Exactly. Your insurance shouldn't come into play as the shop made the mistake. They owned up to it and you are lucky to have a mechanic that did so.

Don't understand why you would even contact your insurance? Doesn't this shop carry insurance?

If you where smart you should have your car towed to a shop that specializes in our cars and have them completely diagnose and repair problem at the expense of shop that caused this

Well we will see what the adjuster says tomorrow. I want to thank everyone for your concerns and advice in this matter, it is much appreciated.

As far as starting a claim from my insurance company goes I did so because thats what I have insurance for, its an accident and what happens if the shop says they never admitted to doing anything in the long run. I would be screwed. at least this way if my ins adjuster determines that the engine contains a foreign object they will cover it regardless if my mechanic changes his mind. let our ins. cos. hash it out with each other, just like any other accident. Expecting the shop to carry through with the repair to the extent that it may be damaged is putting me at a greater financial liability, ergo, I can always cancel the claim at any time.

Very true. No question: best to make your carrier aware of the "issue".

You're in a nasty position for sure.....we don't really know what your relation is with this shop. Without question (and completely my opinion, as several have already noted), a Professional that does nothing but these engines should be engaged...

if it's a "EURO-SHOP, I'd be quite investigative,..otherwise, it needs to be a PORSCHE shop on the rebuild,...

EQUALLY (without question), your shop SHOULD carry insurance to cover this repair,...you just need to make sure your requirements are being transmitted to THEIR adjuster,,better yet: meet with HIM, yourself (it sounds like you're gonna'!)

An analogy was drawn about mistakes "happening" (and certainly, they do. Even to the degree of example provided of a "clinical/medical" error has happened, for sure. But, do you think those Patients said: "WTF? Sheeit happens,..I'd still go back to that doctor." FUCH NO!!

You'd best be arguing that it be handled by "dedicated" people (Pros) that don't (statistically) drop sheeit into intakes nor NOT take account of pre-parts counts vs. post-work small parts counts,..not to mention starting the engine without KNOWING. Now, if he dropped a st. christopher in there, the count wouldn't have helped! STILL: the principle applies,..and I assure you it's in the best interests of you and your car.

Do NOT play around with these people......something bad has happened, for sure. Yet something even worse is still "at bay", if not researched thoroughly.

MANY here to help you.

BEST to you.

Doyle

Thanks for your input Doyle, I have a shop that I am taking it to that many have recommended for this type of work. My insurance has a 1k deductible, I am hoping that the first shop will pay for that, especially in light that I paid him 600.00 to replace the intake gaskets, and they still leaked and I had to take it back for him to fix, too which this incident occurred.
I will keep you all posted , spoke with the Ins. Co. today and they said they were initiating the claim process. The shop will be contacted by the mechanical adjuster to do an investigation. Then I will have it toed to the shop that will do the engine work.

For $1000 deductible the original shop is getting off easy. (unless insurance co. decides to go after shop) I'd have never thought of reporting something like this to my insurance.

Tough situation. Good luck, keep us posted.

It's good that you've been able to arrange for it to go to a different shop for the rebuild, no hard feelings with the previous mechanic?

I have to say I think it should be the mechanics liability insurance that picks this up, but I guess your insurance company will contact them and hash it out.

Keep us posted.

Ok its been toed to KMW and Kevin will take it from here.

Ins co gave go ahead to pull motor and inspect should hear from Kevin soon

I dropped a nut inside an open carb on my running engine when I was a teenager.

My engine started misfiring, so I pulled the head and took it to the machine shop for valve inspection. No nut anywhere...just a broken spark plug. No other evidence that it was in there.
I hope you are as lucky as I was.

P.S.
the next week the neighbor returned from vacation they discovered that someone had shot their front window out with a BB gun....(kidding) :)

It is awesome he fessed up.

I would not take any legal action unless they will not fix on their dime.

I should hear from the adjuster today, the inspection relieved a nut. The damage was the piston , the head and I cant remember what else. KMW says its an 8K job

i wish i could get a $8K job with just one piston and head to repair/replace. you think they are padding the bill a bit?

Get the adjuster to accept KWM's estimate, take the check, buy all the tools and bits you need to service the car yourself, buy new JE pistons and bigger cylinders, have it twin-plugged by a good shop, put it all back together again and still have $ left over.

+1

I'd take the money, ship the car to JW's shop in Seattle, (I know he's fix it right) and use the balance of the cash for a cross-country driving trip back home.......

I think it perfectly reasonable for Pelican ynotony1966 to contact his insurance company.
Not only does it give him ‘power’ negotiating with the shop’s insurer, this is no different from the shop dropping something heavy on the car or a tree falling in the parking lot.


I don’t think “padded” is the correct description for the $8K estimate.
In fact it could be low.

With a nice running ’82 911SC, it is not unreasonable to expect several hundred thousand more miles before a complete rebuild.
Sure, there may be gaskets to renew, head studs to replace and even heads to rejuvenate but the basic engine is very reliable and long-lived.

With this ‘accident’, any prudent owner and shop would completely disassemble the engine to inspect for possible rod, bearing and crankshaft damage.
Giver that level of inspection and the known damage, there are many parts that must be replaced.
Certainly that would include bearings, rod nuts & bolts, gaskets, etc.
Having to replace/rebuild one head and replace one cylinder, there is good and valid argument to rebuild all six heads to matching standards and replace the matched set of P&Cs.
This argument can properly apply to all internal engine parts.
I think this would apply to all items that any prudent owner and mechanic would replace or upgrade during a ‘normal’ rebuild – including head studs, etc.

At a professional race shop, they will have the ability to consider all reasonably possible damage.
This is what they do when rebuilding race ‘blow-ups’.

Considering this, an $8K estimate may be low.
If so, I would expect a ‘supplemental claim’.

I would not expect unrelated and non-internal items such as clutch to be included.
This would properly fall into the “while-you-are-there” category.


It is a totally different subject as to who to have perform the work.
Clearly KMW can perform expert work.
With help from this Forum and contracting sub-assemblies to experts, so can Pelican ynotony1966 in his spare time.
As noted above, there are other (many) good choices (so long it is not MM).


It is heartening to see this being handled professionally.
Too often there is a circular “not-me” go-around, denying responsibility.

Whoever rebuilds your engine, you should discuss ‘warranty’ now.

Best,
Grady

I think it is smart to contact your insurer but I would not add to much more to the discussion in hopes you do not affect their rights of recovery from the mechanic (subrogation).

Kevin/KMW is really good and reasonable. $8K is a lot of $ but once it is apart, there will be a lot of things to inspect and perhaps replace.

Not a bad time to consider dropping in a 3.2...

well the verdict is in

ins co is sending me a check, it doesnt cover everything looks like i will be around 1200 short but i am doing the clutch, and head studs along with tensioner locks, air box and intake boot

as for the other shop I saw the intake gaskets and only one looked like it was replaced and they charged me 600 for that, I think Im gona ask him for my money back