3.9 RSR project --- my Carrera reborn

[Scott Watkins]

Matteo, sorry to hear about your issues! Suggestions fwiw, if you haven’t, take this discussion with Timmins to the phone or in person if you make it back to the states. Don't know him from Adam, but like most small businessmen, sure he's a reasonable guy.

Don't know how much race car experience you have or track experience, but get ready, the $40k your out on this motor is just the start Running cars on track will cost you your life savings if not careful! Racing or tracking at full tilt is not for the faint hearted.

Good luck!

[TGTIW]

Like everyone here I've been following this thread from the beginning. Couple of things stand out for me regarding Timmins' response.
First, in his response he continually uses the phrases "anyone who understands and anyone who knows," all this does is expose his insecurities and lack of confindence in his own knowledge while simultaniously trying to put himself in a superior position.
Second and more important, with the now international media exposure that Teo and his car is getting, why on earth would he not take care of any problems that may have arrisen due to his poor craftsmanship? Why not just take out a couple ads in all the Porsche magazines saying "Hey, I suck."

[gsmith660]

Originally Posted by TGTIW

Like everyone here I've been following this thread from the beginning. Couple of things stand out for me regarding Timmins' response.
First, in his response he continually uses the phrases "anyone who understands and anyone who knows," all this does is expose his insecurities and lack of confindence in his own knowledge while simultaniously trying to put himself in s superior position.
Second and more important, with the now international media exposure that Teo and his car is now getting, why on earth would he not take care of any problems that may have arrisen due to his poor craftsmanship? Why not just take out a couple ads in all the Porsche magazines saying "Hey, I suck."

And he does I have no tolerance for incompetence, that is what makes Matteo better than me.

[911teo]

Originally Posted by cnavarro

Matteo, I'm sure the cylinders can be fixed. That's what the warranty is for - you'd just be out shipping cost. They are easily stripped and re-plated and whether you do use them or not on this next build for accountability reasons with your new builder, they are worth something to someone if fixed. Just shoot me a PM and I'd be happy to take care of it for you directly.

I'd be interested in seeing a piston and associated rings to try to find out if they might have attributed to the damage, or if it was something else that caused the irregular wear, since I didn't supply the pistons or rings to CMW, just the cylinders.

Charles

this is a picture of one of the pistons...





and this is one of the jugs





I have all the gear wrapped and put in boxes in my garage.

I would love to see if the p&c are fixable because they could go well with the heads, valves and induction system.

I can take more pics and send them to you if you think it is worth it...

[911teo]

Originally Posted by Scott Watkins

Matteo, sorry to hear about your issues! Suggestions fwiw, if you haven’t, take this discussion with Timmins to the phone or in person if you make it back to the states. Don't know him from Adam, but like most small businessmen, sure he's a reasonable guy.

I spoke to him the day after I went to see Bob Watson and saw the stripped engine.
In fact I sent him an email telling him I was quite unhappy, not so much because the engine had failed, but because someone had pointed out the case and a couple of things that were not done properly.

Timmins emailed back within 1 minute and wanted to talk straight away.
So we chatted and he was very understanding and upset himself about the situation.

He is not a crook or someone who does not care. He also offered some compensation, stating the last thing he wanted was for me to be unhappy.

So he asked me to send him an email with a recap of what happened and the download of the mapping from the Motec.
I did not hear anything from him for 3 months, until I sent him the last email and his last response.

I want to make clear here that this is not a war against Timmins.

I really believe it is impossible to point the finger and establish without a doubt the culprit for the failure.

Maybe one of the bearings was faulty, or the oil was bad etc.

But from my point of view this engine has been a succession of problems, from the rebuild 250 miles in to the running on 6 plugs because of a bad connector to the crazy mapping to the overtorqued nuts on the chain covers to the too small heat shield plate for the ICU to the fan assembly collapsing etc.

So after all that the engine fails and I find out he took some shortcuts and then he tells me Bob Watson and 9M do not understand anything aboout 911 motors and 911 lubrication when they tell me what is wrong with my motor beside the spun bearing, damaged rod and crank-case.

That is what leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I understand it is difficult to hear someone criticize your work. And maybe I didn't even explained it properly. But I offered for Bob or/and Colin to speak to him if he wanted (offer that he declined) to see what really happened.

What was I expecting?

Sincerely I thought that he'd offer some sort of compensation plus I had asked him if he wanted all the good parts (maybe the P&C if they are fixable, the heads, valves, stacks, air cleaners etc) at 50% of what I paid them....
I figured he's an engine builder, I waited for months to get the parts in... he should be happy.

I never expected for him to pay anything close to what it is costing me to rebuild the engine with specs similar to the old one, nor I expected him to actually come out at a loss.

Anyway I am sure he wishes (like me) he never took on this build.

I want to say one more time that maybe it was just bad luck, and I am much more upset at the way he treated me than at the quality of the work.

[911teo]

Originally Posted by Scott Watkins

Don't know how much race car experience you have or track experience, but get ready, the $40k your out on this motor is just the start Running cars on track will cost you your life savings if not careful! Racing or tracking at full tilt is not for the faint hearted.

Good luck!

I totally agree with you. I have no problem with writing off the car. I have no problem with blowing up an engine. Things happen.

But you should not be defined by the things that life throws at you, but by the way you react to them.

[Scott Watkins]

"But you should not be defined by the things that life throws at you, but by the way you react to them."

Amen brother!

[mpeastend]

You show a lot of class Matteo. Hope other people who contemplate Timmins' shop come across this thread. Instant-g(arbage) indeed.

[Mark Morrissey]

I'm stunned to say the least. I'm so sorry about what transpired. I've followed this thread with a great amount respect for your creativity and your elegant prose. I'm heartbroken about these results and I'm humbled by your amazing attitude. I am at a loss for what to say. Just know you have my best wishes for your future success.
Mark

[Macroni]

Matteo,
This sucks. Put it behind you as a life lesson......
Live in philly....I could arrange a visit.......

[billybek]

Wow! Just.... Wow.
I came onto this thread late, at about page 53 and I am sorry to hear that it wasn't a happy ever after story.
Sounds like the new motor will be phenomenal!
Best of luck with the build..

[Jeff Alton]

Wow!!!

You displayed a large degree of reserve in your dealing with the motor!

Can't wait to hear that all is well and the journey has reached a point of enjoyment!

you deserve it!!!

Cheers

[911 in SC]

I'm truly sorry to hear about the constant troubles you have had with the engine.

It was great to actually meet you in person in the 'unveiling', and was totally impressed with your humbleness. I am quite certain that you will have the 'ultimate 911' that you are seeking. My hat's off to you, my friend!

[Facey]

teo, you have handled this with amazing class.

cannot wait to see a special on your new engine in the same kickass car!

[gsmith660]

Teo, get the P&C repaired and sell the entire top end as a set you should have no problem recovering a good size chunk of your loss on the matched pieces.

[911teo]

Originally Posted by marksgtv

I'm stunned to say the least. I'm so sorry about what transpired. I've followed this thread with a great amount respect for your creativity and your elegant prose. I'm heartbroken about these results and I'm humbled by your amazing attitude. I am at a loss for what to say. Just know you have my best wishes for your future success.
Mark

Mark

thank you for your praise of my "elegant prose".... I have re-read some of the posts and I realized I should re-read them carefully before hitting the "post Message" button...

You are too nice

[911teo]

Originally Posted by gsmith660

Teo, get the P&C repaired and sell the entire top end as a set you should have no problem recovering a good size chunk of your loss on the matched pieces.

Yes, I thought about that.

But before I sell anything I want to make sure it is all good. Charles (LN Engineering) words were encouraging.

The heads, valve gear and induction are all good. But the P&C are the key. And then if someone wants a big motor....

[gsmith660]

Yeah he is a real stand up guy sounds like, you are in good hands now and its nice how the community came together to shore up one of our own, in all likelyhood this will cost timmins much more than if he had been a stand up guy also and just gave you all your money back for his part of it and accepted some blame in this. We all wish people would be that way but seldom are, you on the other hand have been an inspiration to us all on how we should act in the face of adversity and for that I am grateful.

[cnavarro]

Matteo, I'm sure it's easily fixable. I've seen worse pistons. I concur, once fixed, the cylidners should be totally reuseable and to whoever they go to, they would carry the same warranty, so they are just as good as new.

Pm me and I'll take care of it. The cylinders at the very least. I'm sorry for all the rest of the fiasco, as is everyone else who has followed your story since the beginning.

[gsmith660]

Kudos to you!