Southern Automotive engines. Does

[Tony Ripepi]

Excalibur,

I had a nightmare dealing with a local machine shop had to do a redo on the 427 center oiler in my Unique...the second time around I dealt with Gessford and it is in the garage with 6k + miles on it and not a single problem. I intend to sell the Unique this year and will do so with high confidence to the new owner that he is getting a quality car.

To say the least, I was disappointed with the response from Bill at SA.

TR

[Tony Radford]

I guess I would have to classify myself as a Southern Automotive / Parham groupie. I'm on my second SA engine (upgraded for additional HP) and in addition to having received a pair of nice motors, I can offer nothing but praise for the SA team. I have the advantage of living in the same city and consider the Parhams personal friends. Like anyone, I hate to hear of bad experiences some of you have had with a company that has always gone so far out of their way to facilitate not just me, but the numerous Cobrafiles in the Atlanta that sport SA engines. We all must reflect our personal experiences, I can only say that mine are very good. I wouldn't consider going any where else for engine no. 3.

Other TR

[susan parham]

Please allow us the opportunity to respond to some of the comments which have been made about Southern Automotive.

John McMahon - Obviously you have SA confused with someone else. I refer you to your recent post on CC/Consumer Watch/Cobra Restorers/1-18-05. SA has never built an engine for Paul Sutphen. Also, SA has never been sued by anyone - never.

CSX2300 - This is difficult to answer because a long time has gone by and because any conversation was very minimal and I hope I am not confusing him with another customer. All transactions concerning the purchase and payment for the engine was handled through Finish Line. I recall a Finish Line customer who had one of our engines called and said that he had spun a bearing on one rod journal while participating in a track event. Our warranty had expired due to the length of time the customer had the engine and also due to the fact that we do not warranty engines used in competitive events and frankly I don't know any builder that would. I really don't think that he expected us to because he already had the engine taken apart when he called. The customer did mention that the block had been repaired. It was a perfect standard bore block that had a small valley freeze crack that had been sent off and professionally repaired, pressure tested before assembly and again on the test run in stand. Anyone should know that epoxy can't be used because it would not hold for 30 seconds. No mention was made by the customer of any leak or failure from the repair and he also agred that the repair had nothing to do with a spun bearing. I did offer to rebuild, freshen and test run the motor at our cost or about $2500. No further contact was made by the customer or from Finish Line who purchased the engine. One other note: Our 427 engines are around $15,000 - not $25,000.

We absolutely consider customer service a very high priority for our company. We always stand behind our engines and never fail to respond when needed.
Bill Parham

[BRYCE]

THIS IS NOT TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT ABOUT SA BUILT ENGINES, BUT HAS ANY ONE EVER HAD ANY BAD EXPIERIENCE WITH ROUSH ? ORDERED MY 402 MIDDLE OF JANUARY AND AM STILL WAITING. NOW I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT COULD BE 1ST OF MARCH SUPPOSEDLY DYNO BROKE DOWN , THEN HAD TO BE REDONE , THEN IT HAS TO BE POLISHED, CRATED , THEN SHIPPED TO MY SHOP IN CALIF., THEN 7-10 DAYS TO BE INSTALLED. I'M SURE IT WILL BE GREAT WHEN IT'S FINISHED, BUT I'M JUST COURIOUS. SHOULD I BE WORRIED?

[chev-hell]

as im learning about cobra's (im a chevelle guy currently) first was a gast at a $25,000 engine, i mean jesus, i can buy a crate GM 502 with fuel injection etc. for 10k or even a Rehr Morrison engine for less, so the 15k sounds reasonable from a reputable shop and aparently these engines aren't a "standard issue" What i've learned is that aparently this company does stand behind their work although they may have a few problems, they take care of their customers which in todays world isn't common place.... so, although i'd probably never be able to afford one of your engines, (actualy im too cheap and i'd build my own most likely) I'd have no problem sending business your way just by the way other on this board have shown their good experiences......

[ColoradoCobras.]

Pulled from Southern Automotive's own web site:
"Every Engine Is Run-in For Two Hours Before Delivery To Ensure Reliability"

If that were the case would this thread have been started? Wouldn't oil leaks bad seal and all the other things show up after 2 hours of bench running?

At the request of customers, we have installed 3 of Southern's motors in Superformance and Unique Turn key minus'. Two of the three were "defective"...one having to be sent back. We also had a very expensive Rousch with "oil issues".

When we build them the way we think they should be, we build with FORD crate motors. We have never had ANY issues with using Ford Crate motors purchased directly from our Ford dealer. They are down the street local. As of 2005 they also come with a FORD WARRANTY 12/12!

I wouldn't order a bride by mail. I wouldn't marry a car to a motor I bought by mail either. FORD RACING RULES in our builds.

[Goober]

Bill, good going on your reply. Great to hear the other side of any story. As with life in general, there is always both sides and a lot of times we readers don/t get to hear them.
I have heard you build great engines, that's my side of the story

Mark

[Sal Gerace]

You are comparing apples to oranges! Southern builds FE engines from 30+ year old blocks/ How can you compare that to a Ford crate engine? Most guys who buy from Southern want an engine that will look period correct and not cost a second mortgage.

[Gasman]

Dear Susan and Bill, I was so glad to see your response to the reckless allagations made by some in this thread. I'd like to personally thank you for being there for us. You both are special people with a love for our passion that most people will never understand. Let it go and get on with answering the phone for those that love you. I do.

[clayfoushee]

Well said, Gasman!

[Excaliber]

I wish only the best for S.A. and the rest of the vendors here on CC.

BUTT, it is not "reckless" for people to express their opinons or experiences of what happened to them. You may choose to believe or not believe based on your own standards and experience.

Reckless is as reckless does in this case!

[GeorgiaSnake]

Originally posted by ColoradoCobras.


Pulled from Southern Automotive's own web site:
"Every Engine Is Run-in For Two Hours Before Delivery To Ensure Reliability"

If that were the case would this thread have been started? Wouldn't oil leaks bad seal and all the other things show up after 2 hours of bench running?

I know mine was run in - I was standing right beside it. I also know that it didn't leak a drop of oil. It did develope a leak at about 1,000 miles - Southern fixed it just as I described early in this thread.

I really think Bill would drive to Idaho to make something right. It makes me angry to read post (with a CSX # and no name) that throws out misleading drivel as fact.

Crate motors leak too - I've seen it first hand.

Good job Bill - wading into this place takes moxie.

My offer is still open to the originator of this thread - come on down you won't be disappointed

Randy

[Gasman]

JB Bright, I'll extend the same offer Randy has made. If you want to drive a second car with a SA motor, send me a request. You can't do better.

[clayfoushee]

Ernie, you're right, are you finished? Do you have any first-hand info to share?

[patrija]

I'd be embarassed to share all the stories of "mechanic newbie" questions and fixes that I've needed from SA ... since they've been a result of my own unknowledegable tinkering. For better or worse, I know that I can call SA and get someone on the phone who wants to help get me out of a jam.

I have also shared Randy's experience of Bill coming to my house (80+ miles each way) at 5pm in Atlanta rush hour on a Friday to deliver my car with a new engine just so I could attend a road rally the next day. Obviously everyone can't live near Atlanta (thank God, we have enough traffice already) to experience the benefits of being this close, but it's a true sign of how Bill stand's behind his engines and customers.

Kudos to Bill for stepping in - I think it was time to put this to bed. So long, and thanks for all the fish!

[LateApex]

The internet will never convey good old fashioned customer service beyond expectations like what Bill has delivered to me a long time ago.

[Lew Ledyard]

80 miles is nothing. Bill drove all the way up to Delaware from Georgia to pick up a car that needed a little TLC and then drove the truck back up to drop it off (about 14 hours each way). Pick up/delivery and repair all free of charge. This I know first hand.

I have no knowledge of the complaints. However, it does not make sense to me that someone who would go so far out of their way (literally and figuratively) to help a customer would turn their back on another customer.

[lineslinger]

Good thread.....this is where I get the real info....

[Cracker]

Gasman wrote:

"Dear Susan and Bill,... I'd like to personally thank you for being there for us. You both are special people with a love for our passion that most people will never understand. Let it go and get on with answering the phone for those that love you. I do. "


Gasman - You make me laugh, and wonder. All I can say is thank God it was Valentines Day! I hope your wife got a note that passionate. BTW, it almost brought a tear to my eye.

Personally, I don't think this thread has made much sense - two groups 180 degrees apart - with one chastising the other for their experiences. A better answer would be to book a flight to Atlanta, spend a day with with Bill & Susan, and take GS up on an offer to drive an SA equipped car - it would also go along way in showing how serious you are about a motor from them. The rest of this stuff is nothing more than juvenile drivel - mostly from the SA customer side.

BTW, you "can do better" which is why SA's 427's are 15K - fact not opinion (I think Mr. P even wrote this) but with dependability being the "goal" more stock like motors are what you get in that price range. Reckless "claims" such as this do nothing to sway anyone with a brain - or at least much of one.

[Gasman]

Hey Cracker, Glad I could amuse you. Oh BTW, We'd love to see some track times on that engine stand. What would you know about reliability with an engine that isn't in a car?