I'm editing this to make it a bit clearer and a bit more fair to the Ebay seller that goes by "spitfireengines" currently, and used to go by "xtrememotors".

In July of 2020 I bought a 4.0 longblock from this builder. I paid him promptly by phone and arranged to have the motor delivered to Hinckley Automotive in Salt Lake City, where my 89 Jeep Cherokee pioneer was awaiting a motor swap.

The motor took a long time to be delivered, but this was also a high point in pandemic paranoia with a lot of businesses and shippers delayed or shut down, so I gave this guy a long and gracious benefit of a doubt. We got the motor sometime in October of 2020 - a long while after my window to leave any feedback on Ebay was closed. I hoped that fact wouldn't come back to bite me. Hinckley Automotive was backed up at that point and didn't get the install done until shortly after Christmas.

With the longblock from "spitfireengines" installed, Hinckley called me and invited me over to observe starting it up and braking in the cam shaft. I walked over to Hinckley excited about the prospect of getting my jeep back.

Their head mechanic unplugged spark to rotate the motor from the starter and prime the new oil pump. There was a knock consistent with timing rotation that we were concerned about. The mechanic said sometimes motors are born with little knocks that go away, so he finished priming the oil pump, plugged spark back in, and fired it up.

The knock was louder upon starting the motor, and grew worse as he maintained the recommended RPM for cam break in. It was almost closing time and HInckley recommended not driving the jeep or even running the motor because the knock was that loud. It was depressing. I called the builder. He immediately became super defensive and said it was impossible for one of his motors to not function. He refused to speak with the mechanic, saying he didn't have time, and that he would call HInckley the next day.

The builder demanded that Hinckley diagnose the problem before he would entertain warrantying the motor or accepting a return. His avoidance of the problem and his elusiveness regarding warranty made me lose more faith in him. I got the original motor into crankshaft grinders in SLC that next day and they started a rebuild. "Spitfireengines" does not require core return.

The builder demanded that Hinckley diagnose the knock - something no party was going to go ahead and pay for, but which Hinckley did anyway. They started by dropping the oil pan and showed me what appeared to be two failed rod bearings on cylinders 4 and 5. The drain pan for the oil sparkled with light when you put a flashlight on it. Obvious chips of metal that had circulated the entire engine. A really bad sign. After Hinckley reported this to spitfireengines, he finally, and begrudgingly, accepted it and started a "warranty process". His shipping guy came after the motor was removed. He refused to pay for the removal labor charges. He told me and Hinckley Auto several times that he'd square up on labor once the engine was removed and the warrantied motor was presumably installed and functioning. It took about 8 weeks for him to get another motor out, and - no shocker - it was the same motor. We could visualize that he had replaced the bad rod bearings, but nothing else, and when I asked for details of the rebuild process he sent me an email now alleging that the motor had failed initially because Hinckley had "dropped a foreign object down the intake". That was laughable to me, because I was there for startup. I kindly told him to get me pictures of said object, or evidence of such. He told me he would get me the pictures several times, but never did.

Hinckley Automotive installed the motor from Crankshaft Grinders in SLC. Its running great in my 89 Renix. I again asked for a refund and the Ebay seller "spitfireengines" finally consented, but before issuing a refund he made me sign a hastily written non-disclosure agreement that I think is bull ****. So I'm not abiding by it. He can sue me if he wants. We sent him bill after bill for the labor costs associated with removing his failed motor. He has not paid any of them. As he continued to blame his failed motor on Hinckley, he failed to provide any picture evidence of such. As it stands today, I have no idea if he just sent me a used motor painted over, or if he sucks as a builder, or perhaps is a decent builder who forgot to use break-in lube on the rod bearings. Who knows? Don't care.

I am putting the word out there mainly because the warranty he advertises is bull****. https://www.ebay.com/i/264989237663?ul_noapp=true He told me the warranty covered labor. It didn't cover any labor. He told me when he warrantied the first motor he'd be sending a different rebuilt longblock. He didn't - he replaced the rod bearings and sent the same motor back, with no concern for the fact that those bearings had failed and likely had flying shards of metal compromising other parts of the motor. He wanted me to install the same motor without the proper rebuild it needed, and I wasn't willing to do that. He used that as his alleged out on labor charges.

I got my money back for the motor, but lost nearly 2 grand paying Hinckley Automotive for 2 motor installs instead of one. It was a bummer and made me quite angry. I can't leave feedback on Ebay, and Ebay Motors won't help with any of this, so I thought it was perfectly appropriate to share my experience here. Sorry for doing so too hastily at the begninning. I'm happy to answer any questions. It was just an awful experience and I don't wish it on anyone, so if you choose to buy from this seller on Ebay, make sure you check things out more thoroughly than I did and proceed with caution.

 

I'd think you could take this up with eBay as "item not described" or something. If I found the seller you're referring to, it looks like he has 100% positive feedback and one would think he'd be interested in maintaining that.

 

So what's the evidence that this is a painted over used engine?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/AMC-JEEP-24...sAAOSwHDJcPX2y

 

The only issue i have with the 4.0L listing is poor paint coverage. Some surface rust but easily fixed, so not a deal breaker. Cylinders and timing chain area look clean and parts do look new. The first 2 listings for GM show the same pic so they do use the same pic for multiple listings, meaning what you see isnt necessarily what you will get, to some degree. A stock photo, if you will. Every 4.0L sold probably that same pic. I do hate when sellers do this, but whatever.

Post a pic of what you received.

 

Take it up with the seller and ebay.................don't waste our time with this. You could just be a guy/gal with some kind of vendetta against the seller for all we know.

 

I've taken it up with Ebay. The seller originally delayed for months, saying COVID19 restrictions caused the delay. He intentionally delays until the time period for feedback has passed. Ebay won't even permit me to leave feedback because I bought the motor in July of 20. I gave this guy a benefit of a doubt for 7 months and got screwed big time. If you're gonna buy one of these motors, check with the mechanics at Hinckley Automotive in Salt Lake City. They installed, and removed the motor I bought from Spitfireengines on Ebay. Hinckley Automotive also has all positive reviews, but they don't have the luxury to delay work long enough to avoid the negative feedback - like spitfireengines does through their Ebay store.

 

This looks like a good thread for "Cherokee Chat" or "The Recycle Bin".

 

I wanna see photos of said used engine

 

I would like to see pictures also . it could be just be a little bit of rust he painted over . will need to see the bore and how clean the inside of the engine is . maybe he just can't paint .

 

The ebay seller agreed to a refund exchange. All we know at Hinckley Automotive in Salt Lake City is that this motor had a massive knock upon install in my 89 XJ. Hinckley says they dropped to pan and visualized bad rod bearings. It took weeks and weeks requesting a refund before this ebay seller would issue a refund. I've been very angry about the whole situation because this ebay seller advertises a warranty but refused to cover labor to remove this engine. I was also angry that the seller delayed getting me the motor for months and months, blaming COVID19 shipping restrictions, and then months and months longer for a refund exchange. I had to threaten a law suit to get them to refund the money and take their motor back.

I'm very pleased with the motor I had built by Crankshaft Grinders in SLC. We ended up having them rebuild the original and we put a new 7120 cylinder head on it. Jeep is running great now.

 

Are you here to warn us of a bad builder, or shill Hinckley? I'm confused.

 

Hinckley is great. Best mechanic in SLC. I posted this because I had a terrible and costly experience with this Ebay seller. That's all. I lost around $1600 paying for 2 motor installs instead of one. I also think this Ebay seller maintains their perfect rating with some shady behavior. He won't deliver a motor until after Ebay time period for reviews has expired. That was my experience. And then upon installing his motor and priming the oil pump there was a loud and obvious knock.. The knock got worse trying to brake in the cam shaft. Hinckley reported this directly to the builder and the builder lied and blamed the knock on Hinckley. I say BS to that because I was there when they primed the pump and started it. I'm not here to prove anything to any of you. I hardly ever post on here. I'm not a vindictive person. If you don't believe me about this seller and want to classify me as some vindictive dude without cause, fine. I don't care. You all can go ahead and buy a motor from him and have your own experience. Let me know how it goes.

 

As much as everyone appreciates a heads up when it comes to A-hole sellers, a lot of times it helps if the entire story is told in post #1, that way there is no confusion as to what went on and all that. After that, there isn't much discussion about the issue unless someone just wants to chat about it, give an opinion, or whatever.

 

If it's worth anything to anyone, these dudes rebuilds look amazing and they're right next door to Utah, here in CO.

http://www.timbukthree4wd.com/rebuilt-components.php

I have no personal experience with them, but they certainly look like quality builds. I would look into them if I ever needed to.