What are my options after a rod bearing failure

[Steve M]

I was asking as I heard this ECU is more tunable than HPTuners…

They have access to the source code, so there's a pretty good chance they'll be able to do a much better job than anyone can do with HPTuners.

There's always going to be limitations with OEM computers, and it will always boil down to who is doing the tuning, but they have the best tools for the job, no questions asked.

[Sniper]

Well, I asked and they said they can’t tune it so it must not have more access.

[Steve M]

Well, I asked and they said they can’t tune it so it must not have more access.

Can't or won't?

If they can't, it's likely a limitation with the OEM computer. Big cams with lots of overlap can give any tuner fits trying to get it just right. If they don't, the end user can end up with idle issues and surging. I think the biggest issue is the lack of vacuum - without good vacuum, the MAP sensor, which is a big part of your fueling calculations, doesn't have enough dynamic range. You can get around this to an extent with an alpha-N scheme (TPS vs. RPM), but that's custom code that would have to be written - too much trouble for a limited market.

There's always Motec...

[Sniper]

This was all the comment I got
No sorry.

It seems like I remember reading that someone had a heads cam car which they gave Prefix the specs and they were able to send a tuned computer.

[Mikey]

This was all the comment I got
No sorry.

It seems like I remember reading that someone had a heads cam car which they gave Prefix the specs and they were able to send a tuned computer.

Maybe you're thinking about mine. Kevin sent my ECU to them to have it tuned to my engine, but it was the stock ECU.
Give Torrie a call

[Sniper]

So Prefix tuned your stock ECU for a heads cam car?
But they couldn’t tune their own ECU for a heads cam car?

[Mikey]

So Prefix tuned your stock ECU for a heads cam car?
But they couldn’t tune their own ECU for a heads cam car?

Idk how much "tuning" was involved. I believe the race controller is all they use with their heads/cam package. I wouldn't be surprised if they just put their race module settings onto my ECU.

Hard to say, as I don't know the specs of my cam

[Sniper]

Any way to find out what they did to your ECU?
Did you have to give them all the specs of what you were doing to your motor?

[Mikey]

Any way to find out what they did to your ECU?
Did you have to give them all the specs of what you were doing to your motor?

I didn't have any contact with prefix at all, don't even know the specs of my cam
You'd really have to contact them and see what they can do, my builder is not very responsive currently

[Space Truckin]

"my builder is not very responsive currently"

That's a shock...

[Mikey]

That's a shock...

We'll see what happens once he gets the motor torn down, I'm still waiting on a refund for the phantom parts by the installer

[Martin]

We'll see what happens once he gets the motor torn down, I'm still waiting on a refund for the phantom parts by the installer

So he's received the engine and he's going to tear it down? That may make it a bit tough to demand a refund and then take the money and go to Calvo for a one-stop-shop resolution. Just chiming in from the sidelines because that sounds like it might make things even more complicated. If they haven't picked up the engine yet, I'd cancel the pickup and have Calvo do an analysis of what went wrong while they're doing the rebuild. They're trusted, and if your builder hasn't been responsive, I would just cut this off, demand a refund, send it all to Calvo when they pay up, and be done with it.

[Sniper]

Easier said than done

[Martin]

Easier said than done

Yeah, agreed. But, I've been in a number of similar situations and I learned from my mistakes. I used to be one of those guys who would go along with what a service provider told me to do. Now, if I'm paying people good money to do good work, I treat them just like my customers treat me - with respect, but no excuses about screwing something up and not making it right.

This is one that, in a perfect world, Mikey could hit the reset button and start all over again fresh. Closest thing to that is to get the money back, send it to Calvo, and get back to normal life.

[Mikey]

So he's received the engine and he's going to tear it down? That may make it a bit tough to demand a refund and then take the money and go to Calvo for a one-stop-shop resolution. Just chiming in from the sidelines because that sounds like it might make things even more complicated. If they haven't picked up the engine yet, I'd cancel the pickup and have Calvo do an analysis of what went wrong while they're doing the rebuild. They're trusted, and if your builder hasn't been responsive, I would just cut this off, demand a refund, send it all to Calvo when they pay up, and be done with it.

Engine has already been shipped, I'm not expecting a refund but for it to be fixed without me coming out of pocket. I don't believe it has arrived in Reno yet.

I'm pushing for the installer to send back the money for the parts that weren't installed

[AAA96]

So he's received the engine and he's going to tear it down? That may make it a bit tough to demand a refund and then take the money and go to Calvo for a one-stop-shop resolution. Just chiming in from the sidelines because that sounds like it might make things even more complicated. If they haven't picked up the engine yet, I'd cancel the pickup and have Calvo do an analysis of what went wrong while they're doing the rebuild. They're trusted, and if your builder hasn't been responsive, I would just cut this off, demand a refund, send it all to Calvo when they pay up, and be done with it.

I agree 100% with this.

[Steve M]

So Prefix tuned your stock ECU for a heads cam car?
But they couldn’t tune their own ECU for a heads cam car?

This sounds like a business relationship vs. private party thing to me.

Prefix must know the engine builder well enough to trust what they've done, so they were okay tuning it.

If someone randomly approaches them with the same request, that's a lot of risk to take on, especially if they know nothing about the parts or the skill of the builder that put it all together. If I were in their shoes, I'd probably decline too. Too much risk for what little (if any) reward there would be.

Whether it is their race PCM or the stock PCM doesn't matter - I'm 99.9% sure they have the tools and ability to tune either. But it has to be on their terms, or it's a no-go.

[Mikey]

Yeah, agreed. But, I've been in a number of similar situations and I learned from my mistakes. I used to be one of those guys who would go along with what a service provider told me to do. Now, if I'm paying people good money to do good work, I treat them just like my customers treat me - with respect, but no excuses about screwing something up and not making it right.

This is one that, in a perfect world, Mikey could hit the reset button and start all over again fresh. Closest thing to that is to get the money back, send it to Calvo, and get back to normal life.

I was 2 days late of an email response from that, unfortunately. Engine pulled, repaired, installed would have been 8k, maybe 10 with shipping. I think with a heads and cam, 40k due to the motec system.

All I can do is wait for now, HOPEFULLY the motor gets fixed and all I pay is for labor for pull and install

[efnfast]

I was 2 days late of an email response from that, unfortunately. Engine pulled, repaired, installed would have been 8k, maybe 10 with shipping. I think with a heads and cam, 40k due to the motec system.

All I can do is wait for now, HOPEFULLY the motor gets fixed and all I pay is for labor for pull and install

Somebody's going to have a pretty big bill - if something tried to exit through the oil pan I can't imagine that's good news for the crank/pistons/cylinder walls - hopefully not you.

[Mikey]

Somebody's going to have a pretty big bill - if something tried to exit through the oil pan I can't imagine that's good news for the crank/pistons/cylinder walls - hopefully not you.

And that's my sign to take some nyquil

[7TH_SIGN]

Mikey, I had a very similar experience back around 2005. I purchased parts from one shop and was having the car built by another shop. It was a nightmare. I promised myself that the next time I would have the car built completely under one roof.

I see you are in Texas, you have one of the greatest Viper shops there. As many in this thread have already stated, Calvo is your very best option to get this car correct and done right.

Going the attorney route can be just as bad of a nightmare as you are already going through. My best advice would be to come to some kind of acceptable and fair agreement with all parties currently involved that hits you the least financially. Then, either sell it or get it done right and ship the car to Calvo.

Really hope things get better and you can go back to enjoying it.

[Mikey]

Mikey, I had a very similar experience back around 2005. I purchased parts from one shop and was having the car built by another shop. It was a nightmare. I promised myself that the next time I would have the car built completely under one roof.

I see you are in Texas, you have one of the greatest Viper shops there. As many in this thread have already stated, Calvo is your very best option to get this car correct and done right.

Going the attorney route can be just as bad of a nightmare as you are already going through. My best advice would be to come to some kind of acceptable and fair agreement with all parties currently involved that hits you the least financially. Then, either sell it or get it done right and ship the car to Calvo.

Really hope things get better and you can go back to enjoying it.

That's the plan, I want to at least know what failed on the motor and go from there. The installer is friends with Calvo, which is surprising considering the unsatisfactory work I've received so far.

[7TH_SIGN]

That's the plan, I want to at least know what failed on the motor and go from there. The installer is friends with Calvo, which is surprising considering the unsatisfactory work I've received so far.

I think that’s a good thing for you. I’m sure Calvo will have it running better than ever.

[Mikey]

I think that’s a good thing for you. I’m sure Calvo will have it running better than ever.

I'm still not sure if he'll touch it, he wasn't a fan of the crank cut

[Sniper]

This sounds like a business relationship vs. private party thing to me.

Prefix must know the engine builder well enough to trust what they've done, so they were okay tuning it.

If someone randomly approaches them with the same request, that's a lot of risk to take on, especially if they know nothing about the parts or the skill of the builder that put it all together. If I were in their shoes, I'd probably decline too. Too much risk for what little (if any) reward there would be.

Whether it is their race PCM or the stock PCM doesn't matter - I'm 99.9% sure they have the tools and ability to tune either. But it has to be on their terms, or it's a no-go.

They didn’t even ask about who’s doing the engine. And they just did Mikey’s and this is a reputable builder?