Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

Before I begin here is some history:

Arrival of my Blueprint Engine 383

Overheating Begins

At the moment Blueprint Engines aka Marshall Engines has my 383. At their request I shipped the motor back to them for inspection. Thas was following weeks of tech support provided by the company. The sysmptons were overheating with exhaust gas in the coolant. Heads checked good and assumed a crack in the block.

After a few weeks I heard back from the company. They say they tore down the motor and can't find the problem. For that reason my claim was denied and they want me to either buy a new motor or pay to have the broken one assemebled and returned to me. Needless to say I'm pissed. THEY can't find the problem now I get the shaft. How convenient is it for them to deny claims because they are too incompetent to find a problem. That doesn't sound right at all. At this point I'm considering my options..I will let everyone know how it turned out.

UPDATE: Blueprint Engines has reversed their decision to deny my claim and has shipped a completely new motor at no cost to me. Getting the claim reversed required a lot of back and forth dialog, photos, and involvment of BP executive management. In the end commmon sense prevailed. Thank you Blueprint Engines for realizing the mistake and making things right.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

Thing is, if the head gasket wasn't blown to the point of being burned, but just leaking enough to cause an issue they very well may not have seen it and just thought it was some sort of customer error causing the overheating.

Even if they did find a blown head gasket, it's not like it's a huge cost for them to fix it. Not like you sent them a grenaded bottom end or anything. Can't see why that would be such a big deal just for them to fix and leave a customer happy.

Doesn't make sense why they are trying to stiff you on this one, a customer stiffed out of this much money is going to talk, and at a very loud volume to a lot of people. That's very bad for business.

I would ask to speak to the company owner or someone higher up if you haven't already. I've been through a similar deal by a local builder, I hope by some miracle you get this all worked out.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

Exactly, I had less than 1000 miles on it. I told the rep, "If you feel the block is good, go ahead and sell it to someone else." My point being, they have the means to refresh the block at minimal cost. All the parts are present and in good shape. As you said, it doesn't make sense.

Rather than do what's right, they created a bad customer experience.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

I bet that motor was cheap like a Jasper engine either. They should do the right thing, I would ask them to reassemble and put it on the dyno and run it for an agreed period to see if it has the same issues. If it does, then they have an issue to deal with, if not, then you have a good engine and they have a happy customer and a real cheap fix, no matter what the issue WAZ, it's fixed and your happy.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

that is the reason why i suggest buying from a local GM dealership for a few dollars more in case of warrenty problems

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

Can you buy a modified 383 stroker from your local GM dealer all put together like that?

Sorry to hear about your engine. It sure looked like you were rounding the last corner on your build. To see it jerked out from under you like that really sucks!

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

Curious if your heads have been ported. I knew of a similiar problem. The heads had a port and polish job. The guy porting the heads got a little close to the water jacket. No crack just a pinhole that only showed up when the motor was fully warmed up. A pressure test showed nothing wrong. A sonic test revealed the bad porting job.
Check it out. A possibility!!

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

Yes you can they have a couple different options. http://www.gmhorsepower.com/ZZ-383.php

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

Wow. Those don't match up very close price wise though.

Blue Print through Jegs: LINK

ZZ383 through Jegs: LINK + how much more for everything the Blue Print motor comes with?

What am I missing here? :confused:

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

iron vs aluminum heads

and roller cam

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

Thanks.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

Heads are not ported/polished. Hey, shouldn't a hole show up in a pressure test? I thought that was the point.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

No it didn't. When it got hot metal expanded enough to leak thru a pinhole.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

also everything in a gmpp block/head/engine is brand new. blue print uses old "seasoned" blocks for their builds. a while back i was considering one of their engines, but now i think that i may avoid them. you would think that at the very least they would do an inspection tear down and free reassemble if nothing bad was found.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

When searching for a crate motor I didn't put much value into all the parts being new. The additional price tag didn't seem worth it when compared to the offerings of Marshall Engines. In the end that decision will cost me double. I could have gotten a very nice GMPP motor for less than this decision will cost me. Btw, those "seasoned" blocks that are supposedly hand picked are less than stellar. Mine had helicoils all over it including in the nose of the crankshaft. They became apparent when I started removing my accessories for return shipping. I especially remember the crankshaft helicoil unwinding when unbolteding the pulley. I was pissed to see a helicoil in what was advertised as a new crank. Makes me wonder if they are reusing parts from returned engines.

And as you said, if nothing is found bad why not reassemble the motor for free? Especially since it was there decision to have me return the motor for inspection. It doens't make sense. How much are they really losing??

Anyone considering purchasing from Blueprint Engines aka Marshall Engines should learn from my experience. In the end a warranty has no value if they will not honor it. One more thing, I just checked their Better Business Bureau rating. They have an 'F' rating which is the worst BBB can issue. Crap.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

Sorry about your bad luck, live and learn. I always do a BBB check before i buy something, its good practice. I will post this to a couple of my other forums, good info. Where are they located?

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

I wouldn't just assume that a new block is better than a seasoned one, at least when it comes to a GM cast. My understanding is that GM now casts offshore and the metal content in the casting is not to the same standard.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

They are in Kearney, Nebraska. The parent company is Marshall Engines Inc. They sell under the name 'Blueprint Engines' thru places like Summit and Jegs.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

So what now? Do they just keep the motor and you are left holding the bill that you paid? or are they sending it back to you, shipping due?

Have you thought about having a local reputable machine shop look into the issue before you spend $1K's of more dollars?

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

Did you purchase the motor through Summit or Jeg's? If so I would contact them also. If nothing else maybe if they get enough complaints they will stop selling their junk.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

That wasn't what i was getting at. Its the final product quality i was getting at and why gmpp costs more due to brand new castings
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Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

My claim is still open so there's hope I can get this resolved in a manner that is fair. I will definetely let everyone know the final outcome. They called me this morning to let me know a second inspection team would check the motor. Hopefully this second inspection will identify the error and my motor will be warrantied.

At this point they have the motor. If they do nothing and send it back I will definetely get it checked. Then I will report them to the Texas Attorney General and take them to court. How this ends is completely up to them. It's silly really..if this post gets 100 hits and 10 of those people choose not to buy their Product, that's over $40k in sales revenue lost. Their cost to make this right is a fraction of what they could lose thanks to the power of the Internet!

I got it from Summit. They will hear from me if this goes badly.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

I think your going about it right, I know your p1$$3d off, which anyone would be given the situation. I also would go the same route you are, but the waiting is hard. good luck man, I will be looking for a positive ( your part) outcome.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

After reading your very first thread, I would have dropped 4k on one of their engines in a heart beat. Not now.

Hopefully this is corrected, and in the end you are a very happy guy.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

Yeah, man. Sorry to hear you're having all these problems. At first I was thinking I would have done things a little different like taking the truck into a reputable speed shop before removing it again. But then I read where you found all those heli-coils.

Don't know how much you paid for the engine but helicoils tell me this engine has been through a few overtorquings or cross threadings. Probably put together with air tools by someone unfamiliar with the damage they can do sometimes.

Regardless, I'm still confused as to why the engine would run cool sometimes for extended periods and then overheat at others. In my experience a cracked head, block or leaking head gasket is usually pretty consistent in it's symptoms.

Recently I solved a slight overheating problem on my GMC by installing an overflow reservoir. For some reason, the engine didn't like to be even a few inches low on water -even with a new larger radiator.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

With a thermostat in place the engine would initially start and run normal temp. As I started driving the combustion pressure entering the coolant would gradually cause an air bubble in the cooling system. Once that happened the temp would spike. When I removed the thermostat completely, the pressure had no where to get trapped. Instead it continued to build until the radiator cap released the pressure/coolant via the overflow hose. During testing I would take 5-10 miles drives then check the coolant level. Even after just 5 miles the coolant level would drop considerably.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

Gotcha. Yeah, that definitely indicates a hot exhaust leak into the coolant system. As geezer#99 mentioned it's you can't always find these things with leak test equipment especially if the problem is occuring under high heat and pressure from the engine.

forgot this: I know it's a little late but here's a good you tube video on doing a coolant test.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

Good news to report! Got a call today from Blueprint Engines. They reversed their earlier decision and have decided to honor the claim! A new 383 will ship to me today!! They still don't know what happened with the first motor but will do further testing. I'm just happy they saw the value in creating a good customer experience.

Earlier today, before the call, I sent photos of my truck to the Service Manger. He responded by saying "amazing looking truck" and said they were working towards a quick resolution. Quick indeed, they called just a few hrs later.

I will make sure to post photos once the new engine arrives! Thanks again to Blueprint Engines for making the right decision!

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

glad to hear of your good news

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

I'm glad it sounds as though eventually you'll get a positive outcome. I am planning on installing a 383 crate motor in my 72 K5 this summer and have certainly ruled out Blueprint (they were kinda down my list to begin). Right now looking at United Racing Engines out of Arizona and Branger out of Kentucky although just starting to do my homework on them both. Hopefully your reinstall goes good for you, even with warranty replacement the hassle itself is a piss off.
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Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

I had a similar problem with a different company about 2 years ago. Coast High Performance. My buddy got a 406 shortblock for his Chevelle. We put it all together, got it fired up, and it had a slight knock on deceleration. Took it to my shop, tore it down, and they had forgotten a spiral lock in one of the wrist pins! They made him, pay to ship it back, pay to have the block honed and sleeved due to the scoring on the cyl. wall from the wrist pin sliding out and hitting it, and pay to ship it back to him. Their rep arrogantly said "Ha my assembler NEVER forgets a spiral lock. Thats not possible." Well he sure did! I was doing all the R&R and his dad was paying for all this BS since he was away at college and needed his vehicle back ASAP. But what a bunch of BS. I tell everyone to find a local reputable shop to deal with, even if it's 75 miles away. Because then you have someones door to bust down when the $hit hits the fan. Instead of an unnecessary $400 in incurred shippng costs and another month at minimum wondering "whats wrong with my engine and where is it?" It's a lot easier to make someone see whats going on in person than over a phone call. My friend's lesson was well learned.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

Glad to hear they are standing up and doing what's right.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

That's fantastic! glad to hear it.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

Subscribed. I am in the process of looking at this engine, but now I'm not so sure. Have been considering BP3833CTC1, which is the 383 fully dressed version with roller cam.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

how is this motor running today?

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

It was running fine when I last saw the truck.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

This Is Not the 1st time I heard this story . Neighbor bought a 383 from them , I visited just after he fired it the 1st time . Then the oil got milky overnight .

Pulled it back out and had the same argument , Finally shipped it back and they sent another . Same thing . Hauled the 2cd to the plant from Kansas City . They refused a cash refund . He left Nebraska with a 3rd engine which went on craigslist with zero warranty .Truck was sold shortly after that . Poor guy had all he could stand .

I cringe every time I hear some one say Blueprint Engines , Then tell about them Shaun's ordeal

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

I build my own engines. I had a rebuild from a local reputable guy that was also known at the drag strip for having real fast rides. He built engines for all the fast guys in town. Fired up my "new" engine and it had no oil pressure. Long story but it had no oil pump drive. Thought I just got lucky stabbing the distributor. I went to the shop to tell him what happened and as he was building an engine in front of me I told him to look down as he was arguing with me and he did it again on the engine right in front of me.

Re: Blueprint Engines 383 - My Bad Experience
 

Maybe BluePrint engines has changed there policy since your bad experience. I had an issue with a motor and they immediately send me a new motor even though I was the 2nd owner of the motor. They stood behind the warranty and sent me a new engine and added additional parts at no cost. Very happy.

Gary