69 Camaro at Best of Show

[Matt@BOS]

Originally Posted by Ns RS

We started rebuilding the car at the beginning of 2018. In 2017 I dropped in a new LS7 from a well known engine builder, ran a total of two events, pulled the motor to seal up leaks, found out the bearings were shot after 1500 miles, rebuilt it, went to LS Fest West, and then lost a titanium valve spring retainer on my way home. At that point I decided to let it sit in the corner of the shop for a while.”


Hi matt I remember you mentioned this to me at ousci last year did engine builder ever make good on a fix for your motor or did you chalk it up as a loss cause?

I always have a difficult time figuring out what to do when it comes to sending stuff back to get fixed. I have a shop, and I know that sometimes things happen. As much as we try and get things right the first time, every now and then we have to go back and fix something. However, I also try and gauge whether or not its worth my time to send it back. My time is worth something and if I think I'll get stuck in endless troubleshooting/repair hell, I'd rather pay to rebuild or buy a new engine and be able to use the car!

In the instance with the engine in question, I decided to send it out for machining and rebuild it in house, instead of sending it back to the builder, and that's why I haven't mentioned them by name. I also just wanted to send the motor back and get a refund, but they weren't up for that.

Anyway, here's why I chose to rebuild it. The first time I pulled it, I found valves from two different manufactures that had different shaped bowls and a 13 percent difference in weight. If it was a kid putting the the heads together, I could maybe understand, but this wasn't an isolated incident, another one of our builds had the same issue. There were other issues like over half an inch of slop in the timing chain, cam bearings that weren't lined up with the oil passages, etc. When I got it all back together I broke a titanium retainer. The engine only had 3k total miles on it, 3 autocrosses and 20 minutes of road course time.

For those concerned about buying what I did, you are more than welcome to private message me.

[Ns RS]

Originally Posted by Matt@BOS

I always have a difficult time figuring out what to do when it comes to sending stuff back to get fixed. I have a shop, and I know that sometimes things happen. As much as we try and get things right the first time, every now and then we have to go back and fix something. However, I also try and gauge whether or not its worth my time to send it back. My time is worth something and if I think I'll get stuck in endless troubleshooting/repair hell, I'd rather pay to rebuild or buy a new engine and be able to use the car!

In the instance with the engine in question, I decided to send it out for machining and rebuild it in house, instead of sending it back to the builder, and that's why I haven't mentioned them by name. I also just wanted to send the motor back and get a refund, but they weren't up for that.

Anyway, here's why I chose to rebuild it. The first time I pulled it, I found valves from two different manufactures that had different shaped bowls and a 13 percent difference in weight. If it was a kid putting the the heads together, I could maybe understand, but this wasn't an isolated incident, another one of our builds had the same issue. There were other issues like over half an inch of slop in the timing chain, cam bearings that weren't lined up with the oil passages, etc. When I got it all back together I broke a titanium retainer. The engine only had 3k total miles on it, 3 autocrosses and 20 minutes of road course time.

For those concerned about buying what I did, you are more than welcome to private message me.

I followed your build and had wondered what happened as the car was mia for a while so I asked.

I was disappointed to hear of your motor problems - I followed your build (among others) and was vested in it. It was sad to hear anyone from the lat g community experience such troubles but the other inconsistencies you listed above is just plain lazy.

Appreciate you sharing your opinion then and now and making the offer to others to pm you if they have questions. Experience shared publicly or via pm is still sharing.

I wouldn’t hesitate to

1) Officially use the vendor/member feed back section and
2) also unofficially pm anyone here for their thoughts on any vendor or member I’m about to engage in a transaction and
3) use a credit card in the event it turns to dogsht.

I feel I’d get honest opinions either way then be able to proceed in making my own informed decision after.

[glassman]

Sorry to hear about you putting it back together, i was hoping to pick it up for 20 cents on the dollar

Love this car alot, one of my favorite 69's, from the color to the rims to the "performance" (stuff happens,,,,right?)

I think i read it right, a 454 LS right?

Anyways, best, mike

[Matt@BOS]

Originally Posted by glassman

Sorry to hear about you putting it back together, i was hoping to pick it up for 20 cents on the dollar

Love this car alot, one of my favorite 69's, from the color to the rims to the "performance" (stuff happens,,,,right?)

I think i read it right, a 454 LS right?

Anyways, best, mike

Mike, I’m sorry you didn’t buy it for 20 cents on the dollar too. You’re honestly way better off waiting for me to dump a ton of money into it, sort out all the issues and then sell it for 50 cents on the dollar.

...and yes 454 all aluminum LS7, well technically it might be a 457.

[rustomatic]

With all this talk of special builder-specific LS stuff going wrong (I think I remember the big-time builder you mentioned at Sonoma), can we at least hear that the crate motor in your awesome white Mustang still works correctly?

Your (expensive) experience reminds me of why I gave up on both machine shops and automatic transmission rebuilders in the late 1990s: They always seemed to require unnecessary return trips, sometimes including court.

Here's looking forward to seeing the IRS go into this car!

[Matt@BOS]

Originally Posted by rustomatic

With all this talk of special builder-specific LS stuff going wrong (I think I remember the big-time builder you mentioned at Sonoma), can we at least hear that the crate motor in your awesome white Mustang still works correctly?

Your (expensive) experience reminds me of why I gave up on both machine shops and automatic transmission rebuilders in the late 1990s: They always seemed to require unnecessary return trips, sometimes including court.

Here's looking forward to seeing the IRS go into this car!

Yeah, the Mustang's engine is still running strong (knock on wood)! There isn't anything too radical with it though. All of the aftermarket parts on it have undergone factory durability testing. At the end of the day, I think you're always choosing between reliability and power. I know after two to three years, I'll probably refreshing the engine in my Camaro again.

[WILWAXU]

Originally Posted by Matt@BOS

Yeah, the Mustang's engine is still running strong (knock on wood)! There isn't anything too radical with it though. All of the aftermarket parts on it have undergone factory durability testing. At the end of the day, I think you're always choosing between reliability and power. I know after two to three years, I'll probably refreshing the engine in my Camaro again.

Well.. you keep the Mustang's RPM's so low.. it should live forever