Two Engine failures from Southern Automotive

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by jwd

I know 3 people that have Southern Automotive engines here in Wa. State. No problems have been reported.

Are those motors being raced or street driven, I think it makes a diffrence.

Originally Posted by Jamo

It always tickles me a bit when a brand new poster comes on and starts telling the rest of us what our Forum is for...and then go on to complain about bad service or parts on their first posts, and then wrap it in a "I'm just trying to help others."

Absolutely NOT how this forum will be used.

Well, I've been posting for a while. I was at a local track event this year, and talking with some others, I heard that there was a track day at I think VIR, ? Superformance event, and there were 3-5 FE engines that went "south" (no pun intended) during that event, all built by Southern. Now whether that is true or not, I don't know. Worth checking out.

[lineslinger]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Are those motors being raced or street driven, I think it makes a diffrence.




Well, I've been posting for a while. I was at a local track event this year, and talking with some others, I heard that there was a track day at I think VIR, ? Superformance event, and there were 3-5 FE engines that went "south" (no pun intended) during that event, all built by Southern. Now whether that is true or not, I don't know. Worth checking out.

Maybe you should have checked it out before offering up your vague and speculative hearsay
If you are going to volunteer an implication with unsubstantiated sources, its just another ride on the rip em' up bandwagon, regardless of the volume of posts participated in.
Factual information lends to honesty, "I heard" is for junior high kids.
I have never done biz with SA nor have any association with them but I have listened to the varied opinions like many here
A quality preference might be to hear both sides before dropping such a vague hammer as the one you are tossing around.

[Great Asp]

Originally Posted by lineslinger

Maybe you should have checked it out before offering up your vague and speculative hearsay
If you are going to volunteer an implication with unsubstantiated sources, its just another ride on the rip em' up bandwagon, regardless of the volume of posts participated in.
Factual information lends to honesty, "I heard" is for junior high kids.
I have never done biz with SA nor have any association with them but I have listened to the varied opinions like many here
A quality preference might be to hear both sides before dropping such a vague hammer as the one you are tossing around.

I would agree with this. I would rather hear from the 3-5 owners than the guys who know a guy.

Besides, this was about the OP and his problems. Pages later, no post from Bill P, or from Mr. Campbell.

Eric

Legal disclaimer: Eric has not entered into or out of any contract with SA or any of it's affiliates and is only trying to help the parties in question reach settlement.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by lineslinger

Maybe you should have checked it out before offering up your vague and speculative hearsay
If you are going to volunteer an implication with unsubstantiated sources, its just another ride on the rip em' up bandwagon, regardless of the volume of posts participated in.
Factual information lends to honesty, "I heard" is for junior high kids.
I have never done biz with SA nor have any association with them but I have listened to the varied opinions like many here
A quality preference might be to hear both sides before dropping such a vague hammer as the one you are tossing around.

Maybe you're right, but I love to stir up the pot.

I heard this from several people who were there, but their cars were not the ones. Although I know more details, I was hoping that someone with better knowledge would say something, but alot of times, people want to keep things hush hush. Everytime I have a problem with somebody, I dont post it, at least at this time.

I have had "expert" engine builders/assemblers assemble my engine(s) with the rockers not spaced correctly on the shaft, pushrods rubbing the intake, etc. When a novice engine assembler like myself can spot significant deviations from what I consider proper engine assembly, it makes me wonder about the general quality of work being done out there by people who I think really shouldn't be doing it. Even with any big name builder, sometimes the people really doing the work may not be doing it correctly. Roll the dice.

[RedCSX1]

Donald,

What did you have to do to get it running properly? What did you find when you disassembled the motor?

Morgan

[Jamo]

Don Campbell

It always tickles me a bit when a brand new poster comes on and starts telling the rest of us what our Forum is for...and then go on to complain about bad service or parts on their first posts, and then wrap it in a "I'm just trying to help others."

Absolutely NOT how this forum will be used.

I would suggest you heed the suggestions others have given you. Yes, share a bad (or good) experience, but do so with a bit more information and do so in the proper forum. Sometimes best to tread a bit more softly when you're first joing up.

Thanks...enjoy the place and I hope you get your issues sorted out. Any questions about the Forum...let me know.

[Bill Bess]

Hi Guys! Just thought I'd share my experience with SA.

First of all, "a motor is just that.. a motor", anything can go wrong no matter how much you spend or who builds the darn thing. Now with that silly qoute here is my experience.

Number one, SA has one of the best selections of Ford motors and a very competitive pricing system.

In addition Bill and Susan Parham are very fine people and have willingly helped me with a few minor problems with my FE 428 engine.
I had a carb. leak..fixed with a brand new carb. I also experienced a broken push rod at about 4000 miles..a result of my bad adjustment. They sent me the parts for free and where very helpful to get it resolved.

In addition, I had numerous other questions during my cobra build and they provided good solid information and suggestions that made my experience a good one.

Things like minor oil leaks, water leaks and tuning are should be considered normal and are ususally are fixible with some effort. Some things are considered "part of the horse" when using an engine thats over forty years old.

On the other hand, it's entirely possible to get a bad motor, go through a lot of delay, and expense to get things right. I know from my experience that SA will stand behind their work and provide you with a good product.

Best of luck, Bill

[TButtrick]

Originally Posted by Bill Bess

Hi Guys! Just thought I'd share my experience with SA.

First of all, "a motor is just that.. a motor", anything can go wrong no matter how much you spend or who builds the darn thing. Now with that silly qoute here is my experience.

Number one, SA has one of the best selections of Ford motors and a very competitive pricing system.

I think it's the frequency of mishaps that is being discussed. Wide selection and good pricing doesn't make a good engine.

Originally Posted by Bill Bess

Things like minor oil leaks, water leaks and tuning are should be considered normal and are ususally are fixible with some effort. Some things are considered "part of the horse" when using an engine thats over forty years old.

Well, I'll give you the tuning part but minor fluid leaks should be discovered and fixed during run-in. Aren't the SA motors hot tested?

[Archrms]

It would also help to know what exactly was wrong with these engines, why they didn't run, and what was needed to make the second engine finally work. Just saying that they didn't run isn't enough info.

[Excaliber]

Being 'forty years old' aint got nothing to do with it. FE's can and are built that don't leak, don't blow up, modern engines can leak and do blow up as well.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Being 'forty years old' aint got nothing to do with it. FE's can and are built that don't leak, don't blow up, modern engines can leak and do blow up as well.

Well put. The only thing that is forty years old on my engine is the block, which was stripped, dipped, stroked, bored, and "well seasoned." An FE's condition after a modern rebuild should be better than the day it left the Ford factory.

[blykins]

Not to say that I'm doubting the experience, but I'd like to hear from Bill Parham's side. He used to be a member here, but I haven't heard anything out of him for awhile.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by blykins

Not to say that I'm doubting the experience...

Now them thar solid flat tappet cams just might make a difference....

[blykins]

Shhhh.....

Don't say those words together in the same sentence or bad things could happen.....

[Ronbo]

Being 'forty years old' aint got nothing to do with it. FE's can and are built that don't leak, don't blow up, modern engines can leak and do blow up as well.

Well, the odds don't seem to support this. Taking a 40yr old block that was designed to produce 270hp and re-machining it to a 500hp state with god knows what kind of internal rot in the water jackets. No amount of testing will catch everything short of sawing the block open. Plus the fact if you haven't owned the block since new you really don't know what it's been through.

You just have to expect this stuff to happen with old iron...

[CobraEd]

I don't think it is the blocks that are failing. It is all of the assembly that SA built.

.

[Jamo]

Yes Anthony...and your tenure carries with it a certain aura of credibility, sufficient to appear to bootstrap even a bit of hearsay.

[patrickt]

We've had some bad SA experiences posted on my local forum, (The Capital Area Cobra Club). Here is the most recent, with references to three other members who had bad experiences, some worse than others. http://www.capitalareacobraclub.com/...p?topic=7039.0

[Nantucket427]

I never spent a dime with them but both Bill and Susan have gone out of there way to help me. They originaly built the motor in my car when they were Superformance Dealers.
The control over an engine stops the day it leaves the shop. I can image how some people treat there cars and motors.

[richardferguson]

Originally Posted by Jamo

Yes Anthony...and your tenure carries with it a certain aura of credibility, sufficient to appear to bootstrap even a bit of hearsay.

Although this thread has been an entertaining read, the above and other moderating gems have been of the highest quality
Richard