Where can I find my own personal mechanic that does work for 1/3 market value and when I screw something up, takes responsibility for it? Sounds like a good deal.

 

..and the nail is buried completely.
That, right there is the problem.

 

You're a saint Curly.

I've never seen det damage quite like that. Wow.

 

Curly, you are awesome and all.. but I think you are being way too nice. That is very clearly an engine destroyed by bad tuning and is of NO FAULT to the engine builder.

Either way, subbed for rebuild story and pics

 

I wasn't going to let it rot with an engine I built in it, that's no way to treat a Miata, much less a '94R. Yes, I should have/could have demanded money again, but I know he doesn't have much to give, so it's either this or it sits their being useless.



The only other option I considered was buying it off him cheap and flipping it or parting it. There's a decent ACT clutch, torsen, bilsteins, etc. But I didn't want to rob him of his pride and joy too quickly.

I'm not planning on putting a cent into it this time around. So far I haven't, in fact I've profited $4 AND he bought me two rolls of shop towels, which I have no intention of using up all on this build. So there's a win right there...

I need to get a quote from my head guy after Christmas to find out how much a milling and hot tanking costs. Normally I might not hot tank it, but if it's there, I might as well get out any shavings left from the destruction that I can. Another local Portland shop makes it sound like it'll be around $65, which would be awesome.

 

I just hope this guy realizes what a good friend you are. We all do. Merry Christmas.

 

Josh is the greatest. I've seen and driven this turd and met the owner. This is so far above and beyond what josh should be doing for this guy

 

Consider this a learning experience, then.

Don't work on shitty setups unless you have the customer sign some sort of waiver of liability or at least acknowledgment that you told him that he's gonna have a bad time. e.g. "Customer acknowledges I recommended against running the aftermarket supercharger setup without a properly functioning wideband air/fuel gauge." Or something that warranties only for builder error, not tuner error (and specify "e.g. detonation"). It may or may not hold up in any kind of court, but some documentation is better than nothing.

In my business, we do something in the same concept. If a client comes to me and says, "I want to buy XYZ penny stock," I spend a lot of time trying to talk them out of it with ample experiental and evidential reasons. If they insist, we process the order and it is clearly marked "unsolicited" (meaning I did not recommend it) and we have them sign a letter that says, in so many words, that I told the client this was a bad idea.


Good on you for trying to find a reasonable compromise and erring on the side of doing right by the customer. It's a process to learn where the right middle ground is.

 

I would of never been able to stop. With my personality, there was no way I would of rebuilt the original engine, known that it had blown up, and been able to say "too bad". So recommending him to a real shop would of been the best solution. I think he had issues with one of the better shops around though, didn't get along with the owner. Lucky for me, I get along with everyone.

 

The problem is that the customers who are stupid enough to make the bad decisions are the same ones who will turn around and blame you publicly for it. Regardless of what you have on paper, it becomes a he-said she-said in the court of public opinion.

Back when we were still building a lot of cars in 2010-2011, we would refuse to do stupid things, regardless of what the customer insisted on. If they insisted on a piggyback to control their new turbo kit, we insisted on not working on it. It might be your money, but it's my reputation. Most of our customers understood this and were thrilled with the results. A few of them argued with us and were cordially sent on their way. I don't lose a wink of sleep over turning down business like that.

That philosophy extends into my business today as well. I sell expertise first and parts second.

IIRC it's Enzo Ferrari that spoke the famous word: "The client is not always right."

 

Definitely would have charged the guy the proper price for something that got screwed up because HE didnt want to pay up and do it right.

 

As I embark on my own business venture this is something that really hits home to me. I've already begun to see the beginnings of strange requests and project ideas people have that they want me to tune.

 

Ugh, I feel for you Bro.. While it doesn't look like that damage was caused by any of your work, as the guy who rebuilt a motor that melted down you're sort of on the hook for it. Thats a **** deal, but I admire you putting your rep first.

That having been said, I should probably repeat what others above have said; one of the keys to running a successful business (even a side business) is to know when to ditch a fool. I routinely pass up on projects where the owner comes off like an idiot or wants me to do something that I'm not feeling. The objective is to have happy customers, not just activity, and while it feels counter-intuitive to growing a customer base to turn away work, in a lot of cases it's far more practical to do so. Doing quality work is enough trouble without some moron in the mix to **** it up, a principle that extends from the people you hire or work with, people you buy from, and indeed, those you sell to.

 

We need a "like" button... this is exactly how businesses ought to operate.

 

I am pretty sure that is why we have the props button.

 

Wow, yeah that would explain some of the recurring issues.

 

While I think Sav is dead on, I was being facetious about the "like" button... (and your sarcasm is duly noted )

 

Next question. Would y'all trust this head gasket? Oil quart placed to show approximate angle it was shipped at. I'm worried to look at it cause once it's opened I can't return it.

 

Considering the pressure with which it will be clamped down, that's nothing at all for mls.

 

I really would not worry about a slight "bend" in an mls gasket - unless it was kinked.