Who's at fault?

[DANNY8]

I've been getting my 173 rebuilt by a local engine builder. He sent it away to get bored out and the crank assembly balanced. This is where the first f**k up was made. They sent it to the wrong place! It was suppose to go to Chris Milton but instead went to someone I've never even heard of, but apparently they're good according to the guy building my motor. Well I let that pass, and I said I won't be paying any extra then wat Chris Milton quoted, as that's where I asked for it to be sent. So that was all good.

Now the motor has been getting put back 2gether and the engine builder has noticed that one of the rods is a fraction different in size and I need another rod. He said the old bearing must have been machined to fit, coz the new bearing just won't fit.

He asked me if I had another rod which I could replace it with. So I went out the back and got a 202 rod out of my spare black EFI block and took that out. He said he'll pull the piston off and measure the rods up and see how it goes. I've got a feeling the 202 rods are different then the 173 rods due to the increase in stroke, but that at the moment isn't my man concern as I'm sure I could find another 173 rod.

What I'm worried about is the new rod putting everything out of balance.

I asked the question in this thread:
Rods

Thx for vkberlina for replying. I'm just wondering wat peoples thoughts are on this, who should have to pay to get the crank assy re-balanced? vkberlina said "Personally the rods should have been inspected by them first so they should wear the cost of rebalencing", do others agree? I'm going to get in contact with Chris Milton and ask them whether they check the parts first for this type of thing. If they say they check it, well I definitely think the engine builders should be paying for it as they sent it to their own vendor to get the work done, and not to the place I specfically asked them for it to be sent.

It was only $170 to get it balanced up, but still that's $170 that I haven't budgeted for, and $170 that could of been saved if the parts were checked first. I know everyone makes mistakes, but they've had the motor since about a week b4 xmas last year, so checking the parts over wouldn't of been much an issue in my books,

Don't get me wrong, I still trust the people building my motor as they've been n the engine buildng business for a long time, t's just when something this small has happened which could cost me $170 when it could of been avoided if things were checked.

Sry for writing a novel

[JD]

i'd say your engine builder if he sent it to Chris Milton it may not of happenend.

[88GreenVN]

HMMM Chris Milton did my 253 that I had in a VB - reved to 6000rpm in all gears. Sweet balanced motor. JD is correct in that Chris Milton would not have missed the problem you have now.

[VLturbs87]

i'd say your engine builder if he sent it to Chris Milton it may not of happenend.

I agree!!!!!

[DANNY8]

Thx for the replies everyone. I gave Chris Milton a ring b4 and I told him the story and I asked if him if the motor got sent to him like I wanted, would they have checked it out or would I still be in the same situation. He said they wouldn't of checked it as all I wanted was it balanced. He also said as long as the new rod gets weighed and made to the same weight as the previous rod then the balancing should be fine.

Thx heaps for ur opinions.