Madness Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 A close buddy of mine recommended a machine shop for me to take my block and head to. Its his dad's best friend and I was thinking I was getting a good deal on machine work. We went down there and dropped the head and block off about a week or so ago and had a good time talking for a while, seemed like a real cool guy, someone that I could trust. Well today we went back down there to drop off the old and new pistons to his request and to pick up the freshly machined head. When I got down there and looked at the head it looks like all they did was make it flat, no cleaning, no inspecting, just resurfaced. While i was trying to fish out the metal shavings in the oil passages he told me the price of all the work he was going to do... 380 bucks :blink: when the original quote was 25 each to punch out the cylinders and 45 to surface the head. My buddy gave me a worried look so i just bit my tongue and said i would have to pay it in installments. Without my knowledge he's turning the crank, and installing wrist pins, I don't even think he's going to assemble the bottom end. I called another machine shop that i've gone to before just to compare, was told 40 for the head, 17 a hole to bore, 125 to turn the crank and everything leaves the shop squeaky clean... and the guy has built several race engines for 510 guys and rebuilt the head for my toyota to nearly new for $210. I really think I'm getting ripped but i don't want to tell my buddy. Im running a shop with him and all we need is more drama. It was all friendly until he started talking about money and then it seemed like he was pushing me. He hasn't started the machining on the block, as far as i know, but i just don't know if i want to tell my buddy that his life long friend is fucking me. Should have called the other machine shop before I dropped everything off.... Live and learn. :( Quote Link to comment
Skib Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 just take it up with the machine shop, not your buddy. the shop gave you a price and changed it, there are doing work you didnt ask for and are trying to fuck you now, call em on it Quote Link to comment
Madness Posted December 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 i really just don't understand how it jumped from 145 to 380. 235 bucks to turn a crank and install wrist pins?! Quote Link to comment
slam_dat_sun Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 Yeah that burns my ass , call them chicken shit :poop: bastards out and say no this is what we agreed upon at this price and see how they respond . Quote Link to comment
Skib Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 i really just don't understand how it jumped from 145 to 380. 235 bucks to turn a crank and install wrist pins?! exactly dude, thats ridiculous. now I never mind paying a little more to support a local shop or a friends shop (even if I can find a place to do it cheaper) but this guy is strait up yanking your chain. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 Get in there and stop any work, get your shit out of there before it causes problems with your friend or worse, bad feelings from being quiet about it. Quote Link to comment
angliagt Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 That sucks! Next time,ask for a written estimate I've had the same thing happen to me. I'd go back to the shop,& in a nice tone of voice, ask him why the price went up.Or phone him.What do you have to lose? Is the other shop Rallye/Sport in Westminister? Jeff's a great guy,builds super clean cars,& was also SCCA National Champion in a 510 a few years back. - Doug Quote Link to comment
Madness Posted December 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 Aren't the lash pads matched to the valves? Im calling to stop all the work done. I just really hope he didn't start on the block and crank. Quote Link to comment
slam_dat_sun Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 (edited) I think you are making a good move stopping the work ! Edited December 5, 2009 by slam_dat_sun corrected spelling Quote Link to comment
Skib Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 Aren't the lash pads matched to the valves? yes, L series valve train should all be put back in the same place you got them :blink: Quote Link to comment
Madness Posted December 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 yes, L series valve train should all be put back in the same place you got them :blink: son of a bitch. I told the guy that they are valve specific too! :cursing: Quote Link to comment
Skib Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 son of a bitch. I told the guy that they are valve specific too! :cursing: rockers and such too your friends friend is incompetent and greedy :( sorry Quote Link to comment
Madness Posted December 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 Words of advice: If you walk into a machine shop and all you see are big blocks and tractor motors you need to walk right back out and go to the machinist that has a Volvo 240DL race car... Im really kicking myself for trusting this guy. By the way Skib, I just saw your signature :lol: I've never been quoted in a sig before. Quote Link to comment
SublimeDatsun610 Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 i would put my foot in his AZZ!!! and if my friend didnt like it a foot in his too..... "Playing with my money is like playing with my emotions, Smokey.":lol: Quote Link to comment
MikeRL411 Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 Don't know what the law is in Colorado but in California the shop must give a written estimate which you initial or sign and if they go over it without getting your signed approval, you owe nothing [and you do get your engine back]! Mechanics lein does NOT apply to unauthorized work. Quote Link to comment
MicroMachinery Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 Yeah man, sorry to hear that. That sucks you got burned, and the fact that it's your friend's friend makes it worse. Dunno what to say, but I'd stop everything and put an end to it before it either blows up or you get quiet and resentful. Quote Link to comment
HRH Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 It's like I always say, it's hard to find a good machinist for four cylinder imported vehicles. I know of a few in Spokane, but I've also been to a few who have screwed things up and I've ended up going back and having to fix it. Like when I got my "new" head back and all the valve spring retainers were on incorrectly and the lash pads hadn't been refurbished. They didn't tell me they had divots either, they were supposed to replace them. If you were in Spokane, I'd give you a few names, but I don't know anyone in CO. Ditto what Mike said though, stop the work, get your shit back asap before they screw it up to unusable status. Quote Link to comment
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