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I'll add this, that line you got about flat heads just run lower oil pressure is total crap. That is one line I would not have accepted. Maybe not a low budget shop; but offered low quality workmanship it would seem. I understand about you not wanting to go back on the older guy in a sense; but should you have taken a hit like you have? Old guy or no; Not in my mind. He accepted the job to build it for you; he is totally responsible to do it right, if that wasn't his intent; don't take the job. Agreed, you would not have taught him a lesson he would remember on the next one; but if I were him, I wouldn't have let you take a hit on a failure that was my or my employees fault. It just isn't the way we do business here. I would insist on doing the job with the same quality workmanship if I knew it was the last one I'd ever do. Finding issues like improper oil pressure or any other short comings is precisely a large part of the reason we run every rebuilt engine on the test stand before it ships out, or before it goes in one of our project trucks. If the low oil pressure had been checked into at the onset and corrected; most likely you wouldn't be in the position you are in today, and the old guy wouldn't have earned himself a bad reputation. I also wonder if the bearing that spun was installed too tight, (not enough clearance). If the spun bearing was caused due to low oil pressure, I'm really suspicious as to why at least some other bearings didn't show bad signs also??jim lee wrote:Well..
The shop was one that specialized in flat head engines and it wasn't a low budget shop. I'd figured I had my bases covered. But, the engine always seemed low on oil pressure and I'd asked about it. The consensus was that old flat heads ran lower pressure so it was probably ok. I didn't press the issue and now I see I should have. Later, when I asked about the engine seizing at 6k miles I got; "Well 6,000 miles? It must have been something else then." When I found the backwards relief valve and the shims?
I sat back and thought about this entire deal. Yes it was his fault this thing died. But really, its some old guy in his mid-late 80s living in a barn. I feel sorry for the guy. I can't bring myself to call him on this. Its not like its going to teach him a lesson he can use later in life. I can take the hit, so I'll let him rest in peace.
In the end I talked to Midwest Military. They had a 10 day turnaround for a new rebuilt engine. The other local machine shop here was a month before they could even look at it. So, I just ordered one from Midwest. I figured they should know how to put one together. Comes with 12k mile guarantee too!
As always, we'll see..
-jim lee
Personally, if this were me, I would be upset with you if you did not bring this issue to my attention and offer me the chance to make it right on my dime.
