i gots da low down dirty ..... engine builder blues......!

[trip'n]

with doing my homework and referrals from samba and shoptalk i decided to go with a highly regarded builder.

talks and emails started in march of 2011..i paid extra to ship and build my original motor...also shipped and had my transmission rebuilt .

building began in may 2011....then i started my list with van cafe..new s.s. cooling pipes,s.s. thermostat housing,s.s. junction, silicone hose, all new cooling hose kit..new radiator..new condenser,new motor mounts. rebuilt fuel injectors,fuel line kit,front & rear brakes, ac compressor, starter, alternator, fuel pump..etc etc etc...i also added a .10cent cooler and exhaust....i was building for a trouble free ride.... a hi performance motor that would perform like vw should have and last approx. 150k miles...cruise at 70 in the fast lane..according to builder
everything i am writing trying to say is true i cant remember all the dates etc.

SO NOW THE NIGHTMARE begins i have approx. 20k miles on all..
1st--- engine starts making a noise... old school builder here tells me problems in #1 or 3... and builder pays for shipping ..said he would pay to remove & install but doesn't.
i was told in house error and received motor back repaired.

2nd--- engine starts making noise i was on a roadtrip i drive to builder he listens and agrees to tear down and fix..i pay for motel,food gas..loss of work..it was way out of my way...builders helper tells me something installed upside down or backwards.

3rd--- engine....on my way to chicago cruzn along @ 65 on 55n around joliet motor dies... no noises ..no puddles..oils good... try and restart wont turn over...AAA premier to a respected/roadhaus vw shop...when we get to shop theirs a broken rod bolt laying under motor on flatbed..came through top of motor..bad rod bolt over torqued ??...builder pays shipping and remove & repair..im out hotels..rental cars..loss of work

4th..engine making a noise ..had my old school builder here.. listen has he had to the others and tells me a deep internal noise in # 1 or 3 cylinder ...sounding like a wrist pin,loose rod,burr in the bushing and under rev he could feel it... builder says he will pay shipping and remove & repair..
i explain my concerns about not wanting a tainted engine and already been repaired numerous times ...all noises were on the passenger side #1/3 cylinders...i told builder i would like a new motor with all new parts and heads or my money back 6500.00... 4800 for motor and 1200 that i was out for a remove and install ..500 for some of my problems and expenses.
he tells me all he will do is pay for shipping ,remove and repair...i bought and paid for a new hi performance engine...thats what i want
he ask me how many miles and i tell him approx. 20k....he reply's that his warranty was to 18k miles and i am out of warranty... funny i put 3k miles roundtrip for him to listen and repair engine 2...but he will pay shipping and repair....i am thinking he couldn't get 4 of them right ... i am out tons of money...loss of work...plus i have missed lots of camping trips..several music festivals and on and on and on....o the heart ache and ridicule...i gots da low down dirty engine builder blues.

i have a 2 owner damn near perfect 1990 gl tintop...that wont run worth shxt

[syncrogreg]

Didn't get the answer you wanted on the Samba? How do you not hear a rod bolt let go? What is the question by the way?

[Piledriver]

The only alternative is to do it yourself, then you can only blame yourself, unless it was an obvious parts issue.

Name and shame, if the builder hasn't done you right.

Some folks have runs of bad luck, but I'd expect better service life out of carefully selected junk bin parts .

[trip'n]

hi gregg
if you really read my post both on samba and shoptalk...........there is know question.
i heard nothing and new nothing until we got to dr darbys and lying underneath my motor on the flatbed was the bolt
i do know you have concerns.....thank you.
i cant do it myself...thats why i thought i was paying for 1 of the best.
i understand the bad luck.....that's why im scared to go for 5

[Stray Catalyst]

Piledriver is right - if you're getting bad results for good money, you need to either find a local guy (who can't simply ignore your phone calls or emails, since he knows you'll show up in person if he doesn't build it right) or get the books and tools and do it yourself. With the money you've spent, you could have built several engines - and at this point you'd be able to rebuild them upon failure. You may have a run of bad luck going, or you may have a bad mechanic - not having looked at the engines, I can only speculate. But I do know that you can build a pretty beefy motor for a lot less than $6.5k if you're doing the work yourself - and you can triple-check everything to ensure that every fastener is in place, intact, and properly torqued. I've rebuilt engines after wrist pin problems, but if you're finding internal parts under the car then it's quite possible that your case is also toast.

I hope your luck improves, but I think the best investment you could make would be a few hundred dollars worth of tools, about $150 worth of books - and start skinning your knuckles. I can't easily describe the amount of satisfaction you'll get when you first hear the engine you've rebuilt purring like a kitten - money can't replace that feeling.

Stray

[rubbachicken]

how far have you gotten since this all happened, i too would recommend getting in there yourself, there's a LOT you can learn from books, and if you take it slow, one bolt at a time, you can do this yourself.