Who was the builder. I live in wm

when he was yelling at me telling me how much I screwed up by pissing him off i didn't get to ask any questions. i was basically shouted out the door.

rather not say, usually like to let someone think about what they did and maybe apologize? funny thing is he initially comes across as a very nice guy. i guess you don't question him or complain about things not getting done.

I would offer him a couple hundred for his time. Tell him flat out he has had more than ample time to do the work you requested and you will pay him for what work has been done and that's it. I agree no more than a couple hours at most 3 at going shop rate.

pay with a credit card, dispute the charges.
One hour to take a short block apart with an impact would leave you looking for something to do

settle for $200

told me cash only. being fair there is two short blocks. but no oil pans, timing covers, balancers, cams, timing chains, flywheels. just 16 pistons and 2 cranks. no way he has one hour in them. in three plus months. on pace to have them done in april...... 2016

Sounds like typical shady business of CK motorsports.

Actually there are a lot of SLOW marine engine builders and its sad. 3 of my good friends went to 3 different well know builders around AUGUST and were promised late winter early spring but did not get their engine s back till summer! Total bs.

You are a right in your thinking that this builder is outta his mind.

First off the customer is always right. Without us customers the builder would be out of business.

Second the builder CHOSE to take on your job.

Since the builder dropped the ball you should pay nothing. Unless he can prove on paper that you agreed to pay a tear down?

Does he have a signed estimate?

its not CK

i don't have any signed estimate but he has two merc 540 bulldogs of mine.

your friends situation is what im trying to avoid, that's why i brought them to him in early September, so that we have plenty of time.

I am a builder/rigger so I will look at from our side. You never posted how far torn down the engines were when you brought them to him. Where there any accessories or was it just bare blocks with cranks and rods? Like somebody mentioned he had to mount them on stands and tear them down. Did he clean the blocks/parts or prep them in any way? My machine shop charges me $100.00 each just to jet wash them and I do it before and after I bring them to him, this has piss me off for the 25 years I have been using him.You mentioned he removed the pistons from the rods, have you personally ever done this much work to 2 engines in 1 hour? Did you mention "no hurry" when dropped off? If so thats a death sentence if said to a high traffic/busy shop owner that has other clients that know better than to say such a thing. I have had customers that drop their boats off in the fall and want to wait till after the first of the year to get started, by then I am into other projects that might put their project into the up coming boating season. Its a balancing act that is hard to control.

Without all the facts and "the other side of the story" its hard to take a side.

Its obviously hard when we only have heard one side but at the same time IF the builder wanted to earn this customers business he would have done a complete teardown and estimate. If the builder can not complete the task he was hired for he does not deserve payment.