Build thread - Resurrection of an old Contemporary

RICK LAKE · #1 (**permalink**) 05-09-2009, 01:22 AM

767 Jockey Doug have you thought of coming to the show? There is a great chance of fining you know who there. If you can push a little, have the new block brought to the show, I will pick it up for you and bring it home? This is just a thought. I am sorry you have had to go though this mess. I will stay with the fact that your machinist has made 2 mistakes. First one is you never order parts until ALL the machine work is done and OK'ed. Second is He should have informed you about the first block BEFORE taking it apond himself to fill the block with blockcrete. This will work fine on a 1/4 mile car but not recommended on a street motor. The boring of the blocks is also falling on him for NOT telling you about some blocks can only safety be boring .030" over. If the big bore motor was in the plans, it should have been gotten with a 4.310" size and not try to open up a 390-428 block. Your machinist is a PRO, and should have explained this before starting this work. The company that gave the OK to overbore the new block should now be held for the whole bill after giving the go ahead on the boring. The offer still stands about picking up a new block for you if they come to carlisle. Rick L.

patrickt · #2 (**permalink**) 05-09-2009, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RICK LAKE

767 Jockey Doug have you thought of coming to the show? There is a great chance of fining you know who there...

AKA, "dispute resolution via ambush."

1985 CCX · #3 (**permalink**) 05-09-2009, 06:01 AM

Doug,

Sorry to hear about your plant! I guess that is why KC does not give his work away as he has to deal with more than a basic build.

Lesson learned here go to KC or FES for plants.

The rest of your build is looking great. Can't wait to see the car, maybe Limerock this year?

patrickt · #4 (**permalink**) 05-09-2009, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1985 CCX

Lesson learned here go to KC or FES for plants.

Well I'm sure that made him feel better.

Yes, indeed... I always feel better when someone else learns a lesson at my expense... and then points it out to me.

767Jockey · #5 (**permalink**) 05-09-2009, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Well I'm sure that made him feel better.

Yes, indeed... I always feel better when someone else learns a lesson at my expense... and then points it out to me.

No sweat, Patrick - Jeff and I are friends and go back a way. I do appreciate the moral support on this though. It's all very frustrating, and having knowledgeable people telling you that you're not out to lunch on how you feel is certainly a help. Thanks.

patrickt · #6 (**permalink**) 05-09-2009, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 767Jockey

No sweat, Patrick - Jeff and I are friends and go back a way. I do appreciate the moral support on this though. It's all very frustrating, and having knowledgeable people telling you that you're not out to lunch on how you feel is certainly a help. Thanks.

Well, you are rattling your saber admirably, but the sound may be falling on deaf ears....

767Jockey · #7 (**permalink**) 05-09-2009, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Well, you are rattling your saber admirably, but the sound may be falling on deaf ears....

I know- therein lies the frustration. Luckily I have attorneys in the family that will work for rides in the finished product. Let him pay for his attorneys to respond to a potential suit in NY - that'll open his ears up rather quickly, I would think. Suddenly, that new block and the machining bill is looking like a mighty cheap way out.

I hope it doesn't come to that, I have never sued anyone in my life.

767Jockey · #8 (**permalink**) 05-09-2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1985 CCX

Doug,

Sorry to hear about your plant! I guess that is why KC does not give his work away as he has to deal with more than a basic build.

Lesson learned here go to KC or FES for plants.

The rest of your build is looking great. Can't wait to see the car, maybe Limerock this year?

I suspect that Keith gets much more responsive treatment than I am getting. He buys more blocks in a day than I will in my lifetime. The frustration that I have is the lack of response and the lack of urgency. He 9 the manufacturer) just isn't very motivated to get this resolved. For example, when I spoke to the guy last, I said lets issue the pickup tag NOW - at least you'll have the block. I know you will want to see the block before you send out another, lets get it to you NOW so that when you get the new blocks in, you can send me one out immediately. His response? "I don't want to take the block from you now and leave you with nothing." Leave me with nothing? It's a useless pile of iron, it's garbage, what the hell am I supposed to do with it? There are between 3 and 9 black porous spots in each and every cylinder, some the size of a dime. Leave me with nothing? I was stunned. There's just no sense of urgency at all. I'm trying very, very hard to stay calm, to be cooperative and to give this guy every opportunity to resolve this problem. I am trying to take the high road on this, and I will until such time that this is no longer possible. Then I will do whatever needs to be done to rectify the situation. I hope it doesn't come to that. I am running out of patience.....rapidly.

767Jockey · #9 (**permalink**) 05-09-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RICK LAKE

767 Jockey Doug have you thought of coming to the show? There is a great chance of fining you know who there. If you can push a little, have the new block brought to the show, I will pick it up for you and bring it home? This is just a thought. I am sorry you have had to go though this mess. I will stay with the fact that your machinist has made 2 mistakes. First one is you never order parts until ALL the machine work is done and OK'ed. Second is He should have informed you about the first block BEFORE taking it apond himself to fill the block with blockcrete. This will work fine on a 1/4 mile car but not recommended on a street motor. The boring of the blocks is also falling on him for NOT telling you about some blocks can only safety be boring .030" over. If the big bore motor was in the plans, it should have been gotten with a 4.310" size and not try to open up a 390-428 block. Your machinist is a PRO, and should have explained this before starting this work. The company that gave the OK to overbore the new block should now be held for the whole bill after giving the go ahead on the boring. The offer still stands about picking up a new block for you if they come to carlisle. Rick L.

Rick,
I'd love to come to the show, but it's looking like I'll be out of town during that time. As far as the original block and the hardblock problem, I agree but that's over and done with, I can't change that. The guy has stood up and done the right thing, none of that mistake is costing me money, he's eating it all. It's just the time now that's killing me, and I can't change that. I wish it didn't happen, but my builder can't be doing more for me than he is now - he's doing whatever he can to make everything right. So far the same can't be said for the manufacturer of the new block. I really wish I could make it to the show.