Dropped off the car last Wednesday for a straight engine "remove and replace". Engine was delivered the Thursday before the Easter weekend. its now Monday afternoon, and all I'm getting is excuses as to why its not done. Apparently they are waiting on a part that wasn't with the engine. they were waiting on it last Friday, and they are still waiting. my contact spoke with the wrecker where the part is coming from and they say its on route to the mechanic. now they say that once they have the part they will have it done within an hour...it shouldn't take 4 days!

OK that's my rant...please no flaming or "I told you so"... that's not what we do here right!

Confusius say: "He who stands around and twiddles thumbs while waiting for others to do the work, can be an impatient pain in the *BEEP*." lol

EDIT: and its not 4 days, Easter Break applies to meKaniKs too. lol

Seriously? It takes as long as it takes.

Sounds legit to me. Workshops are at the mercy of their suppliers and it is most likely completely out of their hands. Yes it can be done quicker but its definitely a possibility and it doesn't sound like they're trying to jerk you around.

The other thing to keep in mind is with wreckers theres no guarantee the part is available even if they have the car there, sure being a Magna you'd think they'd have heaps of them but its not always the case.

1. Dropped of the car last Wednesday, today is Monday... that's 4 business days and 6 days including the weekend. I dropped the car of the Wednesday AFTER Easter, the engine the day before the Easter break so they were ready to go Wednesday morning.
2. the supplier had the part and I was told they would have it Friday evening and i would have the car today. I spoke with the supplier at 1:30pm today and they said the part was dispatched earlier this morning. (even tho I was told by the mechanic that it was organised last Friday not today...I'm getting 2 stories).

Next time I'm taking too long with a contract for one of my clients, and I don't hit my deadline...seems to me i can just turn around and say "hey it takes as long as it takes", doesn't matter if I promised you the product 2 busyness days ago...and if you've lost money over it, hey that's not my issue.

I do apologies for being grumpy guys... i just need my car. and i'm not getting what i promised.

question, when changing from a 3.0L to 3.5L do you need to change the drive shaft? that's what the mechanic told my wife... sounds to me like they stuffed mine and are trying to cover their ass's ... please tell me if i'm wrong?

no offence dude, but with your attitude if i was a mechanic with you hassling so much i wouldnt rush it. They will have other jobs to do as well as yours.

Hey no offence taken, but my attitude is that i had a contract that isn't being delivered upon. and if they want to incur any charges in breaking said contract then that's up to them. Mechanics are not a law unto themselves, they must abide by contract law just like every other industry. And if i'm being unreasonable about wanting my car finished on time, and when promised, and being unreasonable about being angry that I have to miss work and rent another car just so i can get to work, all money i don't have and will have to borrow so my kids don't go hungry, then so be it.

as for other jobs, no, they don't have any work on... and yes i do know that for a fact.

Thanks for being understanding guys...helps my frustration alot.

question, when changing from a 3.0L to 3.5L do you need to change the drive shaft? that's what the mechanic told my wife... sounds to me like they stuffed mine and are trying to cover their ass's ... please tell me if i'm wrong?

This is true. The middle shaft BRACKET needs to be changed between a 3.0 and a 3.5. If you have a press you can take the shaft out of your current and press it into a 3.5 bracket. It's safer to source a shaft/bracket combo for your car depending whether it's going in a manual/auto and 3.0/3.5.

There are a lot of differences between the 3.0 and 3.5, it's not a straight swap. Chances are the workshop didn't know exactly what they were up against and are just waiting for parts at this stage, which is very reasonable considering they would be ringing around at wreckers and asking around for parts.

Cool it!

Thanks for the info Neo, clears up one of my issues. So it sounds like they didn't stuff up, they just didn't understand the whole swap. I have been frustrated as I was told all need parts were supplied with the engine.

My mistake regarding Easter. lol I'm loosing track of time . . . .

Patience required . . . . we all know all about the withdrawal symptoms one gets when one's chariot is at the blacksmith. lol

Thanks for the info Neo, clears up one of my issues. So it sounds like they didn't stuff up, they just didn't understand the whole swap. I have been frustrated as I was told all need parts were supplied with the engine.

No worries, the shaft would be the rarest part to get a hold of. The alternator bracket and sandwich plate changes can be easily sorted, as well as the exhaust front pipe changes.. I wonder if they've found out about that yet :P

What parts did you get exactly with this engine conversion?

i was there when my engine was removed (3.0L) and a 3.5L manual put in. 2 days of work. Done by someone who does this EVERYDAY in that he works on magna's. This shop might not have done a 3.0 removal and 3.5 install. I'd give them benefit of the doubt man. But i agree with Norby, don't hassle them or they may 'accidently' take longer than expected. When waiting on other companies for parts or advice, shit happens and hours turn into days. I know it was like that when i had my own business..

You want to complain about how long its taking them to fix up your engine, how about dropping it in the middle of Australia and being without it for around a years before you could even consider picking it up lol (re: ego...)

My mistake regarding Easter. lol I'm loosing track of time . . . .

Patience required . . . . we all know all about the withdrawal symptoms one gets when one's chariot is at the blacksmith. lol

so so very true...lol


You want to complain about how long its taking them to fix up your engine, how about dropping it in the middle of Australia and being without it for around a years before you could even consider picking it up lol (re: ego...)

lmao, ummm yes that would be very frustrating, especially if you went and got a new car while waiting...

No worries, the shaft would be the rarest part to get a hold of. The alternator bracket and sandwich plate changes can be easily sorted, as well as the exhaust front pipe changes.. I wonder if they've found out about that yet :P

What parts did you get exactly with this engine conversion?

Well I was told from the engine supplier that I was getting a 2004 3.5L from a manual (my TF is a factory manual). they said I was getting the Engine, tube, brackets and shaft. the engine was to be serviced with new timing belt. When I dropped the car off last Wednesday I visually inspected the engine (just to verify it was clean and etc...).

So last I herd was that the Mechanic was blaming the engine supplier, the supplier was blaming the mechanic...And Mal was saying "i told you so..." and so he did.

Problem now is, and why i'm so frustrated, is that I need a car to get to work. They are getting frustrated with me having to work from home (as i will have to do tomorrow). we have a second car, but wife is 10 weeks pregnant, and with the other two i can leave her without transport. as for her driving me to work in her sick state (very bad morning sickness) she cant drive me as its a 3hr round trip to take me to work...twice in the one day. i had a car rental last week for the 3 days as i was told it would be ready by the weekend. i cant afford another rental.

LATEST: shaft supplier today delivered the wrong one. they were told manual but they picked a auto. correct one being delivered tomorrow by 12pm.

Don't stress too much, bud.

I had an accident Friday two weeks before Easter, that is the 8th April. My car was delivered to the repairers next day. I might get it back this Thursday (fingers crossed). I was very lucky that my son, a Uni student, was able to loan me his car. I'm not ringing the repairers every day; I want a good job, not a quick job.

Moral of the story for you is; triple whatever time they quote you and work with that.

Ok i need some guidance here. I have gotten my car back...YEY!!! they mechanic wants $300 over quoted pice...BOO!!!

Now, when it starts, it sounds perfect, and runs smooth.
Please people tell me if im wrong, but the new 3.5L Manual isn't revving past 3500rpm, there is a squeal coming from the engine bay (sounds like a very tight belt off the top of my head), and there is a burning smell.
If you put your foot down there is no real acceleration, no balls what so ever, and only going to 3500rpm.
The speed indicating light keeps going off (very annoying) and there is a wheezing sound coming from what sounds like the air vents/engine bay.
Oh and the mechanic said that the plenum on the Auto was different from my manual engine and so was the throttle body? i dont know if that is correct.

So before i take the car back and ask them very nicely to fix it... any ideas as to whats wrong?

And for future sake, I don't care if Mits-Fix is 2+ hrs drive away, all future work is going to Mal.

Ok i need some guidance here. I have gotten my car back...YEY!!! they mechanic wants $300 over quoted pice...BOO!!!

Now, when it starts, it sounds perfect, and runs smooth.
Please people tell me if im wrong, but the new 3.5L Manual isn't revving past 3500rpm, there is a squeal coming from the engine bay (sounds like a very tight belt off the top of my head), and there is a burning smell.
If you put your foot down there is no real acceleration, no balls what so ever, and only going to 3500rpm.
The speed indicating light keeps going off (very annoying) and there is a wheezing sound coming from what sounds like the air vents/engine bay.
Oh and the mechanic said that the plenum on the Auto was different from my manual engine and so was the throttle body? i dont know if that is correct.

So before i take the car back and ask them very nicely to fix it... any ideas as to whats wrong?

And for future sake, I don't care if Mits-Fix is 2+ hrs drive away, all future work is going to Mal.

You should just go to Mal now. Sounds like they've ballsed the conversion quite badly. Who knows if they can fix it and/or how much more you will be charged (even though you shouldn't).

As per below.....


Ok i need some guidance here. I have gotten my car back...YEY!!! they mechanic wants $300 over quoted pice...BOO!!!

Now, when it starts, it sounds perfect, and runs smooth.
Please people tell me if im wrong, but the new 3.5L Manual isn't revving past 3500rpm, there is a squeal coming from the engine bay (sounds like a very tight belt off the top of my head), and there is a burning smell. This is not normal and in fact is bad, I would not drive it until is fixed
If you put your foot down there is no real acceleration, no balls what so ever, and only going to 3500rpm. As above
The speed indicating light keeps going off (very annoying) and there is a wheezing sound coming from what sounds like the air vents/engine bay. Would need to see the car to determine
Oh and the mechanic said that the plenum on the Auto was different from my manual engine and so was the throttle body? i dont know if that is correct. Not saying anything bad about your mechanic but clearly this is what happens when you get someone who does not know the car to do this sort of job, with the extra $300 this would have more than covered towing. The TB and upper manifold from your old engine should have been used for starters, I recon that they have made a botch and taking back to them will not fix anything as they clearly dont know the cars and done know what to change and what to keep

So before i take the car back and ask them very nicely to fix it... any ideas as to whats wrong?

And for future sake, I don't care if Mits-Fix is 2+ hrs drive away, all future work is going to Mal.

At the end of the day mate, be careful as if is not reving past 3grand many many things can have been done wrong and you could be chewing up a supposed low k engine, you commented they are doing the timing belt, they may have even stuffed that up as well as they have clearly have done other things on your car. You should not have been given back your car in that state for starters

Is also sad as I have on many occasions had a car dropped off at 8am and the owner has driven home at 5pm with a new motor and the old 3.0 sititng on the floor waiting to go to the tip, even teh first time I did one of these 3 to 3.5 conversions was well under a day to do the job lol

FFS the other day I had a VRX drive in with an auto and drive out with a ralliart engine and manual box......in under a day

Remember that parts can stuff everyone up guys.

My (old) Ralliart sat at the shop for the weekend waiting for a couple belts that were meant to show up Friday, Saturday at the latest.
Now would be a good time to remind you that my parents do in fact own the shop.


Just be careful who you go with in the future mate. It sounds like they had no idea what they were doing, including all the time, the engine not being done properly AND the added quote cost. Any good shop would likely swallow the extra $300 charge because they took so long, and most genuine shops would not allow it out the door if it wasn't driving properly, even if you were foaming at the mouth if they told you it would take even longer.
Pissed off customers are better than pissed off customers in the burn ward or standing outside the shop with a blown engine+gearbox pouring oil.

Take emto the cleaners, redeem your money!

Ok i need some guidance here. I have gotten my car back...YEY!!! they mechanic wants $300 over quoted pice...BOO!!!

Now, when it starts, it sounds perfect, and runs smooth.
Please people tell me if im wrong, but the new 3.5L Manual isn't revving past 3500rpm, there is a squeal coming from the engine bay (sounds like a very tight belt off the top of my head), and there is a burning smell.
If you put your foot down there is no real acceleration, no balls what so ever, and only going to 3500rpm.
The speed indicating light keeps going off (very annoying) and there is a wheezing sound coming from what sounds like the air vents/engine bay.
Oh and the mechanic said that the plenum on the Auto was different from my manual engine and so was the throttle body? i dont know if that is correct.

So before i take the car back and ask them very nicely to fix it... any ideas as to whats wrong?

And for future sake, I don't care if Mits-Fix is 2+ hrs drive away, all future work is going to Mal.

Yeah see this is the exact reason why I don't take my cars to mechanics. The only person that I've trusted to work on my cars is Mal.

Yes it sounds like there's a belt that's too tight somewhere. Not sure what the power loss is from, could be anything. I was say it's some sort of air restriction, somewhere along the intake might not be on properly or something like that... does it jerk around or struggle for air at all?

The plenum is identical, that's a lie. The throttle body that was provided might have had cruise and or EGR judging by the year engine your provided them with (Your TF probably doesn't have these two features).

If you included a dummy shaft from a 3.5 manual, they have no excuse there either!

Man.. this is turning bad. However, I highly doubt you'll get any money out of them. You might be able to get the extra charge dropped and hope to get the issues fixed for free.

Good luck.


Edit: Yes Mal can do conversions in 2 hours... LOL. He took most of my engine bay out in 15 minutes :P

Go see Mal, as he said, he did my ralliart engine and manual conversion from a 380 on a Saturday, and that was with me asking countless questions !

Ok so here is an update...2 weeks later.

the reason there was no power and not revving past 3500rpm was for 2 reasons. 1. the mechanic used the wrong distributor, he didn't get a 3.5ltr distributor (apparently that was my fault for not supplying, and why should he check it he is only the mechanic...Thanks Mal for the help on this one) and 2. the Catalytic converter was full of crap thus not allowing any exhaust to flow. (Converter is now replaced). I finally have a working engine!

Now because the mechanic couldn't figure out that there was an exhaust blockage (don't know why he didn't), there are apparently exhaust leaks at the headers (i'm double checking tonight). Also there is a small zip tie caught in the gasket between the throttle body and the air intake. The speedo isn't working and neither is the ODO.

Ok so here is an update...2 weeks later.

the reason there was no power and not revving past 3500rpm was for 2 reasons. 1. the mechanic used the wrong distributor, he didn't get a 3.5ltr distributor (apparently that was my fault for not supplying, and why should he check it he is only the mechanic...Thanks Mal for the help on this one) and 2. the Catalytic converter was full of crap thus not allowing any exhaust to flow. (Converter is now replaced). I finally have a working engine!

Now because the mechanic couldn't figure out that there was an exhaust blockage (don't know why he didn't), there are apparently exhaust leaks at the headers (i'm double checking tonight). Also there is a small zip tie caught in the gasket between the throttle body and the air intake. The speedo isn't working and neither is the ODO.

Holy fudging balls!~

That's an epic amount of problems. I'm glad I've been writing up a full guide for those interested in doing an engine conversion. I'm on the 4th page at the moment and it's still listing differences in the engines, things that you have to change, etc.

The cable tie thing is just stupid. Sounds like one of the sensors isn't connected to the gearbox (one right next to the rear engine mount)

By headers you're talking aftermarket headers that fit both engines? They might just need tightening if that's the case. If it's because you're using a 3.0l front pipe then there's going to be a problem.

Well the car is back home and tucked into bed. Now I've got to say, the new 3.5 has some serious balls, couldn't be happier with the engine.

With that said, I'm pritty sure I need a new speed sensor as my speedo works then doesn't. Also the speed alert keeps going off. Does anyone k ow if that's part of the speed sensor?

Once that's fixed and the exhaust leak is plugged I'm all good. Now looking to the next fix/upgrades.

This has been a listnofnepic screw ups. Why they even release the car has ne screwed. Firstly i would not have accepted the job with half an engine but the point is they did and they quoted install thus they need to get it running for that amount

Geeez I hope you never take your car to panel beater! They have their own concept of time! Ready Monday means friday next week!