Help with damaged motor

[Tengu]

G'day all, I recently purchased a 427 side oiler in US for my Contemporary Cobra here in Australia. Upon arriving at the freight depot in Compton California before being shipped down under, the motor was damaged.
I am waiting to find out my options, and yes it was insured. There are photos but without having the motor inspected, I cant tell the extent of the damage. Does anyone know of a reputable specialist FE engine builder anywhere near Compton California? Or anywhere in California?
Thanks
Mike

[Dimis]

PM sent...

[Rick Parker]

What happend, what and how was it damaged?

[Tengu]

Thanks for your help Dimis, much appreciated

Rick, from the photos, it looks like it tipped over in the truck during transport across several states. Initially it looks superficial, cracked valve cover, smashed distributor, plug leads look worn down on one side and damaged harmonic balancer. I'm hoping thats all, but with damage to the balancer, I'm concerned that the crankshaft tip might be bent if thats possible. I'd like to get it checked and repaired before getting on the ship to Oz

[Rick Parker]

You would think it would be in a box or on a pallet wrapped in plastic.

[mickmate]

FE Specialties-The West Coast Ford Performance Specialist

[Tengu]

Thanks Mickmate

Rick, it was wrapped in plastic on a pallet, and was going to be crated in export approved wood at the depot. I can only assume the whole engine and pallet tipped over, maybe while the truck driver was negotiating a bend at warp speed. The worn leads indicate it may have been tipped over for some time and rubbing against something....sounds like me after a big night out

[tcrist]

The engine builder is going to say that it was fine when it left their place so the OP is going to have to file damage paperwork with the shipper. Good that this was found before it went accoss the pond. I would not even try to see if it is ok. I would just file a damage report, go after the shipper and order another engine after you get your money back on this one. It will/might cost them more to tear it down and check it out than to just pay for a new one.

Just my 2 cents, FWIW.

[Legless]

Bummer!

[mickmate]

Shelby uses a piece of plywood to bolt across the back of the motor. It has a nice wide bottom edge, the front sits on the nice wide cobra pans. That gives a wide flat stable bottom on these things for shipping.

[Danr55]

Sounds like it got banged while falling from the fork truck. That sucks!

[PANAVIA]

Did you get a resolution on this >?- we work with a Shop in LA that we could refer you to - they could check it out, - but I would exercise a freight claim on this. - who knows how far it dropped. - if the balancer got hit / damaged - then we have an issue. if it landed from the back of a truck and hit there , one could have internal damage.

Unfortunately FE specialties is 650 Miles from Compton.

[xlr8or]

Using the word reputable and the city of Compton in the same sentence is an oxymoron.

Sorry about the hassle but file the claim and start over.

[Rick Parker]

Using the word reputable and the city of Compton in the same sentence is an oxymoron.

I have a friend that traveled 1140 miles round trip TODAY in an attempt to resolve a Good Faith product dispute with a Door Manufacturer in Compton. No satisfaction gained. He gets the sore Butt award on both counts.

[D-CEL]

Im sure it is an interesting story how the motor got damaged.
Based of the fact that it happened in Compton, The truck driver probably got car jacked at gun point by a gang while smoking crack with one of the 100000 nasty, toothless not exactly caucasian hookers….
LOL Im surprised there is a motor to fix

[Tengu]

Well, here's the latest update ..
the motor was returned to the builder by the shipping company who said they would launch a claim. The engine builder quoted $1500 to pull the motor down, check it out and rebuild it. The shipper advised me to pay the engine builder up front for the repair which I was not prepared to do. From that point on I was unable to contact the engine builder to discuss our options through the previous email channel and the phone number was disconnected .... jump ahead several weeks of frustration and I managed to track down a new number for him, called this morning and re-established communication, he claimed he had been attempting to contact me unsuccessfully, and I don't necessarily doubt that, but I didn't receive anything from him. .... It appears he fixed the motor and sold it to someone else for less than he sold it to me. He will refund me just over half of what I payed him. No doubt my response was a little less than meek. Because he's in the US, Im not in the fortunate position to personally visit and shove his toolbox where it fits (or doesn't). I will see what I can recover through other means but looks like I've made a few poor choices I may have to live with. Thanks for those who offered advice regarding other builders and shippers. I will definitely consider those next time ... then again, once the wife finds out there may not be a next time

[Dimis]

That's flat out piss poor!
Sorry to hear of your plight.

I believe a continued naming and shaming of said builder and transporter for their sham operations is the least you could do!

I'm sure there is legal recourse you could take.

[Legless]

Surely the insurance you took out is of some use Mike?

[JST4FUN]

I don't believe I could just write this off and take the loss. If I read correctly, the shipment was insured which should at least pay for any work necessary to restore to original condition and then get the engine to you. If the builder sold YOUR engine, I believe that becomes a legal matter. Accepting any partial payment of a full refund may complicate matters. This is indeed a difficult situation. I would start by contacting the Attorney General's office of the state where the builder resides. I believe there are commerce laws that have been broken here based on what I have read in your posts.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Do we have an explaination from the engine builder/supplier?