In September I purchased a complete (turnkey) engine from blueprint engines through Jegs auto parts online - a Ford 347 stroker. Several weeks later I received the engine, followed Blueprint's instructions for break-in and had less than one hour of time on it when it started knocking. Called Blueprint and found out that Marshall Engines is the real company that does the rebuild and manufacturing.
We pulled off the oil pan and found that one of the cam bearings (visible up through the engine) was damaged. We could see metal shavings and proceeded to photograph the shavings and send the engine back to Marshall for inspection.
Marshall Engine's inspection department said that the bearing failure was due to the engine running too rich (they supplied the remanufactured carburetor and supposedly had dyno'd the engine for 20 minutes prior to sending it to me). I had to get Jeg's (online vendor) involved and ultimately get my credit card company to dispute payment before any resolution. I did not want the same engine back, but Marshall rebuilt the engine and sent it back to me.
Received the rebuilt engine (December), followed Blueprint's instructions for break-in and then took the vehicle to a local streetrod shop to have a a new carburetor installed and dyno tuned. Car was running good. Made it under 500 miles and it started knocking again. Both myself and the streetrod shop found that one of the pistons had broken. Upon further inspection of the engine we found a nut loose in the distributor. It was from a broken stud that holds the bushing under the mechanical advance. The engine had pre-detonated due to the distributor breaking.
Marshall said they would warranty a distributor part failure and asked me about my labor install for the engine - that I might get reimbursed for the labor. I photographed the parts, packaged the engine with the original carb and sent it back... Not wanting an engine rebuilt for the third time and telling them that (it is now February).
Upon the completion of the inspection, Marshall called me and said that it was not under warranty since we had replaced the mechanical advance bushing - they said they could tell because the bushing was silver and not blue. I was amazed. I told them that the original bushing was on the distributor and that it was not touched. I was told that they would re-inspect the distributor, but get me a price for rebuilding the same engine and re-shipping it to me.
I called Jeg's, (it is now March) told them my series of events, and sent the supervisor at Jeg's photographs of the distributor, nut, and blue bushing.
I told Jeg's that I didn't trust Marshall Engines to be honest and that I didn't want their 3rd-time rebuilt engine.
I finally had my credit card account refunded - thanks to Jeg's
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