Pretty sure I know the builder as well. He is well respected and meeting/talking to him a handful of times I cant imagine him getting in a shouting match. That being said he seems to be on his own time line for the most part and right or wrong I dont think he cares to be pushed. On a side note the builder did two motors for a friends 35 fountain and he has been happy with them (but it was a long process). The builder does some big money boats and has a lot of customers.

I think you need to talk to him and work things out. Worst case is you pay the $400 and get your stuff.

Should have had Shooter build ya sum modors!

magical

Speaking as a business man, you have to focus on who is going to pay you this month and make them happy first so you can keep the doors open.

In a perfect world, you make everyone happy all the time. Now if a customer wants to make things personal and becomes abusive, it is time to part ways especially if they are being cheap and don't want you to make any money off them.

On the flip side, if I am the customer and getting the run around, I would pay the 400 and leave with my stuff. Not doing so just opens the door for things to get worse.

Instead of going ballistic with the guy, I would have offered 200 and tried to meet him in the middle for 300. If I did have to pay the 400, I would have had my motors in my truck before running my mouth.

In my business, the rules are GOOD CHEAP FAST. You get to pick two, I get the other one.

If I was going to have some motors built for me, I would be more worried about getting them done right than how much or how fast.

I think the OP is being cheap. If you want the best service, be nice and don't make price the issue. Tell the shop to git er done, pay the man and enjoy life.

If you ran a business were you had to choose between making 10K and the customer was happy and paid you or making 2K and had to go line by line on the bill with a PITA customer, which job would be done and which would still be in a box collecting cob webs?

In my opinion, you insulted the business owner and he did not have to take your abuse. He has the upper hand so you best just pay him before it gets worse.

Nautinuff

You are wrong with this builder. He is slow and upfront pa yment or pa yments throughout does not speed him up. He is overbooked and getting old. Promised my friend early spring and delivered at the end of summer! That's two complete high dollar 598 blower engines with plenty of money paid before and during the build and it took 13 months!!!!!!!!!! My friend is the customer shops dream of and this builder screwed him out of a summer! August 2012 to September 2013 is not acceptable. Then to have blower surge and not idle properly on a 900hp 598 with 1071s. All new high dollar parts. The builder even had the entire boat and rigged it.

My friend the customer was SCARED to push this builder because of his attitude. But he was already sucked in by the builders previous reputation and was stuck. That's not a good feeling to have.

There's not another side to this story.

The builder accepted the job

The builder does not have a signed estimate

The builder dropped the ball and took to long to not even complete half of what was asked

The customer is getting screwed

The builder uses this tactic time and time again to force more customers then his shop can handle because he is greedy.

IMO just pay the money and take your stuff somewhere else . If your relationship is that stressed , then you need to find another shop . In the scope of all things boating , it's easier to pay the $400 and move on . If you don't work on your own boat , I find that it helps to get along well with the people that do . Spring is fast approaching , good luck with your project

OK, you know the situation, I did not. From what you tell me, you got screwed. If the guy is getting old, slow and not doing things right any more, run as fast as you can, try to get that 400 down to two or three and rack it up as a bad deal.

400 is a bargain compared to what others have endured. I would be scared to death to leave my motors
there another single day over a couple hundred bucks.

If time is an issue, I would want to get the ball rolling somewhere else.

go get your engines man, its not worth losing them

Re-read post #16.... "I have built 50 plus motors".. Lets just call it 2 a year for giggles as I don't know the OPs age. I only build one every year or two, but I have a machinist I use every time. I wouldn't change engine guys now, even for less money. So why was this guy trying a new builder having built so many engines previous?

How is the condition of the short block delaying your purchase of heads, lifters and accessories? That's what I am stumped with.