pontiacackers beware...

[J.C.you]

Crankshaft Specialist, 280 Tillman, Mempshis, Tn.

I have found this guy to tell me bald face falacies on a crank i sent him some 3mths ago. I paid him approx. 2mths ago in full, in advance for the crank work. At that time, he called me and gave me a story of needing money.

I STILL have no crank. This was for the backup motor in this years EM Challenge. I am in jeopardy of not having a running engine for the contest and could be dqed.

This guy knew what the crank was for and when i needed it for the contest. I could go into more details on specific lies he told me, but it would do no good.

I have since found out from area racers and local machine shops that he has burned them also. STAY AWAY FROM THIS A!!HOLE!!!!!!

[Jack Gifford]

Not happy news- the EMC is almost here. Is it your SD389 forging they have? (Or was that crank you picked up a '990'?). As I recall, you got some pretty good references to that shop on these forums- I wonder what's going on?
Probably too late for recommending someone, but Jack King is an old-time crank guy with good credentials. In the sixties, he was in southern California, but he found the NASCAR 'gravy train' in N.Carolina a few decades ago. I'm almost certain he's the guy who did up my SD389 crank with center counterweights. I'll PM you the phone# for King's Crankshaft.

[tom s]

Jack,Joe Reath did a lot of center counter weights and welded strokers in the early years.Henry Velasco got his start with Joe.FYI,tom

[J.C.you]

he has my sd 389 crank....i hope....

[HarleyT]

I have used them before, but mostly for hard chroming machine parts.Since I am in memphis, do you think it would help if I stopped and asked about your stuff? Do you have an invoice or anything?

[tempest455]

Wow! I have heard nothing but good things in the past from them. I think Butlers had them do work in the past.

[J.C.you]

i did receive the 389 sd crank Friday. having given up on CS, i had already gone to the expense and time to get a N crank made up for my combo. i would have been dqed if i had waited on him, since my engine had to be shipped out Friday for the contest. a lesson learned and i will not use them again.

[Sirrotica]

J.C. I lived in Memphis for almost 2 years in 99 thru 01, I had heard that the father started CS and his son had taken it over and wasn't worth a damn compared to the old man. Just something I heard don't know if there is any truth to it or not, but I know that scenario has happened in family run businesses before. The kids can run a business in to the ground in months compared to the years it takes to gain a good reputation. I do know I had shipped them a Pontiac crank in the early nineties and the turn around time was good and it miked out just where I wanted it and it still running in one of my 455 s.

[BMason]

J.C.you:

I feel your pain. I'm a BOP guy (Buicks) and I too learned my lesson the hard way. I would also advise EVERYONE to avoid this business. Doug Rowe has told me nothing BUT lies from the beginning. I ordered two (2) forged cranks and sent him Certified funds (Next Day UPS) for the transaction because my motor was apart and the shop was waiting for me to provide a new crank. I explained EVERYTHING to Doug and he said he'd send it out as soon as he received the money [sounded fair to me]. But this moto-scooter never sent the cranks. After waiting for 2 days, I called and he fed me lines about getting the Tracking number to me and he'd call back [that never happened]. When I did finally get him on the phone again, I was given a bogus number!

I finally cancelled one (1) of the cranks but told him to still send the first order. He said the cranks were shipped to the wrong address and he'd get it shipped NEXT DAY to me and I'd "have them tomorrow". Fast forward a couple of days and many phone calls later, he tells me that the cranks came back to the shop and the box was messed up...so they decided to check the cranks and send me one tomorrow. It was over a month before I finally received a crank and wouldn't you know it? The WRONG #@%$ing stroke!

At this point all I wanted to do was return the crank that was sent and get a FULL refund. I contacted Doug and the next round of lies started. He told me that I was sent the right crank, blah-blah-blah and that the shop had to be wrong about the stroke. Eventually he said that his "guys in the back did send me the wrong crank". I told him that I wanted a FULL REFUND and to send a UPS Call Ticket for this one. About 2-3 weeks past before UPS finally came for the crank. [Yes, stupid me returned his crank because that was the right thing to do...at that time.] By this time, I'd contacted the Mid South BBB and was informed that this business is NOT a member of the BBB and has been on their Bad Business List for years! Oh great!

Now I've returned the crank and I'm out the money for both cranks to boot. The next step was the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs. Again, I learned that Doug Rowe and Crankshaft Specialist is on their Buyer Beware List and has been on it for a few years. I've even gone as far as to contact a lawyer, but the distance to go to court is cost prohibitive for me. Bottom line to all of this is, avoid Crankshaft Specialist in Memphis...PERIOD! If you can't do business with an out of town company using a credit card, then don't buy from them...because chances are there's a reason why! :(

Back in the day they were good, but not now. GOOGLE crankshaft specialist and see what you find.

thanks / Bobby
http://ripoffreport.com/reports/0/267/RipOff0267378.htm

HarleyT - Email or PM me, we can work something out. :)

[tempest455]

Sorry to hear about your problems. That's what these forums are all about. Hopefully your story will help someone else from getting shafted.

[BMason]

Posted on the ripoffreport.com site:

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The Crankshaft Specialist Have Left!!!!!!
Johnny Kirk, the TRUE CRANKSHAFT SPECIALIST have left the company. He left about a month ago. He gave his 50% ownership to Doug Rowe. Not sold, but gave. This should tell you something. He could not get his paychecks cashed. Johnny will be starting at Lunati starting January. He is the true crankshaft specialist, one of the best in the business. So anybody that needs the great work of Johnny Kirk, should give Lunati a try. It is just a matter of time before the door closes at Crankshaft Specialist. There are no specialists left, just Doug, his wife, and their son.
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I checked their website and it's not working...go figure! I guess it's finally catching up with Doug and his crew. Though I never recevied my refund, it's good to know that this crook may finally be headed out of business. Hopefully he stays away from car guys from now on, because I 'personally' know of a few guys that would love to finally meet him to shake his hand! :rolleyes: http://www.crankshaftspecialist.net

-Bobby

[Richie Hoffman]

they messed up 2 olds stroker cranks had to have my crank guy fix them got them through an olds company who gave me stupid answers about cranks avoid them at all costs