I love it when companies are not just out for $$$$
I just got off the phone with Nick McKinney from Modular Headshop. I was going to ask him about his cam recommendations for my car, given my goals, and I was pleasantly surprised. I have talked to him before about tech stuff, but never about buying anything from him. I had already planned on buying his Stage 2 heads. The price is great compared to most, and no core charge involved. I have seen his work before, and it's excellent.
But after talking to him, he recommended the Stage 1 heads, which are $250 cheaper, along with the Stage 2.5 cam for my build. When I asked him why stage 1's over stage 2's, he said that because I have no plans to go with a larger bore engine, the oversized valves with the stage 2's would be worthless for me because of shrouding, which makes sense, and I hadn't thought about that. So, he basically recommended a stage higher cam, with a stage lower head for my application. He also recommended the Stage 2.5's over the Stage 2P's for me because I have the Bullitt intake, and can take advantage of the increased flow.
In the end, I'm saving $250 and will end up with the same amount of power in the end. You don't find too many people who will talk you out of spending more money with them, most people are completely all about money these days.
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2001 Dark Highland Green Bullitt 12.25@110 naturally aspirated on a bone stock 2V longblock
Under Reconstruction for RS275 Drag Radial Class Pushrods and Powerglide Coming Soon
If it weren't for physics and law enforcement, I'd be unstoppable.
That is great info to share. Word of mouth is the best advertising out there. I always try to take care of the people that take care of me. I’m glad to see others doing the same.
hey bullitt. he did the same for me as well. he recommended the stage 1 npi over the stage 2 since i dont need the bigger bore as well. then he recommended his stage 2 cams because i wont need to flycut the pistonand the better springs and what not he has will keep from there being any clearance issues and help with the added power. not to mention this would still maintain my drivability. hes a heck of a guy and ive recommended many to him because of the time he spent with me on the phone. hopefully some of them bought from them. his top end is my plan for next year. i cant wait.
thanks for sharing him with others. this was a few months ago before i realized how much we should all share these experiences. good job.
cams, and all basic bolt ons, arizen seats, cowl hood, and now my buckets got a hole in it (meaning im broke) but when i fix it ill have gears and some trany work
First week of January Modular Head Shop received my Ford 4 valve heads for a port job. I was advised by Nick that with their current work load it would be 5 or 6 weeks. Towards the end of january I asked for an update to which I was told "I haven't opened the boxes yet". When I asked if it was going to be 5-6 weeks form that pint I was told no it would be much faster.
February 7th I get an email saying my heads are no good. I was sent a picture which was NOT my head but was told it was a similar issue. I was given a couple options and chose to take a set he had already done off of his shelf. We were still waiting on a cam set form Bullet at this time. Around the 3rd week of February I was told cams were on the way, i should have them next week and assemble your heads. I asked for an update mid week and was told no cams yet they didn't ship. The following week I ask for an update and was told cams are in, expect to ship thur or fri. Friday evening comes and i hear nothing so send another email. At this time I hear nothing form Modular Head Shop for 10 days. I sent several emails and made 1 or 2 calls and no response. The middle of the next week I get a tracking number and I finally received heads and cams on March 14th. I inspected them and told my engine builder I would be down the next day with them.
On March 15th I brought the heads to my engine builder about 400 miles away and they said they will build it in a week or two. On March 26 I get an email from my engine builder stating "
"I listed the cam bore/cam journal clearances for one head, other head is similar. This clearance problem will reduce oil supply to the shortblock in a large way and flood the cylinder head with oil as well as reduce oil pressure at all bearing positions.
The cam journals were sanded which causes a belly in the middle and high on the ends, the bores were sanded creating out of round and taper. This was done to allow the cams to turn on a badly warped cylinder head. I cannot install these heads at L&M. You may install them or have others do it. I also listed the valve seat leakage which is higher than normal."
That email had some measurements in it which we out of Ford spec. I contacted Nick @ Modular Head Shop and forwarded him the email and he agreed to take the heads and cams back for a full refund. The heads were boxed up and sent back to Modular Head Shop via UPS with his own return labels on March 30th
On April 4th Modular Head Shop received the heads / cams and i was sent an email asking if my address was correct for the refund check. I replied immediately that it was. on Wednesday April 11th i still had no check so I sent another email to both Modular Head Shops secretary and to Nick. No answer.
On April 13 I receive an email form Nick stating that there is a problem. One of the heads was busted during shipping (he received them 8 days ago at this point). I emailed Nick back and told him I wasn't sure why you are telling me. I did not ship or package up the heads. I think you need to contact the person that did and / or the shipping company. No answer
Monday I sent an email to Nick stating if we couldn't end this this week with a check in my hand, further action would have to be taken legally and publicly. Of course he tried calling me immediately but I was at dinner. So today I called Nick and he stated that he will be docking me $1000 from my refund of $3500 because of the damaged head. Several times I told him i had no hand in packing, sending or driving them to him so why am I getting ****** over? His response was he sent the boxes with styrofoam on the top and bottom. I DID remove the top piece at home to inspect the heads. Then I threw the boxes in my truck and brought them to the motor shop. When the motor shop sent them back, they did not have that top styrofoam piece so its my fault for supplying incorrect packaging so he is taking $1000.
Not ONCE has Nick apologized for any of the this ordeal. I waited over 3 months which was double what I was told. I got heads and cams that were inspected by one of the best Mod motor engine builders out there (Mike @ L&M Engines) and they were deemed to be junk. Now I, the customer, am being blamed for the packaging and shipping of the head back to him and I'm getting docked $1000. He has ruined my racing season, taken my money and taken my supposedly "junk" heads. He stated and I quote....Tell everyone you want, post it everywhere, there are 2 sides to every story and I will tell mine" If I have to never do another set of 4 valve heads again I don't care".
Your a class act buddy. I can only imagine the unsuspecting people running around with your out of spec and warped heads right now or the future people that have had their heads sitting in your shop for weeks upon weeks now.
If you do have heads, inspect them real good people. Another member of the Mod motor community just put his motor together with Nick's heads and is having issues that are pointing to valve seat leakage right now. Good luck to all involved.
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Jake
Silver '03 Cobra Coupe Auto
9.82 @ 135 w/ a 1.35 - Eaton only, NO Nitrous
I love it when companies are not just out for $$$$ 
