Beware of smiths in Joplin
 

I guess I should of known once Brad passed away that it was not the same shop. Was not real axcited about taking drive into the shop after Brad smith left this earth but after several assuarances from Brads father bob that he could handle the repairs and since bob owed me $1500 for a Paxton supercharger I had given him on consignment a year earlier I thought I would give it a try. Bad mistake. After stories and more stories of parts ordered and be done in a few days. I was finally told bob left for Florida and has not return almost two months later. Calls to bobs cell phone remain unanswered but phone is still active. This coming from a worker that said nothing had been done or ordered and it was dumped in his lap. So now I guess I have to figure out if it's just bad business or a scam to make money off a great engine builders name. I'm going to warn all I can. I wish someone would have warned me.

Sorry to hear about your experience. We all sure do miss Brad. Maybe his Dad has suffered an emotional setback over his loss? Hopefully your situation gets rectified soon.

I guess I was blinded by brads knowledge and just assumed stuff like that rubbed off on his workers and others he worked with. But that clearly didn't happen here. After revealing my experience with a few other websites, it turns out that they are also operating under a different name because word was already spreading of shady deals. I guess I should have asked around like I would with any new business I was going to take boat too.

Don't feel bad. I got corn holed by him also....Will not take anything there again.. EVER.....

with there being fewer Brad smiths in this world and more crooks and liars. I'm about ready to give up boating. There is just not enough honest performance engine builders in the Midwest. Brad smith was last one. Now all you got is liars and cheats.

Brad & Bob built my 540's custom tuned and dyno'd by Brad, yes Smith power was gone when Brad passed, but to the west of you in OKCity is Boyd's and they do great work from what Im told.

Ditto on Boyds, they built drag boat motors for me back in the day. Jim Lee has used them for years, very straight up bunch.

I forgot about Boyd's. Never heard any negative about them. Went to brads old shop yesterday and turned out to be just a shell business. They never ordered any parts because they didn't have any money. I was able to get my old parts back. They had already sold my blower and spent the money. Ashamed how quick a business can be ruined. I have heard they are calling the business different names but everyone should be warned. This was not a engine deal that went bad. This was a scam from the beginning.

Still ripping people off as I type
 

RIP my Friend

Not picking anyones side here. I have not seen any current offerings in person from them since the passing of Brad. I did in the past work on some of the boats back then that ended up in my area and even passing thru my area..

Anyways I know they are still operating daily currently -- with that said is this a one case or 2 or common issues with the current owners ? Have no idea any company using bad practices how can they operate and have business daily regardless whom they are ? Bad biz practices catches up after a while with all.

So there is other people experiencing issues with the current operators of SP ? Again I am not on anyones side here.

I called about taking my boat in- stock 502 MPI. Hard starts like vapor lock but does it hot or cold but it is intermittent. Asked if they could put a reader on it and they didn't have one. ( I understand it is/was more of a custom build shop). Told me to bring it by and they would check it out. Guy on the phone said " Bob is standing here and heard what you said, he said it is prob the injectors". When I asked what his plan was, it was to replace the injectors and go from there.
I couldn't bring myself to drop it off and have them start throwing parts at it until they found the problem. My 2 cents

Turns out, after poking around in the engine compartment a little, the vacuum line to the fuel pressure regulator had come off. Put it back and she fires right up like she should. All for less
than a set of injectors......

just like up here with all others explaining their running issues. very hard to give pin point answers and without testing and proper procedures one can only guess. Plus many leave out alot important info to even get help.

With that said if one works on 100 s of boats per year then it is possible to get some boats fixed without looking at them in person as throwing out the most common possibilities for the issue(s). In your case you could never pin point one exact item(s) for the issue(s) without looking at it in person, I always tell boat owners over the phone if I only had that crystal ball to fix your app without seeing it in person would nt that be magical. Some get it but many do not. Most people call for a fix over phone or use the forums rather than setting up an appointment for repairs.

The latest current marine technology will be putting an end to that - boat owners better find a great tech and keep that person. The days running to the auto store for parts and the owner fixing their apps are over with because of the latest technology. . Just like it has with high end autos the owner is unable to fix their latest truck or auto offering. Service centers are loving it as well as the manu s.. .

for your app --- My first reply would have been fuel pressure testing and gas sampling to see if that would point to an issue in hand then move forward from there. Anyways possible check your spark plugs might need to be changed out. ???

I have not seen anything nor engines from the new ownership out and about on the waters nor even passing by .

Awesome story!