FE gods tell me what the engine builder did to me here

[RICK LAKE]

Enginetime Mark I see a couple of things wrong. 1st the bolts for the rocker shafts are only grade 3. I would have ARP stud kit for the heads. I thought only the spring spacers are for the stock rocker assemblies. There are no end supports for the shaft assemblies. They should be there, I don't care if the spring pressure is 300 lbs open and a .400" total lift cam and rocker. I thought the oiling holes for the rockers where on the bottom not the top. Maybe wrong on this one? IMO this is way it is so important that the right FE builders come to the forum and advertise if they want to build motors. A cheap 390 FE motor buildup is still in the 6-7,000 range. That's alot if you are working on the long term plan to build it. I waited a year for the Shelby block by saving money. It took another 2 years to get the second one. Everyone makes OOPPSS, but if you screw up your own motor, you did it yourself. You pay someone and they screwup, and they say they are an FE machinist and assemblier, they should see a court room and a private e-mail could be gotten from Eddy on the who,what,why, and don't ever get motor work done from So and So. JMO. Rick L. The quick and cheap doesn't always work out the best.

[RICK LAKE]

Eddytheb Are the adjusters for your rockers all centered?? The picture makes them look like the adjuster are off center and may have not been installed right?? They look like Dove rockers, what is the writing on the rocker face, it's hard to tell. The other thing is are they a full roller rocker or only a tip one. Thanks for the info Eddy.

[eddytheb]

Guys this motor will never make it back in my shop. I am doing a new motor (looking for good core right now) for this car. Last month was the two year anniversary to when I hired this engine guy to build me two motors (both for 90k cobra builds) and gave him a $7000.00 deposit. I am winning the case, he wants to keep it out of court, we have a court date but he is a few bucks short but has till Dec 14 or it goes to court.

[Woodz428]

Originally Posted by RICK LAKE

Enginetime Mark I see a couple of things wrong. 1st the bolts for the rocker shafts are only grade 3.

Actually they are grade 5, you add 2 to the number of marks. I think the factory ones are grade 8. Grade 3 are unmarked in most cases.

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by RICK LAKE

Eddytheb Are the adjusters for your rockers all centered?? The picture makes them look like the adjuster are off center and may have not been installed right?? They look like Dove rockers, what is the writing on the rocker face, it's hard to tell. The other thing is are they a full roller rocker or only a tip one. Thanks for the info Eddy.

The rockers in the pictures say Competition Cams.

[Keithc8]

We can build about any kind of FE engine you want in 6 to 8 weeks and that is with CNC machined heads and block complete of the engine dyno. I do not understand how this kind of stuff happens and how the customer gets hooked up with some of these people. Was he just real cheap on the engine or something. Good luck, Keith

[RICK LAKE]

Power Surge Sal Dove makes alot of rocker bodies for other companies. Last time I was there I saw 2 55 gallon drums full of rocker arms. 1 drum was finished awaiting stamping and the other was getting pin and roller tip. The rockers without roller bodys, IMO Dove makes 80%. Scorpion rockers are made by Dove. I wouldn't be surprised if Comp Cams does the same. Rick L. Sal have a nice holiday. Maybe get to go for a drive today if the weather is nice.

[eddytheb]

All I wanted was a one hp per cube 390 $7000.00 to the builder $3000.00 + in legal fees two years later I am real unsure about trusting any one to build me the motors I need. I am not sure what to do I have to wait a bit more, I am supposed to get the $2200.00 + in parts back that I supplied (carb flywheel water pump pullies things like that) for him to dyno the motor. Some of these things he was supposed to supply but he didnt. By the way he was supposed to be doing a 514 for the other cobra build I am doing but I never seen a thing other than the intake also two years and counting. My phone number is avalible if you send me a email at eddytheb@rochester.rr.com

[Barry_R]

I am with Keith on this - as a small shop, it usually takes us between 6 and 12 weeks to assemble an FE - somewhat dependent on vendor parts availability. We're on the phone or computer pretty often throughout the build, and encourage customers to call and check in.

I really hate to see folks getting hooked up with unscrupulous shops. It makes the rest of us look bad.

[Chaplin]

Originally Posted by Barry_R

I am with Keith on this - as a small shop, it usually takes us between 6 and 12 weeks to assemble an FE - somewhat dependent on vendor parts availability. We're on the phone or computer pretty often throughout the build, and encourage customers to call and check in.

I really hate to see folks getting hooked up with unscrupulous shops. It makes the rest of us look bad.

Or it makes the rest of you look really good, as we can all appreciate those of you that do it right the first time!

[John Martin]

Can you say what was wrong yet ?

[eddytheb]

I just got the up date today from my lawyer and I had to sign a few more papers to get things going and we have our first hearing on the 14th if they dont settle first. I will tell all as soon as my lawyer says it ok, for now if any one is looking to have a motor done in the western new york area email me first

[SantaFe66]

I have a set of Harland Sharp roller rockers and they don't have those stinkin spring things that are supposed to keep the rockers on top of the valve stem. There are billet aluminum spacers between the rockers on mine so they don't slip off the valve stem like yours did. They are shimmed to fit properly. I think there are other mfgs roller rockers that are built that way too.

The combination of revs and valve springs allow some lateral freedom that can allow those spring centering things to let the rocker move off the valve stem. That's what I see in your picture. It may have bent the pushrod too in it's trip off to the side.

Here's the Summit part that I have:

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...K&autoview=sku

Cheap valve gear is poor economy.

Paul

[troll]

So what did you decide was really wrong with the valves and rockers.Ive seen that happen on a 3406 cat when the rockers were left loose or the valve head bent(might have been a stuck guide there).I saw it on a VW once because the valves were set way wrong.

[John Martin]

Just wondering what was the trouble ?