[Blownchevelle68]

I dropped my big block off at a local machine shop who has been spoke of as a reputable shop that has been around for awhile. Left the block with them in late feb and as of today it's still not finished. Was told May 13th they would start on it and only take about a week. I knew going into this that march was out of the question as they were busy but April to June and still not done.

Then the machinist that was working on it left for a week vacation halfway through my block. Comes back and works on it a little this Monday, then comes down with the Flu on Tuesday.

Grrrrrrrrrr!

I think 3 1/2 months is a little much. They're not even doing the assembly!!

Someone tell me if I'm wrong for calling them tomorrow and giving them a week to finish it otherwise I'll pick it up unfinished and take to another shop ??



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[dukess396]

Shoulda picked it up when it wasn't finished in March.
Is it some kind of super cheap, friend of a friend deal or something?

 

[doc j]

You are not wrong, I would have picked up the block at least 2 months ago, but I'm not real patient sometimes.

 

[Jim Mac]

Thats crazy. Shop ive used in town takes a week max each time i took something to them. Block head and a buddy took a cylinder head and got it back in two days. I ve been told this guy is a bit more pricy but the same people tell me horror stories about the time thier stuff sits at shops.

 

[Hiline51]

Bring it up to Arnolds in Boone :thumbsup:

 

[floyd66]

I bet it hasn't been touched.

 

[Blownchevelle68]

Shoulda picked it up when it wasn't finished in March.
Is it some kind of super cheap, friend of a friend deal or something?

No they were recommended by a friend who had his block done there...wish I would have known they operated like this before.


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[Blownchevelle68]

I bet it hasn't been touched.

I also wondered that myself - maybe a surprise visit tomorrow is in order. Almost thinking of taking it to another shop once I get it to have their work double checked.


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[70SSTHUMPER]

Jason, show up, unannounced. Ask them to produce the block and show you the progress. I hope you have a way to identify your parts. I stamp mine in a discreet location, then I photograph them for my records. Examine your paper work order, emails etc. for written obligation to deliver on their part, If you find they have not done the work claimed, it's a no brainer, be prepared to pack up the hardware. If they have done any work at all, bring your mike and confirm what you can. Pay them the agreed price, collect your goods and hit the road jack. There is no excuse for the sloppy scheduling and lack of concern on their part with your satisfaction. I would part ways without drama. When you stop to think about it: "You already have the answer to your question". Maybe the question should be "How much BS am I willing to accept?" Bag it!

 

[camaroman7d]

I agree pop in there ASAP ask to see your stuff, chances are it is covered with dust and hasn't been touched. Make sure you have a way to haul it all away on the spot. At this point even if it was up on the boring machine I would tell them to just stop and I would take my stuff. I have done it before, if you can't trust them to tell the truth, how can you trust them to do the work right?

 

[Andy's Auto Repair]

My turnaround at the two machine shops I deal with is a week max. Something is horribly wrong.

 

[rel3rd]

I am in similar situation. Guy is good, and slow, but said it'd be done in a week or two. That was 7 weeks ago.

I popped in last Thursday with intentions of taking the block out of there, and it was cleaned but not magnafluxed yet.

He knew I wasn't happy, and promised it'd be done this week. I plan to pop in again tomorrow and take it no matter what.

FWIW, this is just a 454 block that I wanted degreased and magnufluxed, so I knew if it was a rebuildable core or not.

The sad part is that another local shop can do everything in a few days, but at a show this past weekend, a fellow car guy just got screwed by the place I had planned to take it to if this place didn't work out...lol

 

[forcd ind]

it takes time when you bore each cyl with a hand grinder, lol

 

[O'Man]

I dropped my big block off at a local machine shop who has been spoke of as a reputable shop that has been around for awhile. Left the block with them in late feb and as of today it's still not finished. Was told May 13th they would start on it and only take about a week. I knew going into this that march was out of the question as they were busy but April to June and still not done.

Then the machinist that was working on it left for a week vacation halfway through my block. Comes back and works on it a little this Monday, then comes down with the Flu on Tuesday.

Grrrrrrrrrr!

I think 3 1/2 months is a little much. They're not even doing the assembly!!

Someone tell me if I'm wrong for calling them tomorrow and giving them a week to finish it otherwise I'll pick it up unfinished and take to another shop ??



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Pick it up...pay em via credit card for the work done so far. Then dispute the charge for three months or so to jack them around same as they jacked you around.

 

[Blownchevelle68]

I can check if they bored correctly, but I also had them torque plate home, stud heads and mains. I assume they would have align honed as well, how do I see if that was done correctly ?

I'm contemplating on taking it to another shop to have them verify their work????


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[thunderstruck507]

You are way more patient than I would have been.

 

[rkd]

Not good. My first 350 rebuild went like this. Two months to tell me what size pistons to order, lost the pistons twice after I dropped them off. Left it in March, got most of it back in Sep. They lost/kept all the dowels, pins, keys, trinkets. And the engine cleaner was broke, same price, and he told me to make sure I took it to a quarter car wash to clean before I assembled it. Owner was not there when I picked it up, but called the next week and asked for more money. Yes, I paid, but, never went back and he is out of business. Something to do with him being out of jail, I guess....

Next engine, I went to a well known local race engine builder. Got as much work as he ever wants. Not fast, but done on time, much better deal. Going back to him for my next one.

In between, there are usually local shops that handle a volume of routine work, and are usually the best to deal with. They may not want to get into a high end build without more money, but they are usually very good and very timely.

 

[Clean Cut Creations]

Jason, show up, unannounced. Ask them to produce the block and show you the progress. I hope you have a way to identify your parts. I stamp mine in a discreet location, then I photograph them for my records. Examine your paper work order, emails etc. for written obligation to deliver on their part, If you find they have not done the work claimed, it's a no brainer, be prepared to pack up the hardware. If they have done any work at all, bring your mike and confirm what you can. Pay them the agreed price, collect your goods and hit the road jack. There is no excuse for the sloppy scheduling and lack of concern on their part with your satisfaction. I would part ways without drama. When you stop to think about it: "You already have the answer to your question". Maybe the question should be "How much BS am I willing to accept?" Bag it!

This guy has the right idea. I thought I was paranoid and thought about the worst case scenario at all times. Finally I find someone on my level....

Go get your stuff!

 

[jackie schmidt]

he amazing thing here is that this shop is still in business.

 

[Blownchevelle68]

Made a surprise visit today and he was working on rotating assembly. Showed me all the parts and the process for balancing the crank. Block has a rough bore on it and had the BHJ fixture attached to it still, was in the process of finding one side needed .015 shaved from deck surface and the other needed .018 then it will be squared up.

Felt much better about his work and the process but still not pleased with timeframe. He said it would be done by Friday so I'm gonna let him finish.

He also offered for me to borrow his engine test stand to break the motor in and tune it on.



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