"Kermit, I really have no interest in your stacks..."

One more suggestion:

if the head can really be fixed (which I have not heard yet but would be very curious since we learn new things every day) I suggest that you sent those heads up to our friend here to be redone. The extra $$$ should be worth it and that could be a great education for all of up when we do have a blown head.

 

The issue is that all these posts were originally part of a technical thread about airboxes on carb'd cars. Using someone else's technical thread to vent about another person is inappropriate, and thus this thread was split out by the mods.

There's two sides to every story, and for all we know Paul is "jump[ing] in and accuse anybody of anything." I don't know what's going on here, but whatever it is, this discussion doesn't belong in the tech forum, and certainly shouldn't be hijacking someone else's discussion.

 

Tillman:
you were right about splitting the threat. I hope there is a link in there (the old one) about this new threat opening. After all it is a warning what has happened to him so other members don't do the same mistake.

In either case if a member is promoting his product for sale in the technical section that would make it just as much inappropriate. In my opinion more than the warning posted by Paul.

By all standards picture someone posting about dealers in Ft. Lauderdale. Eventually the question comes up "Auto Toy Store" and immediately you will find people posting "stay away, this is what happened to me...". Are they hijacking the threat? I think not. They are giving a fair warning to other users.

 

While I do feel for you...it is a prime example of .."...a fool and his money are soon departed..." How could you give that much cash to someone you didn't know in the first place? Always pay by credit card and if the job goes bad, you have charge-back rights. If the business doesn't take credit cards, find one that does. Plus, an entire 308 in concours condition isn't worth much more than you wasted here. I have seen entire NOS 308 engines at TRutlands sell for less than $10k! You did get ripped off...but, some of it was your fault for not using common sense when spending your money. That being said, sue him in Magistrate Court without a lawyer and at least get a judgement against him. Good luck.

 

Parker:
trust me, you don't know the story. The heads being made will be not NOS but racing heads. Kermit was working for a while with Nick at Forza, who has an excellent reputation. He himself got screwed by Kermit from what I know.

 

In this type of situation, does Paul have to go to Washington to sue him? I can only imagine the headaches of missing work, traveling 8-10 hours round trip, etc. just to get up there and have the other guy continue the case a bunch of times. Who could endure that? Just wondering.

 

Martin,
The great majority of us have heard Paul's situation repeated many times over the past two years. To date, he is the ONLY one I have heard of that has had a problem. That in itself, does not obsolve Kermit of this liability; thus I suggested that in the future, rather than rehash the story each and every time Kermit comes up, that he instead, post a warning, and link to a thread where he can lay out everything.

Right now, Paul is on some sort of "mission" that seems to have completely and utterly taken over his life...to vindictively destroy Kermit's business prospects at every opportunity. He is blinded by his own rage and hate....Does he have a "right" to do this...you tell me. But I would prefer that he doesn't eat up so much bandwidth in the Technical section, on a very facinating thread. Like I said, he can post a warning, link to another thread where he can explain his case. Enough said.

Paul, look forward to the post on your completed car, specifications and performance numbers.

Dave

 

Well now I get to be the hi-jacker here!

Started out saying "don't deal with this guy", ends up I'm telling you all how I fix heads!

Anyway:

TIG is a pretty simple process. It's basicly an argon saturated plasma torch. In layman terms, it's a torch that is in an oxygen-less environment. So, it doesn't give the metal the opportunity to react to the air. Argon, being a noble gas, doesn't react to anything in the known world.

So, from there, all you need to do to REPAIR anything had of metal, (including heads) is to heat it up JUST to the melting point, get a little "bubble" of molten metal on the piece you're working on, then you use a rod of the same/simialr alloy you're working with. From there, it's just like Torch soldering! You lay the material down just like you were soldering with a torch on the moon!

Once you build the material up (and it doesn't MATTER what it looks like on the surface, you're going to cut it DOWN with a grinder/machine tool) it's repaired! Now, make it look like you want it to look. Shape it how you want, cut it how you want, etc... It's now all the same piece.

The problem is this. The 308 2 valve heads I just got done welding up were a VERY strange alloy. (By the way, previous shop used crowbars on the head on the deck surface to pry the heads off) Very high Tin content. I'm more used to the Japanese and American "close to 100%" aluminum alloy stuff. This meant "discoloration" from one part of the casting to the other. I wasn't happy that I could "see" my weld "reflect light" differently than the original casting. So, off I was to find the same alloy content welding rod.

Now that I HAVE the right welding rod, the sky's the limit. I have the torch settings down, have the right rod, and know how to melt the alloy as to build it up, not knock it down.

So, as I said.... Gimme those heads!!

I won't charge you for them untill I'm sure I can fix them, and hell, look at it this way. Worst comes to worst if I screw them up, what have you lost? A set of door stops? I'll send you a set of Honda heads to use as door stops that had the pistons try to climb out the tops if you need something to hold the door open!

Seriously, I'd like to just play with them and see what I can and can't fix here. I havn't found anything so far I can't TIG up, so it'd be worth it to see if I can fix these too. Not going to take anything out of YOUR pocket, and the only thing it's going to cost me is practice time, argon, welding rod, and electricity!

Seriously, ship them out!

Stick

 

ANd by the way Sloan and Cavallino:

I'm sure as HELL not going to ask for any $$$ here. This will be a deal where if I CAN fix them, and you want them BACK, then pay me for my experimental time and recources on them.

ANYBODY who'd take $$$ from someone to PLAY with a set of heads on thier own time without knowing the possibility of repair is a crook to begin with. With stuff like this, I never take anything up front. Unless it's going for "This" to "This" (ie, a simple drag style port job w/ these cams etc...) and I need parts or supplies to start, keep your cash in your pocket.

Something like THIS isn't really a pay job anyway. There's no way I could charge enough to equal the time and effort I'd have in them, but again, just like a golf swing or a doctor.... Even a cylinder head guy has to practice!

Stick

 

Look Paul,
I am not about to defend either Nick or Kermit...I have had dealings with both. You know nothing of my "being at Kermit's last weekend", because I was not. I did run into Nick last weekend, did you mean that? Like I said, your rage and hatred is getting the best of you. Not sure where you are getting your intell, but it is clearly wrong.

You may be right that there are not that many threads where you warn of Kermit...though here is one from some time ago:
http://70.85.40.84/~ferrari/discus/messages/256120/296147.html

I am not "helping" Kermit with anything, I have had few dealings with him. In fact, the only thing I have ever bought from him were his wheel stud mounts, and that was over a year ago. I AM aware that you are contacting my good friend Stewart, and trying to get him worked up that somehow Kermit did a poor job on his engine build, and that he should be unhappy with the work (he is not, btw). Dude, you are pathetic, running around trying to create a storm behind everyone's back. I can't believe the time and effort you are putting into every aspect of anyone connected with Kermit. I really want to know who said I was at Kermit's?

I am NOT trying to stop you from your story, in fact I have encouraged you to tell it. I just don't like your hi jacking of threads. Just link to your thread on Kermit, that's all.

Look at this post of yours:
http://70.85.40.84/~ferrari/forum/showthread.php?t=50754&highlight=windage+tray


And btw, on this thread, it is Nick that is promoting Krank Vents:
http://70.85.40.84/~ferrari/discus/messages/256120/6410.html
You have posted a lot recently about Krank Vents being a farce for Ferraris....

I am not, and will not deny your claim against Kermit. I like Nick, and I like Kermit. I think both guys are offering a lot to this site. If Kermit does not need your help, then why are you helping? Let him self-destruct, if that is what is in the cards, so be it.

 

Sloan,

When reading your first post I thought your warning was truly that...for others to take heed. However, I couldn't help noticing your decorum to the Admin. and others with unbias interjection. You made 12 posts in three days in the morning through evening. It really seemed to turn from a warning for others into a self-serving rant. At one point you said "enough of that." But yet you checked back on your thread and re-posted again and again and again. The point of your thread at this point has gotton lost and I applaud the admin. for their intervention.

Your warning is appreciated....just leave it at that and allow the community to use their judgement and due diligence.

P.S. - your statements could be used against you as a counter-suit. True or not I believe your attorney would advise you to be quiet.

 

Sure.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Ah Korr, you got me!!! I give up...it's a "vast conspiracy" between me, Kermit, and the Axis of Evil! Actually, your picture shows "Kermit" at my place, so I change my mind and deny everthing!!

Love your avatar!

 

Well, I bought the krank vents a while back along with his little heat shields, had Kermit enlarge my throttle body, match the intake manifold to it and even had him (have it) powder coated for me. I don't know if any of it really makes any difference. People who own 308's and who drive my car say it feels stronger but I have a Tubi. K&N and cat pipe also. Who knows where the difference is coming from. I have been following this thread carefully and I feel bad for Paul. I really do. I had a really bad experience with a guy here in town (search here for "flooded car" for details and pics) and it has been my life's mission to make damn sure that EVERYBODY around here knows about it. It was so bad that I am not sure if all of you would even believe me. Paul, I have been there, man.

However, Kermit was very kind to me. I needed the intake back in a hurry for a track event in Atlanta. He got it over to the powder coating place on the weekend for me and made sure it was out of there on time too. I got alll my stuff back overnight and the workmanship was excellent. I was most impressed with the little O-ring and groove he machined into it. It looked very professional. I realize that it was probably easy to do or whatever but I liked it. So did my mechanic here. All of this was last spring. So far, so good with all the work he did.

I just feel like I should mention this.

 

Agreed, like I said I have been down that road you are on and I KNOW how you may feel

 

Paul,
You win, I retract all my statements, and fully apologize. Please continue as you please.

Bye,
Dave

 

BLAHH, BLAHH, BLAHH....

The drama's hurting my ears!

Can't we all just say what we wanna say, and NOT have to apologize 17,000 times if we happened to offend anyone? Wowser, you guys REALY take hurting people's feeling seriously around here. Not something I'm used to on the Jap-Krap forums.

In any case, the "Cliff Notes Version" so far as I see it:

-Kermit ate up a set of heads and didn't back them up.
-Sloans Pissed.
-Dave loves everybody and is trying to keep the peace.
-The Doc tossed in a good 2 cents, well taken by all.
-Toss in a warning or 2 from another assortment of folks.
-I like to weld.

Did I miss anything important?

Sloan, PM on the way.

Stick