Two Engine failures from Southern Automotive

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

From what I have seen here on Club Cobra there is very little of 'one builder talking bad about another', cars, motors or whatever. I appreciate that, I think it's very unprofessional to talk like that. I don't talk bad about MY competitors but I know for a fact that some of talk bad about ME! Pisses me off, but I'm not gonna stoop to their gutter level...

Donald C. your experience sounds SO bad it's close to the realm of 'unbelievable', or is it 'I don't want to believe'. Dang, this is just a horrific report. It's well written and detailed enough that I have to take it seriously and wonder HOW in the world could this happen? More than that, is it STILL happening and possibly more wide spread than any of us realize? I sure would like to hear the other side of this story...

I'll clarify my prevouis post some.

I can't say I've seen it (builders talking bad about others) here on CC, and I can't say that what I consider some of the top builders, do it either, but I've seen/heard "local" builders do it all the time...........that in itself shows me they can let their work and reputation stand on it's own, they have to bash the other guy to get work, and that ain't good, those people I RUN from real fast.......

David

[Donald Campbell]

"Unbelievable" is the common theme to what I have heard from others in the automotive industry including AutoStrada and Meridian Performance. Who by the way do not directly compete with SA in any way.

I think as a minimum expectation a $14,000.00 motor should run. It should also be well assembled, look good and not leak.

[madmaxx]

For every complaint you hear about there are 100 you do not. When it comes to replicas and engines or any custom I feel you have to go with the most reputable organizations you can and as important a big enough organization that you can lean on if need be. I am ignorant as far as building custom engines, sure I can rebuild an engine with like pieces but not piece one together. I am also not a geologist. When I buy diamonds I buy GIA certified and nothing else. I pay a premium but for the few times I purchase one there is no economy of scale to me becomming an expert.

Buy a Roush or a Keith Craft, 99% of the people on this forum, including I do not have what it takes to crush the gas peddle through 5th gear so whatever they are building is more than you will ever need as far as power. Sure they may be $2K more than the next guy but it is priceless when you do not have nightmare stories like this. I am not saying Roush reacts as quick as KC with warranty service but Roush does have a little bit better marketability IMHO. Kinda like Sea dweller and Rolex, Rolex is an expert at marketing and watch building, Sea Dweller is an expert at watch building.

As far as dealers you will never ever beat the service or patience Dynamic motorsports (cincinatti) and particularly Shane Miller offers and the gap filling they do for Superformance.

What a rant, I guess the sun has finally gotten to me.

[lovehamr]

Originally Posted by madmaxx

Kinda like Sea dweller and Rolex, Rolex is an expert at marketing and watch building, Sea Dweller is an expert at watch building.

Max, isn't the Sea Dweller just a higher end diving watch from Rolex? Not like it's own company or something, is it?

Steve

[vanoochka]

Originally Posted by lovehamr

Max, isn't the Sea Dweller just a higher end diving watch from Rolex? Not like it's own company or something, is it?

Steve

Correct. The Sea Dweller Deep Sea is a Rolex.

[Jamo]

Yup...you want a real watch, you buy Panerai.

Donald...that should've been your first post.

[richardferguson]

Originally Posted by Jamo

Yes Anthony...and your tenure carries with it a certain aura of credibility, sufficient to appear to bootstrap even a bit of hearsay.

Although this thread has been an entertaining read, the above and other moderating gems have been of the highest quality
Richard

[Jamo]

Thank you sir...just helping it move along when we can.

[madmaxx]

Sea dweller is Omega, Submariner is Rolex. Two different companies, Like BDR and SPF

[Jamo]

Actually Mad...no.

Submariners and SeaDwellers are both Rolex watches. They both use the same movements. The Submariner is a standard professional divers watch (1,000 foot depth in most instances), while the SeaDweller is a bit more substantial in case size and can withstand depths of 4,000 feet with a built-in automatic pressure valve.

Omega's line of professional dive watches are Seamasters (sorta like "Speedmaster" for their time measurement line, donja think?), which come in several depth capacities...some include a manual pressure valve which looks like an extra crown at the 10:00 position (I have one on a winder as we speak). One line with a wave dial is known as the James Bond watch because they were worn by several of the Bonds in the movies.

In reality, Flemming's Bond wore a Submariner...but Omega won the ad placement battle with the Broccolis.

In summation...Submariner, SeaDweller and Seamaster are all models of watches...not mfgs. More like FIAs, Slabsides and 427SCs rather than "BDR and SPF."

BTW, Panerai is an Italian mfg which was commissioned to build watches for the WWII-era Italian underwater demolition teams (forerunners of SEALs) which took out English ships in several Med ports. They were discovered anew by Stallone, who had a batch made for his buds/co-owners of Planet Hollywood as gifts. He intended to be the first to wear one in a movie (Daylight), but Awnold was finishing up Eraser first and heard about Stallone's plan, so they went back and added the first few minutes to Eraser, which includes a close up of Awnold using the Panerai crown lock as an alarm feature (which it is not...Hollywood creative license)...beat Stallone/Daylight to the theaters by a few weeks. They are big...the first to hit 44mm, and well suited for this big-assed writer's wrist since 1998. Many mfgs have followed suit with big watches, but the craze started with Panerai.

Now...some folks wear watches...some know watches. You are most welcome.

Obviously, none of this has a damn thing to do with the thread, but I just felt the need to impress myself.

[BossCER]

Originally Posted by Jamo

Yup...you want a real watch, you buy Panerai.

Must be what Evan wears

[Jamo]

Originally Posted by BossCER

Must be what Evan wears

Not bloody likely, homeboy...I would assume he wears a gold Rolex which is more befitting his reflective persona.

Back to the motors...

[Chaplin]

How are watches relevant to this poor guy's engine problems?

Start talking watches and our moderator completely loses sight of what he is supposed to be doing!

[Jamo]

Bite me, Chappie...it is a fine madness from which I suffer.

Not a damn thing to do with motors, which is sorta my over the top point in addressing Mr. Mad's failed attempt at an analogy, and which is what I stated above (to my own personal satisfaction I might add).

Again...back to the motors.

[Jamo]

BTW Chappie...don't YOU have anything to say about personal experiences with this particular mfg?

[Dinobyte]

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

Dinobyte - Did Valley Ford Specialists rebuild the second motor top to bottom or did you start from scratch? Did SA come through to reimburse you for any of the costs?

SA supplied both the first and second motors.

Valley only did the install on the second motor, and saw the effects when they had to tear it down and saw the sub standard repairs on the block.

Valley built the third motor.

[madmaxx]

Originally Posted by Jamo

Bite me, Chappie...it is a fine madness from which I suffer.

Not a damn thing to do with motors, which is sorta my over the top point in addressing Mr. Mad's failed attempt at an analogy, and which is what I stated above (to my own personal satisfaction I might add).

Again...back to the motors.

Laugh out Loud, and I own a Rolex!!!!!!!!!

[Jamo]

Originally Posted by madmaxx

Laugh out Loud, and I own a Rolex!!!!!!!!!

Shhh.....you're liable to twist some shorts talking about things that work correctly the first time.

[DAVID GAGNARD]

I guess I will NOT chime in on the watch thingy since my everyday watch is a Wal Mart bought $19.95 Timex, but I did splurge on my sunday-go-to-church/weddings/funeral watch, it's a $29.95 Timex!!!!!!!

David

[RodKnock]

Watches are so passe (yesterday). Who needs them anymore, unless you're one of those railroad cars kinda guys saying "all aboard."

Back to the topic. I've watched and read this thread with much vigor. Assuming the parties have attempted to rectify the matter and all attempts have failed, and the issue is legitmate, then I want to hear the crate engine problems of others. As a consumer, who has purchased two crate engines in the past four years, "I want to know the truth."

Thank you Mr. Campbell.