Paul Weir

[82SC]

what is the opinion on Paul Weir...

the former Seattle based engine rebuilder?
I know he is out of business, and that he plan to come back...

anyone from his area...maybe PCA experiences....

we have been talking engines and I may buy some parts off him...

MJ

[RatBoy4]

Not a good idea, those guys are bad news. They have horrible customer service. I was about to send my engine up there to be rebuilt and they a week later closed just before I sent it thankfully. I had a friend who lives up there kick up some dust and found out he was being charged with fraud. They had sold a used transmission and then claimed it was new, along with many other things that he got busted for. I then had mine rebuilt by MotorMeister, they did a good job, I'd recommend them.

[davis911s]

I don't know about Paul, heard good and bad. But I have heard lots of Bad about MotorMeister. Sorry Ratboy just what I've heard.

Shawn

[82SC]

well I am not getting any work done by them...

just getting some advice and maybe buying parts...

no offense, but that fact that you suggested Motor Meister makes me cringe...everything you said about paul w has been accused of Motor Meister as well....

hahaha I guess you can't trust anyone!!!

anyone else?

MJ

[kstar]

I also "heard" something about that certain SoCal rebuilder.

Then again, even a broken clock is right two times a day.

Best,

Kurt

[kstar]

FWIW, here's a thrust bearing from an oval bore 2.7 case, $13,500.00 Motor Meister build after about 7000 miles:

[RatBoy4]

Well, all I can say is that I had a good experience with MotorMeister whether or not others have. I had nothing but trouble from Paul, I guess we all have different experiences.

[RatBoy4]

That better not happen to mine after 7000 miles, or I'm gonna be PISSED!

[Early_S_Man]

Kevin,

If you want to be prepared ... or shocked ...

do a search of the archives for threads related to that SoCal builder with the great web site!

[kstar]

RatBoy:

MM built me a tranny as well, and so far it has held up well - even with my new Black Forest built 300hp 3.2 MFI motor.

But that is the only semi-nice thing I can say about my $20k+ bad dream with Roy, Lee and the MM crew.

FWIW, there are definitions under California law that define standards of what "rebuild" means in regard to transmissions - no such legal definitions exist for standards regarding motor rebuilds in Cali. This fact might explain why MM motors sometimes get a bad rap and why I have never read or heard anything bad about MM trannys.

Take care,

Kurt

Edit: Ooops! I forget the story in an MM thread about the fellow who discovered that MM had lost his tranny! OK, back to the "broken clock" theory.

[RatBoy4]

OK, stop it, you guys are giving me nightmares.

[RatBoy4]

Literally about 20 miles, since I got it back, it's been in my garage while I've been doing other stuff to the car.

[kstar]

RatBoy:

Do you wan to have some "real" nightmares?

Here is an excerpt of findings by Black Forest and Machine Works on what they discovered when that cracked open my MM "build":

Black Forest and Motor Works, Inc. respectively have now disassembled, examined and measured the motor (1976 Magnesium “7R” case with the engine serial number of 6461430) that Motor Meister contracted to thoroughly rebuild for me to pristine conditions. Black Forest and Motor Works, Inc. have reported to me these findings:

1) Piston to cylinder clearance:
• .003 to .004;

2) Two cylinders damaged at top, previously eroded before installing;

3) Crankcase line bore out of spec:
• Bores too loose .003-.005” vertically
• Bores too tight .002” horizontally
(See attached document from Motor Works, Inc.);

4) Number 8 bearing is 62.05-62.06mm
“No crush on aluminum bear.”
(See attached document from Motor Works, Inc.);

5) Crankshaft main-bearing journals out of specification:
(Porsche Factory Specification is 56.971-56.990mm)
• #1: 56.94mm
• #2: 56.96mm
• #3: 56.97mm
• #4: 56.95mm
• #5: 56.96mm
(See attached document from Motor Works, Inc.);

6) Crankshaft rod-bearing journals out of specification:
(Porsche Factory Specification is 51.971-51.990mm)
• #1: 51.94mm
• #2: 51.96mm
• #3: 51.98mm
• #4: 51.955mm
• #5: 51.955mm
• #8: 51.915mm
(See attached document from Motor Works, Inc.);

7) Connecting Rods:
• Bushings .001” out
• Big ends .0015” out
(See attached document from Motor Works, Inc.);

8) Main bearings excessively worn:
(See attached photos of main bearings);

9) Head to cam tower oil leaks, evidence of belt sanding;

10) Improper rocker arm sealing which allowed oil leaks
(See attached receipt from Black Forest);

11) Wrong washers used on crank case through bolts - flat washers were used where a chamfered washer is required for proper cylinder to crank case sealing.
(See attached photos of flat washers used on crank case);

12) Crank case not shuffle-pinned as stated on Motor Meister, Inc. “Build Sheet”
(See attached photos of crank case halves).

To this day, Roy claims that "factory shuffle pins" refers to the bushings at the thrust bearing - he even referred me to B.A.'s Bible to see a picture! FWIW, the Bible shows a picture of what real suffle pins are.

Of course, Roy never addressed any of the other issues after I sent my letter because he knows all too well that the problems I had have little or no legal consequence to MM. As a fellow from the B.A.R. told me, shoddy work is not against the law - unless it is a transmission!

Good luck!

Kurt

[Carrera Charlie]

After reading similar posts, I backed down from a full rebuild at MM to just purchasing their rebuild kit and doing it myself with some local help. So far so good.

Good luck!

[DonNewton]

Not sound like a broken record, but. . .I'm in my 4th year with a MM built race engine, and it's continuing to kick butt! Engine doesn't leak, doesn't use that much oil (for a race engine), and makes lots of power. As far as customer service, they've bent over backwards to provide things I've needed for the car, not associated with their engine. Yes, I'm on their website. Yes, given their previous work for me, I'd do it again. I'm really sorry that Kurt Starnes had such a bad experience with them, but that is not my experience, nor has it been the experience of another of their customers (from here in the DC area). As always, caveat emptor.

[Chuck Moreland]

I don't have any experience with Paul Weir but I will say that going out of business does not constitue bad customer service.

The guy no doubt was trying to make his business work. The last thing he is going to do is advise prospective customers that he may go under. That would only expedite the demise since nobody would send him their business.

[bob tilton]

a friend of mine purchased both a tranny and an engine from Paul with no problems.

ratboy you should research a thread started by phoenix concerning his mm experience.

i'm sure there is a reason why mm doesn't advertise in excellence.

bob
68L

[Kurt B]

On the engine rebuild. Someone could get miles and miles out of a bad rebuild. I mean, you have to pretty much totally f@ck it up not to do that.
If I had to rebuild my 3.2, I'm sure I'd end up with ***** jimmied together. Doesn't meant it won't run right--it may end up 92% right. But under duress things might go wrong--or it won't last as long.
MM offers low prices in comparison with a place like TRE which suggests and all too realistic price. What it means is, they cut corners that's all. They rush etc.

Now someone explain to me that if 996 engines go for for 10k, why hasn't someone put it in one of our cars? I mean....these older air cooled engines are engineering masterpieces. I'd rather have a 996 in mine someday if i could swing it.

[RatBoy4]

Just to set the record straight, I'm not claiming that Paul had poor customer service because he closed, it always took hima at least a couple days to return my phone calls, didn't seem very helpful/entusiastic about getting my engine. Like I said earlier, we've all had different experiences, I'm just going to tell myself for now that the engine got a good rebuild, after all, it did take over 3 months, whether that's good or bad I do not know. But if my engine does poop, I'll be back here talking to you guys about it, and then you can say "told ya so." But anyway, wish me luck.

[kstar]

Kevin:

I honestly wish you the best of luck! Don Newton is a perfect example of a solid and reliable MM motor - this should give you some solace.

Let's all hope you get many many happy miles from your motor.

I'd like to think that some of the first hand experiences about MM that have permeated the web for the last few years has had some impact on build quality and quality control at that certain SoCal rebuilder.

Have a great weekend and put some miles on that motor!

Best,

Kurt