Want to sell the core engine minus the induction? I'll buy it and we can use it in Tony's Engine rebuild next Spring. In the mean time you can use the money to get you up and running with another engine.

I've been (non-professionally) building 911 engines for 20 years and IMHO it's one thing to not mention a money shift in an engine's history if that engine has been rebuilt correctly with everything opened up and cleaned. But it's another thing entirely to take a money shift engine -- with rocker damage and metal bits pumped through the engine! -- only do a top end, and then sell it to a customer without mentioning that there are literally still chunks of broken engine parts circulating in it.

OP if the story really is as you say, the builder has a lot to answer for. This was real malfeasance.

If you were the engine builder...and saw this thread...wouldn’t you want to say something?

Or, is being quiet the right thing to do?

Personally, I think if it wasn’t sold with a warranty from the builder, he’s sure not responsible a year later. I doubt anyone will provide an engine warranty just because they do a top end. Nobody knows what’s inside an engine until it’s pieces are spread out on the table.

I think you have 2 separate issues as there is not a good solution when personal feelings are involved.

1. How should you handle a poorly handled 3.0 core with top end rebuild, also with a questionable rebuild at that. No valve seals? I guess later on it was determined "your friend" did not perform the rebuild. Was it due to time? Was he trying to get the engine to you faster and cheaper? Lots of variables, only he knows. Take the friend out of the equation and reasonably you would demand a new rebuild and probably out him in this forum.

2. How do you carefully handle a conflict with a friend? In what instance would take 16k for goods and services only to find out a year later it was unusable. Put yourself in his shoes, what would you do to make your friend whole? I would expect what you would expect from yourself.

My advice, offer to pay for the parts and he does the rebuild.

My thoughts exactly.

That would be the best deal ever. I've never seen a mechanic offer free labor to rebuild something they didn't rebuild in the first place. If it was originally rebuilt it would have been $25k, not $16k.

I think you're misunderstanding the situation. He sourced the motor and farmed the top end out. I bought it from him.

The history of the motor was not disclosed during purchase, nor was I told the job was farmed out.

That said, the company he farmed it to should have some liability. But that's between him and them.

I completely understand the situation. You bought a used engine that should have had the bottom end done and it wasn't. To make this right long term the whole engine should be rebuilt. It's not just about the heads or top end.

If a piece of rocker went all the way through this engine to the point where it's on the screen it hit something, or several somethings, on the way down. The odds that there's zero damage internally are worse than winning the lottery. And Blackstone won't tell you sh...

I guess what I don't understand is what you are negotiating with him. Are you negotiating redoing the top end with him picking up the labor. Cool. There's a strong argument that he owes you that. There's zero argument that he owes you a complete engine rebuild gratis. Like I said, you didn't pay for the parts or labor to rebuild the bottom end, and even if you provide the parts, I don't see anyone working for free.

A few things that should be cleared up.

Exactly how long ago was this engine installed in your car? You say 'about' a year. Does that mean ten months or does that mean fourteen months?
Big difference, surely you have some paper work on this transaction, even if it's only for the transmission rebuild, or when the PMO's were purchased and installed. You should have something that will show when this took place.

Have you checked into what is a normal warranty on a used engine. 30 days? Six months?

People in this discussion mention $16K a lot but didn't that include a transmission rebuild?

I am closing this thread -- I don't think the forum is the right place to adjudicate this problem.