Winter project...

[yaycandy]

This was direct from CSS, the office Gal wrote me a long email, stating everything is per request and always extra. In which it looks like crap currently, the plate is wavy there are small plates wedged in between the cylinder walls but not flush with the current height. Why would you want your work to go out looking like this... IMHO the job is half done, decking should be the final touch before completion... but people will read my rants and know what to ask for, and call and demand time on the phone to finalize the order prior to start...

Thats crazy and shady as hel l .Ive heard a couple things but they need exposed. Literally exactly what i heard months ago, thats why i decided to go local.

 

[802SHO]

This was direct from CSS, the office Gal wrote me a long email, stating everything is per request and always extra. In which it looks like crap currently, the plate is wavy there are small plates wedged in between the cylinder walls but not flush with the current height. Why would you want your work to go out looking like this... IMHO the job is half done, decking should be the final touch before completion... but people will read my rants and know what to ask for, and call and demand time on the phone to finalize the order prior to start...

One thing you can’t teach is pride. That’s almost like an emotion, not a skill. Pride would have made the sight of it repulsive to the person who completed the CSS. Pride would have asked you, “Hey Randy it’s ready to go, are you sure you don’t want us to deck it?” Then you could have said, “What? Isn’t that included? Absolutely I want you to deck it.”

So it’s never been about paying for anything, it’s not about paying extra. Nobody gives a shit about the cost….as in her email. It’s why the **** didn’t they tell you/inform you. When they’re already talking to you….even if you didn’t know you should ask for it, an amateur sales man would have asked YOU if you wanted it done. If you get your car wet sanded, buffed and polished…..shouldn’t they ask you if you want it waxed or ceramic coated…even if that’s “extra”? Why would you want your paint corrected but then not protected. Lacking Pride is bad enough but lacking common sense is pretty close to intolerable.

I’m ranting with you bc it’s just absolutely ridiculous. Maybe they get a lot of blocks that get just that portion done and the person or shop they send it back to decks it? But they’re already right there so skipping the decking kind of seams weird, to the point of nonsense. Plus do they warranty their work if someone else decks it? They’re already right there working on the block, it’s not like they would be handling a different part.

Are sprinkles extra on ice cream? When you get a brake job done is it “extra” for them to put your ******* wheels back on?

They talk to you, do the work, then all of a sudden communication is forbidden when they get to the decking part? And as far as “asking for it” did you say you “didn’t” want it? How about that reverse psychology shit!?

At any time have they offered to deck it, given you a price and said anything remotely like “we’re sorry for the confusion” or “miscommunication”?

 

[Autox4fun]

Here’s some pictures

 

[802SHO]

Here’s some pictures

Yeah why no phone call or instant message asking if you wanted it decked since you never said you didn’t want it done?

 

[Autox4fun]

Yeah why no phone call or instant message asking if you wanted it decked since you never said you didn’t want it done?

Well maybe this gospel will help the next person ask the right questions or demand the correct completed job.

 

[Autox4fun]

Easter bunny was good to me this year

 

[Autox4fun]

Well, Dropped the block off to a local machine shop to finish the work and see what pistons to order. Ordered up some King bearing, which show be here tomorrow. Ordered up the ARP main studs from the L and got to get the machine shop to tell me which bolts were used in this block (until I went to the garage). Come to find out 3 options are out there. Looking at the block I still have here, I notice I had two of the different style in my own garage. I flipped over the block I have and notice the bolts I have don't fit.... Crap, I dropped off the wrong main caps and bolts to them.... so I have the correct bolts to measure here and got my pictures together for the L to order the 3 piece stud kit. @Jordan_R did you have to measure your bolts when you ordered?
These have a weird 20 thread pitch - from a 15 model year car. This could be due to stretch

 

[Jordan_R]

Well, Dropped the block off to a local machine shop to finish the work and see what pistons to order. Ordered up some King bearing, which show be here tomorrow. Ordered up the ARP main studs from the L and got to get the machine shop to tell me which bolts were used in this block (until I went to the garage). Come to find out 3 options are out there. Looking at the block I still have here, I notice I had two of the different style in my own garage. I flipped over the block I have and notice the bolts I have don't fit.... Crap, I dropped off the wrong main caps and bolts to them.... so I have the correct bolts to measure here and got my pictures together for the L to order the 3 piece stud kit. @Jordan_R did you have to measure your bolts when you ordered?
These have a weird 20 thread pitch - from a 15 model year car. This could be due to stretch

The bottom end bolts you need to be careful with. The original engine I built for my first car just had 2 of the ARP studs back off. My current built engine apparently also had that happen and was rebuilt with the OEM main bolts. I'd probably just see if you can go with OEM main bolts over the stud kit. There is 2 different thread pitches on these blocks. Not sure what they exactly are

 

[Autox4fun]

King bearings made it in today

 

[Autox4fun]

My Nephew is a machinist and helped me out with this one.

 

[Autox4fun]

Been a few minutes... But.....
The block was cleared to get standard sized pistons so I got them ordered up.

I've been using Vivid Racing due to the best overall pricing and they always have coupons lol. Love me some coupons...

Their listing states with rings - I think bonus one less thing to worry about. I get the order in and it's less the rings... I called and online chatted with them about it and the state that Manley sells the rings a la carte... I ask them to read the last line on the website description " includes rings" I then ask them to read the product info line on the invoices " w/ rings"
***Please hold*** Manager approves them sending me rings for free... I've been watching the website listing and the listing now - no longer states with rings...lol #winning

5 phone calls and two webchats and I was able to save $300 due to there oops... Karma turning back around from the BS at CCS and them not decking the block to finish their unfinished work.
Should have them this week and I can finally request the final clean up and get the bottom half assembled.
I did go with the Livernois/ARP main stud kit for this block - which took two trips of parts to get correct - Not that I wanted to use them, but they offered and with two or three different options of bolts for these mains they did come through with the bolts...

Hopefully the next post will be of an assembled block and me going after the rest.

 

[Autox4fun]

 

[Autox4fun]

8-10k on the heads... striping down again to clean and update, this is with a catch can...


new seals and bee hive springs and retainers will be going back in..
direct port water/meth will also being used - hopefully this will not do this again...

soaking and cleaning in their future...

 

[Autox4fun]

First set cleaned up nice - then I thought of a funny photo - if you know, you know lol

 

[Autox4fun]

If you didn’t know … here’s a hint

 

[kryptto]

I

***Please hold*** Manager approves them sending me rings for free... I've been watching the website listing and the listing now - no longer states with rings...lol #winning

5 phone calls and two webchats and I was able to save $300 due to there oops...

have used them - its a ****** to get through at times, but they make such a shiit ton of money its amazing, those mistakes should be a sneeze to them. I ordered my PPE DP's and many other items from Vivid, great parts place.

 

[kryptto]

BTW - any updates on this build?

 

[Autox4fun]

BTW - any updates on this build?

still nothing from the machine shop.... not that I am pushing them, told them to fit me in when they're not saving the day for the local shops... I have time

As for the heads, cleaned all the valves, stripped them down, I ported them the last time they were off. Rushed to do it last time - This time I'm going to focus on smoothing it out a little more

 

[Autox4fun]

Well got a call last week from the machine shop. Not a good call.... but a hey I've been thinking call...

Background, he has built big power engines in the V8 world since I was a kid and my dad was having engines built...

This call was the Rod and Pistons are pry heavier than the stock units, can you bring by a stock one for me to weight.

The call today was yeah those new units weight more, you will need to have the assembly balanced and I'm not setup to do a V6 crank/assembly... here is a # to a guy that may be able to help.... come get your stuff....

I said please deck the block for me and call me when that is done...

I will call the other shop tomorrow to see if they can help....

My Question to others that have "Built" a block with aftermarket parts... did you ever have your rotating assembly balanced? or did it just get put together?

Raptor crank, manley rods and pistons, king bearings is my setup... I really have not heard anybody talk about this step in the pages I've read...

I fully understand that this old school guy may be a bit scared to jump in... but an engine is an engine after all...

any thoughts ? @802SHO @Jordan_R @bpd1151 @Ecoboost_xsport @FiveLeeter918

 

[kryptto]

I am 802SHO and others will weigh in. Good luck, haven't pulled one and rebuilt, I wish you luck, something will change for the better I am sure.