Engine rebuild

Mikerike · August 14, 2005

Folks,

I am in need of expert advice on rebuilding a 4.3 L engine.

My story is long but I will try to condense.

In 2001, I had a local shop rebuild my motor w/ 4yr. 40k warranty.

4 months later, crank shaft noise, 6 weeks later informed truck was ready- driving home engine starting to bang like piston was going to go through block. Shop had truck six months. 6 months after getting truck back top end noise, shop had truck 3 months then I drove it for approx. 3-4 months, seized up. at the shop now been 4 months since I have seen truck.

Your help is needed to ascertain what steps should have been taken after each scenario. i.e after crank shaft noise, I understand that plastic gauge should have been used if any turning of shaft was necessary to oversize bearing and how much.

Please help if possible.

mcreyaufmiller · August 14, 2005

Folks,
I am in need of expert advice on rebuilding a 4.3 L engine.

My story is long but I will try to condense.

In 2001, I had a local shop rebuild my motor w/ 4yr. 40k warranty.

4 months later, crank shaft noise, 6 weeks later informed truck was ready- driving home engine starting to bang like piston was going to go through block. Shop had truck six months. 6 months after getting truck back top end noise, shop had truck 3 months then I drove it for approx. 3-4 months, seized up. at the shop now been 4 months since I have seen truck.

Your help is needed to ascertain what steps should have been taken after each scenario. i.e after crank shaft noise, I understand that plastic gauge should have been used if any turning of shaft was necessary to oversize bearing and how much.

Please help if possible.

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Contact a Lemon Law attorney. It sounds like the shop has no clue what they are doing and you have been without a truck for what sounds like almost a year. This is crazy. By the time they are done with the whole project, you could have gotten a crate motor from GM and dropped it in without all the problems.

During a rebuild, if you turn the crank, it needs to be measured and matched with the proper bearings. After the first engine noise, I would have taken the truck back and asked for a new motor. I cannot imagine why they would have had it for 6 months unless they just did not have the money to fix it at that time. I would have expected the truck back within a week. On the second noise, I would have gone back to the shop and demanded a new motor, and gotten a attoney involved. The rebuild was obviously done incorrectly.

MrQuadrasteer · August 15, 2005

No doubt.... what a bunch of losers.

Get a lawyer, find a new shop, have the old shop cover the costs of everything, including expenses for not having your truck for over a year (loaner, etc).

But why would you continue to use this same shop ?!!? You're way more patient than me....

You around Texas ??

Mikerike · August 15, 2005

Remember I had a 4 year / 40000 mile warranty.

Most people would say I wasn't very patient, and when you have four vehicles you can at times be more forgiving. But I have had enough , I am bringing the shop to small claims court, he apparently has hired a lawyer.

Should be interesting to see how Maine justice works.

That is why I am asking for all the inside tips when rebuilding an engin, so I can be knowledgeable when presenting my case.

Keep the good times rolling.