Proformance Unlimited 390FE for #50: a complete disaster.

[robroy]

Good day!

This thread is a continuation of the discussion in, What's this loud tapping sound from my new engine? If you haven't read the previous thread, you may wish to review it--it establishes the background for this thread.

While What's this loud tapping sound from my new engine? discussed both this problematic, Proformance Unlimited engine and the new engine, this thread will focus solely on the Proformance Unlimited engine. The ongoing discussion on the new, FE Specialties engine will continue here: 390FE (406ci) for #50, built by Tom Lucas at FE Specialties. Thanks!

Here an illustration that shows our organization method (click on it if it's difficult to see):



On Friday I heard from Tom Lucas at FE Specialties that in addition to everything else, he found these new problems with the Proformance Unlimited (also known as Pro-formance Unlimited) engine:

1. Several of the main bearing saddles were tapered, which explains the shiny streaks shown in the main bearing photos. It needs to be re-align honed. One saddle had a taper of nearly 0.001".
2. The connecting rods were bored about 1/2 of a thousandth larger than they should have been.
3. The bushings in the connecting rods were too large, so the fit was bad. They had between 0.0008" and 0.0010" clearance. They'll have to be re-bushed.
4. The deck hadn't been machined properly on the block, so it needs to be re-decked. According to what I read from Tom, the deck was out 0.0025".
5. The connecting rods I received were stock 390 FE rods. I did not receive the Eagle H-Beams listed in my invoice!

Once I receive Tom's quote for all the work required to get a reasonable engine out of all these messed up parts, I'll ask Proformance Unlimited to reimburse me for that. This will all take place early next week!

I'll provide more updates then!

Thank you all very much for your superb advice on this topic!
Robroy

[r71f250]

RobRoy,

So sorry to hear about your expensive situation. Its not that something went wrong that was a mistake, but you were ripped off, lied to and the disclosure of parts and labor in my opinion "fraud". I hope Proformance Unlimited will do the ethical and moral obligation on reimbusement, because thats just flat wrong...

Well I am going to join you on getting my engine rebuilt by Tom also. Going to call Tom tomorrow and use your engine craddle transport deminsions and transport my 390 to Tom sometime toward the end of next month (thanks for you previous thread about that). Your thread and others input really now has helped me in knowing that Tom is the man for FE's and even other engines and it will be done right the first time..

Good luck and Lord willing you will get back your money... I think I can say we are praying for ya....

Blessings,
ALAN

[Ranchero50]

Might be worth a summary essay on how we got this far in 500 words or less for thos who won't read the 'tapping' thread

Jamie

[70_F100]

Robroy:

One point of order.

The align hone is what is supposed to correct any out-of-alignment on the main bearing caps and saddles.

If, by chance, there are excessive out-of-tolerance dimensions, the block has to be align bored.

Since you had two points in your summary regarding this, I'm assuming that you were not aware of the correlation between the two.

Good luck with PU!!

[robroy]

Good evening Jamie, 70_F100, and Alan, thanks for your quality replies!

So sorry to hear about your expensive situation. Its not that something went wrong that was a mistake, but you were ripped off, lied to and the disclosure of parts and labor in my opinion "fraud". I hope Proformance Unlimited will do the ethical and moral obligation on reimbusement, because thats just flat wrong...

I can understand why you'd say these things. I'm still hoping for an excellent outcome with them! I'll be contacting them as soon as I have the official quote from Tom.

Well I am going to join you on getting my engine rebuilt by Tom also. Going to call Tom tomorrow and use your engine craddle transport deminsions and transport my 390 to Tom sometime toward the end of next month (thanks for you previous thread about that). Your thread and others input really now has helped me in knowing that Tom is the man for FE's and even other engines and it will be done right the first time..

That's great news! If there were some feasible way to hand off my cradle to you, I'd be happy to loan it! But I'm not sure if there is. And shipping it would probably cost a ton--it's very sturdy and heavy! If you want to chat about this possibility, perhaps you could PM me?

Good luck and Lord willing you will get back your money... I think I can say we are praying for ya....

Well thank you very much Alan! I have a sense things will work out well.

Might be worth a summary essay on how we got this far in 500 words or less for thos who won't read the 'tapping' thread

That's a smart suggestion. I'll add a paragraph or two to the initial post that covers the who/what/when/where/why. Thanks!

One point of order.

The align hone is what is supposed to correct any out-of-alignment on the main bearing caps and saddles.

If, by chance, there are excessive out-of-tolerance dimensions, the block has to be align bored.

Okay, I see!

Since you had two points in your summary regarding this, I'm assuming that you were not aware of the correlation between the two.

Thanks for noticing this and explaining it! As chance would have it, just minutes ago I reviewed an e-mail I received from Tom that suggested this same correlation. I sure have a lot to learn about engines! I'll correct my list to show the proper correlation.

Good luck with PU!!

Thank you very much!!!

Jamie, 70_F100, and Alan, thanks again for your excellent replies!
Robroy

[fomocoguy]

[HOWDY69]

Ryan just used the phrase “I don't want my engine to go down Proformance Unlimited style.”
It made me wonder if a Google search would pick up this thread in the first few pages. This was the fourth link in the list of results.

http://www.ripoffreport.com/Auto-Parts/ ... -7cd72.htm

Here is another one.

http://www.ripoffreport.com/auto-parts/ ... -bdbd7.htm

We got a hit at result 75

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe ... rt=70&sa=N

This guy wasn't too happy either

http://www.runtrails.com/69f100_4.htm

[FLATBEDFORD]

I haven't followed all 20 what ever pages of the tapping noise thread. I gather they really effed up on your engine. That sucks! You have done such a through job on the whole truck. I hope you get it worked out and you get some money back.

[ToughOldFord]

"THE MIDDLE MAIN BEARING HAD A PIECE OF ALL THREAD IN IT WITH A NUT ON IT INSTEAD OF A MAIN BOLT."

[fomocoguy]

"THE MIDDLE MAIN BEARING HAD A PIECE OF ALL THREAD IN IT WITH A NUT ON IT INSTEAD OF A MAIN BOLT."

Are you kidding me???I must have missed that part! What a joke.

[ToughOldFord]

It's in the second rip off report.
That's crazy, there is no reason for stupidity like that.

[DuckRyder]

The more I learn about ProFormance Unlimited (AKA Pro-Formance Unlimited) the less I like what I learn about ProFormance Unlimited (AKA Pro-Formance Unlimited).

[70_F100]

The more I learn about ProFormance Unlimited (AKA Pro-Formance Unlimited) the less I like what I learn about ProFormance Unlimited (AKA Pro-Formance Unlimited).

AKA "P-U"...

[fordman]

long threads get real hard to read and keep up with.

i dont care for all thread to be used. but my guess is that it was a incorrect way to make a stud for the rear sump oil pickup tube.

[basketcase0302]

robroy,

This is sad man. I hope it all works out for you.
I've had them in my "favorites" for many years now, (in hopes of someday being able to afford one of their 347's).
I'll think twice about that now.

On a side note...I know the application might not be right still but. You can get "All thread" in a Grade-8 steel. I had used it many years ago on a 4 & 1/2" body lift for my "old style" Bronco.
But I'd never use it in place of the "threaded stud" on a main cap.

Basketcase