[ZTWsquared]

I'm so angry right now I'm literally shaking and I need to rant.

Late last year I bought a crate motor from Topspeed Performance in North Carolina - they advertised it on Focaljet.

After about 15 pms back and forth and asking every conceivable question about the motor, it seemed like it would be a good deal - and so I negotiated a tremendous price shipped to my place in Niagara Falls NY.

The engine came with two spark plugs missing and no oil, but otherwise it was obviously never on the road and it basically looked brand new. My mechanic checked it out and basically said "without being able to run it on a bench, it looks like a brand new engine.

So for the past two days we've been installing the supercharger and associated gear and other stuff like a new rad etc ... and then this morning we put the engine and tranny in the silver track rat. This afternoon we filled it with oil, downloaded the tune to the ECU and filled it with coolant.

Well ... just as we were about to drop the car we saw a major flow of coolant coming out of the engine and we figured no problem - we forgot a hose or something - we'll tighten whatever and continue.

Well - it wasn't a hose. The leak was coming from the entire circumference of the head. It was as if there was no gasket there and as if the head wasn't even torqued down. And remember - we hadn't even started the engine yet - this was a leak just sitting there.

I re-read my pms with Topspeed and they assured me there was nothing wrong with this engine - that I could simply install and run it.

Now - I'm not sure what to do. I have a message in to Topspeed asking for a detailed history of this engine; but whatever they come back with I'm in for a couple more days of major headache.

Hopefully it was just a matter of they had the head off for some reason and forgot to torque it down ... but if they ran that engine and damaged the head in some way, I am royally f**ked.

[MuskokaZX3]

s**t ken... I know the exact thread on fj ur talking about... Hopefully all it is is the head not torqued down

[Scorcher000]

Holy Smokes Batman!!!!!!!!!!!

Well thats sucks. If you need something welded on the block go see
United Welding Processes
1870 Meyerside Drive, Mississauga, ON L5T 1B4
(905) 670-7444
Great guys and they do amazing work for our trucks too.

If you need something machined or polished go see the machine shop at the back of
Berco Automotive Supply Ltd
163 Milvan Dr, North York, ON M9L 1Z8
(416) 749-0231
Also great guys too!

But I really was hoping to take a ride it your Silver TR... Hopefully its nothing serious.

Good luck.

[1seensvt]

wow thats real shitty but i would really look it over before cranking it over u dont want to wreck any of your other parts and i would also say thats what online buying gets from time to time because i ship from ebay to the falls all the time as well and it has been hit and miss for me as well but i hope it will all work out for you

[konafocuswrc]

are you sure you were talking to topspeed??
they are located in north carolina, not chicago.

[ZTWsquared]

(03-29-2012, 11:51 AM)konafocuswrc Wrote: are you sure you were talking to topspeed??
they are located in north carolina, not chicago.

Yeah definitely Top Speed - all my PMs were with Topspeedfab ... not sure why I thought they were in Chicago - perhaps a senior's moment LOL.

---

(03-29-2012, 09:39 AM)1seensvt Wrote: wow thats real shitty but i would really look it over before cranking it over u dont want to wreck any of your other parts and i would also say thats what online buying gets from time to time because i ship from ebay to the falls all the time as well and it has been hit and miss for me as well but i hope it will all work out for you

Yeah ... I'm thankful we didn't try to crank it over. As to buying online it really wasn't that way. Topspeed is a trusted sponsor on focaljet with a long history of treating their customers well. And with being able to communicate directly with them, and feeling like I knew who they were and what their business values were ... honestly I didn't feel like I was taking much of a chance.

[konafocuswrc]

there is topspeed autosport in chicago but they are not sponsor on focaljet.

if this is what you bought, they need to pay for additional labour and charges you are having problem with.
it clearly said engine ran good

[ZTWsquared]

(03-29-2012, 12:53 PM)konafocuswrc Wrote: there is topspeed autosport in chicago but they are not sponsor on focaljet.

if this is what you bought, they need to pay for additional labour and charges you are having problem with.
it clearly said engine ran good

Nope - this is the thread. I got the one without the water pump and without the flywheel.

Topspeed Zetec crate engines for sale

[hardk0re]

Since they got it and never really checked it/ran it, then I guess to them it was "new". Unfortunatly maybe they got it from somewhere that had disassembled it for some reason, and just threw it back together quickly, no gaskets nothing...

I would be pretty #$#$#$ pissed right now too, you bought a BRAND NEW MOTOR! It should simply drop in, I think that maybe your mechanic should have checked compression which he could have done while the motor was out of the car...doesn't take much to connect 12V to the starter and crank it over on a stand... This would have probably saved you a whole lot of hastle.

[ZTWsquared]

(03-29-2012, 01:33 PM)hardk0re Wrote: Since they got it and never really checked it/ran it, then I guess to them it was "new". Unfortunatly maybe they got it from somewhere that had disassembled it for some reason, and just threw it back together quickly, no gaskets nothing...

I would be pretty #$#$#$ pissed right now too, you bought a BRAND NEW MOTOR! It should simply drop in, I think that maybe your mechanic should have checked compression which he could have done while the motor was out of the car...doesn't take much to connect 12V to the starter and crank it over on a stand... This would have probably saved you a whole lot of hastle.

Yup - shoulda. Stupid - but in my defense here's the PM exchange between me and Topspeed.

ZTWsquared;
Hi there. What's considered low mileage and would you take 520 shipped to 14305. Thanks.

Topspeedfab:
Business or residence?

ZTWsquared:
Business

Topspeedfab:
I will take 540.

ZTWsquared:
How many miles?

Topspeedfab:
A few thousand. It is almost brand new.

ZTWsquared:
Okay 540 it is. How to you want payment and when could you ship?

Topspeedfab:
I take paypal and I should be able to ship this week.

ZTWsquared:
Jeez - I should have also asked if this engine was ever boosted and if yes, to what PSI - and was it ever disassembled and rebuilt. Thanks and sorry for the questions I should have asked up front.

Topspeedfab:
The engine is exactly the same as the stock zx5 engine so it will bolt right in. Also the motor was never boosted.

ZTWsquared:
Okay thanks - was the engine ever disassembled and rebuilt. (last question, I promise)

Topspeedfab:
nope it is all original



At this point I paid for the engine.

[Oscar The Grouch]

Did they sell you the engine "As-is, Where-is?" and without any warranties? My guess is that they had the engine built beforehand and pulled the pistons/rods and slapped it back together quick and probably forgot the gasket. I personally wouldn't even touch it any further until they contact you back. I would have them pay for a rebuild shop/mechanic to check it out if they offered warranty.

[hardk0re]

Wow yeah I guess reading that PM exchange you really should be pissed!

Hopefully things get straightened out.

[konafocuswrc]

"It is in EXCELLENT condition and would be great for someone in need of a stock REPLACEMENT"

[ZTWsquared]

UPDATE:

Clearly this engine has been totally disassembled and cobbled back together again.

Every fastener was marked with pink nail polish (pretty sure they don't come from the factory like that), but none were tightened back to the mark.

All but 2 of the cylinder head bolts were finger tight and one even was barely started into the thread. I took it out with my fingers.

All the pan bolts were just finger tight. All the valve cover bolts were just finger tight.

One of the camshaft gear bolts was just finger tight. The timing belt was extremely loose.

Every single cam bearing bolt was just finger tight or totally loose.

All the bolts holding the bottom half of the block to the upper half (don't even know the proper name - cradle maybe?) was totally loose or just finger tight.

There was even a piece of duct tape trapped between the head and the block.

Giving Topspeed the benefit of the doubt, clearly they shipped me the wrong block.

[Feral]

o.o at this rate it would of probably been easier to come to my home i have 3 engines with trannies sitting on skids pulled from perfect cars other then they were written off

i really do hope you get that all sorted out and get the proper engine or at least a refund for the parts needed to finish the one you have now

[ZTWsquared]

(03-30-2012, 10:12 AM)Feral Wrote: o.o at this rate it would of probably been easier to come to my home i have 3 engines with trannies sitting on skids pulled from perfect cars other then they were written off

i really do hope you get that all sorted out and get the proper engine or at least a refund for the parts needed to finish the one you have now

Yeah - I'm communicating with them now - it will be interesting to see if they plan on standing behind their sale.

The irony is - and also good news in a way - is that despite having more than 230k on the clock, the engine I took out was running just fine - no issues whatsoever.

But I wanted the supercharger back in for track season and I thought it made more sense to put in the new engine at the same time.

So given all the issues with the new engine, I simply can't use it right now; so the old engine is going back in and will be boosted, and my old tranny with LSD and new clutch will be going in with it, as well as the SVT intake, SVT header and exhaust, and new steering rack that came from the late red track rat.

And I also took the opportunity to put in the new Eibach front sway bar, Moog end links, tie rod ends, and LCAs - to compliment the new FRPP suspension and SVT brake kit I put in last year.

And because we used the time to essentially do two engine swaps, my new Ford Racing rear subframe and new links and new sway bar will have to wait for another day.

[Feral]

i find older engines run better if they were treated right.. i have a focus engine i sold that had under 70k that ran like crap i sold it for $300 the buyer wanted it to strip down and rebuild something and i sold it as is yet i have one in my car now that has about 260,000 and has more umph then my other with 125,000

the high mileage car actually has has a interesting past.. the owner ran it i guess the timing belt went and the mechanic said the engine is totally blown and she needs a new one so i bought it for parts and curiosity hit me to check something and just from the cranking i knew there was no upper cam movement or even resistance.. i tossed a new belt, tensioner and waterpump and it runs amazing so ill eventually pull it and see if anyone wants to give it a home..

either way just your describing is just setting my anger back in from my experience and i hope to hell they make it right for you, you at least have a chance.. i was nearly escorted off the dealers lot because i questioned the mechanics license and ability

[ZTWsquared]

Well ... I have to say that so far it looks like Topspeed is being really responsive and taking responsibility with a feel-good customer service type response. No negativity and no defensiveness at all.

Everything so far has been about sending it back to be fixed, and they even mentioned the word "refund" - still lots to happen to make this right, but I have to say I'm impressed and pleased with what I'm hearing back so far.

I'll reserve final judgement until the affair is over, but so far I'd say kudos to Topspeed for saying the right things.

[meford4u]

To send it back, get it back across the border and try and get your GST back and NOT having to pay import duties now that it is coming into the US is by far, a huge PITA.

Been there, won't do it again.

Try and get the R&R done by your mechanic at their cost and see if that flies. Give them a limit as to what it will cost them, say the total cost of your purchase if necessary.

[Feral]

its easy to defeat that just staple a bill to a ups pouch saying returning as defective and when they return it back ask the same stating its defective merchandise they will wave the fees both ways

shipping cost is a no brainer but import/taxes will be waves as long as you send proof that its been already paid for and defective

I'm also happy to hear that and I hope you get it fixed soon =)