[DeTomaso] MME, MY EXPERIENCE, YES THEY BUILD GRENADES!

[clewis at dmn.net]

Dear Fellow Pantera Owners -

MME built my motor and it did not even make it to 1000 street driven 
miles before it started to break parts. 

Yes MME is the same builder who built my motor with the following defects. 

A) Wrong spring pressure, selected an 800lbs of pressure at full open spring 
when the cam specs called for 500lb max.
 
B) Used a retainer that did not match the springs, thereby allowing the 
spring pack the ability to move around too freely. 

C) Overtorqued the adjusters on the rocker arms, a known mode of failure, 
contributing to the failure of 5 Jesel Pro Series Shaft rocker arms and 
compromising the integrity of the entire set of rocker arms.  

Jesel performed an exhaustive examination of the failed parts and provided a detailed, 18 page 
report detailing the reasons and mode of failure.  They all were clearly due to engine builder 
errors.
 
D) Pushrods most likely the incorrect length, based on the findings by Jesel 
showing that the position of the adjusters was too far out of the body of 
the rocker arm. 

E) Had custom valve covers produced with no breather or filler. I mean 
really, how are you supposed to get oil into the engine? Osmosis? 
Teleportation? 

They then had the nerve to send me a bill for an additional $300-$400 to fix their mistake.  I 
refused to pay and let them keep the valve covers even though I had paid for the valve covers, 
custom engraving and custom powder coating to that point.  My loss on this item alone was around 
$800.

F) Destroyed the balance of a set of March billet pulleys by hand 
countersinking the bolt holes, not drilling the out on a press and using 
proper machining techniques that would result in the part retaining it's balance.


Beyond the sloppiness exhibited by the defects listed above, MME charged me for phone calls to 
Pantera vendors when I asked them to make sure the parts vendors would be supplying(headers from 
Pat Mical and clutch, flywheel and pressure plate from Dennis Quella)would all fit together and 
work with my build. Did MME really need to pad their profit on this build by another $150 or so 
dollars?

It is important to note that I paid them over $16,000 directly and also provided over $4,000 worth 
of parts (The parts I provided included: CHI Aluminum Cleveland Heads and matching intake. Aviaid 
Pantera specific oil pan, small diameter MSD dsitributor, MSD Ignition box, March 
Billett Aluminum pulley set.)for the build. 

This is the same amount essentially they would charge for the same motor if they had provided those 
parts. (Check their website and see for yourself). 

My motor initial cost therefore was in the neighbourhood of $21,000. So imagine my surprise when 
I first had problems with them regarding the defective custom valve covers and MME told me they 
could not spend time on the phone to resolve my issues because they were LOSING MONEY ON ME!!??? 

My car has been off the road since 2008 while I saved money and found a builder I can trust. It is 
going to cost another $6,000 to $8,000 to rebuild the motor correctly. 

When confronted with these facts MME's response was to: 

A) Deny any responsibility 
B) Try to claim I was a customer who had not paid ( A lie) 

To date they have not done anything to make good or back up the product they 
sold me. 

TELL EVERY PANTERA OWNER YOU KNOW NOT TO DO BUSINESS WITH MME! TELL THEM THEY SHOULD RUN AS FAST AS 
THEY CAN THE OTHER WAY AND NOT LET MARK MCKEOWN GET ONE MORE DOLLAR FROM THE PANTERA COMMUNITY. 

If anybody you know is considering using MME, please have them call me 
directly at: 646-599-7871 

Best Regards, Chris Lewis 
Owner, 5318 

PS - If you do buy an engine from MME make sure you have another $8000 sitting around doing 
nothing, you will need it very soon!