blueprint engines Marshall engines Chevy 383 engine- sold me junk. motor smokes, knocks, blows oil past new(?) rings Kearney Nebraska
Another story about Blueprint engines.... I bought a Chevy 383 w/ vortex heads for my project '49 Chevy Fleetline in the fall of 2009. I was completing a frame of total rebuild of this car and knew I wouldn't be starting the motor for a year or so, but figured I'd be OK with their 3 year warranty. Well, in February of 2010, my only brother suddenly and unexpectedly passed away at 43. Because of this I acquired his project cars. After staggering around my shop for a few months trying to accept what happened and try to get my head back on straight, I did the only thing I could do. I pushed my '49 aside, and decided to finish at least one of his cars for him first.
After completing one of his cars, including paint and body work, it was time for my ol Chevy again. After finishing all mechanical, body work, paint, all new suspension, electrical, etc., I put the 383 in. I added the Rotella, pulled the distributor to prime the pump, and reinstall the distributor. It fired right up, but was also knocking immediately. I decided to go through the can break in process, and the knock Got worse, bringing severe smoke out the exhaust with it. I called Blueprint, explained the story to both Andrew and Ken, and the first thing they say is its out of warranty.
They suggest I should "just drive it". Like its going to fix itself. Yes, the 3 years is up, I understand that. Beyond that, the only thing the motor did nothing but sit on an engine stand. Ken and Andrew I'm sure are relieved the warranty is up -- I've never heard of an engine acquiring a knock from sitting still on a stand. They did offer parts to fix it, so apparently they know that "some" of their engines are built less than perfect. After reading other people's experiences with Blueprint, I just got mad. I called them and explained there is no way they ran that motor on the dyno for 20 minutes, like it says they do in their little book, and not know there's a serious problem with the motor.
I can't believe that's how they want to treat people and run their business. I got shafted like so many other people. I'm now scared of this motor and pulling it. This car is entirely brand new, and there is no way I'm going to run that knocking, smoke blowing time bomb in there and wait for it to blow up. I can't wait to get it apart and mic the cylinder bores - I wonder if they ever did. I also want to see all the so called new parts. Its junk. DO NOT BUY FROM BLUEPRINT. They are rip off artists and have apparently been practicing this for years.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Kurt Johnson
Kearney,Nebraska,
Resolution
#3UPDATE Employee
Mon, February 16, 2015
We have worked with the customer to resolve this issue after he contacted BluePrint Engines. The customer agreed to have the engine returned and reconditioned at no charge to the customer. After the engine was reconditioned it was shipped back to the customer at no charge. We were in contact with the customer during this time, and appreciate how the customer worked with us to get this issue taken care of.
Bill
Mabel,Minnesota,
blueprint engines 383 update
#3Author of original report
Fri, August 08, 2014
I wanted to post an update since I first posted this story. Although I'm pretty chapped about all of this, I'll do my best to be honest and only report the facts as they happened.
After my first post, Ken contacted me and said that although the warranty had timed out, the would take the motor back, find out the problems, rebuild it and send it back- no cost to me. Of course I accepted that, bit told him I was still going to pull the pan for a look, and look at the cylinder bores also. I pulled the pan and found no shrapnel or anything. I then pulled the intake and heads. Now, when I measured the bores, they were all egg shaped, some bores had some cross hatch, most did not. I stopped there, loosely put it together and crated it. There also was black soot all over the heads, and thick, black liquid on top of all pistons. I say its oil, Ken says rotten fuel. Keep in mind this car is 100% brand new, with new tank and fuel lines. The fuel I put in in the new tank I had purchased about 30 minutes before firing the motor. When I pulled the motor, I had to drain all the fuel since I neglected to put a valve on the tank. I've run that gas in other vehicles with no problems. When I talked to Ken he said the bores should be .040 over. None measured that big, but all were very large for a stock bore. I should also mention a compression test before I pulled the motor had q cylinder at 155 lbs, 1 at 170, and all others at 160.
After talking to Ken today, they claimed bad fuel, and that the engine is 100% good, nothing wrong. Says all bores are .040 over with plenty of cross hatch, and isnt sure what I wss looking at.They will reassemble and ship back. I still don't know what was causing the knock as I didn't investigate that after what I saw in the bores.
Well, since the motor has been gone, I built a test stand, with radiator, gauges, etc. so I can run an engine before putting it between the fenders. I did offer to sell it back to them for $500 less, since its going back through their shop, but they declined. When the motor comes back I will report what happens.