d.s.s quality or crap?

VoODoo5Oh · Jun 11, 2004

ive seen some negative stuff posted about d.s.s but ive also seen a few of you guys run their stuff.....im looking for a stroker kit ...not for them to build me an engine....how is the quality of the products they sell? i also noticed they sell prepped blocks ...$625 for a 302 based stroker....is that too expensive? if i bought my own block and took it to a machine shop would i spend that much? is thier work quality? i only want to do things once....if their stuff sucks....where can i find a good kit? and a good block?? i am shopping for a 331....thanks in advance....

TT91 · Jun 11, 2004

I used their 331 low comp TW stroker kit, forged h beam rods, JE dished pistons. Total it cost me about 2400 for EVERYTHING fom dss, balanced, balancer,flywheel, pistons rings, bearings, everyhting except the block. when u open the box...youll be like..WOW!

I havnt had a single problem with the motor, all the tolerances were within specs, no machine work needed, nada. two thumbs up. I plan on transferring this same kit over into a Dart block once i get it, its only got 2000 miles on it total, so still kinda new. Good luck

VoODoo5Oh · Jun 11, 2004

thanks dude anyone else?

Rick 91GT · Jun 12, 2004

Well the local machine shop I use charges around $500 for all the machine work, and balancing you will need to have done. This is included a align hone, bore and hone, tank, clean, freeze plugs, cam bearings, and balance the rotating assembly (this is $200 of the above $500).

A stroker kit will cost you around $1100 for a cast assembly and $1500 for a good 4340 assembly. If your interested I have a 4340 331 kit balanced for sale that has 650 miles on it, only reason it is for sale is we went to a DART block when we upgraded the blower to a YS-Trim and decided to go internally balanced so we buoght a new Eagle internally balanced crank, however it has different rod journals so the rods could not be used either so I put the entire kit up for sale. I am asking $1300 (this is under whole sale for the parts, and it is balanced) for it and this will included brand new rings (Total Seals file to fit) and rod and main bearings (Clevitte h-series bearings). Parts are in pefect shape, guaranteed. I also have a alum Fluidamper balancer asking $275 paid over $400.

CRANK INFO.
SCAT P/N 4-302-3250-5400-2123
302 Ford, 3.250 Stroke X 2.123/1.680 Pin X 5.400 Rod Length
4340 Forged, Nitrided

Balance to 50oz.

ROD INFO.
Scat H-Beam Rod
P/N 2-302-5400-2123-912
5.400 Length / .912 Wrist Pin, Bushed
2.123 Pin Dia/ .830 Big End Width

PISTON INFO.
Ford Stroker Piston
Probe SRS P/N 1302-10668+.030
1.175 CH 14cc Dish-4.030 Bore- .912 Pin

Piston Balance Spec's
449.0g Piston
562.2g Rings, Clips, Pin
561.0g Final Balance

All 8 from 560.7 to 561.1

Now as far as D.S.S goes I only have one expierence with them. I had a customer bring me his 94 Cobra that was having issues on a low mile DSS Pro Comp 306, the tolerances were all over the place and the align hone looked like it had been done with a dull spoon. I know others that have had good luck so it is half dozen off one and a dozen of the other. I just built a new 331 for the Cobra using a cast SCAT kit, which I have put a few of those together wil no issues...same goes for the 4340 kits.

Rick91GT@suscom.net

saniutza · Jun 12, 2004

i just bought low comp pistons, main support, windage tray, 7qt oil pan from DSS.. the guy that i talked to was a great guy he help me, he had pacience ... before i bought everything from them i called CHP... the guy didnd't evey say "hello" or his name... he wasn't nice at all and the whole convo was i think less than 1 min... i asked him how much for a main support, he gave me the price i said tnx and he hang up on me like he was in a hurry... so i didn't really like CHP ... before i bought my stuff i researched and i've seen good and bad reviews about bouth companies... but so far i'll give DSS the credit

VoODoo5Oh · Jun 12, 2004

thanks for the input guys....rick 91 gt thank you for the offer but im not able to buy now b/c the money isnt all there...i am just trying to do my research/math/get it all on paper now, so when the time comes i can do what i need to do.....from what you said i probably wont buy my block from them b/c this is the 2nd post ive read that stated their machine work sux...i will try to do the machine work local i suppose...saniutza...did you get what you wanted from d.s.s or did they try to steer you in diff directions just to load thier products on you? are the parts quality? would you go with somone else next time? chp was really that rude to you? does anyone else have any advice or issues..praise...damning words for these companies? anyone that puts similar quality kits out for the same price range? sorry for the gazzilion questions....just want to be armed with knowlage....thanks

95WhiteVenom · Jun 13, 2004

I been wondering this same thing man. Their prices seem to be reasonable. I am gonna be buying all my suff over time separately and I didn't want to have to break up stuff from different suppliers. I'm gonna go D.S.S. for all my engine stuff. I'm gonna slowly do a 347. Hopefully by the time my car is paid off I'll have all the parts so i cant get everything put in soon after. My patience has to last me a year and a half I dunno if I can hold out that long, but I'm gonna try.

windsor396 · Jun 13, 2004

I dont know about DSS, but I have had awesome dealings with CHP. I bought most of my stuff from them and even my Vic Jrs from them. If you have a problem with someone being rude at CHP ask for the manager, HE will handle it.
I have heard good and bad about DSS myself but have never dealt with them. I cannot say one way or another.

motrV8ed · Jun 13, 2004

Well since I've read really good articles about both companies in the pages of MM&FF they are both extremely reputable if you ask me. But just like everyone, they have probably had their fare share of unsatisfied customers. From what I've seen in the write-ups and other people, the quality is really good.

VoODoo5Oh · Jun 13, 2004

yeah...but the thing with magazines is that d.s.s or chp or steeda or whatever company is going to give the best ...fastest and freindliest servive to a magazine b/c that is free positive advertising(even thought they paid lots of $$ to get thier color ads with lots of pictures and whatnot....but aside from that ....) so i dont take the great service they give to magazines as an indication of any service they would give me "average joe shmo off the street".... you know what i mean? 95WhiteVenom you and me have the same game plan...im hoping to have mine competed sooner but im working the same way and would like my rotating assembly from the same place.....

saniutza · Jun 14, 2004

VoODoo5Oh said:
saniutza...did you get what you wanted from d.s.s or did they try to steer you in diff directions just to load thier products on you? are the parts quality? would you go with somone else next time? chp was really that rude to you? does anyone else have any advice or issues..praise...damning words for these companies? anyone that puts similar quality kits out for the same price range? sorry for the gazzilion questions....just want to be armed with knowlage....thanks

actually i told him i put my xcar in the shop because i had 2 bad rods.. and he was like i could give you for this price I rods blah blah blah.. and i said nah ... and he was llike: OK... yeah like i;'ve said CHP wasn';t too friendly.. like i've said i really liked DSS ...

latham83 · Jun 15, 2004

my dss motor is ****in crap. with 500 miles on it, it started knocking and wrapping..took it too a shop and he said sounds just like a crank bearing...dss wont pay for removal. so now i either gotta rip it down and put it all back together again myself or pay 1000$ to have cj pony parts do it....this is freakin bulll****....omg im going broke over this piece of *****. me and my dad took our time and did such a good job on this engine..i bought dss for their quality..and now im just going broke and my half my summer is ****king wasted now.

Piston · Jun 15, 2004

I just put together 331 stroker hit with 4340 internals from DSS I got 200 miles on it and it's running ok for now. Latham83 I sure hope that doesn't happen to me otherwise I will throw my fawking block through their window. That **** is just to damn expensive to be going after 500 miles christ. Good luck to you...

latham83 · Jun 15, 2004

yea tell me about it...they will pay for all shipping and fixing costs..but not to remove it and put it back in..fuuckin bul****!!!what does everyone think..is 1000 dollars a decent price for a good quality shop to tear it down, and then put it back together?
i seriously dont wanna do it all again..i want the summer to have fun..with this car..and now look what happens.i spent my WHOLE WINTER working on this...and it turns out like this...ill take out a ****in loan or something and forget about it

kikboxr1 · Jun 15, 2004

Subscribing...been thinking about a Pro Bullett 306 myself...

Rick 91GT · Jun 15, 2004

The $1000 probably covers pulling the motor, maybe inspection of the bottom end and re-installation....not repair. Most shops charge $1000 plus just to pull a motor out and to install another.

latham83 · Jun 15, 2004

nah man...dss is covering the warrenty. Once its all apart to a short block again, dss is picking it up for free, and repairing it for free. and free ship out again.

Rick 91GT · Jun 15, 2004

latham83 said:
nah man...dss is covering the warrenty. Once its all apart to a short block again, dss is picking it up for free, and repairing it for free. and free ship out again.

Right makes sense but who is going to pay for putting the heads and all the parts back on.... I bet that price from CJ's doesn't include that or gaskets, fluids, etc

VoODoo5Oh · Jun 15, 2004

sorry to hear about your misfortune....at least they are willing to pay some part of it...they could have told you no way yoour skrewed...but still....nothing like that should have happened in the first place...let us know how it turns out....

latham83 · Jun 15, 2004

dude but they said unassembly and reassembly..that would include heads man..
gaskets and **** im not sure of..but still..they are not a whole lot..
theres nothign i can do man...and i really dont wanna rip it out and redo the thign again..i took my time on it all winter...my summer will be shot...i dont have alot time on my hands..ill take out a damn loan....christ ill have like 6000 in this stupid engine

d.s.s quality or crap?

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