As a couple of you in this forum know Im in the process of tearing down my motor for a stroker rebuild. I started on the heads today and while taking off the rocker arms I noticed something....They were a 1.52 ratio! When I had my motor built two summers ago I specifically requested and paid for 1.6 as would anyone building a bolt on let alone a GTP head cam motor would do. The price between the two isnt different but the product obviously is....What the hell was this guy thinking???

With the 1.6 my lift on my cam was suppossed to be .534/.544 instead(if my calculations were correct) it was .507/.517.

No wonder my high RPM's blew, my trap speed was 3-4 mph below everyone elses, and I dynoed 20-30 rwhp lower than everyone else.

Im calling that guy up tommorow and giving him an earfull. Im finding that you really cant trust anyone or anyones judgement with your car around here anymore. Im doing everything from now on myself. Im going to leave him unamed on the board but alot of you probably know already who Im talking about. Dont go there.

:shakes head: I still cant believe it...

 

This I am very sad to hear And to be honset a bit and sickened

Sent you an e-mail.

 

My philosophy is to learn as you go along, just be sure to do your homework first. I've come to a point were practically no job is too big, and if there is a way to fix it, I can figure it out. Its a great feeling of acomplishment to do something most people wouldn't dream of doing themselves.

I thrive on having my friends amazed at the lengths I go to in order to fix something (my buddy almost **** himself when he saw my rearend laying next to my car while I was doing the fuel pump). This was coincidetally the same friend who said I was nuts when I rebuilt my trans last spring (still going strong, knock on wood).

This board has been like a big brother to me and although I've learned a great deal, I'm humbled by numerous members and what I still have to learn...including some local guys (you know who you are )

Dave

 

As most of you WNY guys know, I used to do most of my own work. So I would be the last to argue against it. The reasons I stopped doing my own, except for minor stuff, were a combination. Mostly, I have become physically incapable due to a bad back. Also, I have more money than I used to! And what's more, until the Camaro, I had old cars that were much easier to work on.

That said, since I have been hanging around at Kennedy's, I realized a number of things. First, a lot of what I was doing was half-assed (is that better than full-assed?). The tools and knowledge needed to really do things right were an order of magnitude beyond what I had. Second, how much easier it is to work in a fully equipped shop. First, consider all the crap on the top of the motor in my car that needs to be removed first, then think about dropping the motor out the bottom, having the cradle back on and the car rolled back out the door in four hours! Air tools, the right tools, good lighting, heat, a lift, engine/tranmission jack, etc., etc.

My hat is off to people working on a 4th gen. with limited tools and equipment. But on the whole, I am happy to have become a "specialist" in tuning and theory and to be able to leave the wrenching to the pros.

Not sure why I went off on that track. Back on topic: I have seen things like 1.5 v. 1.6 rockers from a legitimate mistake. It's best to keep good records to help clear up any misunderstandings. Actually, I don't know who did your heads or what the circumstances were. Were they subbed out, all the work done at one time, what? Some of these jobs get complicated. I'd be curious what the final resolution is. I got a refund once in a similar situation, but I kept meticulous records about what I paid for and to whom.

Rich Krause

 

Rich yes alot of things mostly being tuning/shortblock assembly I will leave up to the experienced. Im not going to try to pretend that Im of that ability. But being healthy and a hardy college student with a passion for fast 4th gens and a menial income I have no other option for the other work. Your points are greatfully understood and appreciated.

Im going to check my records I have. The heads were assembled(valves, springs) at GTP but the the rocker arms, pushrods, lifters etc were all ordered and installed by the guy in discussion. This incident adds to what Jason and I have found already....such as the missing "unnecessary" coolant tube in the back of the head. Ya know the only one that cools the back of the heads?

If anyone has a place that does good work, is honest, and upfront by all means continue to go there. Just watch out. Because I thought the same of this place...