Two Engine failures from Southern Automotive

[RodKnock]

Watches are so passe (yesterday). Who needs them anymore, unless you're one of those railroad cars kinda guys saying "all aboard."

Back to the topic. I've watched and read this thread with much vigor. Assuming the parties have attempted to rectify the matter and all attempts have failed, and the issue is legitmate, then I want to hear the crate engine problems of others. As a consumer, who has purchased two crate engines in the past four years, "I want to know the truth."

Thank you Mr. Campbell.

[Jamo]

BTW Chappie...don't YOU have anything to say about personal experiences with this particular mfg?

[madmaxx]

Purchased a Roush 427sr/tw. It has been flawless.

[Jamo]

David...something tells me you have the right watch for your locale.

Rodknock..."time" is all we have. The rest is but a dream.

I guess I bypassed a lot of concerns by getting my motor built locally. Lucky to have a master (Joe Boghosian) five miles away. Told me he'd beat me to death with his one good arm if I ever so much as took a valve cover off of "his" engine. He still sets the valves and adjusts the timing, etc. Despite being an aggressive big motor, the only real trouble over the years (as I laid out here before) were the collection of worn out/broken bronze gears resulting from the solid roller cam I had him start with. Since switching back to a big flat tappet a few years ago...runs like...

...well, a clock.

[Goopie 18]

Roush 427R. A flawless jewel! Magnificent engine.

[Jamo]

Anybody can make a modern small block run...

[turnpike boy]

Originally Posted by Jamo

Anybody can make a modern small block run...

True.

Must be why we use 'em , not to mention the cost advantage

[Jamo]

Hehehehe......I'll give ya that one.

[madmaxx]

I forgot to mention I had a Keith Craft 306 in my first one, never had an issue with it either and I beat the living sheet out of that car and the next owner continued the tradition last I heard it was still runing strong.

[madmaxx]

The reason I don't beat the sheet out of the Roush is it scares the sheet out of me if I floor it more than 2 seconds. It is a true monster but if you drive the Roush "normal" it is as streetable as the 306.

[Great Asp]

To stay on topic, has anyone sent an e-mail or phoned SA and asked them to respond to this thread?

Several people have reported good luck with SA, please contact Bill P and ask him to post so we can get his side of the story.

Eric

[Bill Bess]

I already sent Bill & Susan an E-mail regarding this issue. I think it would be nice of them to respond to the negative comments of some folks....but it might just "add more fuel to the fire". Perhaps the issue should be resolved by the parties involved, and not trial by Club Cobra
Best Regards, Bill Bess

[Great Asp]

Originally Posted by Bill Bess

I already sent Bill & Susan an E-mail regarding this issue. I think it would be nice of them to respond to the negative comments of some folks....but it might just "add more fuel to the fire". Perhaps the issue should be resolved by the parties involved, and not trial by Club Cobra
Best Regards, Bill Bess

Bill, agreed.

If Donald and Bill both felt they had the issue resolved, it would not matter to me if I knew how they resolved the issue.

Donald, let us know if your phone rings!

Eric

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Great Asp

Donald, let us know if your phone rings!

Eric

Then the "trial by Club Cobra" would have worked to some degree, if the two parties restart discussions.

While you want to eliminate the "lunatic fringe" from posting bad remarks about vendors or any kind, the airing of proper and measured remarks of a bad experience (i.e., dirty laundry) is the consumer's way of holding the truly bad vendors accountable.

[Great Asp]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Then the "trial by Club Cobra" would have worked to some degree, if the two parties restart discussions.

While you want to eliminate the "lunatic fringe" from posting bad remarks about vendors or any kind, the airing of proper and measured remarks of a bad experience (i.e., dirty laundry) is the consumer's way of holding the truly bad vendors accountable.

+10000

When accurate facts (even if they are only from one side) are posted in a manner that allows the reader to gain empathy for the person posting (either Pro or Con), the reader can decide whether they want, or do not want do business with the person or company in question.

E

[FatBoy]

I had quite a long chat with Bill this afternoon and he was able to give me his side of the story and from what I hear, it is nowhere near as clear-cut as has been suggested.
Bill has said that he will respond on the forum, so I don't want to steal his thunder, but it would seem the original poster may have been selective with some facts, exagerated others and simply fabricated others.
As a business owner myself, it always makes me very uncomfortable when I see someone bad-mouthing someone elses business without getting the other side of the story. There is very little, if any comeback on anyone who simply has an axe to grind and vents their angst on a public forum, but it can cause untold damage to someone's hard earned repuation and livelihood.
For the record, my experience of Bill (and Susan) and that of others I have spoken to here in the UK, has always been very positive and they have always been thoroughly honourable and honest in all dealings I have had with them.

Nuff said.

Paul

[blykins]

Goes to show there are two sides to every story.

[Jamo]

Bill and Susan...many thanks for posting a reply. As has been shown many many times on this site (and I would think everywhere else on this thing we call the internet), folks should always wait for both sides to be stated before jumping to any conclusions.

There are always two sides to a dispute...I make good money on that premise.

Obviously, there may be a counterpoint, or maybe not. In many situations, clear conclusions may never be reached. Once delivery is made and third parties become involved in installations or the passage of time occurs, it becomes damn hard to know what's what. I've been a AAA mediator and arbitrator in such cases (from high-end show roadster commissioned builds to repair work) over the past few decades and I have to say that each case inevitably stands on its own...and with a great deal more case presentation and challenge than can ever occur on a special interest site thread.

[madmaxx]

A lesson for all, documentation including pictures is the key to ending opinions and getting to the facts.

[Excaliber]

Almost a 'draw', but I'd have to go with SA on this one, a decent response from them to a troubling thread, no clear winner. Loose valves could be a contributing factor to broken stud, hard to say. At any rate, the installer should have checked valve adjustment before startup and immediatly after 'run in' to verify, sounds like that didn't happen. Fel Pro gasket leak, man, I hate when that happens! What are you gonna do, like you have control of the gasket quality? Change brands? I'm not sure that gaurentee's a solution either, but it does serve as a warning, Fel Pro!

What a nightmare...