RUTHLESS KB Cobra

[wick]

I am not insuniating anything here. I don't know your driving habits. Guides do leak during driving also when worn. What else was found? Ray charles could have seen the melted piston. Mike did not miss it. It wasn't there upon his scoping.

The only miles that were put on the car after I had Mike check it out were on the cruise down to "that other shop." Are you saying that the 60 miles of highway (never hit boost) driving caused the problem of detonation? The funny thing about worn valve guides - they only drip oil into the cylinders when the motor is sitting, so any amount of oil getting into the motor during it's operation time would be burned off once the motor started up. Hence why valve guide problems only cause smoke on start up...

Furthermore, the heads didn't need any machining done, there were no valve guide problems to speak of. Then or now.


So, are you trying to insinuate that I was beating on the car? after Mike gave the diagnosis of valve guide wear? (Mike's initial advice anyways!)

[MBH]

I am not insuniating anything here. I don't know your driving habits. Guides do leak during driving also when worn. What else was found? Ray charles could have seen the melted piston. Mike did not miss it. It wasn't there upon his scoping.

Ray Charles should have found it I know I said I drove 60 miles, but I was wrong, more like 75, I forgot about the drive back from Mike's to put the car in storage for a while to give me some time to decide what to do. Again, I remind you that there were no valve guide issues with the car whatsoever.


The only reason I chimed in this thread is very similar to why Ryan made his 'lies lies lies' thread. He got pissed when Mike claimed that he saved his motor, just as I got pissed when I read that Mike doesn't let a car leave his shop without problems and to ask his customers. I was a customer, since he said to ask, I decided to answer. Case closed.

[Sonic03snake]

Ray Charles should have found it I know I said I drove 60 miles, but I was wrong, more like 75, I forgot about the drive back from Mike's to put the car in storage for a while to give me some time to decide what to do. Again, I remind you that there were no valve guide issues with the car whatsoever.


The only reason I chimed in this thread is very similar to why Ryan made his 'lies lies lies' thread. He got pissed when Mike claimed that he saved his motor, just as I got pissed when I read that Mike doesn't let a car leave his shop without problems and to ask his customers. I was a customer, since he said to ask, I decided to answer. Case closed.

Wasn't it smoking on the way out to carlisle and back? I personally think your car had an existing issue before you got it, if I recall you were down on power from day one. You also were walking around the dyno day showing everyone your cat converter that was melted down inside, was that on the side the pistons were bad?

[Wolfpack Speed]

I "turned my back" on your prices. Call that jumping ship if you want.

My mechanical issues with the car were bad valve guides, right Mike?

I have no problems with Lund, only with you. I had Lund provide me a very very rich break in tune because I had paid for a tune that I had only used for a few hundred miles. I didn't ask for a refund. Emotions were high, and things were said. I won't deny that on EITHER of our ends.

The car is running very strong actually, even on a conservative tune. thank you for your false accusations.

Bo,

I have no problem with you or anyone else going to another shop over pricing, that is business. What I do have a problem with is you using that as an excuse as to why you went somewhere else. You left because you wanted someone to blame for your troubles. When you didn't get anywhere with Lund and then me, you ran to Tim which is extremely funny considering your opinion of him, his work and his shop prior to leaving my shop.

"Emotions were high, and things were said. I won't deny that on EITHER of our ends."

I can accept that as we are all guilty of saying or doing things we don't mean when we are mad.

Dude, get off the valve guide thing! It's no secret thats what I thought was wrong, it's no secret you had a bad piston. I did what troubleshooting I could with what time and money I was afforded to work with. Once again, this is why communication was such an issue with us. If you would have come and spoke with me in person like I asked you several times to do, I would have shown you in detail exactly what we did, why we did it and why we said valve guides. Do you honestly think the pictures I took of your plugs and all the oil in cylinder #7 weren't noted? Do you honestly think that if I actually got a chance to pull your cylinder head we wouldn't have seen the issue with that cylinder? Do you honestly not think that maybe by the time you got the car somewhere else the additional engine usage made the problem even worse making the issue even easier to diagnose?

Keep questioning my knowledge all you want Bo, I know you are desperate to stick me with something, anything negative that you can

[MBH]

Wasn't it smoking on the way out to carlisle and back? I personally think your car had an existing issue before you got it, if I recall you were down on power from day one. You also were walking around the dyno day showing everyone your cat converter that was melted down inside, was that on the side the pistons were bad?

It smoked on the way back from Carlisle. That was after the long tubes and well before I took it to Mikes (time wise, mileage wise the car saw ~650 miles after long tubes, 400 of which were the trip to and from Carlisle)

The car was good on power when I got it, it ran strong in the 1/4 mile even without launching it (sorry, I'm to worrisome about the IRS and half shafts to launch the car on stiff walled tires).

I did some thinking about the clogged catalytic converter. I had exhaust leak problems with my midpipe since day 1 with that car. I swapped out the catless midpipe for a catted midpipe (what can I say, I'm going green LOL). Still had some leak problems with it, so I decided enough was enough and I paid Mike to do it while he was doing some other things on my car.

I never thought much of it until the piston melted, because hindsight is 20/20. I remember Mike telling me that I got my moneys worth out of him doing the exhaust alignment, because when he went to loosen it up on the lift it came off the car and almost hit him in the head. Presumably the midpipe (with the cats) hit the floor. The shock from the impact definitely would be enough to break some next-to-new (under 1000 miles) catalytic converters loose within the metal. When I took the car home I was driving with Brian (97LaserRed), and I asked him if he noticed a faint whistling sound coming from right under the passenger side floorboard. He did. I had assumed that it was a small leak and didn't think much of it. Better than I had, and I felt as though Mike was doing me a favor in charging me $30 for something that he had so much trouble with, so who was I to complain?

Fast forward to when Mike gets his dyno - I volunteer to get my car on the dyno to help him try it out. Car makes low numbers, followed by even lower numbers. Shit. Something isn't right! I asked around on this forum and got a PM from someone (I believe it was Brian ocracing?) saying that a friend of his had catalytic converters that were plugged and it robbed the car of about the same power mine had been showing. So I took the cats off, and low and behold they are shaking in the casing they are so loose. I brought them to show Mike at the dyno day. You know, cause we were buddies back then.

Ran the car catless for a while, put it on a dynojet, it made 500.1 rwhp/514 rwtq on a hot day. Not the best numbers, but not terrible by any means. Mike had just had another cobra down at the shop with the same mods that made the same power, so I wouldn't consider it too bad. Still felt strong, no signs of smoking or anything.

Put longtubes on the car and a new catted x pipe, had it retuned and dynoed. Made just about the same peak power (maybe a touch more) and made a lot more under the curve. Very happy with the new sound, and just in time for Carlisle.

After that, nothing but smoke.

Then bad valve guides, no problems with the actual motor at Mike's shop.

Then I take it to another shop to get the work done that, and that's when the drama between Mike and I started.

[Wolfpack Speed]

I am not making the same accusations that Ryan made, I'm calling attention to the fact that Mike has made some very questionable mistakes in the past, which I've had the misfortune of being involved with. Those mistakes make me question his proficiency as a mechanic, as he holds himself in such high regard as.

Unless Mike has engaged in things that he has not disclosed to me, or anyone else, with MY car then he couldn't have, right?

The entire reason I posted in this thread was basically to show the peanut gallery that things aren't always as peachy as they seem down at Wolfpack speed.

What questionable decisions have I made in the past? Do you work here? Do you have any clue as to what I do on a daily basis? Do you have any clue as to how many cars we have fixed and re-tuned that are done by other shops? Did you ever stop the think there is a reason why we are as busy as we are and have the reputation we do? Once again Bo, I know you desperately want to stick me with anything you can because of your misfortune but it's just not there dude.

[Mater]

How about this cooler weather we are having today,its kinda nice!

[Wolfpack Speed]

Because I couldn't come to your shop at your convenience because I worked during the same hours as you? Keep telling yourself what you want, people can come to their own conclusions.

My lack of mechanical knowledge should never have been an issue. That is what I paid you for.

Your lack of reading ability is an entirely different subject. I'm sorry I can't bend over backwards and meet you on your time table, but I can write you an email at night when you're not working so you can read it at your own convenience.

You told me that you pulled my motor, so again, you're not helping your cause as looking like an honest mechanic.

More excuses Bo! I work morning day and night, I'm all over the freaking place 6-7 days a week! You had time to email and pm me constantly and run around taking pictures everywhere, but never no time to stop by the shop. You didn't have the nuts cause your a little whiner that new he would get put in his place, thats why you continue to hide behind your keyboard!

I never told you I pulled your motor, so I guess I cant read and you cant hear? WHO THE HELL PULLS A MOTOR TO INSTALL FREAKING HEADERS?

More garbage Bo, your just digging your self deeper!

[90TitaniumStang]

How about this cooler weather we are having today,its kinda nice!

yep all the blower cars are gonna love this

[Wolfpack Speed]

Ray Charles should have found it I know I said I drove 60 miles, but I was wrong, more like 75, I forgot about the drive back from Mike's to put the car in storage for a while to give me some time to decide what to do. Again, I remind you that there were no valve guide issues with the car whatsoever.


The only reason I chimed in this thread is very similar to why Ryan made his 'lies lies lies' thread. He got pissed when Mike claimed that he saved his motor, just as I got pissed when I read that Mike doesn't let a car leave his shop without problems and to ask his customers. I was a customer, since he said to ask, I decided to answer. Case closed.

How did I not save his motor? If he wouldn't have listened to me when I told him not to drive the car until she came of the dyno, what the do you think would have happened when he loaded the car up on the street with no fuel?????????

When his car detonated on the dyno, who the hell do you think stopped the run? Your right Bo, I never helped Ryan at all, I was never looking out for him.

[MBH]

Bo,

I have no problem with you or anyone else going to another shop over pricing, that is business. What I do have a problem with is you using that as an excuse as to why you went somewhere else. You left because you wanted someone to blame for your troubles. When you didn't get anywhere with Lund and then me, you ran to Tim which is extremely funny considering your opinion of him, his work and his shop prior to leaving my shop.

"Emotions were high, and things were said. I won't deny that on EITHER of our ends."

I can accept that as we are all guilty of saying or doing things we don't mean when we are mad.

Dude, get off the valve guide thing! It's no secret thats what I thought was wrong, it's no secret you had a bad piston. I did what troubleshooting I could with what time and money I was afforded to work with. Once again, this is why communication was such an issue with us. If you would have come and spoke with me in person like I asked you several times to do, I would have shown you in detail exactly what we did, why we did it and why we said valve guides. Do you honestly think the pictures I took of your plugs and all the oil in cylinder #7 weren't noted? Do you honestly think that if I actually got a chance to pull your cylinder head we wouldn't have seen the issue with that cylinder? Do you honestly not think that maybe by the time you got the car somewhere else the additional engine usage made the problem even worse making the issue even easier to diagnose?

Keep questioning my knowledge all you want Bo, I know you are desperate to stick me with something, anything negative that you can

I had poor opinions of Tim because you fed me horror stories since the day we became friends. I also wasn't used to the manner in which he joked, so the first time I had ever met the guy in person I thought he was just being hard on somebody that had just got banned on here for being a honda nutrider. It was funny, but I felt bad for the guy so I thought Tim was just being a jerk.

I went to Tim because he was going to save me $1300, and he helped me try to diagnose the car over the phone when you wouldn't even give me the time of day. Call that blaming your shop if you must, but I'm telling you it boiled down to two things. A guy who was eager for my business, had more experience building motors, and willing to help me try to figure out the problem BEFORE I started throwing money at the car. I can't shake the feeling that you treated me like a blank check. It's not exactly a secret that I have some money to spend on stupid shit, but that doesn't mean I'm going to spend it stupidly. Make sense?


I am hung up on the valve guide thing because it's one of the factors that drove me nuts. Even Wick is coming in here and telling me that I melted the piston because I had a bad valve guide!

I do remember you walking me through why you thought it was a bad valve guide issue. I believed you! I thought it was ridiculous that a car with 13xxx miles could have THAT much valve guide wear, but what can I say. I had my wolfpack blinders on, and I wouldn't question your ability.

I don't think that the problem became so severe after 75 miles of no boost cruising that the car could have been so easily diagnosed that one of the shop helpers at Tims was able to diagnose it as soon as he looked into the scope. What's that say about you? (not good things) Whats that say about me? (I was blinded by loyalty to you).

You never ever ever ever ever ever EVER once admitted that you were wrong. So YES, you DID make it a HUGE SECRET that my car had a piston problem and not valve guide problems? How many of your customers and friends have you talked shit on me to, yet you never once made mention that you misdiagnosed my car with the wrong problem? or that your mistake would have been picked up on my tab at the tune of $3500 in brand new heads for my car because I had to order them before I would take up a bay in your shop.

That's why I think you are not an honest mechanic and THAT is why you will never ever touch anything of mine again.

[wick]

How about this cooler weather we are having today,its kinda nice!

it sure is nice out!!!

yep all the blower cars are gonna love this

Got that right!!!

[MBH]

What questionable decisions have I made in the past? Do you work here? Do you have any clue as to what I do on a daily basis? Do you have any clue as to how many cars we have fixed and re-tuned that are done by other shops? Did you ever stop the think there is a reason why we are as busy as we are and have the reputation we do? Once again Bo, I know you desperately want to stick me with anything you can because of your misfortune but it's just not there dude.

The questionable decision you made was to open the can of worms because of your hubris. You said to ask customers, I answered. You lied.

I'm not trying to stick you with anything. I'm laying the events out on the forum and letting people come to their own conclusions. Deny it all you want, but let them form their own opinions of you. I know I have.

More excuses Bo! I work morning day and night, I'm all over the freaking place 6-7 days a week! You had time to email and pm me constantly and run around taking pictures everywhere, but never no time to stop by the shop. You didn't have the nuts cause your a little whiner that new he would get put in his place, thats why you continue to hide behind your keyboard!

I never told you I pulled your motor, so I guess I cant read and you cant hear? WHO THE HELL PULLS A MOTOR TO INSTALL FREAKING HEADERS?

More garbage Bo, your just digging your self deeper!

I don't have any excuses. I know you work hard. I know you're not a photographer, but guess what time is good for taking pictures? sunset. After your business hours!

I have no reason to come see you because you won't even listen to me. What good is me wasting my time and coming down to talk to you going to do? You're just going to talk over me and get mad, just like you are doing right now in front of everyone. Anyone who has actually met me in person knows that I'm a nice guy, and I'll go out of my way for people when I can. But you give me NO reason to go out of the way for something you refuse to even work with me on! All you've responded me with is hostility ever since I took my business elsewhere.

Am I not being reasonable? Am I not level headed? Am I not posting and detailing the events exactly as the happened?

How did I not save his motor? If he wouldn't have listened to me when I told him not to drive the car until she came of the dyno, what the do you think would have happened when he loaded the car up on the street with no fuel?????????

When his car detonated on the dyno, who the hell do you think stopped the run? Your right Bo, I never helped Ryan at all, I was never looking out for him.

I'm not saying what you did or you didn't. That's not my place to put words in peoples' mouths. I'm simply repeating why he was upset, that is all! You can either learn from it or continue to ignore/get upset by it. One of those choices is the right choice, and one of those choices is exactly what you're doing.

[MBH]

it sure is nice out!!!



Got that right!!!

Cute, all of the people that are so quick to back up Mike are trying to get the discussion off topic. How about those valve guides Rob? What was that you were saying about me blowing it up? What about Ray Charles being able to see that piston? I believe Mike just admitted to being wrong this whole time... care to elaborate on your theory again?

[Wolfpack Speed]

It smoked on the way back from Carlisle. That was after the long tubes and well before I took it to Mikes (time wise, mileage wise the car saw ~650 miles after long tubes, 400 of which were the trip to and from Carlisle)

The car was good on power when I got it, it ran strong in the 1/4 mile even without launching it (sorry, I'm to worrisome about the IRS and half shafts to launch the car on stiff walled tires).

I did some thinking about the clogged catalytic converter. I had exhaust leak problems with my midpipe since day 1 with that car. I swapped out the catless midpipe for a catted midpipe (what can I say, I'm going green LOL). Still had some leak problems with it, so I decided enough was enough and I paid Mike to do it while he was doing some other things on my car.

I never thought much of it until the piston melted, because hindsight is 20/20. I remember Mike telling me that I got my moneys worth out of him doing the exhaust alignment, because when he went to loosen it up on the lift it came off the car and almost hit him in the head. Presumably the midpipe (with the cats) hit the floor. The shock from the impact definitely would be enough to break some next-to-new (under 1000 miles) catalytic converters loose within the metal. When I took the car home I was driving with Brian (97LaserRed), and I asked him if he noticed a faint whistling sound coming from right under the passenger side floorboard. He did. I had assumed that it was a small leak and didn't think much of it. Better than I had, and I felt as though Mike was doing me a favor in charging me $30 for something that he had so much trouble with, so who was I to complain?

Fast forward to when Mike gets his dyno - I volunteer to get my car on the dyno to help him try it out. Car makes low numbers, followed by even lower numbers. Shit. Something isn't right! I asked around on this forum and got a PM from someone (I believe it was Brian ocracing?) saying that a friend of his had catalytic converters that were plugged and it robbed the car of about the same power mine had been showing. So I took the cats off, and low and behold they are shaking in the casing they are so loose. I brought them to show Mike at the dyno day. You know, cause we were buddies back then.

Ran the car catless for a while, put it on a dynojet, it made 500.1 rwhp/514 rwtq on a hot day. Not the best numbers, but not terrible by any means. Mike had just had another cobra down at the shop with the same mods that made the same power, so I wouldn't consider it too bad. Still felt strong, no signs of smoking or anything.

Put longtubes on the car and a new catted x pipe, had it retuned and dynoed. Made just about the same peak power (maybe a touch more) and made a lot more under the curve. Very happy with the new sound, and just in time for Carlisle.

After that, nothing but smoke.

Then bad valve guides, no problems with the actual motor at Mike's shop.

Then I take it to another shop to get the work done that, and that's when the drama between Mike and I started.

I know you ended up having cat issues but your midpip did not fall to the floor like and break your cats up like you want to think. You have said several times that I told you that but I don't recall that as being what happened. It's kind of hard for a midpipe to just fall off a car down to the ground when the car is on a 4 post lift, there are exhaust hangers and electrical connections. If I actually told you that you probably misunderstood me for it hitting me when a piece of it came apart when I was adjusting it for you...

[Sonic03snake]

Cute, all of the people that are so quick to back up Mike are trying to get the discussion off topic. How about those valve guides Rob? What was that you were saying about me blowing it up? What about Ray Charles being able to see that piston? I believe Mike just admitted to being wrong this whole time... care to elaborate on your theory again?

I think the original issue has been settled? The problems between you and mike are a whole different topic I want no part of, only you two know what went on there.

[vitaleffects626]

Hey great news I just saved 300 dollars for switching to geico

[Sonic03snake]

Ah, ok, I remember you having low numbers with the car, thought it was when you got it.

It smoked on the way back from Carlisle. That was after the long tubes and well before I took it to Mikes (time wise, mileage wise the car saw ~650 miles after long tubes, 400 of which were the trip to and from Carlisle)

The car was good on power when I got it, it ran strong in the 1/4 mile even without launching it (sorry, I'm to worrisome about the IRS and half shafts to launch the car on stiff walled tires).

I did some thinking about the clogged catalytic converter. I had exhaust leak problems with my midpipe since day 1 with that car. I swapped out the catless midpipe for a catted midpipe (what can I say, I'm going green LOL). Still had some leak problems with it, so I decided enough was enough and I paid Mike to do it while he was doing some other things on my car.

I never thought much of it until the piston melted, because hindsight is 20/20. I remember Mike telling me that I got my moneys worth out of him doing the exhaust alignment, because when he went to loosen it up on the lift it came off the car and almost hit him in the head. Presumably the midpipe (with the cats) hit the floor. The shock from the impact definitely would be enough to break some next-to-new (under 1000 miles) catalytic converters loose within the metal. When I took the car home I was driving with Brian (97LaserRed), and I asked him if he noticed a faint whistling sound coming from right under the passenger side floorboard. He did. I had assumed that it was a small leak and didn't think much of it. Better than I had, and I felt as though Mike was doing me a favor in charging me $30 for something that he had so much trouble with, so who was I to complain?

Fast forward to when Mike gets his dyno - I volunteer to get my car on the dyno to help him try it out. Car makes low numbers, followed by even lower numbers. Shit. Something isn't right! I asked around on this forum and got a PM from someone (I believe it was Brian ocracing?) saying that a friend of his had catalytic converters that were plugged and it robbed the car of about the same power mine had been showing. So I took the cats off, and low and behold they are shaking in the casing they are so loose. I brought them to show Mike at the dyno day. You know, cause we were buddies back then.

Ran the car catless for a while, put it on a dynojet, it made 500.1 rwhp/514 rwtq on a hot day. Not the best numbers, but not terrible by any means. Mike had just had another cobra down at the shop with the same mods that made the same power, so I wouldn't consider it too bad. Still felt strong, no signs of smoking or anything.

Put longtubes on the car and a new catted x pipe, had it retuned and dynoed. Made just about the same peak power (maybe a touch more) and made a lot more under the curve. Very happy with the new sound, and just in time for Carlisle.

After that, nothing but smoke.

Then bad valve guides, no problems with the actual motor at Mike's shop.

Then I take it to another shop to get the work done that, and that's when the drama between Mike and I started.

[MBH]

I know you ended up having cat issues but your midpip did not fall to the floor like and break your cats up like you want to think. You have said several times that I told you that but I don't recall that as being what happened. It's kind of hard for a midpipe to just fall off a car down to the ground when the car is on a 4 post lift, there are exhaust hangers and electrical connections. If I actually told you that you probably misunderstood me for it hitting me when a piece of it came apart when I was adjusting it for you...

You skipped over the word "presumably."

The bassani midpipe is a 5 piece design, so it could easily have fallen on you if you were not careful. If you loosened everything to try to adjust it on the car, and you moved it or tugged on it to get it unstuck from something and it broke free, it could have easily fallen to the floor.

Also, there are no rear O2 sensors on my car, so the electronics which you are referencing are nonexistant, and there are no midpipe hangers for 03/04 cobras either.


Not an impossible situation by any stretch of the imagination, especially since it would be awfully tough for the midpipe to come down far enough to almost hit you in the head. I ain't exactly Yao Ming, but you're not that tall of a guy.



Either way, the cat that was clogged was exactly where the faint whistle under the floorboard was coming from. Could have broken loose, could have been a coincidence, but from a skeptics point of view it doesn't look good.

[90TitaniumStang]

Its sad when you blame someone else for your cat clogging