Kings performance Rebuilt built engine.
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,677
Likes: 9
Mr. Pitts,
I feel your pain mate. I had an engine assembled by a starting company (individual on this forum) in Raleigh, North Carolina and despite all the bad build experiences dealing with international shipping experiences like yours, I still decided to do it against my better judgement because I read a few good reviews from other members. I paid in full for a mildly built block including new pistons and rods and a reconditioned factory head. No sleeving.
To keep a long story short, I paid in full a few thousand plus shipping and had it installed by a mate who owns a shop and tuned by a friend who is at a different shop. Both guys looked at the engine and questioned it because they said, and I quite, "this looks like a $h!tty build" but I told them to go ahead with it even though they pointed out numerous things.
In the end, the engine blew on he dyno and was smoking from the word go. Upon taking it apart, my new builder said the clearances were way off and blah blah blah and after contacting the original builder he said that everything was to spec and it was either the install or the tune.
Instead of trying to prove who was at fault and be put in a huge loop of blame like I've seen So many members end up going through, I ended up cutting my losses, getting my tuner to blueprint, assemble, install and tune so if something goes wrong, I can hold them accountable. I think I also had the, "I threw in free _____ so you should be happy". I paid a little bit more but everything was done in the city and I didn't have to worry about being shipped across the border. I'm only in Canada so I can only imagine what you're going through. I'm just glad I was only into it for about 2700 dollars!
I hope this thread does on fact help those make an informed decision in who to build with and I for one am extremely hesitant to build with anyone in the states simply because there always seems to be a huge issue with trying to deal with problems if they do arise. The cynic in me even wonders or he gave me a built engine or if he simply gave me a dodgy one and sent me on my way! I'm trying to salvage some parts and it looks like some good parts were in fact used (which I will be selling on here shortly) but it was just a crappy build.
Good luck and if I do get any work done in the states again (which I highly doubt) it will most definitely not be with Kings Performance.
I feel your pain mate. I had an engine assembled by a starting company (individual on this forum) in Raleigh, North Carolina and despite all the bad build experiences dealing with international shipping experiences like yours, I still decided to do it against my better judgement because I read a few good reviews from other members. I paid in full for a mildly built block including new pistons and rods and a reconditioned factory head. No sleeving.
To keep a long story short, I paid in full a few thousand plus shipping and had it installed by a mate who owns a shop and tuned by a friend who is at a different shop. Both guys looked at the engine and questioned it because they said, and I quite, "this looks like a $h!tty build" but I told them to go ahead with it even though they pointed out numerous things.
In the end, the engine blew on he dyno and was smoking from the word go. Upon taking it apart, my new builder said the clearances were way off and blah blah blah and after contacting the original builder he said that everything was to spec and it was either the install or the tune.
Instead of trying to prove who was at fault and be put in a huge loop of blame like I've seen So many members end up going through, I ended up cutting my losses, getting my tuner to blueprint, assemble, install and tune so if something goes wrong, I can hold them accountable. I think I also had the, "I threw in free _____ so you should be happy". I paid a little bit more but everything was done in the city and I didn't have to worry about being shipped across the border. I'm only in Canada so I can only imagine what you're going through. I'm just glad I was only into it for about 2700 dollars!
I hope this thread does on fact help those make an informed decision in who to build with and I for one am extremely hesitant to build with anyone in the states simply because there always seems to be a huge issue with trying to deal with problems if they do arise. The cynic in me even wonders or he gave me a built engine or if he simply gave me a dodgy one and sent me on my way! I'm trying to salvage some parts and it looks like some good parts were in fact used (which I will be selling on here shortly) but it was just a crappy build.
Good luck and if I do get any work done in the states again (which I highly doubt) it will most definitely not be with Kings Performance.
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 1
From: VA
Originally Posted by skool u' timestamp='1440555827' post='23726514
Mr. Pitts,
I feel your pain mate. I had an engine assembled by a starting company (individual on this forum) in Raleigh, North Carolina and despite all the bad build experiences dealing with international shipping experiences like yours, I still decided to do it against my better judgement because I read a few good reviews from other members. I paid in full for a mildly built block including new pistons and rods and a reconditioned factory head. No sleeving.
To keep a long story short, I paid in full a few thousand plus shipping and had it installed by a mate who owns a shop and tuned by a friend who is at a different shop. Both guys looked at the engine and questioned it because they said, and I quite, "this looks like a $h!tty build" but I told them to go ahead with it even though they pointed out numerous things.
In the end, the engine blew on he dyno and was smoking from the word go. Upon taking it apart, my new builder said the clearances were way off and blah blah blah and after contacting the original builder he said that everything was to spec and it was either the install or the tune.
Instead of trying to prove who was at fault and be put in a huge loop of blame like I've seen So many members end up going through, I ended up cutting my losses, getting my tuner to blueprint, assemble, install and tune so if something goes wrong, I can hold them accountable. I think I also had the, "I threw in free _____ so you should be happy". I paid a little bit more but everything was done in the city and I didn't have to worry about being shipped across the border. I'm only in Canada so I can only imagine what you're going through. I'm just glad I was only into it for about 2700 dollars!
I hope this thread does on fact help those make an informed decision in who to build with and I for one am extremely hesitant to build with anyone in the states simply because there always seems to be a huge issue with trying to deal with problems if they do arise. The cynic in me even wonders or he gave me a built engine or if he simply gave me a dodgy one and sent me on my way! I'm trying to salvage some parts and it looks like some good parts were in fact used (which I will be selling on here shortly) but it was just a crappy build.
Good luck and if I do get any work done in the states again (which I highly doubt) it will most definitely not be with Kings Performance.
I feel your pain mate. I had an engine assembled by a starting company (individual on this forum) in Raleigh, North Carolina and despite all the bad build experiences dealing with international shipping experiences like yours, I still decided to do it against my better judgement because I read a few good reviews from other members. I paid in full for a mildly built block including new pistons and rods and a reconditioned factory head. No sleeving.
To keep a long story short, I paid in full a few thousand plus shipping and had it installed by a mate who owns a shop and tuned by a friend who is at a different shop. Both guys looked at the engine and questioned it because they said, and I quite, "this looks like a $h!tty build" but I told them to go ahead with it even though they pointed out numerous things.
In the end, the engine blew on he dyno and was smoking from the word go. Upon taking it apart, my new builder said the clearances were way off and blah blah blah and after contacting the original builder he said that everything was to spec and it was either the install or the tune.
Instead of trying to prove who was at fault and be put in a huge loop of blame like I've seen So many members end up going through, I ended up cutting my losses, getting my tuner to blueprint, assemble, install and tune so if something goes wrong, I can hold them accountable. I think I also had the, "I threw in free _____ so you should be happy". I paid a little bit more but everything was done in the city and I didn't have to worry about being shipped across the border. I'm only in Canada so I can only imagine what you're going through. I'm just glad I was only into it for about 2700 dollars!
I hope this thread does on fact help those make an informed decision in who to build with and I for one am extremely hesitant to build with anyone in the states simply because there always seems to be a huge issue with trying to deal with problems if they do arise. The cynic in me even wonders or he gave me a built engine or if he simply gave me a dodgy one and sent me on my way! I'm trying to salvage some parts and it looks like some good parts were in fact used (which I will be selling on here shortly) but it was just a crappy build.
Good luck and if I do get any work done in the states again (which I highly doubt) it will most definitely not be with Kings Performance.
I messaged them about a build as well and never got a reply. I am getting iffy about a lot of shops now after I got screwed once from a smaller start up shop recently. My car has been down two years now. I cut my losses, but this time I think I may have to just bite the bullet and go with inline pro and have them build, install, and tune it.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,966
Likes: 2
InlinePRO is where I would go if I was having one built in the States.....but give Bernard a shout at Jjautowerks,he offered to build me an engine and the guy has done me some good prices on parts for my engine.
You guys have got an advantage over me.....you can send him a core whereas it costs me around $800 to send a core over.
You guys have got an advantage over me.....you can send him a core whereas it costs me around $800 to send a core over.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
From: Calgary, Alberta
Originally Posted by 99SH
Sounds like you're talking about CNC Speedshop. Care to elaborate on the details and post-handling of the issue? I emailed them about a week ago and waiting for a quote on a mild build. I was planning on using their services; any heads-up or info to the community is appreciated!
My experience was slightly different in that I didn't have to face the arrogance that the OP dealt with but I did get the hint that there's no way it could have been the build because so many other fast cars have been produced by the shop. I also didn't bother trying to send it back because I honestly didn't want to keep paying for shipping and then get another bad engine and not have the shop held accountable. In all honesty, he was nice enough to deal with but from what I've seen, very few people (when dealt a bad experience) will get their money back or something even close to what they spent and it's a horrible situation for those buying outside of the area because the tuner/builder can basically ignore you and unless you're willing to fly out there to confront them, you're pretty much $h!t out of luck.
Who's to say though that if I did end up pulling the motor, sending it back, having them look at it and then do something about it, could have happened? I did not want to test that and from what I'm hearing with mr Pitts, I most likely would have ended up on the path he is on! I just cut my losses, will avoid dealing with that company ever again and if anyone asks, I would strongly discourage them from using that company unless you live on the area and even then, I'd still advise you to go elsewhere.
I just had my engine built in town and have become friends with the tuner/owner/builder and they have walked me through the entire process and build. I know what I've purchased, I am aware of what's on the car and it runs extremely well. It's built strong and I'm only running around 372 whp on a dyno dynamics dyno and I'm hanging with ZR1s, ZL1s, 911 turbo Ss and other cars that have high horsepower. So far so good (knock on wood) and it's great because any time I have questions, I can pop into the shop and they never seem annoyed to talk. When you're spending a $hit ton of money on a build, you don't want to feel like you're a nuisance or kept out of the loop.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
From: Calgary, Alberta
Originally Posted by liquidgsr
I messaged them about a build as well and never got a reply. I am getting iffy about a lot of shops now after I got screwed once from a smaller start up shop recently. My car has been down two years now. I cut my losses, but this time I think I may have to just bite the bullet and go with inline pro and have them build, install, and tune it.
I hope you live in the area if whatever small shop you choose to use. Good luck with the build!
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
From: Calgary, Alberta
Originally Posted by mr-pitts
InlinePRO is where I would go if I was having one built in the States.....but give Bernard a shout at Jjautowerks,he offered to build me an engine and the guy has done me some good prices on parts for my engine. You guys have got an advantage over me.....you can send him a core whereas it costs me around $800 to send a core over.
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 1
From: VA
I live about a mile away from Inline pro. Only reason I didn't go with them in the beginning was because they are very expensive. I talked to John (owner of inline pro) he gave me a quote of 10500 for a full long block build and tune I think. I guess I am going to save up and just go with the guys who know what they are doing in the business and they are local.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,966
Likes: 2
The spec of my engine from Kings in theory is $12.000,which is the price of a new built long block.Im not sure if that's with or without core but it's a big investment when you see their attitude if things go wrong.
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,044
Likes: 6
From: South Florida
I live about a mile away from Inline pro. Only reason I didn't go with them in the beginning was because they are very expensive. I talked to John (owner of inline pro) he gave me a quote of 10500 for a full long block build and tune I think. I guess I am going to save up and just go with the guys who know what they are doing in the business and they are local.
Didn't you post up the breakdown of this build? Cause on its face 10500 for a motor and tune is crazy.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
From: Calgary, Alberta
Originally Posted by liquidgsr
I live about a mile away from Inline pro. Only reason I didn't go with them in the beginning was because they are very expensive. I talked to John (owner of inline pro) he gave me a quote of 10500 for a full long block build and tune I think. I guess I am going to save up and just go with the guys who know what they are doing in the business and they are local.
It was a bit frustrating for a bit because they knew of my situation with a crappy build and I told them I wanted to save as much as I could but not cut corners. I just didn't need the "best" product. Every time I bought a new part because the old one was crap, it seemed like I needed something new. At first I felt like they were just trying to sell me more stuff but upon inspection of the old parts and taking to the guys, I got over it and understood why we were doing what we were doing.
In the end, it was probably around 9-10 k for everything including dyno time and install so I'm still under Pitts' expenses. I also still have a lot of parts that I can still salvage from the "build" I got done from NC. Any issues, I deal directly with the builder/tuner/installer.
I would honestly save the cash and spend it with a reputable builder. It took a while to build so we agreed that I could come in and pay a bit each month or whenever I wanted to. This helped me a lot. I just tried adding all the receipts I have and I think it was just under 9 k Canadian.