Hughes Engines is ripping people off (again)

[cr8crshr]

Well Well...Looks as though the "OTHER FORUM" has locked this same subject post...

 

[MoparPat2]

I am going to put it to rest and answer a few questions.

Why did I race a trailor queen? To see what the engine would run. Who doesn't want to run their car down the track? When you pay for a show ticket at the Mopar Nationals you get to run down the track for free. Why not?

Where all of the bores .043? No. They varied a lot between bores. They were bored in the neighborhood of .040 over within a couple of thousandths and were out of round by .0035 so the bigger dimension on the egg shape is .0435 and the smaller dimension is .040 or .041 depending on the cylinder.

The metal intake gasket blowing is no big deal. I agree, partially. If it happened in my driveway or garge, no big deal. When it happened on the side of the expressway on the way back from a charity car show in August when it was 98 degrees and I was on the side of the interstate with no tools with me and the wife and two grade schoolers standing in the grass on the side of the road while waiting for AAA to show up to haul my car with metal hooks on my newly chromed bumpers. Yeah, that reallly sucked.

I am not saying that Hughes is incapable, they have proven in the past that they have potental to do good work. I didn't get that work though.

To be fair, the crank was ground perfectly at .010 under and the cam broke in with no issues. It also says on the receipt which I am posting at the request of some folks on here that the cam WAS carbo nitrided so I take back what I said about that if it was in fact treated.

The cam had great low end performace torque wise and it would snap your neck when you nailed it but it was nearly impossible to break the tires loose without the wheels turned or brake torqueing. The power was good to about 45-50 mph but the power ran out after that on my engine.

I am also posting the engine specs for anyone interested.

Update: OK, I am getting the message again that these scans are too large to upload. I am sorry that I can't post them. It was just the receipt showing that I paid them to prove to posters that I really did pay the money but Hughes is not disputing that. The other sheet just shows cam specs and crank clearances but no ring clearances or bore measurements.

 

[MoparPat2]

Hey, my green 66 Belvedere II is a 361 car!! The 361 is long gone but now you have me wondering... I wouldn't mind knowing some more about it if you have the info.

Sorry to hear about your Hughes issues. I have never contacted them for anything so I can't say anything one way or the other.

It was a barn find in Virginia. I got it for $7,500 and it had 74,648 original miles. It sat in the barn for 7 years and the engine started and ran perfectly after I replaced the 2 barrel carb and replaced the oil, plugs, wires, hoses, etc. It now has 78,540 miles and runs almost like new. Seriously. It even gets decent mileage with the 2 barrel carb. As you probably know, 1966 was the last year for the big block 361. After that the 383 took over basic duties.

It is Daffodil Yellow which I plan to change to Viper GTS Blue when it goes to the paint shop next year.

 

[MoparPat2]

Sublime? Dude, you claim a low production, documented, numbers matching yadda yadda, and you painted it Sublime? (You know that it doesn't qualify as restored, right?) Just sayin if your gonna b**ch about the money....

Anyhoo, I am sorry to hear about the issues you have/are having. I'm not sure that after this amount of time, anything good will result of it. I've been involved in quite a few builds that have taken time. Sometimes parts fail. Being the expanse of time, regardless of reason or fault, sometimes it's better to cut your losses, learn from it and move on. I didn't even fight with my ex this long before the divorce.

Sublime is different. It was red. I see red, white, blue and black cars at the shows. Nobody has a pro street '67 R/T anywhere around where I live. The color could always go back to red if desired. I run in the B-Body modified class at the shows.

 

[Revhendo]

Wow, this is still going?
So Pat, did you ever get your engine back together and the car out on the road?
I don't think anyone is really debating the "facts" that you are presenting. I think the problems lay with your presentation of them.
I had purchased a electric fuel pump (I think it was blue). It had failed withing two weeks of use. The manufacturer told me to pound sand when I asked for a replacement. It's a true story. I bought it at a Supershops closeout sale. It sat on my shelf for about four years before I had a need for it.

I don't have a dog in this fight. Honestly I don't really care much one way or another. I've bought some paticular parts from Hughes that have done well by me. I had a friend that had one of their cams go flat. Happens. I don't know Dave and have never spoken with him. Then again, I don't know you. I have seen your posts on my two favorite places to hang in the innerverse and they all have to deal with this. I can understand your being upset with the guy, but perhaps your presentation to him was as layered as it was to us, thus the response you received. Tell me friend, will you continue to be a contributing member to this community, or are we just a pawn in your personal crusade?

I really hope you find resolution in what must've been an stressfull decade in your life. I wish you well in the future with your cars and look forward to the positive contributions you may possibly make.

 

[MoparPat2]

One final comment. For all of those Hughes Engines supporters out there, I have a Hughes Engines rotating assembly for sale for half price. Only 3,100 miles but it is used so I will sell it at half price, $500. Hughes Engines reconditioned rods, Keith Black Silvolite pistons, Hughes Engines ground the cast crank .010 under. I also have a set of stainless steel valves for sale. 1 is bent. $50 for intake valves. $50 for exhaust valves. Hughes HE3844BL cam. $50.

 

[Revhendo]

Sublime is different. It was red. I see red, white, blue and black cars at the shows. Nobody has a pro street '67 R/T anywhere around where I live. The color could always go back to red if desired. I run in the B-Body modified class at the shows.

You are seriously killing me with this numbers matching thing. So now it's a restored ProStreet car in Sublime? Call it rebuilt, renewed, refreshed, refreshing, reinvented, reinvisioned, just don't call it restored.

 

[MoparPat2]

Wow, this is still going?
So Pat, did you ever get your engine back together and the car out on the road?
I don't think anyone is really debating the "facts" that you are presenting. I think the problems lay with your presentation of them.
I had purchased a electric fuel pump (I think it was blue). It had failed withing two weeks of use. The manufacturer told me to pound sand when I asked for a replacement. It's a true story. I bought it at a Supershops closeout sale. It sat on my shelf for about four years before I had a need for it.

I don't have a dog in this fight. Honestly I don't really care much one way or another. I've bought some paticular parts from Hughes that have done well by me. I had a friend that had one of their cams go flat. Happens. I don't know Dave and have never spoken with him. Then again, I don't know you. I have seen your posts on my two favorite places to hang in the innerverse and they all have to deal with this. I can understand your being upset with the guy, but perhaps your presentation to him was as layered as it was to us, thus the response you received. Tell me friend, will you continue to be a contributing member to this community, or are we just a pawn in your personal crusade?

I really hope you find resolution in what must've been an stressfull decade in your life. I wish you well in the future with your cars and look forward to the positive contributions you may possibly make.

Wow, a positive comment with no slams! Thanks Rev.

The engine is back in the car but I have to finish up installing the transmission, radiator, etc. That is going to take a couple of more weeks because I have been busy with my kid's sports activities on the weekends.

I understand that parts such as your fuel pump can fail when new. I have a friend who bought a quick fuel carb that wasn't right so they exchanged it (no questions asked). The replacement he says is the best carb that he has ever used.

I plan to contribute on this site but will likely never create a new thread ever again. I never used anyone as pawns or ever intended to. This was a public service announcement to try to help others from falling into Hughes Engines web of deceit and lies. However, many seem to think that I just woke up one morning and decided that I had a vendetta against Dave Hughes for no good reason. Some attack my motives, intellingence, honestly, company that I work for, brands of parts that I use, etc. They don't want to be confused by the facts, they just want to degrade people or be mean to others like the 12 year olds do on Youtube comments.

I was nice and professional to Dave Hughes at all times until he ran his mouth and hung the phone up on me. I know that you catch more flies with sugar than vinegar and I know that nobody would want to help you when you are mad, yelling, etc.

In summary, many folks just want to laugh at others and belittle them but, like the other poster said, if this issue happened to them it would not be funny or humorous at all. They just enjoy other people's misfortune like people who read the National Enquirer. They build themselves up by putting others down and I think that is unacceptable.

I would remind everyone of something that you are familiar with Rev, the golden rule. How many of these people want to be treated or talked to in the same manner that they treat and talk to others? I would guess that would be the same number of people that would be happy if they had this happen to them.

 

[MoparPat2]

You are seriously killing me with this numbers matching thing. So now it's a restored ProStreet car in Sublime? Call it rebuilt, renewed, refreshed, refreshing, reinvented, reinvisioned, just don't call it restored.

I called it ProStreet because it isn't 100% the way it came from the factory. It is NOT tubbed. Custom gray cloth interior with sculpted panels, fully carpeted trunk, Weld Wheels, Be Cool aluminum radiator with electric cooling fans, headers, stainless steel brake, trans and fuel lines, electric fuel pump, trans. cooler etc.

I don't see the problem with calling it restored. Everything is either new or rebuilt and all bolts, washers, etc were replace with stainless hardware or Gold iridite plated. It isn't a factory restoration, it has several things that did not come from the factory such as the items that I listed above.

At any rate, it is all NEW.

 

[68sportsatelliteragtop]

I called it ProStreet because it isn't 100% the way it came from the factory. It is NOT tubbed. Custom gray cloth interior with sculpted panels, fully carpeted trunk, Weld Wheels, Be Cool aluminum radiator with electric cooling fans, headers, stainless steel brake, trans and fuel lines, electric fuel pump, trans. cooler etc.

I don't see the problem with calling it restored. Everything is either new or rebuilt and all bolts, washers, etc were replace with stainless hardware or Gold iridite plated. It isn't a factory restoration, it has several things that did not come from the factory such as the items that I listed above.

At any rate, it is all NEW.

Call it "Restified" or "Restomod"

 

[MoparPat2]

Update. I have installed the rebuilt engine and it runs like a rocket ship. The tires chirp when the trans shifts to second under hard acceleration. That never happened one single time with the Hughes Engines built engine. I saw the Stanton built engine dyno in person and it makes 500 hp, less than the 525 that Hughes claimed. The engine went from running like a wounded pup to a scalded dog and that confirms my original belief that this engine never made the HP claimed by Hughes. It made much, much less than 500, closer to 400 HP. So Hughes pretty much lied about the HP claims, no surprise there. As mentioned, Dave Hughes told me that Gary is a good friend of his and his good friend said that Dave flat out lies about his HP claims.

The Hughes built engine would not even break the tires loose without brake torqueing or turning the steering wheel. It now smokes the tires at half throttle and the top end feels like the car is going to fly off of the road. I kicked it down at 40 mph and the tires broke loose. Big, big difference.

 

[kb67mopar]

Update. I have installed the rebuilt engine and it runs like a rocket ship. The tires chirp when the trans shifts to second under hard acceleration. That never happened one single time with the Hughes Engines built engine. I saw the Stanton built engine dyno in person and it makes 500 hp, less than the 525 that Hughes claimed. The engine went from running like a wounded pup to a scalded dog and that confirms my original belief that this engine never made the HP claimed by Hughes. It made much, much less than 500, closer to 400 HP. So Hughes pretty much lied about the HP claims, no surprise there. As mentioned, Dave Hughes told me that Gary is a good friend of his and his good friend said that Dave flat out lies about his HP claims.

The Hughes built engine would not even break the tires loose without brake torqueing or turning the steering wheel. It now smokes the tires at half throttle and the top end feels like the car is going to fly off of the road. I kicked it down at 40 mph and the tires broke loose. Big, big difference.

I don't think you have to keep justifying that his engine was crap. I think we get it. I am very glad the rebuild went well and the new engine runs like a raped ape.

I have to be honest, after reading the whole thread I can understand why he wouldn't have stood by the engine after that much time. Having little faith in people myself, putting my eyes in his shoes I would assume after that many years you lied about the miles/issues and pretty much just blow you off as well but I would do it politely. (not saying you lied, saying I would assume in his shoes as a business owner)

That being said, from your experience and the comments I'd give him

(and I like the choice of sublime instead of red)

 

[kidmopar]

i had hughes assemble me all the parts necessary to build a 500 stroker 400 race motor that would be 850 horsepower. i requested indy heads he tried to talk me into edelbrock victor heads, and i insisted on indy. he did all machine work on the block including aluminum main caps and studs. spent over ten grand i even used his recommened roller cam with a 1.6 t&d rockers which i purchased seperately. i asembled short block, all bearing clearances came up fine, i got the heads and they sent indy 440 ez heads instead of 325 cfm 440-i that i ordered i exchanged those with him, i bolted the heads on and then the rockers loose. when i turned the engine over it would not turn, i pulled the heads and put modeling clay in there. valves cleared but the piston hit the heads ever so slightly. i called, he said sent me the motor, ill fix it. i waited two weeks got it back, he left the pistons in and used a die grinder rock to trim the piston down for clearance to the head. told me it was ready to go. i got the motor back adjusted vales and all was good, i made 10 passes and it was smoking so i pulled the head thinking i blew a head gasket, well at high rpms it still didnt have enough clearance and looking at the die grinding job was how i knew what happened, i sent motor to muscle motors, he inspected it and i gave him the part number on the diamond pistons hughes sent me, behold, they were for edelbrock victor heads!!!! dome shape was all wrong, i let them build me a new engine and for a lil over what hughes charged me for parts and labor on machine work, i had a 528 built the reason i changed stroke was the piston hitting the head at high rpm had caused the rod bearing to spin, ruining the crank as it was .015 bent also, i love my new motor from muscle motors .

 

[MoparPat2]

I have to be honest, after reading the whole thread I can understand why he wouldn't have stood by the engine after that much time. Having little faith in people myself, putting my eyes in his shoes I would assume after that many years you lied about the miles/issues and pretty much just blow you off as well but I would do it politely. (not saying you lied, saying I would assume in his shoes as a business owner)

That being said, from your experience and the comments I'd give him

(and I like the choice of sublime instead of red)

Thanks for the nod on the color, I like it much better than the red too.

About the amount of time that had passed, I called him about the engine early on and he blew me off saying that it was all in my head and there was nothing wrong with the engine and he hung the phone up on me on more than one occasion.

At first he kicked the can down the road and told me to give the rings more time to seat and the oil usage would stop, then when it didn't he refused to do anything. He knew that the engine would need a total teardown and rebuild and he didn't want to deal with that. It is cheaper and easier to just screw the customer over, which is what he chose to do.

I agree with the .

 

[MoparPat2]

Call it "Restified" or "Restomod"

Restomod it is, that works for me. LOL :headbang: