This build started on October 14, 2024. After nearly a year of problems, delays, and unsuccessful…read morerepair attempts, I pulled my truck from the shop in 2025. I bought every part they instructed me to buy, paid over $22,000 in labor, and gave them multiple opportunities to make things right. Instead, I was left without a working truck and had to buy another vehicle.
1. INCORRECT PISTONS
The shop told me to buy 0.010-over pistons, which were installed in a block already 0.030 over. They were unsuitable, requiring a second teardown and leaving the pistons unusable. This should have been caught before I bought the parts.
2. CONCERNS ABOUT MACHINING
The shop repeatedly said the block had been machined and had been at the machine shop for over a month. However, photographs showed the original piston ring and fire ring imprints still visible on the deck. This left me questioning whether the block was ever even truly sent.
3. MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE WITHIN 20 HOURS
Within approximately 20 hours of pickup, the truck developed coolant intrusion, crank-no-start, lower-end clunking, a cracked cylinder head, and a melted starter associated with hydrolock. The shop insisted it was just a bad starter until I provided video of coolant coming out of the exhaust.
4. PROBLEMS AFTER PICKUP
I found loose ground straps, broken wiring harnesses, heavy oil leaks from the HPFP cover and valve cover, and coolant intrusion. The truck had to be towed back. These problems should not have occurred so soon after engine work.
5. MISDIAGNOSIS AND DELAYS
The shop continued insisting it was a bad injector, delaying investigation and wasting gaskets, materials, and time. The repair dragged on without a reliable completion date.
6. ANOTHER HEAD PROPOSED
After coolant intrusion, hydrolock symptoms, a cracked head, and mechanical clunking, the shop proposed simply putting another head on the engine. I was not comfortable with another partial repair without determining the extent of the damage. I ultimately pulled my truck from the shop in 2025.
7. INSURANCE INFORMATION NOT PROVIDED
On October 14, 2025, the shop agreed to address the matter through insurance, saying they were "more than happy" to do so because this had "held us up." I have not received the insurance company's name, policy number, claim number, or adjuster's contact information. They agreed to go through insurance but have not provided the details needed to pursue it.
8. FINANCIAL IMPACT
The build began October 14, 2024, and I was left without my truck for nearly a year. The delays disrupted my life and caused additional transportation and fuel expenses. The shop never gave me a reliable completion date. I ultimately had to buy another vehicle because I could not keep waiting.
Parts: $21,723.96
Labor: $22,476.16
TOTAL: $44,200.12
This excludes the cost of another vehicle, substitute transportation, fuel, and other expenses.
9. ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THIS
I bought the requested parts, paid the bills, and gave the shop multiple opportunities to correct the problems. I tried formal avenues for resolution, but I have been unable to secure legal representation, and the FDAC complaint process has not resolved the matter. I still lack the insurance information the shop agreed to provide.
MY FINAL ASSESSMENT
Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this shop for an expensive engine rebuild. I dealt with unsuitable pistons, concerns about machining, major engine problems shortly after pickup, loose connections, broken wiring, oil leaks, diagnostic delays, and nearly a year without my truck.
Unexpected problems happen, but the repeated setbacks, lack of a realistic timeline, and unresolved insurance discussion after spending $44,200.12 are unacceptable.
I gave this shop time, money, and multiple opportunities to make things right. The build began October 14, 2024. I pulled the truck in 2025, had to purchase another vehicle, and am still trying to resolve the consequences. I am sharing my experience so others can make an informed decision before trusting this shop with their vehicle.
