[HWYSTR455]

If you want it done right, um, how does that go again!?! I learned the hard way, and do all assembly myself. Always check machine work & tolerances. It's not that a shop is particularly good or bad, it's just humans make mistakes, can't (always) fault people for that. Not sure if pointing a finger will help either, but may make it so you can't use them again...

[convgto]

I dont know enough about engines to check out things (I build houses not cars), so i hired a shop that was suppose to know what they are doing and stand behind there work, so they didn do it right or stand behind it, so i have to get experts and possibly a lawyer to get it done right(but not by them, i wouldnt take my motorless wheel barrow to them, which i shouldnt have to do eighter. People do make mistakes, I make mistakes, but make em right. Ken

[HWYSTR455]

I understand, and it's always easier to give advise from the other side of the fence, or after the fact. Have they offered to rectal-fy the matter? Like, even if they offer to replace with one they built again, would you go that route? (rhetorical question). Well, I'd be interested to know how that all turns out, and who knows, maybe there can be a collection/fund of some sort to help offset your losses. I could probably donate a block, maybe some usable factory rods too...

[HWYSTR455]

Is that a 400, or 55? And your intended use?

[convgto]

hwystr455, thats a kind jester, thank you. I already have a waiting 455 built by another shop (car is being painted). The engine in the pics is my original numbers matching 389. The shop that screwed it up offered a crank, reclean block and heads, sleeve #7 cylinder, weld back the hole for the oil pump shaft and give me parts at cost, not enough to cover 5000.00 i first spent, then another 5000.00 on the 455, which i dont expect anything for that. I am putting the 389 away. Does your title name stand for highway star, thats my fav song, i saw deep purple in tampa i believe in 74 they did that song. thanks again Ken

[diddly]

Ken; I'm with you on the, "They're the experts" (supposedly) stance. You hired them to build that engine, because THAT'S WHAT THEY DO!! If they screw it up; they should eat it; period! If you screwed up building their house; Who do you think they would come after to get it fixed? Yep; that would be you! That's the way this society is designed and supposed to work. However, I'm not sure that you have any right to hand them a bill for someone else's work; and expect them to pay it. I'm not sure on this, but maybe when a business screws up something that isn't theirs, (in this case, your engine), they have the RIGHT to the chance to fix their mistake. Again; from a legal standpoint I don't know what their rights are; but I think the legal process would view it as the company trying to do good by the customer, and the customer not letting them have a chance. Now, you look like the bad guy! (In their eyes). Like hwystr455 said: Humans make mistakes; it happens everyday. Of course; I also think the SHOP should be getting the parts at the shop's prices: NOT YOU getting the parts at the shop's prices! I'm sorry to hear about the whole deal: I can't imagine how pissed off and deflated I'd feel if I had put that much time and effort into a project and had the thing blow-up due to someone else's incompetence. Good luck getting the thing resolved!

[Stuckinda60s]

One thing that happened was that they didn't give enough ring gap for the KB pistons. HWYSTR455 had a good point. What happens with the hyper eutectic pistons is that they transfer more heat to the top rings and therefore need more gap. It's critical that they have it, otherwise the rings will butt when they expand and dig into the cylinder walls. This causes the piston top to break off like yours did. Check the ring gap on your remaining pistons and post what it is. If I remember right, it should be about .028 for a 389. Seems to me you may have a legitimate beef with the builder. The nut being shiny probably means the nut was loose and moving against the cap. If you don't know how to check the gap, let us know.

Rich