Phoenix Engine 330 Horse? Try less than 200, car runs worse than when i brought it in! Internet

First off, I brought them a vehicle that ran very good. I was replacing the engine in hopes of restoring my deceased brothers car as a way for our familt to remember him. When I brought the car in, everything worked perfectly, air cruise radio etc. When I asked about their advertised special on their website (330HP) Crate engine, I was told that the price was in fact correct. I was thinking great! My first mistake was asking them to install it!

yes, they can install, and randy went to great lengths to explain how when they install, everthing works together, like widshiel wipers he said. He also explained that additional costs were likely. He said you never know what you will run into when installing engines. we talked about transmission line-up, dash lights, etc. I felt like he had a firm handle on everything , and he was passionate about his profession. This seemed reasonable, but I asked how much additional costs? he said he couldnt predict, but it wouldnt be too much. I prepaid the price of the engine plus installation.

Whenever I questioned him on when the car might be completed, he said, look, we can just forget it, I wont be pressured. Pressured? Since when is asking when your car might be completed pressuring someone, especially when you have already paid $5000 in advance. I learned that he was going to finish the car on his schedule, not one he promissed. The car was over a month past due!

When I went to pick the car up, it sounded awesome, I was VERY excited, it looked awesome, except he painted the block the wrong color, and I had asked for a chrome oil pan. Both requests were ignored. When I informed him, he said I never told him those things. He had a sample of the engine I was buying in the office, when I was paying for the engine, I pointed at the engine and asked him, can you do it just like this one? Orange block and chrome pan, my friend was with me and confirmed to me that I asked him for both. I was left with the wrong color and no chrome oil pan. In the whole scheme of things, I decided that it was not that big of deal, although I was disappointed.

When I went to pick up the car, Randy said he wanted to take me for a ride because, "I would not be used to driving such a powerful car" I also own a 442, and a BMW Z4, so I chuckled but allowed him his moment. As he was driving, he was trying to impress me with the power, however, whether intentional or not, he could only get the wheels to chirp. We got back to the shop and collected another $2000plus. Nearly EIGHT THOUSAND dollard. Like a moron I paid. I am not knowlegeable about cars, but I know that $8,000 should buy a hell of an engine.  Everything in this car, now with a "330HP" motor is new, transmission, shocks air, cruise brakes water pump fuel pump, I mean everything. I get in car to drive, it dies two blocks from his place, I get it re started, take back to shop, he says must be a fuel line. He kept the car for a few more days, then charged me another $150. this did soulve the problem. He warned me not to drive over 50, no jackrabbit starts, etc for break in. I followed his instructions to a tee. Always put super unleaded etc. After the 500 mile break in period, I brought the car back for oil change etc. By the way, the cruise wasnt working, they forgot to hook it up. They also drilled holes in the bottom of my dash to install lighted guages, I did not know or give them permission to do this.

I took the car home and it started to diesel an awful lot after shutting off. So after another call, back to the shop. He adjusted something, and that stopped, however, the car has pinged horribly since that day.I started putting expensive octane boost to try to get rid of ping, but not possible. I still cannnot even spin the tires, the car is as slow as it was $8000 ago. I since ran into a guy who was tuning my 442 and told him about the pinging problem,(especially noticeable on freeway when accelerating) he said stop driving and get into a shop, that pinging could seriously damage the engine. I did, and the pinging is still there, but whatever the guy did has lessened the problem The car runs a little better since that time. Still cannot spin tires, all of my other cars are much faster than this.

The ad when I bought the car said DYNO tested, I asked for this report when I picked up, but he said it is not Dyno tested. The car is barely 200 horse according to the mechanic. Thesame mechaic that did the timing said it looks like they built you a nice engine, but they didnt finish the job. He curved the distributer and adjusted the timing that was (42 degrees) or something way off, again I am not Knowlegeable. The mechanic could not believe how far the timing was off, and this was the way Randy had me leave with the car.

All in all, I spent over $8000 for an engine that is the wrong color, looks great if you like the color they used, but $8000 for a car that has NO POWER, and sounds like a diesel.

Save your money, go to GM and buy the engine from them, have them install. I gave this guy a treasured car of my brothers, and he did nothing but steal my money. There are many more points of contention I have regarding this business, but I want to try and save someone the aggravation, I doubt they will care enough to respond, and i dont know if I would trust them to do anything if they did. I would need to think about it.

Sounds and looks like a great deal, but I assure you, I did not get a good deal, I was RIPPED OFF!!!!