A. R. Racing - Performance

[ertoys]

Has anyone heard of these guys? they sell engines on ebay for cheap, seemilngly to cheap?

If you have used them please let me know your opinion of them.

[Lowend]

I will tell you the same thing I tell everyone else
All engine builders pay about the same price for their components and there isn't much of a profit margin on any of it (7-30%) so there really isn't much space to give a discount and still turn profit. Machine work does have some room for margin in it, but you still have to generate a certain amount of $/day to pay the bills ect...

That said, if you see an engine selling for signifigantly less money from one place than another (espically on ebay) than they are cutting corners somewhere. Either the parts are below standard, or their machine work is lacking... not worth the risk if you ask me

[smittys69]

Funny - I have been doing some research on these guys as I am in the market as well. I sent e-mails to approx 50 people that bought engines from these guys and the response was all over the board. Most replies were that the engine was installed but had not ran it yet or had just a few miles on it. One guy told me he had an engine last two weeks and the second engine just one day. Based on my responses, I sent an e-mail to Mark at arracingunl asking questions such as: warranty, can I visit the shop to watch them build my engine, do they mix/match parts, do they mix/match bore sizes, etc. I also asked questions in regard to the guys that had engines come apart. I sent e-mails to them (3) separate times and never did get a response. Therefore, I would shy away from them. As they say, if it appears to good to be true, it probably is. I am either going to fork over a little more money and go with a GM crate engine that carries a warranty or talk with a couple of other places that appear to have their s*&t together. These places are: www.dmhandson.com (out of Oklahoma) or www.speedomotive.com (out of California). One other good place I've been looking at is Salle Chevrolet (www.sallechevrolet.com). Hope this helps and let me know what you decide / find out.

[toofun]

Well I can speak on this since I bought one of their stroker motors 383 on my last 69 camaro. Can say this. I was not impressed. The motor ran OK and had some problems with the engine when I installed it. They were less than helpful after the engine was delivered and paid for. Think they over exagerated the HP and torque numbers. Will tell you this you get what you pay for. Better off paying the price so you have somewhere to go back on if you have a problem. Just my two cents.

Mark

[boodlefoof]

I bought an engine from them about 3 years ago (355 small block). I didn't buy through ebay, but rather drove down to Mark's shop and talked to him about what I wanted. He was very friendly and helpful and made some suggestions about parts substitutions from my idea... Two weeks later I had an engine.

Mine has thus far been trouble free and runs well. Don't know if it makes the 400 horses he told me it would... but it might also be the fact that I've got a much too tight torque converter on the back of it at present...

That said... I must say that I've heard of some people who have had negative experiences dealing with this shop. Go do a search on www.camaros.net on this topic. There is one real big thread that was on there about 2 months back and lots of folks who had bought engines from Mark chimed in.

[ertoys]

Thank you all for your your responses, I do appreciate it!

Its a lot of $ that I did not want to throw away and now I wont:icon996:

[ss dave]

Don't do it! I purchased their 383 over a year and half ago. My mechanic looked it over and needless to say there were numerous problems. Uneven deck height, chips in the cylinders and cyclinder edges, I could go on. They have been a topic of discussion on another web site: Camaros.net. Do a search and you will get the general idea. I never installed the engine and sent it back after two weeks in the same crate. I received a variety of excuses over a period of 10 months why I couldn't get refunded despite ML's promise. I am still owed $ but have chalked it up as experience. I cringe any time someone wishes info about that outfit. Find someone local and don't waste your $$.