Jim, I've read every page of this thread - Wow.. What a litany!
I have recently moved to this forum from the ffcobra forum. Curiously - There are a number of people there who have had problems with an engine builder (full of BS stories like this KHP dude) down in Trimont MN. This is at the other end/side of the state.
I own and operate (now part time) a small shop in Minneapolis. I was going to purchase an engine for one of my customer's car (My customer turned me on to this dude as he found him on eBay). We never got the opportunity to send money for the engine, I think it was because I told him I would come to his shop and pick the engine up. The email's stopped at that point. Others have paid and received nothing. This guy's price was more than $1,000 less than I could buy the parts for (392 Stroker w/AFR 225 heads). One guy did receive a big block Chevy from this fella that had 2 or 3 different types of pistons in it. Some pistons had no rnigs, some had broken rings and there was at least one rod that had only one bearing shell installed - also, as I recall, the rear main seal was from a small block. I don't recall the builder's name, but apparently he also went by 2-3 different names. You might want to check on ffcobra.com or send me an email and I can forward a string of emails to you that he sent me. I can't help but wonder if it is the same guy!!!
A word of advice. There are many of us in the business. We live and work in your neighborhoods. We have families to feed too. Sure my prices may be slightly higher than Mail Order or some fly-by-night scam artist's - but if you come to my shop and talk with me, enjoy a cup of coffee - you would gain much more than just a comfort-zone with your builder / fabricator. I am doing this only part time now as I can not compete with the big guys that order parts by the box-car full. I can also not compete with scam artists..
Best of luck to all who have been burned.
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edit - I just read another thread here about the character in Trimont MN "Rodger Bittner" and Strokermotors:
StrokerMotors - Rodger Bittner, Trimont Mn
You just gotta wonder....