Help bought a pair of engines from the classifieds don't know what to do!
 

So I bought a pair of supposed to be. 1,000hp Blower Race Motors 572's. They were listed in the classified section. I called and talked to the guy which is named Ralph Charette 727-243-2219. He was very nice to talk to and told me that one was fresh from the engine builder. That the other one needed refreshed not rebuild and that they were running motors just had some hours on them. Also the motors were coming complete from bell-housing, to air cleaner, even motor mounts. Also they were coming with Stainless Marine 5" exhaust. So we agreed on $18,000 plus I pay shipping. When I received the engines that wasn't exactly what I got. First thing I noticed was how crusty and rusty the one was. Then the rotted out exhaust manifold. Also the 871 blowers that were not 1071's like he said, and I believe they need rebuilt. So I dug a little deeper and the coolant passages were completely plugged full. And the one will need pistons due to cylinder wear. Along with no engine mounts(they were engine stands). Had a Starter and coupler on one and not the other. They are just pretty rough and old. Not what he had made them out to be. Also the pictures he sent were hard to tell and looked good. I have tried to call and send texts to see what he wants to do and he will not answer or reply. I literally have had no contact since they were received. So now I am seeing what you guys think I should do. I can live with a lot of it and chalk it up to a learning experience but the exhaust being rotted really stings. To some $18,000 isn't a lot, but it is to me. Now this just sets me back even further on the project.
I believe he is 40fasthawk or fasthawk40


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...f2a2f76823.png
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...e53ccd298f.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...78aae67aef.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...6621013a31.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...90781e0879.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...411d222c72.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...bb45079620.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...6ab3932c81.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...a108080568.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...86ff87a67f.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...5592adec59.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...90e971635a.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...5165f41cec.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...c6cba4e6a.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...2139db488.jpeg

If it was 40fasthawk, that’s exactly what I’d expect from him. He’s been banned for a while now but all he did was list garbage for sale. $18k for both motors? That should’ve been a real big flag right there, even 18 for each 1000hp quality motors should’ve been leery. Sorry to hear about you situation but I think all you can do is keep after him unless you have something in detailed writing about what the motors should’ve been and parts etc.

A lawyer or liquid metal? Sad to see but as is is as is:bsflag:I say sue him try to get some $$$ back?

what the heck is going on with those water coolant passages in the heads? if the heads are bad...would have to assume block is bad too. those motors (if you can call them that) are trashed.

try to get your money back.

I have a list of 10 phone numbers beside my bed to people who have really annoyed me. Occasionally, when I’m angry or bored, I call a few of them anonymously at 4am then hang up. Helps relieve stress. If they change phone numbers, I lose contact but that means I have room for a new one. 🙂

If he’s not returning calls or messages, you may want to start your own list?

RR

That guy was banned for a reason.... what a scammer 40fasthawk/Ralph is

Attorney? Other than that an expensive lesson. $18K for 2) 1000 HP is definitely not reasonable as said above.
Only way I'm parting with that much money to anyone other than a high profile well established business or a well vetted reputable person, is in person.

Otherwise, if this is the same Ralph, seems he don't like getting taken.
Maybe he's trying to recoup his loss by stealing from others. Fuggin slime!!
https://www.tampabay.com/news/florid...hat-do-you-do/

The one engine with the head all rusted looks like it was sitting out in the rain for 15 years. I have a great friend that's a private investigator if you want to find this guy let me know I will hook you up with him.

86Capri......sorry to hear this, he was banned from OSO a while back everything I ever saw him list for sale was salt water junk, Im local in KC so if I can help out give me a ring

Ken

Sorry to hear about your situation, Ralph, (40Fasthawk) always had JUNK for sale, and is a slime ball of the 10th degree! Good luck....

False representations with crappy pics was his M.O. in the swap shop.
He- 40Fasthawk was banned from the forums and has several threads in the Beware Section.
Your recourse is a lawyer, but that will most likely be cost prohibitive.

Sorry for what happened to you. Another angle......you have "potentially" some decent parts. ($18k worth, no, but I regress) Heads may be salvageable, that corrosion is not always a killer. Disc them down and paint, who knows. I would rework the blowers anyway before I dropped them in the boat. I don't know if the exhaust can be or is worth fixing, BUT...a lot looks like it is a pile of dirty and crumby parts that might be salvaged with elbow grease (and a caustic bath). If you were hoping for a couple of drop-in motors, you're massively screwed, but you might be able to make most of it work, maybe. There ya go! Hope that takes a bit of the sting away!

The OP lives close to one of the best engine builders in the Midwest, if he chooses to go that route

Very sorry this happened to you, and not sure if I can help at all, but Ralph lives about half a mile down the street from me.

he said that engine was in running order...?

hahaha

Also:
https://flarecord.com/stories/536427...1-llc-on-may-6
This is 1031 exchange services: e1031xChange | America's Leading 1031 Exchange Provider

(727) 243-2219

Google search:
https://www.google.com/search?q=(727...w=1024&bih=657

That is awful but like Griff said let your browser be your attorney before purchasing any bigger ticket item. Heck even small nowadays. How did you pay? PayPal is the best way to go for any possible recourse.

Not sure how that works for selling in the paid classifieds if your banned. Hopefully your can come to an agreement but.... and salvage what you can. You purchased without detailed pics? Or received from other engines?

Should move to beware section!

Sum of the whole right here.
Share with us. LOL
:angry-smiley-038: If ya can :party-smiley-004:
Yep, in 1987

I bought a few parts from Ralf, was always fair priced and not junk.
but yes, I saw salt water race boats. Of course salt water, the world is surrounded by salt water. Take those motors in to be remaned and your golden. Those manifolds are dime a dozen on the web. Good used ones.
Sorry for your troubles.
Oh yeah, Ralf owns a charter business in the Bahamas and goes there for weeks at a time.
When he gets home he may call. Best of luck

Is the exhaust rotted internally? If it isn’t someone can tig weld a patch. On the manifold. then pressure test the rest of the system.
‘what is hanging off the front of the engine / camshaft? Is it a water pump? See that I would have not purchased them.
If it isn’t close enough to make a weekend trip to look at something like this I would say not to waist your time or money
friend of mine and I drive Tennessee to look at a 38 scarab that was 2 good to be true and the engine parts in it were even better based on the pics he sent .
when it was all said and done we drove there and drove back empty-handed because this was the most ragged out 38 scarab I had ever seen had a lot of decent parts in it but they even look ragged out and if you paid with PayPal I would do a claim if you did it with a credit card I’d call your credit card company
If he’s not trying to work with you

Cam driven sea water pump impeller.

The only good part is I did actually get a pair of engines. I will work with what I have. And after a little tlc and extra money they will work. My biggest complaint is the exhaust being trashed. Yes I know that there are more out there, but at what cost. I didn't find out he was 40fasthawk till all was done and he gave me his email. For me this is the second time I bought engines from the classifieds on here. The first one was actually a good deal and at a much lower cost. And yes I knew the price was to good to be true, but when he said one needed refreshed that made more since. Over the years I have met some pretty good people out there that have helped me. I try to be an honest person and fair with people. It just sucks to get burned. Hopefully he reaches out and make it right before going down the legal path.

I banned him from the forums for various violations. Moderators have no way of banning him from the paid classifieds.
Not sure if IB has a way to ban or cancel his account in the Classifieds or not.

he has more items posted now in the classifieds.

https://www.offshoreonly.com/classif...ht-o79765.html

https://www.offshoreonly.com/classif...pe-o79695.html

https://www.offshoreonly.com/classif...ll-o79799.html

I drove to his shop in Clearwater and touched and looked at what I was buying.
​​​​​​Items listed currently have been there for years for sale.
Buyer B Ware.
Must go and see for yourself before money changes hands.
B38

Don’t let the dust fool you !! They are in perfect shape !! LOL if that ain't a red flag
Ad Number: 79695
Price: 10000
First Name: Ralph
Last Name: C.
Company Name:

Company Website:

Phone: 727-243-2219
Phone 2:

City: Clearwater
State: FL
Zip: 34660
Make: Mercury
Model: ITS
Condition: Demo
RALPH is 1 of the BIGGEST Scammers out there ..BEWARE !!!

Must be a water and soap shortage. Takes just as long to type that bull sh!t line as it does to rinse them off

These items are usually on ebay also.

I got a kick out of that listing and his others too. Asking 10k for something but can’t dust the facking thing off huh? I look at it this way, if you’re that lazy that you can’t represent something decently you ain’t getting my money.

I gave him sh*t for one of his listings a while back and he fired back at me cause I was the tool bag for calling him out... right

But you’re forgetting about the drying time! And I doubt he’s got running water at his “shop”

Stainless Marine ones are? :eek:

right. To me 2 sets of gen iii 5” stainless marine will probably run me close to $4,000 for good ones that is

There is a set I seen a month ago. 5" for $1,600.00. looked new. I will look about for you.

Found them. Message him to see if still has for sale. Tails also 5" Bravo
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...61fa199d83.jpg
Found in 5 minutes. You hunt, you find.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...b2763d8553.jpg

I don't know the seller at all but will say if you are interested in these, make sure you get very detailed pictures of al the water ports and fittings. You can see the salt on that one picture. A lot of junk comes out of Florida. Buyer beware. You don't need to be taken again. Just my 02

$18,000 IS a lot of money and I'm sorry you got screwed like that. I would personally never buy something that expensive sight unseen. Time for a road trip. I hope you can salvage the engines.

Only thing worse than a thief is a scammer that hits for big money. A guy I work with is into antique tractors and even with extreme due diligence, he's been 'taken' a couple of times in the past, so now whenever he's contemplating a buy, he travels to the seller. And has seen several totally misrepresented tractors, and the crazy thing is the sellers often aren't even remotely ashamed or contrite, etc...more like, a <shrugs> "well, you going to buy or not?"

First of all I hate it that you got screwed, but the first red flag should have been a pair of iron headed 572's with an 8-71 blower that appears to be under driven by about 25% isn't going to make anywhere near 1000hp. Hopefully you have enough good parts there to make something out of them.