Thread: standard practice ????

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I bought a rebuilt 318 from a big engine rebuilder here in jax the other day,paid for the moter & core ($500) when i took the old core to them they would not give my core $ back until they checked my old block.My question is ,is this standard practice ??? They say if somthing is bad i get charged for that part. this seems like b.s to me . IF the old engine was`nt bad i would not need a new engine is my thinking. any comments greatly apprieciated

Their terms are usually for a "rebuildable core" so if you give them a busted block, they cant rebuild it. However, they acquire their cores in two ways: (1) cores customers trade in and (2) buying cores from sources such as wrecking yards and core vendors. It is a certainty that they dont pay $500 to a core vendor for an engine......kinda makes you think that they make a profit on the deal if you dont have a core???? If they take in a busted block, it is near worthless and is sold for the nodular iron (to make stuff like water pipe).

mike in tucson

Checking the core became standard practice several years ago for many rebuilders. The ones I have delt with in the past have been honest and I always got my core charge back.

Originally posted by hotroddaddy
this seems like b.s to me . :

Anytime I see this kind of comment the first thought that pops to mind..........."You've never taken the risk of owning your own business". But you're not unique in that. It's often difficult to see the other side of the equation especially when money is involved. Like Mike says, there are real reasons to give you a credit for salvagable goods. Now, if they didn't make it clear what the qualifiers for credit promised was in advance then shame on them for poor communication.

Maybe another way to look at it is from the other side. They should be thinking " Why didn't he have his engine rebuilt if it's a good core?" While you may be an honest guy, not all their potential customers are. Ever know someone who's bragged about putting one over on a vendor, laughing the while?

If they give you the $500 after inspection, which means they didn't make any undue profit or cheat you, will you be as vocal? Most business people have learned that complainers are 11 times more vocal than complimentors. And that people who cheat them never make it right.

It's standard practice, even with the G.M. Goodwrench motors...

Hal, with the GM Goodwench motors, the core is a more reasonable $100. The GM Performance motors dont have a core charge at all.

I used to go to a core vendor in Dallas that would let you browse thru their piles of stuff. We bought engines that had very few miles on them.....probably came out of wrecked vehicles. One friend got a 292 chevy six engine that was super clean with all the decals still on it for $100. When he pulled the head, the thing was new inside.

Thanks for the comments guys.I understand the business aspect of it ,they need to make money to, but like bob said ,they should have expained that in the begining,then i would not have been expecting money right away. if all works out well and they dont cheat me ,then yes i will definitly spread agood word about there business, and use them again. Plus i could gain much knowledge from the owner, he was an nhra national winner back in the 70`s, so he definitly knows engines

Originally posted by hotroddaddy
Thanks for the comments guys.........,they should have expained that in the begining,then i would not have been expecting money right away.

Good for you daddy. If all works well, perhaps you should let the owner know how he didn't communicate well with you in the beginning. If he's a poor businessman he'll argue or alibi. If he's at least a half-bright guy he'll be happy to get some helpful feedback and fix his process.