work to get the needles out himself on that. It needs to either come out or you need to start collecting the needles and putting them in the cage until you get em all. Probably at the min the pan would have to be removed and the intake to get em all.

I've seen those needle bearings get between connecting rods or between the cam or crank gear and chain and raise holy hell. I wouldnt chance it.

Dont let him brush you off, he ****ed up is the bottom line. Now he's in a position to tell you how he's going to make it right. Refunding your money on rockers you didnt ask for in the first place is a good start but I would in no way call that resolved.

 

Yeah, I need to bite this guy's head off I guess. Originally I was going to have him do the short block assembly and I would do the rest, but then I got nervous about determining the pushrod length. So, I trusted him to set it up right. I then put him in charge of ordering the parts because he "is a comp cams distributor and can get the best prices around". Then when you get the bill it's apparent that he gets a good price while the customer pays a premium! And why is a comp cams distributor giving me generic bullsh*t parts?!

He was highly recommended by one of the better tuners in the area. I don't know why thid guy would get such high ratings. I'm not impressed at all.

 

I'd collect all the rollers and count them, then see how many are in one of the good rockers. Hopefully the count adds up.

 

Buy one of those big earth magnents...the ones which take two hands to remove and put it on the bottom of your oil pan. Drive a couple days and when you drain your oil drag it over to the drain plug hole.

 

He tried to take you...plane and simple. Threaten small claims, and get that motor free. Who knows what cheap *** bearings he put in. I wouldn't belive the reciept either...could easily doctor that. He probably does it a lot and doesn't get caught...because most of the time people who know what pro mags are and what they should look like are installing them themselfs.