Schicantek Performance WI/North IL Engine builder

[Formula8]

I can't say enough good things about Wayne. Here's a link to others who have had him do work for them: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=479111

[gtorich]

I suppose with the good their must be some bad. I had my motor done about 3 yrs ago by this guy................im not IMPRESSED.

Read all the old posts about "Bruce Fulper"..............i would still take my motor to him than take it to Waynes

Alot of guys have had good luck with him, i havent..............i tried to post my problems with this motor but it doesnt seem to post.

If anyone wants to e mail me to ask questions.............feel free to do so.

[gtorich]

I see my last post made it, here is a little more info...........

Wayne says motor will be "Zero" decked............motor has pistons .012 in the hole. Most builders have to have the assembly mocked up for this...........Wayne just need to "eyeball" it.........he was wrong there.

Most builders after breaking in motor, change oil & filter.............Not Wayne, good to go.

After ripping me off for over 2 grand on the head work, little porting & gasket mach...........he has the surface milled .035...........intake face milled .20 & wonders why the tri power manifold doesnt fit, so he just mills that down to fit..............dont bother calling owner to ask about this.

[Formula8]

I don't really have any questions for you Rich but I did review all of the posts in your profile. It appears your issue was more with AER's pricing and what work you were expecting. I realize Wayne works for AER but he has his own operation which is why I titled the post "Schicantek Performance" rather than AER.

Wayne and I sat down and I gave Wayne a list of exactly what machine work I wanted him to do. I asked that he spend some time with it, develop an estimate and we would agree on the price and timeframe. We talked about my expectation was that Wayne would get paid for his work and I would get the work I paid for. Simple enough but seems like many builders can't manage to get it right. Wayne did and came in exactly on budget and exactly on time. If there was a problem with something, we talked over the phone and got it worked out.

I reqret your experience was unsatisfactory and I certainly did not intend this posting to be a rip on Wayne session. I wanted to share my experience as good builders that know there way around a Pontiac are not easy to find around here.

I assemble and mic out all of my own motors and only had Wayne do specific machine work. There was no "eve balling" or anything like that involved. Wayne was told what tolerences I would accept and I checked them before signing off. I'm completely satisfied but would share in your disappointment if my specs were that far off.

[gtorich]

I could go on & on about the mistakes this guy has made, but it seems like alot of guys are happy with their motors, so its your decesion to make.

FWIW, im pulling the motor & sending to Spotts, Pontiac Dude, Mr P.Body, Gregg Merrick, someone who knows "Pontiac"

In closing, after pissing & moaning on how he & his boss ripped me off, i show them papers on Pontiac Dudes web site, on how much more motor he gives to his customers for FAR LESS money....................the boss replys, Thats some idiot in Flordia just throwing those engines together.

[gtorich]

Formula 8

Im glad everything worked out for you, i did the same thing you did, we agreed on a price of $ 5 grand to do the motor...............after everything was done & said, the price was $ 6300.............i was never notifed about this price untill AFTER motor was done. To be excate it was $ 7 grand because they installed the motor. Now im not sure what was going on, but Wayne asked me how i was paying this............i said in cash, because they didnt want a check because someone just ripped them off with a check. Now on pricing they made sure they made a profit on everything on this motor, i have all the paper work, example SRP pistons from everyone else 460-480, Wayne tells me around $500, no big deal............turns out they were $620.

You posted great results from your experience..............i posted the other way..................in no way do i enjoy doing this, but i hope someone else gives this some serious thought before throwing away good money.

[Formula8]

Cool, at least there is some agreememt.

I bought plenty of parts from Paul and he spend probably hours on the phone with me talking about oil pumps, pickups, pans and cams. When I sat down with Wayne, I compared prices with P-Dude and Wayne was in line. Less in some areas, more in others but when you factor in I made two trips to look at things, that gets a little hard to do when your motor is in Florida or Pa.

Anyway, one thing I look for is someone who doesn't rip other builders and I gave Wayne plenty of opportunity to fall into that. He didn't and IMHO, earned plenty of respect by not. That being said, I doubt I would have any problem having either Paul or the dude do machine work for me.

[bobbyj1]

I just had a great experience with Wayne, I found him to be fair priced and from what I can tell so far a good engine builder. I also found him easy to deal with, he drove down to Chicago area to work thru the initial startup with me and did not want any extra money for that service. I felt this was way beyond the call of duty. From what I can tell there was little or no markup on parts. I know he is on his own now?

[gtorich]

Bobbyj1, i did not not want to get into a "Wayne" bashing thing, but after reading some of my posts it sure looks like it.

On the issue of pricing of parts, i was quoted different prices from Wayne than from what his boss seems to want. At the time i had my motor done, he was an employee for AER.

You stated hes on his own now, i dont know.

As you also stated, he is a decent guy, and easy to work with, thats why i went with him in the first place. I guess i should have went around this a little different instead of ripping on him.....................i know theres gonna be alot of posts about him being a good builder. For me this hasent been the case.

[cutrone]

Wayne does not work for A.E.R he is on his own & doing well .i belive he is a very good builder & machinist.he knows pontiacs well . Enough to have ground cranks for Dan Whitmore when needed.he has done two motors for me & i could not be happier with the performance & workmanship. Wayne has been very honest with me, he has gone way out of his way to make sure his pontiac motors perform the way they should.
He will definately be the one building my next pontiac motor.

[gtorich]

Maybe when your motor is using a qt of oil every 400 miles , you will be singing a differnt tune. As i stated before i believe Wayne is a decent guy and a good builder from what others posted, but not in my case.

[tempest455]

gtorich,

What kind of car do you have?

[gtorich]

Tempest 455, the kind of car i have, is the kind that uses a qt of oil every 400 miles, why do you ask. Ive seen by other posts that your one of Waynes biggest supporters...............surprised that Wayne himself hasnt chimed in and said, hey lets sit down & try to figure this out, ive had the car down twice at his former work place with no results.

Im one easy going dude, but im out 7 grand, not real happy, the question is ..........Would you be??????

[tempest455]

Just asking. I knew most of the Pontiac people in the area and the cars Wayne did motors for. He does not visit this board often, he is busy building motors.

Sorry you had a bad situation. Have you tried a more direct approach, like calling him?

[gtorich]

Tempest 455, this motor was done 3 yrs ago, like i said i was down twice to have things checked out # 1.........Wayne did a leakdown test, all were between 5-7 % leakdown, his boss said were not taking this engine apart based on those #"s. To Waynes credit he did put in different oil seals, this while the motor was still under warrenty. Now its 3 yrs later, about 3000 miles & still no different than day 1. on the oil useage.

This thread got a little out of hand, i havent said anything negitive about Wayne untill this point, guess im still a little more pissed than i thought i was.

Maybe that Wayne is on his own now, i"ll give him a call & try to work things out.

[bobbyj1]

You should try and call him now that he is on his own, maybe he will want to help you? Your description of your situation just does not seem like the same person that I dealt with. Maybe that old boss was the difference?

Bob

[tempest455]

Dave (previous shop owner) was the problem, not Wayne. That's why he left. I'm sure if you contact him directly, he will try and make it right. He has a good reputation of doing just that.

[cutrone]

You should try and call him now that he is on his own, maybe he will want to help you? Your description of your situation just does not seem like the same person that I dealt with. Maybe that old boss was the difference?

Bob
maybe that old boss is the reason Wayne is on his own now!
i know Wayne does care about the quality & reputation of his work.

[cutrone]

i went to the DA GROVE today,B.O.P. race.i had a great day,my Shicantec built 428 ran flawless as it usually does.i made it to the semi final round,lost to a real nice 69 firebird.. i ran a best 12.43 @ 107
thanks again Wayne.

[wts69bird]

Rich, I'm really sorry that you're still having problems with your engine.
I have been on my own for 1 1/2 years now. I didn't know that you were still having problems. What I can do is help you fix it; I can't do it for free, but I am willing to work with you. Call me 1-414-801-9230. Thanks Wayne.

[wts69bird]

Bernie, I'm glad to hear that your car is running good. I'm sorry I missed you at the Grove, I was in Indiana.

I just want to thank everyone for their kind words. I appreciate your support and your business.

Wayne

[grandville455]

Rich sorry about your troubles! I didnt know the extent,But I can tell you that Wayne built me one hell of a great engine.40psi at idle and 70+ going down the road. Granted he didnt do the heads,but after the first machine shop guy screwed up my machine work it was then sent to him!Wayne stepped right up and made it right fixing all the probs,yes it cost a little extra money then I wanted to originally spend ,but that wasnt Waynes fault it was the last machine shops fault for not getting it right!.Dont let chebby boys build poncho's period!.Wayne is a hell of a nice guy and loves ponchos and knows them very well...And after 3yrs & 288 dragstrip runs and probably 5-7000 street miles she is running strong!!! Wayne if you read this get your butt up to the rock and watch me run 12's in the fall!!, :D

[gtorich]

Darby, that big boat of yours is running strong man, i guess this is a good time as any to apoligize to Wayne, when i answered to this thread i said some things that i shouldnt have. I was just ticked off about the oil usage on my motor, now for whatever reason it seems not to be using the oil it did before, this has now about 3500 since build. Like i said in some other posts, Wayne is a very decent guy & dones great work as others have stated.

Instead of being so negitive about the motor, should mention the good too, always starts, never overheats, runs very strong.........i will talk to wayne in the future & try to clear things up