I appreciate the good words guys. I was just on a rant, yes the machining costs weren't out of this world. I debated on doing the cam bearings myself but said "well atleast I know they'll be done right if I hire it out" so much for that.
Nitro_rat, I hear what you're saying and I know a lot of guys don't touch these and just swap parts like you said. I was really leery of that as the previous owner told me this motor had been overheated previously when the coolant leak happened. We often hit back roads that are 100+ km's from civilization and I just wanted peace of mind. So spending what I was hoping to be about a thousand dollars to get that was the original idea.
I wish I had done just what you said in your last post. I was too trusting. Everyone I talked to (5+ people) suggested this shop and had nothing but good things to say. When I stopped by the guy (owner) seemed super knowledgable and gave me no reason to question him. I definitely learned a lesson here. I wish I had a dial bore gauge, something I should probably invest in. I appreciate the advice, but a cheap running Camaro around here is at minimum 2-3k (I've been looking for over a year) and that's likely one with higher miles then this had. I'm halfway there on this and will just see it through.
1st deuce, yeah that gasket kit sure was ridiculous. Literally trying to charge me $220 just for the head gaskets? I was just like yeah there's no way. There are like 6+ shops around town and this was the most highly recommended one. The guy does builds for promod cars and other big money stuff. I agree, be upfront about timelines and then at-least I have the option to go somewhere else.
Alright so to finish off this bull**** saga. This is exactly what went down this morning. I couldn't make this up, literally word for word.
I went to the shop this morning with the wrong valves and the box of parts. I was very calm and respectful and said
"ok here's the valves you gave me, I would just like mine back." He said
"oh? yeah these are for a ford?" then he took a quick look out back in the shop and then asked "
if I could come back later and he could look for them?" I agreed. Then I said "
about these parts and the prices, for these 5 items I thought you said your prices were close or lower then the list I gave you? but I'm like $200 over what I was going to pay for these now?" This didn't sit well with him (owner), he says "
bull****, there's no way you can get those for less" I was just like "
I don't know what to tell you, those are the prices, I'm not trying to offend you or question your profit margin but I told you I could only give you the business if it was the same price or really close. I can't afford to spend $200 more just for the sake of it" He then says "
Well the cam is cheaper!" I was like "
yeah because your cam didn't include the lifters which were $65 more and you also charged me $38 freight on top of that" Then he just went off "
Fine I'll just shove the cam right up my *** then!!! I'm pissed"- Literally said this to me screaming. I just stayed calm. I was like "
listen if you couldn't get me the parts for those prices I wish you would have just told me and I wouldn't have wasted my time and yours." Then he says "
If i knew you were going to be like this I would have charged you more for labour", and started threatening to add money to my bill in labour so I wouldn't get all of my parts money back. After this he just kept rambling about how I could never get the parts that cheap and how he never should have taken this job and on and on. Brutal experience, so disappointed in how this ended up. I guess if you aren't spending 20k+ you're not worth the time at this shop.
Long story short, I got my money back for the parts ($543) I hate being "that guy" but frig I feel like I was more then forgiving in this whole ordeal.
To just put the last bit of icing on the cake I called later in the day to see if they found my valves. The owner answers "nope didn't find them, so I stripped a set out of another pair of heads, they are round..."
Went and picked them up knowing I was just wasting my time. Get home and this is what I've got...
yup, not even close. Way to small.
Might just shelve this for a bit. This whole experience has really taken the fun out of it.