Need Help! 400 SBC Question.

[kornball426]

I know exactly what you mean. Trying to explain this to a few attorneys offices today was exhausting.

The good thing for me is I looked him up on Maryland Case Search. In Maryland any legal proceeding is public information. I found a case where he had to pay a client almost $20,000! I got the attorneys name that won the case against him. The attorney will be familiar with him and how are you operates.

I’m definitely going to make an appointment and see if I have a case at least.

Well that's cool, hopefully since he knows the guy, just hiring him and having him in contact with the guy might be enough to scare him into being fair with you. There's no way a basic small block rebuild should ever cost that much. Unless you bought a lot of expensive forged or billet internal parts.

Planning an engine build relatively soon, going to be asking around to find out who is honest and really knows what they're doing. I'm not expecting it to be cheap, but I'll be pretty annoyed if it runs that high. Unless I get an aftermarket block, then I know it'll be more than that.

 

[fleming442]

It's just the Universe fighting a SBC in an H/O!

Seriously, I'm in MD (Mt Airy); what shop is this? $6500 is an assload of cash for a SBC unless that's one BAD ****.

 

[spicercars]

I built a 400 a couple of years ago for the Diablo. Had the local machine shop do all the machine work and drill steam holes and I had about 2k into everything. That's with them putting the lower together and then I finished it from there. It was bored 30 over with flat tops and line bored. New cam bearings and frost plugs. I cant say that the price your paying is a lot because I don't know what your having done. It is horrible to be taken advantage of. Good luck.

 

[lilbowtie]

I kinda get the feeling you handed him the car keys and expect to pick up the car done - lots of labor involved with that. You are seeking advice which is good but watch out in that profession also.
You never mentioned exactly what was being done to the engine or what aftermarket heads where being used. What parts did he re-use from the previous engine?? As 565 said I have drilled my own heads it's no big thing. I have also run w/o steam holes but my application is more racing. Lessons learned here by you and our members.(Needs to be in writing). Only thing I might suggested is for your builder to put it in writing that he acknowledges he didn't install steam holes and guarantees it's not going to over heat. There is a good chance you won't have any problems esp if you have alu heads.

 

[Longroof79]

I'm truly surprised that this clown is still in business given his shady history of being a con artist.
These are the type of people that eventually end up in a dumpster somewhere.

I like the idea of you consulting with the lawyer that is familiar with this guy. Perhaps he might want to settle out of court if he knows he's up against the same lawyer. Good luck! No one deserves to be hosed like this.

 

[MrSony]

I didnt even spend 6000 on my sbb I built myself. Cough cough 250$ balancer cough.
He's been screwing you good. You're the customer, you have the final say. Keep all the receipts in case the engine explodes, show to appropriate attorney.

 

[Gonzo1970]

That sucks, man..

Way too much.

Always get everything in writing.

Its either going to be a lesson learned, or end up in court..

-Gonz

 

[Max Headroom]

You CANNOT run a 400 on the street without steam holes. The drilling steam holes in the heads allows the steam to complete the cooling path through the whole engine. Blocking them (or not drilling the holes in heads) will, at the very least, create really bad hot spots inside the engine. Performance will suffer and that lack of heat removal from the heads can cause cracks, burnt vales, pre-detonation, fatigued springs.

The steam holes in the block were put there because the extra bore size of the 400 greatly reduced the area for coolant flow in the engine. The steam holes were a crappy compromise, at best. Not having them is really not a good idea. Your "engine builder" knows that. If he doesn't, he isn't an engine builder.

 

[Gonzo1970]

Blocking them (or not drilling the holes in heads) will, at the very least, create really bad hot spots inside the engine. Performance will suffer and that lack of heat removal from the heads can cause cracks, burnt vales, pre-detonation, fatigued springs.

Something makes me think he knew that, and that's WHY he didn't bother drilling them...

-Gonz

 

[565bbchevy]

The steam holes in the block were put there because the extra bore size of the 400 greatly reduced the area for coolant flow in the engine.

Because of the extra bore size GM designed all 400 SBC's with siamesed cylinder walls which can create air pockets in the cooling system because the cylinders share a common wall between them with no coolant flow between them and the steam holes were used to help solve this issue.