MRL Performance

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dukeboy_318 said:
Sounds like you've got a lot of anger built up against him.

I'm not defending nor attacking MRL, not my place too.

That said,i was burnt by a shop that had been in business nearly 35 years and had a great rep locally. That shop destroyed my 440 block and pretty much told me to shove it. So I don't think we can go by length of time in the business either. It's almost like playing Russian Roulette but instead of there being just one loaded round, there's 5.
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That's why you bore mic everything to check size and OOR , lap the valve job to check for chatter & centricity, dial gauge the stems for guides, mic the crank, bla bla bla....

I know, that's the machinist job, Right?...

Why do you think they have lawyers watching other lawyers who have more lawyers watching over them....
Here's a tip, some people burn out, shops close.... dont put your stuff in a shop that's on it's way to retirement...its no loss if your job doesnt work out for them
 
dukeboy_318 said:
If you have proof that you paid for port work and he didn't do it, you can take him to court.

Man, why are good machine shops impossible to find?!
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Partially because customers don't get why it is so expensive. I start engine assembly at $1000.00 and it goes up quickly. Yet everybody and their mother can do assembly. Except they can't fit a rear main seal, accurately (if even at all) degree a cam, check piston to valve clearance, correctly hone valve guides straight and round and we won't even get into selecting and doing a quality valve job.

You work for slave labor wages because people think that you LOVE to work for nothing on their hobby, not thinking that they won't work just for fun.

I could go on but this isn't the N&P section. This doesn't excuse some one from charging for work and not doing it, but making a living doing automotive machining isn't easy or fun.

And let's not even add in the cost of machines, tooling and pissing away your day explaining why the "guys" on the internet don't understand how to read even simple data, like flow bench numbers, again, none of which you get paid for.

And then, THEN have an issue and look out. There is only one side to the story and that is the customer side, because we all KNOW the customer is never wrong. Your name will be trashed, now world wide via the net, and that takes time and money to correct.

So yeah, you want quality machining, be ready to pay. Or better yet, bully up to the bar and buy your own shop and get rich.

Thanks dukeboy for giving me the chance to rant, and this is no way directed at you. Just my minimal observations and general thoughts on a difficult way to make a living. It's not directed at you in any way. You asked a very good question, and I addressed it. A little. Engine building isn't as fun as everyone thinks when you do it every day.
 
yellow rose said:
Partially because customers don't get why it is so expensive. I start engine assembly at $1000.00 and it goes up quickly. Yet everybody and their mother can do assembly. Except they can't fit a rear main seal, accurately (if even at all) degree a cam, check piston to valve clearance, correctly hone valve guides straight and round and we won't even get into selecting and doing a quality valve job.

You work for slave labor wages because people think that you LOVE to work for nothing on their hobby, not thinking that they won't work just for fun.

I could go on but this isn't the N&P section. This doesn't excuse some one from charging for work and not doing it, but making a living doing automotive machining isn't easy or fun.

And let's not even add in the cost of machines, tooling and pissing away your day explaining why the "guys" on the internet don't understand how to read even simple data, like flow bench numbers, again, none of which you get paid for.

And then, THEN have an issue and look out. There is only one side to the story and that is the customer side, because we all KNOW the customer is never wrong. Your name will be trashed, now world wide via the net, and that takes time and money to correct.

So yeah, you want quality machining, be ready to pay. Or better yet, bully up to the bar and buy your own shop and get rich.

Thanks dukeboy for giving me the chance to rant, and this is no way directed at you. Just my minimal observations and general thoughts on a difficult way to make a living. It's not directed at you in any way. You asked a very good question, and I addressed it. A little. Engine building isn't as fun as everyone thinks when you do it every day.
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I hear ya.
I'm willing to pay for quality work.

Problem is, at least around here locally, the rates are top notch but the work, shade tree at best, I had 1500 in the machine work alone on my 440 block, all he did was pressure wash it and hone it... didn't do what he was fully paid for. But all that's in my build thread about it.
 
dukeboy_318 said:
And by a new member... one who just joined yesterday...
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Just because i am a new member meens nothing. If his fakebook page was still up you would see i posted the same things there 6 months ago when my motor leaked puddles on the shop floor from rear main seal. Mike responded he nor any builder promise no leaks. If more people googled his info they would come forward with neg. Comments as well. Nothing worse then scamming on the work you paid for then fudging dyno numbers. You notice his hp numbers are way down from his claims at the amsoil build off. Because they didnt use fake outside temps to increase hp numbers. Lets hear from mike he cant deny it because i already confronted him on it. Its no secret about his Bs.
 
Isn’t the guy out of business? What’s next posting about the 76 AMC pacer you bought new was a POS .... if you posted on his Facebook page about the same thing 6 months ago its time to move on... forabodiesony need a drama section
 
Fiddlerfingers said:
Just because i am a new member meens nothing. If his fakebook page was still up you would see i posted the same things there 6 months ago when my motor leaked puddles on the shop floor from rear main seal. Mike responded he nor any builder promise no leaks. If more people googled his info they would come forward with neg. Comments as well. Nothing worse then scamming on the work you paid for then fudging dyno numbers. You notice his hp numbers are way down from his claims at the amsoil build off. Because they didnt use fake outside temps to increase hp numbers. Lets hear from mike he cant deny it because i already confronted him on it. Its no secret about his Bs.
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So what you're essentially doing is stalking? Dude is out of business, closed his shop and account here. Take him to court and be done with it. Before he gets sick of your posts and sues you for defamation
 
LOL i just found the thread on google search.i was looking for info to have him served. I understand he is no longer in biz. I thought a forum was for passing on info good or bad. I was sharing my exsperience. Hope it helps others. Later i am a B body owner anyways.
 
Interested in the actual HP numbers. What I saw via the Amsoil challenge was 450-472 from his built 340. He built my 360.
 
378 HP 5500 rpm 397 ft/lbs TQ 4400 rpm.

360 Classic Cruiser
 
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Hot Metal said:
Purely out of interest......what was the full spec, cam/heads/carb etc.
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Purple shaft .528 solid w 284 duration installed 5 degrees advanced.
894 casting x heads, Mancini stainless 2.02/1.60 semi tulip valves. Flowed 219-220 cfm@.500 @28
LD340 Intake with old 750 cfm holley dbl pump.
 
My engines don't leak - usually. But I've had to warranty a rear main once. Once. And he drove the car here and picked it up done. I also will typically point out if I think dyno numbers are "higher than I'd expect" from a given combo. And I will always say race it and you'll see what it really makes. I can count by memory 4 posters that "barnstormed" the site (and others) that way. They come, and truth follows, and they go. Nobody gets results for cheap money.

Edit - I've also had to replace a block that was cracked and the crack missed by magging... And replace a lower end due to a balancer failure... And pay for another balancer that failed but didn't **** everything else up. The only customers that are not still friends are the ones that burnt me on the financial end of things. **** happens - nobody's perfect. It's about mutual respect and working through things amicably.
 
69conv said:
Cream always rises to the top.
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All this is grounds for having the machine work done and building it urself, if it leaks it ur fault !!
I bought a set of solid roller lifters off of MRL, and thot the guy was ok, good lifters too so far !
 
IQ52 said:
I've made mistakes too. Mike/MRL is long gone and now we gunna slap him?

(Tongue in cheek) Bobby Gentry said it best, "have the preacher organize a 'vestigating committee to see what going on!"

MRL is dead. Don't dig it back up.
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I don't have much to add but IQ52, This is the way i feel two.:thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
Cudafever said:
I don't have much to add but IQ52, This is the way i feel two.:thumbsup::thumbsup:
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Yeah but his lies were thick dude. My favorite...."Classic Cruiser 360"... all gimmicks , smoke and mirrors.

It's not they he d
Fucked some stuff up accidentally, that's acceptable... it's that he purposely lied and cheated people out of their money and even got nasty when he was called into question by his customers over undeniable issues that were right in front of him!

Being a crook is not by mistake.
BJR did the same ****.
 
MRL definitely had his cool-aid drinkers on this site too. His engine masters builds kinda showed his true abilities. (Not good)
 
Concerning to hear. Any examples of the gimmicks, smoke and mirrors? Cause I have one of those engines. I had my doubts about the HP claims.
 
Yeah, check out the "670 horsepower" small block he built with pro comp heads. Biggest exaggeration I have ever seen. I think it ran like 118 mph in a dedicated race car.
 
I was "TOLD" that you need 600hp to get a 3100#car to 120mph in 1/4... That's when I said nope.
 
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