Clay's Auto Parts And Machine Shop

I'm sure at some point Clay's was a top shelf shop. In my experience, it's NOT that anymore. It's been almost a year since my dealings with Clay and JR and felt/feel completely fugged-over by them. I've since chalked it up to lesson learned and moved on to another shop. GOOD: courteous and extremely knowledgeable staff. Machine work prices are fair and the tolerances are accurate. Also, they're no strangers to classic engines - which is rare. Background: 1963 Cadillac 390. Stock, spare no expense, rebuild. I spoke directly with Clay and requested that the engine block and heads get hot-tank cleaned and carefully inspected for cracks or damage. If ok, check dimensionally. If ok, a quote including parts, labor, and necessary machine work. Clay recommended machining the heads to accept newer-style valve guide seals. I agreed and asked for an estimate on turnaround time but I made it clear I was not trying to rush. Clay committed to getting a quote to me the following week and that, if I approve, the work will be done within a week or two after that. I paid for the clean-and-check up front and left a deposit for machine work. Then it all went downhill from there. BAD: I didn't hear back for several weeks. When I finally called, I spoke with JR. He apologized and explained that Clay is only in the shop Tuesday-Thursday and that he didn't know what Clay was doing with this project but that he would give him the message and he'd surely call me back. He didn't. This cycle repeated for close to 4 months. Not one call from them to me. Not once. When I had a belly full of it, I called called and said I'd come pick up my parts. Suddenly, not to worry, my engine would be ready for pick up in 2 days. 2 days later, I take time off work to pick up my stuff (not open weekends and they close at 5) before they close. I do a cursory look over everything, looks good, and load everything in my work van and pay the balance. All-in the tab was just shy of $4k. Yes. $4,000 for parts, machine work, and labor - no assembly. If you're thinking part price drove this price, they didn't. A complete engine rebuild parts kit from a reputable source with quality parts is around $1500. Ok, I DID said "spare no expense" right? So I would not squeak if in return for my money and long wait I received top-notch work with quality parts. Nope. The block and heads looked great! Fresh and clean cast iron with fresh valves on the heads! So what's wrong with that? For starters, the valves were new but the springs, retainers, and seals were not. Remember those new-style seals Clay sold me on? Nope. Old style AND old reused seals were reinstalled (pics). Second, the fresh cast iron look was not because they were clean. It's because they were all spray painted with cast iron paint!!! Over grease blobs too. So now I'm really mad and look deeper at the work. Since I now know that the fresh appearance comes from a rattle can, I suspect that the block/heads were NOT properly hot-tanked as promised (and charged for). I turn my attention to the block/head expansion plugs and see that they were never removed. Just painted over with iron paint (which I now have to remove to repaint in the original color). I scrape away the paint around the perimeter of one of the plugs and my pick pokes right through - rusty from the inside. The plugs weren't checked, much less removed. Removing them revealed cooling jackets fully clogged with years of gunk and debris - the reason for hot-tanking an engine block and heads in the first place. I ended up taking my engine block and heads to another shop that fully cleaned and re inspected the block/heads before assembly work began - costing me even more money. Eventually, called Clay's and JR answered. I asked why parts were not hot-tanked as promised and he explained they don't have a hot tank at all. Just a commercial parts washer. He didn't have an answer for the paint. Oh and the new oil pump gears are two different sizes. Can't use. Another $150 I'll need to spend. Clay's never again. BEWARE!