Experiences with CHP stroker kits?

I just heard from my shop guy that my balanced stroker kit from CHP was almost 2 oz out of balance at each end. It was so far out from the 28 oz that he had to balance it to 50 oz. Basically they whacked it really bad and that was the source of my harmonic vibrations.

Anyway, what advice would you give me in contacting them to make it right. My shop guy says that they are reputable and I belive in giving them a chance to make it right. Suggestions and experiences please.

Good luck.
CHP has disappointed me in the past too many times.
I had the same issue with a 3.85 stroke cast steel crank I got from them. It took about 3 slugs of mallory to balance on a 28oz application,(I've seen that on forged cranks but not cast). Components for a late model 351W block were sent for an early application with the shorter deck hight-had to return main bearings, rings, etc. they RELUCTANTLY gave a credit-no refund. Pistons too tall on a couple applications-machined at my expense. They sent a rotating assmbly for a 347 I built with FE rods, which they said they had assembled and balanced.
Unfortunately they have lost my future business.

My experience is also a bad one. I called Tim at CHP today and clearly explained the whole situation about the original mis-marking on the crank, and what my local balancer found. I asked to be reimbursed for the labor only despite the fact that I have already spent over $250 in parts to match up to the new rotating weight. Basically I was denied any relief at all.

Here is what Tim stated as to why:

Reason 1: I was reminded that I bought the kit 2 years ago as one reason for the refusal to reimburse. The kit was out of balance since day one. Tim was silent once I explained that the purchase date was in no way connected to the date the balance was done incorrectly and also not related to the date in which I found out about the balance problem. I don't take the engine apart every day.

Reason 2: I took the assembly to another shop instead of sending it 3000 miles across the continent, at my expense, to have them verify my claim, which in my opinion and my builder’s was caused by their incompetence in the first place. Again, I failed to see things their way since I am not interested in waiting 2 weeks in transit plus whatever it takes to schedule the balancing job and discuss via the phone any “problems” that might arise.

In my conversation, I was basically told that my balancer could possibly be incompetent, I was a most certainly at fault for taking my parts to another balancer, and that my problems were not going to be given consideration.

My verdict: CHP does not service customers, does not take responsibility for their mistakes, and despite a reasonable customer they refuse to negotiate.

If you buy a stroker kit from CHP, please don’t tell them I didn't.

I have had to return things to Summit before and they have always been very ready to give the customer the benefit of the doubt. It’s no wonder they do so much volume.

Sorry for the long rant, but I am extremely cheezed right now. As I promised Tim, this post contains only facts.

[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_mad.gif[/img]

Seems some folks at the vintage Mustang forum have had some issues also.

I am so sorry others have had problems. I regret not having researched the forums before I bought mine.[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_cry.gif[/img]

I don't have any personal experience with CHP, but I did a lot of research before I started my 331 project. I noted several people who had some issues with CHP and the quality of their work. The customer service end was also a concern.

From what I can see, CHP is a high volume builder that has been around awhile. The high number of engines that go out the door would lead one to believe that a certain percentage would have problems just based on the law of averages. That part is understandable. But to have bad customer service is another thing.

Anyone considering a crate engine should do lots of research before laying out the $$$.
Right now you can find many very good companys with good reps building decent strokers.

But, IMHO, you're always better off having your local shop do the machine work/assembly. Obviously I'm talking a quality performance engine builder and not the cheapest stock rebuilder you can find.

My family has been doing business with the same shop for better than 25 years with no problems. They did the machine work on my 331 and it was excellent (but not cheap).

Sorry about the bad experiences. [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_frown.gif[/img]
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I do have lot's of reasons pro and con CHP. One thing I have learned the hard way is never wait too long to install anything on a car NO MATTER WHO you buy the part from.I have too many bad luck storys to go into...

I can't believe they're still in business. A good friend bought a 4.5" stroker crank from them for his race car. Got it in & it was bent! CHP said it was the shippers problem, they disagreed but replaced the crank. Again the next one was bent, again, it was the shipper. This time they would NOT replace it! After a month of calls & an attorney threatening litigation, they swapped out the crank. Third try... not bent but was so out of round it was .020/.020 by the time it was useable & still took $200 worth of metal to balance it. They, CHP/Probe, are about the last place to go for quality & customer service. Don't even get me started on the crap they call a piston! [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_mad.gif[/img]
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I got my parts back from my shop today and he showed me the balance sheets and where he set the thing up twice to get the thing to balance since it was so far out.

The good news is that my shop does TONS of business with CHP and my contact offered to assist me by trying to use his influence to get my labor refunded. Granted, it's "only" $225, but it's better than nothing and was all I asked for in the first place.

Still hopeful.

BTW, the shop I use is Alternative Auto Performance out of Clinton Twp. I suspect 90% or better of you out there have heard of them and for Tim @ CHP to question the skills and equipment of my builder shows ignorance. AA has been doing Ford performance work longer than anyone.

Those who don't listen don't learn.