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I bought a rebuilt engine from US Engines and paid to have them install it. Total cost about $7000. It took longer than expected. When I put it in the water, the engine sounded normal at idle. When I increased the throttle to 1500 RPMs, it started making a funny sound and it had no power. I called them and spoke with Joe, I let him hear the engine and he asked if I could call back and let one of his other guys hear it. I called back in 30 minutes and spoke with John who said he was the manager. I had to take the boat out again to let him hear it. I let him listen to it. He said, yes it sounds like a problem and you need to bring it in. I said you guys are 30 miles away, its on my dock and I don't have a truck, I had to borrow one the last time to bring it down and bring it back, can't you send a mechanic to look at it? He said, sorry, I can't send a mechanic, you have to bring it down. So I said fine.
After he was done listening to it and I hung up the boat quit. I had to get towed in. I thought it was the battery. So I recharged the battery, and it still wouldn't start. So I called back, and after all kinds of stuff they wanted me to try, they said, it sounds like the engine is locked up and John said "I wish you hadn't run it after you figure out there was something wrong." I said you guys wanted to hear it, that's why I ran it.
So I borrowed the truck and took it back there. They said the starter was bad and the rocker arm bolt broke, again implying it was my fault that the bolt broke and it was might fault the starter broke. I paid $450 for a new starter and got the boat back again. I got the boat home, put it in the water, it ran for about 30 minutes and a warning sound began blaring. I check the oil guage, it said very low oil pressure. I checked the engine compartment and it was filled with oil. I got the boat home and put it on the lift and now I am just really mad that I decided to do business with these people.
I guess I am going to have to sue in order to get a competent set of mechanics to fix he boat correctly and get them to pay for it.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, listen to these reviews. I did not. I thought that maybe all engine shops will have a few bad reviews, can't make everyone happy, right? The fact that they need 3 or 4 websites to alternate through should have tipped me off.
These guys are a complete joke. I was in a rush to get my boat back together so I drove down to buy a long block. They get it loaded up and I go into pay and they over change me. Instead of refunding the overage, they refund the entire amount and try to re-run the charge. Well, that was over my limit so I had to call the bank and up my limit right there because canceld transactions take several days to clear. Whatever.
I get the motor home and document all the new parts and the assembly of the engine. I video the break in process to prove I had done it correctly. Everything goes smoothly. I get about 10 hours on the engine and it starts to lose power. I lift the engine hatch and the coolant overflow tank is about to explode. It's fully pressurized. So I kill the engine and make it back home on the kicker. I pull the plugs and cylinder 4 plug is covered in aluminum. I pull the engine and all my brand new parts and drive the motor back down and wait a week for them to tell me that I HAD CYLINDER 3 AND 4 PLUG WIRES CROSSED. You've got to be kidding me. That's the best they could come up with. I show them photo and video proof of the wiring and the engine running without a mis-fire. And then Charlie starts berating me and my intelligence all through email. Such an Internet tough guy.
Now I have a $2600 long block that needs a complete rebuild. Let me add, I've be involved in racing and motorsports since I was born. My dad raced motocross professionally and circle track raced and I have built and raced off road trucks in the Mojave desert. I know my way around a small block chevy.
Please, please stay away. Rapido engines in Florida has better reviews and less in price. Try them or a local engine builder.