Rebuildin my bottom end on my motor, and throwin a hotter cam in it. Took it to a machine shop last monday(9 days ago) that I have been told is very good. The dude promised me no later than a week, maybe sooner. I called him last friday morning just to check in and make sure he hadnt hit any problems with it, the dude blows up on me, tells me I called WAY to much, and that I need to leave him alone, he will call me if its junk. Says he hsant even started on it. Told me I called to much before I brought it in and I am calling to much now. I called him the first time to talk about price, called him again a few days later to inform him that I would be a few days late on bringing the block in, I was waiting on some parts, and called him when I got there, I couldnt find the front door. The dude wouldn't let me speak, was an *** to me, hung up on me. So that was friday, I left it alone, 4 o'clock today(wednesday) rolls around, the guy promised me monday, so I figure maybe hes running a little behind, I call him, still hasnt started on it! My buddie went in there yesterday to talk to him, said my block was the only one in the shop, and it was just sitting there. The guy promised me friday, if its not done by friday he is losing my business. He doesnt seem to inclined to do the work for me anyway... End of vent(sorry its so long)

 

Man..I have a set of heads that have been at a guys shop since the begining of Feb. 07.


I have waited b/c everyone says how great he is but I am pretty damn pissed now.....Dude has told me they would be ready by the end of the week 3 weeks in a row now. But he has started and noone else is going to touch them......

He is good. Builds alot of grudge cars....2,000+ h.p. door slammers but damn....6 months for heads?

 

Take it to Xtreme Engines in Lewisville, great guy to deal with and builds motor on the side to fund his circle track racing habit. Built my LT1 short block and is also building my BBC 555. There is also a good shop up in Denton called Calvert's Precision Engines. They are good too.

 

i got my LT1 built by A1 Remanufactured Motors here in Arlington engine hasnt given me any problems in the 3-4 years i've had it

 

BUst down the door and get you goods back.
F'him.

 

You guys think I should? I was going to give him till friday, and then just show up friday afternoon to see if it was done or not. All he is doing is installing freeze plugs, new cam bearings, cleaning the block, checking for cracks, and honing the cylinder walls. I provided the cam bearings btw.

 

If anyone acted like that towards me I would be over there in a second. This guy obviously doesn't have any respect for you and already missed his own deadline. He hasn't even started on it yet for goodness sakes and didn't call you to let you know the status. What if you had made plans for Sat. to install it based on the fact he told you he would get it done. I wouldn't trust him to do a half *** job anyway.

 

I had plans to put it together this weekend. Hes supposed to be real good, im just not sure about what to do.

 

Lemme guess ... Watt's?

For some reason, this shop snagged a good rep. And for the life of me, I don't know why. He and Kim Barr both. Friends and competitors both have sent motors from both shops to the scrap heap.

The only places I would send a motor to be built would be ...

Automotive Machine in downtown Ft. Worth
Hans Fuestel in west Ft. Worth
Wayne Calvert in Denton

 

Mitch, you amaze me, you are GOOD! That is who it is. I am going to go pick it up today. There is a machine shop over here in rockwall/terrell called Clark engine and machine, I think I am going to give them a try. I was originally going to use Wayne Calvert, because at the time I was gooing to UNT, but now that I am home for sumer break that is a long drive for that.

 

I went and picked it up, the dude was a *****. Told me "yeah you better just go ahead and get it, I dont mess with junk, I only do high dollar stuff and I really didnt wanna do it in the first place". Wow, I wish he would of said that in the beginning, now 10 days I needed for build time are gone. Oh well, I took it to a guy who a co-worker of mine's dad grew up with. His son now runs the business. They have been into the racing scene for 50+ years, build a lot of stock car motors. Told me no later than Tuesday, maybe tomorrow. He is doing my block and heads, and doing it for $200 cheaper than Watt/Trevor Johnson. Trevor wanted 300 bucks for a head rebuild, with me providing the springs...This guy seems a LOT more honest, and I enjoyed talking to him. He explained everything, told me he would call me if he had any problems, and if he had to do anything else. Also told me the price is what it is, it wont change when I go to pick it up. Seemed very honest, had his son working there, doing pidly work, like cleaning and what not. The guy is also a volunteer fireman, which tells me something about his character, that he is not in everything for the money, said he will build a $50 motor or a $5000 motor, its all business to him, and that is his job, so the more business he gets, the better. I will keep everyone updated on the status. Thanks for helping me make the decision to get it out of Watts shop, oh and btw, I highly recommend NOT using Watt.

Edit: Also, a friend dropped his shortblock off at Watts a few days ago, when I pulled up, Watt had left it sitting outside, uncovered the past few days. He obviously appreciates ALL his business...

 

I hate guys like that. Glad to hear that you got your engine out of there and I hope that you told him to STFU and you'll be better off taking it to a honest reputable shop that has some integrity. Good luck with your build and hopefully you will be able to make up the time he cost you.

 

I'll add this ...

A good friend who drives a 2001 Camaro SCCA T2 car had a "family friend in the biz for years" rebuild his motor.

The family friend didn't understand the LSx generation of motors and built it old school. He'd never been exposed to one.

Consequently, a wrist pin came unseated and tore up a cylinder wall.

Do your homework ....

Remember, the cheapest price isn't always the best value.

 

This guy is good. Plus, all I am having done is a little bit of machine work on an LT1 block. I am building the motor myself.

 

Wow, I'm glad you got your stuff out.
That guy needs to be taken down a few notches.