My car is an 1987 Pontiac Trans Am GTA 350 TPI
The original engine is filled with sand (sabotage), therefore it is not recommended to overhaul it I’ve been told. Since I live in Norway (Europe) here are very few local dealers I can take my business to.

Since I now need a new engine I also want a bit more power in this car because I’ve had it for 4,5 years and are more than likely to keep it a very long time. It has approximately 60 000miles on it an is in Norway worth over 26 000 U.S Dollars when it runs, and my car had originally 350 and T-tops that are a seldom combination over here.

I have tried to find the right engine now for over a year, but it is hard since I know very little about both companies and engines over there. If I went for a new 100% original engine I would have the car on the road a year ago but I am still searching.

Anyway I thought I had found what I needed with goautoparts and placed an order there one and a half month ago after some communicating back and forth. I also asked them before I placed the order how it was with payment and such and got their bank information, but yesterday I asked how it was going with my order since I ordered airfreight I assumed that the parts should have been here now. When I placed the order they said they would ship it when it was ready, but today I got an mail that they will send it as soon as I have wired the money. It was not earlier talked about any money before I got the parts, I assumed it was payment on delivery as it is normally here in Norway. If it is special orders we sometimes must pay 30-50% in advance to get the order, then the rest within two weeks after delivery. Is it normal to pay in advance in the U.S?

I am now not sure what to do because I am afraid to loose my money, I have no guarantees that I know of if I transfer this money. But maybe you guys that obviously knows what you are talking about could give a little feedback about this and my order? Am I doing the right thing for myself an my car here or are there other suggestion? Anyway I would like a new engine that will work with the TPI unit.

My order with goautoparts would be as follows:

The 350 TPI (300HP) engine $ 1955
Fuel pressure regulator $ 65
Starter, bolts and bracket $ 95
Plug wires $ 85
Spark Plugs $ 12
Air Shipping $ 675
TPI intake gasket set $30

This will add up to $2917

It might be other things I need also, but I don’t know so if you have any ideas please let me hear them.

I have to add that goautoparts have been very helpful and answered my questions quick, I do not have any problems with them, I only want to be sure that I get what I need for my car and that I don’t loose all my money.
I have also gotten a price on new transmission with them, but I hope mine will hold at least for a while. I am also worried about my rear end since the car could spin on only one wheel before the engine died.

I hope my language is understandable, I am Norwegian so I hope you’ll undertsand..

On advance thank you,
Sindre

 

I bought the 300HP TPI 350 from goautocenter last year.
Payment was the only hassle I ran into as well, since they wouldn't take a credit card, and that's usually the easiest way to order things. A few days after sending them a cashier's check, I called to see if it had gotten there and it just had.They informed me that they'd have the long block put together the following day and it should be here the following Tuesday(about four more days).
Sure enough, the local freight depot called me on Tuesday, and I went down and had them forklift it into my friend's truck.
The motor's been in the car for almost nine months now, and I have about 15,000 miles on it with no problems. Car's a bunch faster than it was with the anemic 305.Late model Cobras are no threat. My T5 trans is starting to complain from the abuse, but I knew that I'd have to upgrade sooner or later.
Anyway, payment was kind of a hassle, and I'm sure shipping is gonna be expensive for you (it was about $300 for me,Texas to California), but I think you'll be real happy with the motor.
I haven't heard any complaints about goautocenter. I think they're a very respectable operation. I understand your concern over wiring a a big chunk of money, but I think it's as safe with them as it would be with anybody.
hope this helps-
-Rich-

 

It is not normal to prepay within the US, as such. But you're not in the US. The situation is a bit different whenever you cross borders.

International business is almost always on a basis of cash or cash equivalent in advance, because of currency fluctuations, collection difficulties, customs issues (what if they send it before you pay, it gets impounded and they can't get it back), etc. It sucks, but that's life.

Commercial trading uses a bank letter of credit, but that's probably a bit too much expense for a personal transaction. What that is, is you deposit your money with a bank in your country, which has a "correspondent" location with a bank in the other country; they arrange to have an inspector view the merchandise, who verifies that it is in fact what the invoice says it is; then they arrange for shipping. This is not cheap. But, your money stays in your bank's posession until someone who is in the business of fraud prevention (the inspection company) verifies that the shipment meets the specifications of the purchase documents.

Unfortunately, you have to either trust who you are doing business with, or buy services that amount to "insurance", like letter of credit clearance. Lots of people on this BBS have used that particular company and been satisfied, so we can be reasonably sure they are an honest company; but I don't htink anyone here is going to personally guarantee that (with money) for you.

 

I have to thank you for the help, this has already helped me a lot! I am always convinced that it is a serious company that I can trust with my money.

When it comes to import/export I am used to exporting from Norway to USA since many of the customers of the company I work for is American. When we sell big orders to Americans we ask for 30% of the order in advance before we start producing. But I fully understand their concerns since they know nothing about me at all!

It was very reassuring to see others have bought the same engine from the same firm with positive experiences!

I think I now will check with the possibilities to buy the engine and parts through the company that I work for since a company always have more power, at least in Norway, just in case. It is also often thing disappears in the Norwegian customs which holds the parts until tax (24%) are paid both for parts and freight, even if it is a company it can take many months from all are paid until they send the items. I will also check out this bank letter of credit and see if it can be worth it.

I also have to tell you guys how expensive American cars are in Norway; here are extremely high taxes on new cars with V8! A car like a new Chevrolet Camaro Z-28 will cost about or a bit over 170 000 U.S. Dollar, while a Dodge Viper would cost 330 000 U.S. Dollar, so cars like that are not seen on Norwegian roads. We must wait until cars get old before we buy, the best is if the cars are over 30 years, then there are only 24% tax. Another thing we have to do if we buy cars newer than 30 years and import them is to change the headlights and taillights because they are not E-marked. To change lights is only necessary to do on American cars, and we are the only country in Europe that have to do this although this is an EU-regulative and Norway is not a part of EU! If you import an American type of car as number one in Norway you also have to take the car to Germany for a TÜV-test, this is a test for brakes and such because the Norwegian government want believe that American tests are good enough although they are good enough for the rest of Europe and world I guess. A very little and special country we live in over here! I am sorry that I am boring you people with my frustrations.

Anyways, thanks so far.. you are to kind to strangers you folks.

Regards,
Sindre