Two Engine failures from Southern Automotive

[Great Asp]

Originally Posted by Barry_R

As well as the technology and parts changes over the years, we must remember that this is a still a 40 year old piece of architecture. It's just like building a flathead was in the 1970s. Our expectations for engine performance, appearance, reliability, and fluid retention are far higher than they were when the engines were new. That is not at all a "bad thing", but it does pose a greater challenge for the builder.

In and after High Skewl (74-75) we raced FE's in a 55 Ford. Anyone ever put a rear crankshaft rope seal in? Seems like NASA designed it to me

The parts today are SO much better (Machining too) than when I built my own motors.

Where is the OP?

I can't be the only one holding and ready to throw the BS flag.

E

[Donald Campbell]

[Thank you for your patience

[Donald Campbell]

Originally Posted by Great Asp

In and after High Skewl (74-75) we raced FE's in a 55 Ford. Anyone ever put a rear crankshaft rope seal in? Seems like NASA designed it to me

The parts today are SO much better (Machining too) than when I built my own motors.

Where is the OP?

I can't be the only one holding and ready to throw the BS flag.

E

The OP is right here reading all judgements, opinions, comments with great interest and enjoyment. Don't throw the BS flag yet because you might get some on you as it is now pretty clear that many others have had EXACTLY the same experience that I have had with SA.

To clarify my experience, I am happy to let you know that my first 427 SA motor was installed by Unique Motorcars - I think they are reasonably qualified! When the car arrived I had AutoStrada, a vintage race car builder and restorer manage the start-up. We could not get the motor to start and Bill was absolutely no help. All we heard was "This motor was run for three hours" over and over again. We finally spun the distributor nearly 180 degrees and replaced all electronics and it finally started.(Remember, "It was run for three hours") It ran poorly but we had oil pressure and we took it around the block. Oil pressure dropped and we immediately ran her home where we found the oil full of coolant. Bill to this day has not explained what went wrong. (Although he bragged to AutoStrada during the second failure "That this had not happened in 900 motors and my first failed motor was already resold to a guy that has put 1200 miles on it in his ERA cobra" - This was a great thing to hear when I am losing my second summer in a row due to engine challenges!)
Bill offered to replace this first failed motor (originally installed in a painted and finished car before the body went on I might add ) and 4 weeks later we received the "replacement". This motor had not even been run. Oil was new, no carbon in the exhaust, absolutely no fuel in the carb. The fuel lines were used and the fittings stripped. The turkey pan was modified with a saw of some kind and was absolutely carved up and still had burrs and "sharpey" pen marks everywhere. The Canton oil pan was scatched and chewed up like the motor had been slid across the shop floor and the oil pan drain plug was stripped by tightening with pliers or a vise grip. There were missmatched fasteners everywhere. In fact, completely different fasteners were used on the second motor. This replacement motor arrived incomplete and was in such poor condition and was so poorly built that we stripped it to find undamaged parts from the two motors to try to create one that looked something like a $14,000.00 motor. AutoStrada commented, "If SA went to the time and effort to replace the first motor why did they send such junk?" This motor started and we ran it for a couple of hours realizing that it just did not run right and it leaked oil like crazy. We decided to dyno at Meridian Performance in Bellingham and loaded the car into the trailer. These guy's were great. We were doing our first run -up on the dyno when the rocker assembly came apart. We opened up both valve covers and the rockers were not even finger tight. A used bolt had broken and come apart holding the rocker assembly and had thrashed around. This day ended fast. I had Meridian fix leaks (over one inch gap in the gasket material) and replace broken hardware. Since the first headers were custom made for the first motor we did some more custom fitting, retuning and found parts (springs) missing in the "new" Holley carb. I did not get one call from Bill - not one. We all got lucky here as there was no major damage. I sent Bill an invoice and got a nasty letter and a partial payment - broken bolt and push rods ONLY. So I lost my second summer with the car. Zero professionalism or pride in workmanship was experienced with SA whatsoever!

Thank you to those of you who have shared similar experiences. It helps to know that this is a reasonably common SA experience and that I did not just get ripped off because I am on the other side of the country. To those of you who are quick to wave the BS flag feel free to contact me directly and I can back up every comment with letters, photographs and conversations with the two pro shops that salvaged my experience for me. If this is still not enough for you, since I must be a "first poster" a "troll" or a "BS'r", feel free to do business with SA and best of luck! I know I for one work too hard for my money to line the pockets of opportunists and BS'rs who talk a great product, take your money in advance and then ship you junk.

[Great Asp]

Donald,

I was still holding the BS flag .

I find this information to be of much more use in informing us as to the problems you are having. As I said before, the complete history as you have it is what we need to figure out what is going on.

It does not sound good, at all.

You are correct, several people have posted "their own" experience with SA, which is really the only type of post that can be considered whether it be Pro or Con.

I think you have placed the ball back into Bill's court. I can't imagine him not wanting to post what he thinks happened on this (these) builds.

One point of thought I have, is that I often find one engine builder does not like another builder's work. They have negitive things to say right away about the other guy, especially when they do not know each other.

Just so you know I have not ever had a motor built by SA, nor do I have first hand experience dealing with Bill. So I have no opinion directly on SA.

I am truly sorry you have had so much trouble, money lose, and summers gone. I retract my BS flag.

Eric

PS BTW, what car are you building????

[DAVID GAGNARD]

One point of thought I have, is that I often find one engine builder does not like another builder's work. They have negitive things to say right away about the other guy, especially when they do not know each other.

I've seen the same thing on occasion, I chaulk it up to the fact that the "other guy" is their competition!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I build my own engines, but I do buy some parts and pieces from some of the top builders....I let the builder's reputation speak for itself.....anyone building anything is going to have a failure sometimes, it's how often they have failures and what they do about them that I'm interested in.....

BTW: I would NEVER want to go into business building any kind of engines for the general public!!!!!!!!!!!!!!there are way too many things the builder can't control that can cause engine failure....

One transmission shop told me the number one reason of failures of transmission he builds is the customer forgets to put oil/fluid in them after they install them, he has to ship them "dry".........and then the customer complains the trans. only lasted a few miles before burning up, gee, ya think so................:r olleyes:

David

[Donald Campbell]

Thanks Eric. I appreciate and respect your comments, on all posts related to mine, very much.

My car is a Unique Motorcars 427 SC and I look forward to enjoying it much more. Truth is, with what I have experienced I will build my next motor myself. I have never done this before but I can't imagine it being as bad an experience and at least I know I will get better support!