To all my dear z Driver community. Recently, my 240z engine blew a head gasket after rebuilding 3 years prior. I returned to the same shop (Darrel's Datsun) for some help. I had build a positive rapport with head technician, who did all the work for the shop. The head technician, Joe, had rebuilt a 280z engine with a N-42 head, and employed 6 pack Weber set, a racing cam, and modified (ported) the heads for maximum compression. Joe intially built the engine for himself, but wrecked his 240z. Joe wanted to sell me the engine for 5,000.00 installed. After some time of seeing his engine standing on the engine rack, I managed to negotiate a better price to 3,200.00.
I delivered my car for the transfromation with an agreed finish date of 3 days. Joe to his credit let my drive his Nissan 280zx.

3 days became 2 weeks. My muffler was taken apart and not reinstalled. Because, Joe believed that the engine needed a better muffler and exhaust system; tied to the six exhaust header which came with engine sale.
Joe kept putting the day of completion off. Each time I would arrive to his shop to pick up the car he would be doing side jobs or have his family memebers help him with preparing the car, but Joe would not be at the shop the day of the pick -up. Finally, Joe told me the engine replacement was finished with the exception of the exhaust package. Joe told me to pick up the car on 06/05/2005 because it was finished. Joe threaten to remove the engine, becaue he had other buyers offering more.
When I went to pick up the car, it was still on the rack with a dead battery. Joe was not there. I waited 3 hours for Joe to return. Finally, seeing that the repairs were done, but the exhaust was not finished, I demanded my car. Joe wanted to have a paint and body repair technician weld the exhaust system. Which, looked like a pipe taken out of Frankenstein underground sewer system.

I got my car. Paid Joe cash. Got a receipt and left.
20 miles or so the engine died in traffic. 20 more miles the engine began blowing oil out of the breather and cooking the oil. 20 miles more and the engine ran rough at light accelearation and would not pass 65 mph. The car smoked like a chimmney. With smoke getting into the cabin of the vehicle. And, oil siphoned out into the distributor.

Tried to speak to Joe, but Joe started saying that the car needed to be tuned, and told me that I took it too soon. Joe said that he had to put Ford parts (breather) to cut down on cost. Joe became engraged when I requested for the car to be fixed.
I received a diagnostic from another licensed automotive repair facility. I learned that the steel timing chain was off a tooth, timing was six degrees over advanced, and the engjne was pinging due to abnormal compressions. At thier shop, I was shown smoke blow out of the spark plug chamber, like a train.

Cynlinder number 2 had gone through extensive damage, they said, requiring removal and replacement to see the conditioned of the head.

I was advised not to drive the car or I would destroy it.

Then more car hell came, when I was called by the new shop that the only alternative were to remove the chimney smoking 280z ebgine w/carbs and replace it with my 240 z after rebuilding it for about 1,500.00, not including removing the 280z engine. Or, option 2 would be to rebuild the 280z engine for 4,000-guranteed work.
I filed a complaint with B.A.R. and will be going through small claims court. I really feel cheated out a lots of money. And, do not know if it is worth rebuilding the 280z head. Will it be worth this headache. I have already invested 5,000.00 dollars into the car, not including the engine. What would you do? Fix the 240z engine by putting a new head gasket or fixing the 280 z engine with carbs and pursue legal action against this Joe guy and the shop. I have receipts and photos.

Alberto

 

damn i would be just about ready to rip a guy head of if he did that to me.isay put a new head gasket on the old engine drop it back in and then go through the court .and make him pay you back the money of the engine plus expenses i.e. the other mechanic.then use the money to hook up your 240z engine

 

good luck with the courts

 

If you are in no hurry and don't need the car as a daily driver...go to small claims court and see what happens. If you win (and with all the info you have I say you will) and get your money you can choose your engine path.
If you need the car right away and money is a concern then I agree with BigBirdZ, get the good mechanic to fix and install the 240 engine.

Best of luck to you!

 

Sorry to hear about nightmares like this. Does Darrel of Darrel's Datsun know of this? Or is Joe the owner? I would first try talking to the owner of the business if it's possible. The owners livlihood is dependent upon happy customers. You can't recover your lost time or frustration, but you should get every penny paid to Darrels Datsun back.

If you can't resolve the issue with the owner, I would file a complaint with the BAR and the BBB. Was there any implied warranty? I myself would even post my story everywhere that I could including local community newspapers. Not wanting anyone else to have to go thru this with Darrels Datsun.

You could/should then maybe try small claims court. But generally, these things get chalked up to "Lifes Lessons". Until you've exhausted all efforts with Darrels Datsuns, I wouldn't do anything with that motor except pull it and leave it set. btw: if it ran like you say when you drove it home, I'd say you'll have other problems with this motor even if/after you get the HG fixed.

Good Luck

 

that's some **** dude. What a nightmare... I say sue his *** for more than what you paid him. Total up the amount of time you had to go with out a car. the money it cost you to not have a car, the damage, the complete interior to be replaced because of the smoke anything you can think of... make him pay! don't try to reason, be completely IRRATIONAL!

 

Wow, thanks for your input. Your suggestion are well thought of. Yeah, I'm blowing testosterone out my nose. I wish I were the terminator. I already filed a complaint with the Bureau of Automotive repair, working on small claims court stuff. "The f..." has my old engine. So, I will need to get in touch with the owner (Who's never there) to get it out of there. I just cannot see myself returning there, feeling like I might explode on the guy for this, to get my 240z engine back from that monkey wrenching guy, who sold me a chimmney. Thanks again for your help.

A

 

Do they have a website? email? It would be informational for them to know that this is going out on the net............

I'd do a buyer "beware notice" on every forum and bulletin board that I could find.

 

I live in san jose too, I have acess to a truck, If need be you set it up and I'll go with you/ pick it up if pefer , we Z'rs have to stick tougather...

and that's why when the day comes i can't fix something on ol' blue i'll be takeing it across the street to z car garage. i'v never heard a complaint about them from anyone.

 

moved to 240Z,260Z,280Z Forums.

 

Thanks for your z de corps. Yeah, I might need your assistance. I called the former owner, Darrel, who told me he would have any problem with picking up my engine. My next days off Tuesday and Wednesday. If your available or when your available, I would be very grateful if you can give me a hand. Darell told me the shop has filed Bankruptcy and their closing down in about 15 days! Another crazy suprise.

Alberto

 

You can contact me on my pager (510)781-2000.

 

I think you can find their Darryl Datsun web site on the net. But, they are going out of business, so they most likely could care less.

Alberto

 

And if they've filed bankruptcy, you aren't going to get anything out of them in small claims court.

You'll be at the bottom of a long list of creditors...

That sucks man.

What other shop did you take your car too to get the new quote?

 

i think i gat off at six wends.

i'll drop you a line,

jason

 

Yup, you are probably right. Though, I am after the head mechanic (Joe) of Darryl Datsun's in Santa Clara.
I received a status from the new shop-Dandos Automotive. They have reported that Joe put the crank shaft timing on incorrectly, used lots of "hode podge" old parts, the head had some rust, as well as there was debris findings. The machine shop are still completing there evaluation. I am really frustrated that I allowed my self to be sold a lemon. I had former repairs and upgrades done by Joe, successfully.
Joe had built this engine (the lemon engine I got) for his own car. It was on Cherry picker (I have photos of it on the rack that I will post) for months. The engine, I was told by Joe, was built on N42 head, that was ported, equipped with a racing cam, 6 pack weber carbs (used set), and a multi-ported new header. The engine "looks" dynamite.
Joe wanted 5K. Months later, the shop was in the red. According to Joe the shop was closing down, he had not been paid by the shop for months, only making it off side jobs that he would complete in the shop. My 240 z Engine had a blown head gasket. Joe had this 280z engine. Joe offered to install the 280 z engine, fix my 240 z engine to sell later for 50/50 split of the monies. I offered Joe 3,500 for the 280z engine installed. Joe agreed. I left the car with agreed completion date of 3-4 days.
But the deal went sour, taking nearly 2 weeks. Because Joe wanted to add extras, and did additional work: wanted to install a different exhaust system, painted the engine bay (including the brake lines!), repaired a battery tray and hole on the inner wall without even calling me to let me know. Joe even went as far as installing a new clutch (So he says).
One day, I went to the shop on my brake, and Joe had his brother and his friend were removing my exhaust. I told Joe that I wanted to used my old exhaust and muffler. Joe insisted that he had installed a high performance machine that needed quality parts. Joe begged for a down payments because he needed $$ to pay child support and help his girl friend. I felt sorry for the guy. And, he had already done lot of extras on my car. I gave some cash to help. I told him not to spend $$ for a muffler and use my old one. Joe told me that he complete the car that following day.

The first, second, third, and fourth time I came, the car was not ready. I noticed for some reason Joe became side tracked and started on other non-related projects. He kept moving the time of completion. I would go to the shop on the day we agreed to pick-up the car, and Joe would not be there. Joe would suddenly show up with his girl friend, telling me his girl-friend was hungry. Or, that his girl friend ran into a car, or that his newphew.... I grew very concern to the point I wanted the car out as soon as possible. Joe threaten to take the installed engine out. He told me he that he had severly undercharged me, and had offers (supposely) for more. Joe renigged on the agreed offer.
Joe requested for more money. I refused. Joe started telling me that he would think about it, that there was nothing in writing and so forth. That's when I requested a receipt for money that he had received.

Finally, I called MF Joe, to learn that the car was done, almost 2 weeks later.

The day he told me to pick it up, the car had no muffler or exhaut put back on it. The car was up on the rack. I waited 3 hours for this MF! MF Joe shows up with an apprentice that looked like a human version of Woodie Wood pecker-fugitive off a INS patrol car. Both were carrying Pep Boy bags. MF Joe with a nervous look on his face says that he is going to install a muffler exhaust, shows me the clamps, and an exhaust pipe that looked like he was torn off Frankenstein's bus. The pipe had dents and scracthes all over-Put togher like PVC plumbing fittings. Then, MF Joe says that the paint guy at the body shop-"who welds all kinds of stuff"-can weld the muffler. I repeated to Joe many times that I just wanted my old muffler, even brought him a different muffler. But MF Joe would not listen. That is when, I told MF Joe to lower the car and release to me. I whipped out some cash for a paid total of
3,200.00.

The battery was dead, so I had to wait for him to charge it. Once it started, I got the hell out of there, as I mumbled to myslef that I would never ever call him for anything.

Initially, the engine sounded very healthy, very strong, and loud. But it would not accelerate past 60 mph. It had variances in its ilding, with sudden turn offs. At one point, I had to call MF Joe for help. Joe told me he was eating lunch, that the car needed a better battery because of the engine upgrade.

I got the car turned on again. It would not accelerate pass 60 mph. I could not tell if was just that the car did not have a muffler. I drove it to the muffler shop. 40 minutes later, the car started blowing smoke, and giving out a rough accerleration, and was snorkling lots oil from the breathers, sprinkling on my windshield.
Once at the muffler shop, an exhaust was welded to the header pipe. I noticed with the exhaust everything appear to worsen. There was a rattling upon acceleration, lots of smoke coming into the cabin.

In hindsight, I think that the putting an exhaust and a muffler worsen the characteristics of an already lemon engine. I think that is why MF Joe kept putting off the installation of the muffler.

When it became clear, that there was serious problems. I started calling Joe, who became frustrated and yelled obscenities at me. To avoid the situation from escalating, I sought avenues to address my complaint in a civil manner. But, truly, I felt lied to and seriously disrespected. My pride and confidence was irreparably damaged for MF Joe. My blood was boiling to break this guy down.

Instead, like a good citizen, I spoke to Darryl the former owner(shop was sold to his son Mathhew), who said that Joe has built engines successfully for him, but he is saying he is not involved with the engine Joe built. I told Darryl that Joe used a repair invoice from his shop and signed it to confirm that he received the money; that I was told by Joe that he (Darryl) would be doing the fine tuning of the engine. Darryl remarked that he had no idea of what Joe had stated to me, and the invoice I receive is one he no longer uses.
Darryl told me that his son (Owner) had filed a BK and he was closing down. That's when I asked him permission to get my 240z engine back. He said it would be okay.

In any event, regretfully, I will have to go after Joe through small claims court. The new shop is getting the docs ready for the case and rebuilding the engine to proper specs-very financially painful.
I have filed a claim with BAR against Darryl Datsun. Since, I believe the shop owners are vicariously responsible. While, Joe's negligence has produced this private wrong. I am working on gathering more complete profile on this guy to follow through with the small claims action. It would be helpful if I could get this MF home address.


Alberto

 

What is Ken charging you for the rebuild? and are you rebuilding the 240z motor or the 280z motor?