I'm restoring a 1974 Chevy K-10 truck I have owned for close to 30 years. Since the day I bought it I have performed all work on it myself from top to bottom. I work full time and also have a life so I only worked on it on some weekends. One piece at a time everything was cheaked, repaired or replaced.
Instead of rebuilding the engine myself I was going to save some time getting a rebuilt. Five Star Engine told me it was ready to drop in and go. Meaning to most would be number 1 set to top dead center, all valves would be close to addjustment and all bolts torqued to specs.
First off number 6 was set to top dead center, then after running a compression test I find the valves are so far out of addjustment there is no compression in the engine. After starting it up and addjusting the valves it took me four times to get it through emissions and then it only made it through by one point. A new carb, new distributor, new plugs, and a new intake the valves were fine. For the next couple of weeks I drove it to work and back and ran test after test but couldn't find anything wrong.
On my fourth trip home from work the truck was running hot. I pulled over, let it cool, added water, then drove another 3 miles to get home. I start to run another compression test but stoped when I water is spuing out of number 5 and 7. I get my breaker bar out and remove the head. But I didn't need a breaker bar, a pair of pliers would have removed every head bolt as none had a torque of over 30 foot pounds. The other head was no different.
The specs for the bolts are 130 foot pounds
From the force of the water between 5 and 7 a grove had been cut into the block. 250 wide and. 050 deep making the block worthless in less than 100 miles. I can't even use it as a core to buy another. A one year 12,000 mile warranty When I called the owner and told him of the heads not being torqued he acted as he didn't hear me and said it was caused by the engine running too lean and it was my fault. Now I'm burning. No way will I let this fly by night junk dealer get away with this.
I file a report with the BBB and get a report on Five Star Engine Destroyers. The BBB's report said unsatisfactory and there had been alot of other reports filed against them for not honoring their warrantys and other violations. I have also made flyers and stuck them all over Glendale. I'm still waiting to see if the BBB can help. If not I know how to file the paper work at the court house and I know how to put this rip off in his place. If wronged I'll spend a dollar to get back a dime.
There are two things I've learned from this. 1] if you run across a deal to good to be true it is and 2] the BBB is out there to help protect us from ones as five star engine destroyers and not cheaking with them on any major buy is just plain stupid.
Garry
Phoenix, Arizona
U.S.A.
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