craigs69
07-20-2013, 05:58 PM
I am looking for opinions on how to handle a situation with a well known engine builder who gave me a 3 month completion date and 5 months later I still do not have an engine. I thought I did my homework and the guy has a great reputation, but I am beginning to feel like this may not end so well.
On February 16th, I sent him deposit money and he gave me a delivery date for the second week of May. Sometime during the first week of May, I checked in with him to see if the build was on schedule. It was then that I was informed that it would be another 4 weeks. Since then, I have been checking in weekly and promises for another 1 to 2 weeks are being made but not kept. I checked in on Wednesday of this week and he said that things were progressing nicely and it may be possible to pick up the engine this weekend. I was asked to check in Friday for a progress report. When I called Friday, I was informed that there was a problem with pushrods and he would get in touch with me Saturday with the status. I hadn't heard anything by mid afternoon, so I called only to be told that he hadn't worked on it today and needed to go out of town next week for personal reasons. I am at my wits end here. He has $4500 of my money and several engine parts that I sent him. I hate to think that I will go the entire summer without driving my car, but I am getting the sinking feeling that it may happen. I have considered driving down to pick up whatever is done, but I hate to drive a considerable distance to find out that there is nothing to pick up. At this point, I am even beginning to question the quality of the build. Am I being too pushy here, or does this seem like I'm being strung along? The whole point of this thread is to get opinions and not to discredit the builder, as I stated that he is well known with a good reputation and I am not looking to trash him. Any thoughts?
On February 16th, I sent him deposit money and he gave me a delivery date for the second week of May. Sometime during the first week of May, I checked in with him to see if the build was on schedule. It was then that I was informed that it would be another 4 weeks. Since then, I have been checking in weekly and promises for another 1 to 2 weeks are being made but not kept. I checked in on Wednesday of this week and he said that things were progressing nicely and it may be possible to pick up the engine this weekend. I was asked to check in Friday for a progress report. When I called Friday, I was informed that there was a problem with pushrods and he would get in touch with me Saturday with the status. I hadn't heard anything by mid afternoon, so I called only to be told that he hadn't worked on it today and needed to go out of town next week for personal reasons. I am at my wits end here. He has $4500 of my money and several engine parts that I sent him. I hate to think that I will go the entire summer without driving my car, but I am getting the sinking feeling that it may happen. I have considered driving down to pick up whatever is done, but I hate to drive a considerable distance to find out that there is nothing to pick up. At this point, I am even beginning to question the quality of the build. Am I being too pushy here, or does this seem like I'm being strung along? The whole point of this thread is to get opinions and not to discredit the builder, as I stated that he is well known with a good reputation and I am not looking to trash him. Any thoughts?