[acammer]

Wow, that's awful. I don't know if I'd let them touch the car anymore - sounds like they really don't know what they are up to. I would ask them to pay for a pull out LSA with 20k miles or less, a new camshaft, oil pump, and any other part you bought they destroyed. I wouldn't pay them a cent. Let them know you're gonna have a new shop start over and do it right, and they can have the LSA they destroyed once it's pulled and you're back up and running.

I'm sure they aren't going to like that, and probably will not just simply agree to it. I would let them know you're gonna bring in a lawyer and drag them into small claims court. I'd also let them know that you're gonna drag their name through the mud so many times to so many people that they can kiss their livelihood goodbye.

Make sure you save and document every communication you've ever had with them, every e-mail, text, phone call, etc. The fact that he texted you the detail about starting the car and running it with an oil pressure problem may really help you on a legal front if they want to take it that far.

Unfortunately, these situations don't often turn out real well. You'll have to figure out what you're really out and make some decision on what's worth fighting over. A nice low miles LSA shortblock isn't gonna be cheap. Not to mention what you're gonna have to pay to have it installed. And then you have to undo whatever parts of your cooling and hx system they haven't handled correctly. And the body repair. I think you're easily into a five figure number there - definitely something I'd fight over, and get a lawyer involved on.

Sorry to hear it man - make sure you post up details about this trash shop if they don't decide to make it right.