ATECO Engines My Experience
01-08-2015 | 04:59 PM
#62
Registered
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Ingleside, IL
It has been brought to my attention that I need to read an old thread that has been recently revived on OSO. It is not customary for me to sit in front of a computer forum when there is work to be done in the shop, but I see that I need to make an exception and reach out to a customer who is feeling slighted.
Randy, I am sorry to have taken so long on your project. As you know, we have been designing an affordable serpentine belt drive for your Whipple blower engine, using your stock alternator, your power steering pump and your sea pump.
As we have discussed, I have been disappointed in the quality of the parts I have received from numerous CNC shops I initially used. Last month I finally received acceptable parts for your engine. It took a while to find a suitable CNC operator with talend and available time to take on the project. I am comfortable with the parts I now have for the design.
Often times, customers want to supply parts they have collected or have purchased elsewhere, such as ebay, Racing Junk or Offshore Only and they are perfectly good parts, but don't necessarily fit together properly without some kind of modifications. In an attempt to please you and save money, I have been willing to match various mismatched engine parts that have been supplied, instead of insisting on parts that I know to be compliant for your particular engine. These different types of puzzle pieces take more time to try to fit together correctly. It can be done, it just requires machining. Initially, money is saved on parts, but ultimately lost in time and labor.
I have not avoided your calls. I am at ATECO Monday through Saturday, but I cannot always come to the phone. I try to communicate with customers when I have something to convey. I have no reason to avoid speaking with you and I apologize if you feel that way.
In an attempt to be fair to all parties concerned, I am offering 3 options to you on how we can proceed:
1. We can continue as originally planned, with everything completed and ready for you to come and watch the Dyno Testing by the end of February, at our agreed upon price.
2. I can Dyno Test the engine with the blower, and return your accessories to you. You will pay our agree upon price, minus the $1500.00 charge for the serpentine belt drive system.
3. I can refund your deposit, along with the parts you supplied, with no hard feelings.
The decision is yours.
Regards,
Bill Lawson
ATECO Engine
Randy, I am sorry to have taken so long on your project. As you know, we have been designing an affordable serpentine belt drive for your Whipple blower engine, using your stock alternator, your power steering pump and your sea pump.
As we have discussed, I have been disappointed in the quality of the parts I have received from numerous CNC shops I initially used. Last month I finally received acceptable parts for your engine. It took a while to find a suitable CNC operator with talend and available time to take on the project. I am comfortable with the parts I now have for the design.
Often times, customers want to supply parts they have collected or have purchased elsewhere, such as ebay, Racing Junk or Offshore Only and they are perfectly good parts, but don't necessarily fit together properly without some kind of modifications. In an attempt to please you and save money, I have been willing to match various mismatched engine parts that have been supplied, instead of insisting on parts that I know to be compliant for your particular engine. These different types of puzzle pieces take more time to try to fit together correctly. It can be done, it just requires machining. Initially, money is saved on parts, but ultimately lost in time and labor.
I have not avoided your calls. I am at ATECO Monday through Saturday, but I cannot always come to the phone. I try to communicate with customers when I have something to convey. I have no reason to avoid speaking with you and I apologize if you feel that way.
In an attempt to be fair to all parties concerned, I am offering 3 options to you on how we can proceed:
1. We can continue as originally planned, with everything completed and ready for you to come and watch the Dyno Testing by the end of February, at our agreed upon price.
2. I can Dyno Test the engine with the blower, and return your accessories to you. You will pay our agree upon price, minus the $1500.00 charge for the serpentine belt drive system.
3. I can refund your deposit, along with the parts you supplied, with no hard feelings.
The decision is yours.
Regards,
Bill Lawson
ATECO Engine
Last edited by Ateco; 01-08-2015 at 05:02 PM.
01-08-2015 | 06:22 PM
#64
Registered
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,822
Likes: 376
From: IL
Yep I agree,
ATECO/Bill is a member in the same boat club as I am,
Bill does not know me by name but I think he would recognize me if he saw me,
All I can say is Bill does not strike me as one of the bad guys,most of the time when Bill comes to the meetings someone always has some engine build question and he always takes the time to answer questions or give advise.
about 4/5 years ago Memorial day weekend I was replacing the valve springs on my engines,once I took the old springs apart I noticed I had some bad spring shims,,I called around and nobody wanted to sell me the shims,all the machine shops wanted to keep them for their use,I called Bill right as he was walking out the door for the holiday weekend,after I told him my issue he waited for me to drive to his shop(about 35 minutes),gave me a tour of the shop,we bs for about 45 minutes and sold me the shims and exhaust manifold gaskets for if I remember correctly around $25.00,,,not the sale of the day but he got me out of a jam.
ATECO/Bill is a member in the same boat club as I am,
Bill does not know me by name but I think he would recognize me if he saw me,
All I can say is Bill does not strike me as one of the bad guys,most of the time when Bill comes to the meetings someone always has some engine build question and he always takes the time to answer questions or give advise.
about 4/5 years ago Memorial day weekend I was replacing the valve springs on my engines,once I took the old springs apart I noticed I had some bad spring shims,,I called around and nobody wanted to sell me the shims,all the machine shops wanted to keep them for their use,I called Bill right as he was walking out the door for the holiday weekend,after I told him my issue he waited for me to drive to his shop(about 35 minutes),gave me a tour of the shop,we bs for about 45 minutes and sold me the shims and exhaust manifold gaskets for if I remember correctly around $25.00,,,not the sale of the day but he got me out of a jam.
01-08-2015 | 08:57 PM
#68
Member #154
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,005
Likes: 1,087
From: SW CT & Long Island Sound
Great response, but...
A phone call can go real far though, even if it's just to check in to say no progress yet. No return calls would make me jumpy too, it's not rocket science.
Hope this has a happy ending!
A phone call can go real far though, even if it's just to check in to say no progress yet. No return calls would make me jumpy too, it's not rocket science.
Hope this has a happy ending!
01-08-2015 | 09:08 PM
#69
Fast Singles Club
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,042
Likes: 490
From: Raystown Lake , Pa.
With the amount of time that has passed and the lack of communication.........well lets just say I would NOT be happy . I don't know what really happened to cause such a long delay in progress and phone calls but it would appear Ateco is offering an olive branch . Randy , I hope this comes together nicely for you now . God knows you deserve it !
