Merkel Racing Engines dont trust it to be right Hauppauge, New York 11788 New York
Had an engine block bored custom pistons, balance,and check. Picked up the engine (luckily I chose to assemble it) when I started fitting pistons I came to a cylinder that had a pourose hole in the bore that was just done, I was never called to tell me the problem and when I contacted Merkel I was told to use block seal. can u imagine if I let them build it!! It is shameful that he has been around a long time and said that. I know the block was not his fault but I should have been called and told that he found a problem, I suppose he did not know how to tell me that a sleeve would require the other cylinders to be bored which meant new pistons againe. As always no matter how good a job looks the final result speaks for the quality of work, so make sure u check everything befor accept http://www.merkelracing.com/
Bill
hicksville, New York
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Todd
Saint James,NY,
USA
Original Report is NOT the whole story
#3REBUTTAL Owner of company
Fri, January 15, 2010
This "Ripoff Report" was brought to our attention again recently. Frankly, we had forgotten about it but was recently reminded of the fact that, unfortunately, it is a top result when searching Merkel Racing Engines. We decided if this single complaint is not going to go away, it should be responded to.
This job was brought to us by a young man, apparently without much experience in this business. The porousity he writes about was a tiny little spot outside of the piston ring travel, way up by the deck where there is no water. It is fairly common and no cause for alarm, at all. There are plenty of $80,000 top notch racing engines making 1000+ horespower out there with far scarier looking porousity in the cylinders.
His claim that he was told to 'use block seal' is also only half a story. That is certainly taken out of context. He was advised that block sealer was not necessary, the tiny porousity was outside the ring travel and not backed by a water jacket and 'you don't need it, but, if it will make you feel better, go ahead and use block sealer.'
As far as the claim of "not knowing how to tell me that a sleeve would require the other cylinders to be bored...." etc., etc., etc... the fact is that putting a sleeve in that block would have taken a perfectly good block and turn it into an old junky block with a sleeve in it. Sleeves are for repairing blocks when there is a gaping hole or a crack in the cylinder and the block is otherwise not replaceable, as in a 'numbers matching' restoration, or antique rebuild. Sleeved blocks are not a top choice in performance engines.
It is well known throughout the area and even throughout the country that Merkel Racing Engines operates with the highest integrity in the industry.
Thank you for reading.
John
Califon,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
Is this the same Merkel
#3Consumer Comment
Thu, April 10, 2008
that raced Fords for many years?