Cronic3rd

I was cruisin the net and found this site..

United Engine

They seem like a large respectable operation. And not to mention they have 350 short blocks for $375. 400 shortblocks go for $425. and 454s for $675.

There is a core charge for each one but it is only 100 bucks for the 350.

Anyone heard of them before? I really don't think anyone is gonna beat their prices. I don't think I could find a motor at a jard and have it rebuilf for that.

Zralou

iTrader: (1)

Hi Guys

You might want to check out the Better Business Bureau report:

http://www.labbb.org/scripts/cgiip.e...ID=2&hAddrID=1

Take care, be good...
Sara Lou

Cronic3rd

hmmm. That is good to know. But is it because they do shoddy work or beacuse they do a high volume and have poor customer service?

There has to be someone in cail who has had experience with them.

RB83L69

There is one unbreakable, inflexible rule in buying a rebuilt motor:

• You get no more than what you pay for.

Go add up the price of parts, and the price of a core, and the price of machine work, and see if it's possible to build a quality short block for that kind of money.

That has to be the cheeeeepest possible of everything; chinesium pistons, unworked rods, cheeeep unfilled cast-iron rings, a generic chinesium 929 cam copy, etc.

If you want "the cheapest motor you can get", that looks like it might be the one. It's certain to be far from the best-running, or longest-lasting, or most trouble-free, or any other measure of quality.

1991tealRSt-topGuy

agree with RB

you get what you pay for with this kind of stuff

Guest

You get what you pay for.

Cronic3rd

I guess that is too low to get a motor worth using. Any one have and Ideas of what I should expect to pay for a stock 350 short block?

Zralou

iTrader: (1)

Hi Guys

The following is a paragraph from the website of United Engines:
"As the largest engine remanufacturer in California, UNITED ENGINE prides itself on its quality control, use of quality parts and customer service.

We stock nothing but high-quality engine parts like Melling, Silvolite, Dynagear, Seal Power, ITM, Durabond, Clevite and much more."

Now I don't know what is 'quality' or 'chinesium' with regard to product names in this country, but United Engines seem to feel the list of products is worth noting.

Yes this is true, and 90% of the time what you are actually paying for is high price advertising media, highly paid executives, shareholder investment and franchised 'brand names'. Throughout all area's of the consumer market you can always find a "cheaper alternative" of equal standard, some of which are manufactured by the same company selling the more expensive brand.

Don't get me wrong, i'm not trying to say this company is selling good stuff. But I believe they shouldn't be dismissed just for being "cheaper".

The link I posted above is to the Better Business Bureau, in which they show United Engines as having complaints logged against them, unfortunately the report does not state how many complaints are logged or how many have been resolved since the file was opened (1995).
In the report they also state:
"The company responds to some complaints by stating they would help the customer but required original receipts in order to do so"
(common practice in most business to require a receipt for returns).

"or by offering replacement engines with no warranties due to the original warranty being expired. The company offers additional repairs or adjustments to others."
Sounds like they are at least trying to put right their screw-ups, even after the original warranty has expired.

To sum up, this company is by no means a "grab 'em while you can" type, but I also feel they need further investigation before we dismiss them and miss out on a possible cheaper alternative in this $1000 plus aftermarket jungle. After all, they have been in business for at least 8yrs, so they must still get some customers.

Take care, be good...
Sara Lou

Guest

Careful wording. What they stock doesnt say what they install... not to mention ITM and Durabond... theres some real winners right there.

If I had a little more time, I'd go and check the place out myself. Instead, I think I will ask some local friends about them and give you the real skinny.

Cronic3rd

This is good and what i was hoping for.

please do and thank you.

Guest

One response so far...


"bad bad bad bad"

Guest

Second response:
"They are so bad, my company will not even SELL to them!"

fakeyankee

Guess most of you have never been told to " Stay away from the lowest bidder !!! " Not saying it's bad to choose the cheapest, just make sure you do your homework and " Read the fine print !! " Just because the BBB has a report listed against a buisness doesn't mean it's a bad buisness either. Can't keep 100% of the people, 100% happy, 100% of the time !!! You did the right thing by posting that question here. Research, ask questions, research some more.......sleep on it for awhile and then you be the judge of how you want to spend your hard earned money !!!! Good Luck !

Cronic3rd

MADMAX thak you for lookiong into that for me. I am defenatly not getting anything from them in the near future.

Zralou

iTrader: (1)

Hi Guys

Last night (8/3/03) after I posted on here, I e-mailed United Engines.
I told them I was interested in their short blocks and asked them to comment on the BBB report. I also asked for verifiable testimonials from any satisfied customers and a breakdown of their qulaity control procedures.

As of 7:15pm (EST) today (8/4/03), I have received no response. I will update this info IF or when I get any response.

Take care, be good....
Sara Lou

Zralou

iTrader: (1)

Hi Guys

7:25pm (EST) 8/5/03

No mail.... No response!

So much for their customer service policy.

Take care, be good...
Sara Lou

tilstad

Now they don't even have a website anymore...LOL.

Cronic3rd

The link still works. Moot point though since general consensus is that they suck donkey *****.

tilstad

Yeah, the website is up again. But still, even though they really suck, $62.50 for a rebuilt head is really unbeatable, isn't it? If it where a lousy car that only needed to get running to be able to sell it or something, it wouldn't be such a bad deal after all.

I guess one can't get any worse heads than the one I currently have on my LG4, So if I needed one, or two, and almost didn't have any cash at all, it would get my car running again at an unbeatable price.

I think they should get at least some credit for that..

Cronic3rd

granted if you were borke and really had to get the car running they might be where to go. but even then I might just wait till I can afford something better.

85maroz28

I say go ahead and wait save up some cash and do it right you'll be happier!

Guest

Then again, it might be cracked and wont even get you out of the driveway. Never know.

tilstad

I choose to think of these guy's as delivering "better than old and used" kind of engines. They are not claiming to deliver race capable engines, or even hot rod material of any sort.

For some of my car's who blown their engine I have in the past bought up to 10 year old used complete running engines, from airfilter to pan, for about $800.

In this situation united engine have a decent offer in my opinion, at the very least, someone have taken a look at the components and swappet out the obviously worn or broken, + new gaskets, and bam! Rebuilt engine. Beats a 10 year old junkyard runner anyday.

As for the suspicously low prices, thats shere volume + they buy parts at lower prices than the retail prices we pay.

br()bert

Sadly im sure many newbies who dont know much about the $ involved in putting together a rebuilt short block have already bought crap from that site.
Seems like more and more of them(newbies) are falling for the marketting lines everyday.
Hell im thinking of getting some cheap spray paint and sell it on ebay as "the amazing hp booster engine paint" <~~ i didnt say it would boost your HORSE POWER but im sure someone will think thats what i ment.

bubbz89

i dont know about that place, but here in memphis there is a place called walkers and they slap togther a damn fine short block for 425. thats a basic stock setup, upgrades are available and i was very pleased with the 350 i put in a 74 nova for my ex. has around 65 or 70k on it right now and still purrs. they have been around for a long time and thats the only place i will go for any type of machine work.

Cronic3rd

425 is pretty good for a short block. How much was the care charge? and do they ship?

bubbz89

they just want your old rebuildable block , and i dont believe they ship, they are a pretty small business. if you are ever in memphis, check out Walkers on Jackson Ave.