347 Crate Engine from T and L Engines - Page 2

Aloys · #1 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 07:03 AM

Update:
no sign of engine until today, july 3th, 5 months after payment!

Got them on the phone several times in the last 3 weeks.
June 16th:
"yes, motor is being put on the dyno this moment, will be wrapped and shipped in 3 days at the latest"

June 23th:
"Motor is finished, has to be cleaned. Dyno video will be cut and link will be sent within 1 day, shipping in 2 days"

July 1st:
"Detected a leak in the motor, has to be sealed again...
Ready for shipping early coming week!"

There still is no link to the dyno-video as of today.

So build your own opinion of that company!

MrMagoo · #2 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 07:31 AM

There is an outfit in California that I discovered while I was doing my research. Smeding Performance. Anyone here have any experience with them? I only mention it because you're from California, and maybe they are close enough for you to go and visit the shop.

As for T&L I would say "what everyone else said".

I had a good experience with Keith Craft and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. And of course, the final word of advice would be that this is a highly competitive market and you get what you pay for, basically. Don't forget to have the builder dyno-test the motor, even if you have to pay extra for that service.

Mark O'Neal · #3 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMagoo

There is an outfit in California that I discovered while I was doing my research. Smeding Performance. Anyone here have any experience with them? I only mention it because you're from California, and maybe they are close enough for you to go and visit the shop.

As for T&L I would say "what everyone else said".

I had a good experience with Keith Craft and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. And of course, the final word of advice would be that this is a highly competitive market and you get what you pay for, basically. Don't forget to have the builder dyno-test the motor, even if you have to pay extra for that service.

Smeding is a customer of mine and they have a good reputation.

Prestidigitator · #4 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 12:11 PM

I posted this on another site as well.

As of this writting I would NOT recommend T and L under any circumstances.

Bought a 347 with a weber stack and it has issues.

This could all change as I iron out the details but as of now I would say buyer beware.

More to follow in the coming weeks.

Aloys · #5 (**permalink**) 08-24-2009, 10:36 AM

Update:
today is the 24th of August, 6 and a half months after my friend ordered and partly paid for his 428
Got mail with 2 pics showing the (his?) motor in a crate with the order number on it, requesting final payment. As they don`t work with PayPal anymore (customer could call back money) it has to be transferred to their homebank.
This was done 3th of August, money was received. Motor was to be sent via airfreight on the 6th or 7th of August.
Nothing happened. They mailed and said they lack our phonenumber for the custom papers. We gave them that numer at least 5 times and now once again.
They mailed and said the number was wrong as it would not fit into the US-custompapers....

Finally reached a living person on the phone, Aug. 17th
He told us they were in contact with freightquote... so they had not even given a shipping order to any company!
Got mail on Aug. 19th, saying all was clear, tracking number would follow!
From then on: silence `til today, August 24th
So much to T&L!
Will keep you informed!

RodKnock · #6 (**permalink**) 08-24-2009, 10:54 AM

Someone ought to email Kit Car Builder magazine and let them know that one of their advertisers isn't delivering engines on time, or ever, for that matter.

Keithc8 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-24-2009, 08:59 PM

Do your research and talk with others when you are going to spend this kind of money. You will see more of this in the future with the economy being slow. Deal with companies that have been around a while and have the resources to be around. Sometimes when things sound like a bargain or to good to be true there is a reason.
It sounds like these guys need a visit from some of these customers. I have heard even more than what is on here from several customers. On over seas purchases you have to be real careful because some of these vendores will rip the over seas customer of because of the distance. Good luck, Keith Craft

767Jockey · #8 (**permalink**) 08-24-2009, 09:25 PM

There are so many well respected engine vendors right here on CC with many satisfied customers - Keith Craft, Survival, Roush, Smeding, and so many others. Why take a chance on a place with a spotty record?

tkb289 · #9 (**permalink**) 08-24-2009, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 767Jockey

There are so many well respected engine vendors right here on CC with many satisfied customers - Keith Craft, Survival, Roush, Smeding, and so many others. Why take a chance on a place with a spotty record?

Along with those listed above, you might want to check out Danbury Competition Engines, listed on the ERA FIA index. From what I have read, Danbury Competition has a great reputation and has done a lot of motors for ERA customers.

- Tim

Cashburn · #10 (**permalink**) 08-25-2009, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkb289

Along with those listed above, you might want to check out Danbury Competition Engines, listed on the ERA FIA index. From what I have read, Danbury Competition has a great reputation and has done a lot of motors for ERA customers.

- Tim

I'd steer people away from DCE based on our experiences. There are better choices, I'll keep it at that.

ERA Chas · #11 (**permalink**) 08-25-2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cashburn

I'd steer people away from DCE based on our experiences. There are better choices, I'll keep it at that.

X2.
And I had one so it's first hand experience.

aspenbubba · #12 (**permalink**) 08-26-2009, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkb289

Along with those listed above, you might want to check out Danbury Competition Engines, listed on the ERA FIA index. From what I have read, Danbury Competition has a great reputation and has done a lot of motors for ERA customers.

- Tim

I wouldn't recommend them . Had trouble within 700 miles on a mild 351W. Poor customer service from the owner. Said bring it up and he would look at it (400 miles) . I have a friend that had issues with them also. I bought the car turn-key from a sub dealer who bought an engine from DCE that was cancelled by a potential owner and was to be installed in the top fiberglass Cobra manufacturered in N. E. My assembler would not buy from them again also.

Cashburn · #13 (**permalink**) 08-26-2009, 10:57 AM

In both cases presented, the spec. and source of parts were done solely by Joe Lapine himself. Admitting you were wrong several months after the fact and drop shipping a set of pushrods for the customer to install themselves is not how we do business here and among the reasons our business relationship ended.

A great engine builder can have a bad engine among a hundred or so, and a bad engine builder can have a great engine among a hundred or so... I did not need any more experiences with DCE to find out which way it goes. And I type experiences due to other issues.

patrickt · #14 (**permalink**) 08-26-2009, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cashburn

In both cases presented, the spec. and source of parts were done solely by Joe Lapine himself. Admitting you were wrong several months after the fact and drop shipping a set of pushrods for the customer to install themselves is not how we do business here and among the reasons our business relationship ended.

A great engine builder can have a bad engine among a hundred or so, and a bad engine builder can have a great engine among a hundred or so... I did not need any more experiences with DCE to find out which way it goes. And I type experiences due to other issues.

Alright, I won't bug you about it anymore then. He probably saves his best work for ERA customers anyway.

Cashburn · #15 (**permalink**) 08-26-2009, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Alright, I won't bug you about it anymore then. He probably saves his best work for ERA customers anyway.

See Aspenbubba's post. He got one of the engines that Joe had but ERA never picked up

Cashburn · #16 (**permalink**) 08-26-2009, 11:34 AM

Hey Larry... as long as it is running proper now we are all good. It was a real adventure that car took between our shop and your garage.

aspenbubba · #17 (**permalink**) 08-26-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cashburn

Hey Larry... as long as it is running proper now we are all good. It was a real adventure that car took between our shop and your garage.

Thanks Jay. If Patrick would meet at some of our gatherings with the CACC guys he would know what stellar reputation Joe Lapine has among our guys.

patrickt · #18 (**permalink**) 08-26-2009, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspenbubba

Thanks Jay. If Patrick would meet at some of our gatherings with the CACC guys he would know what stellar reputation Joe Lapine has among our guys.

Saturday mornings are awfully early. God knows I need my beauty sleep.

I'm starting to think that engine building is all luck anyway; I don't think there's any real skill involved.

AKDreamer23 · #19 (**permalink**) 08-26-2009, 12:03 PM

http://www.ffcobra.com/forums/showth...6amp%3BL+lloyd

aspenbubba · #20 (**permalink**) 08-26-2009, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Saturday mornings are awfully early. God knows I need my beauty sleep.

I'm starting to think that engine building is all luck anyway; I don't think there's any real skill involved.

C'mon Patrick get you a$$ out of bed . The VI breakfast will cure whatever ails you. You will never meet a nicer bunch of guys and it would be great to have someone there with your expertise. BTW, the friend that has a bad DCE has it in an ERA. We have over 20 different manufacturers represented in our club including one built from scratch (aluminum).

We also have a show in Middleburg October17th with a lunch and wine tour following. Also we are doing the annual Rehoboth Fun Run the first weekend in October and are visiting the guys and gals at Walter Reed Army Hospital on October 10th so that the Wounded Warriors get to see our cars and speak with us. Get on our website and contribute some of your experiences with us.

Larry