Business ProfileforEd Thomas Performance Engines

First I’d like to say I’ve known Ed for 30yrs, I bought my first mustang performance parts from him. However over 2yrs and 10 months ago, I referred my father to him to rebuild his 351 from his 1969 Mustang. My father asked for longevity for his originally owned 52yr old car. It took Ed 2 years and 6 months to build it. Now, with that said, he had family issues that I totally understand and the time frame wasn’t an issue. The issue was when the engine had a bad lifter on exhaust valve cyl #5, I wasn’t expecting him to warranty it or even fix it as I could do that, spoke with him and even he told me to get the tie bar lifters which is used typically when updating a non-roller block. Anyway, took the intake off and found a rusted spider bracket used to hold the dog bones down on 5.0 Mustang lifters. The spider bracket was slightly bent on the lifter in question. The lifters he used clearly had some miles on them from previous use, also the cam shaft that I could see with the dist out looked rusted as well. Anyway, yes you can use 5.0 Mustang parts to upgrade a non roller engine, but the spider bracket and dog bones are $50 new, a set of FRPP lifters are $250? Why wouldn’t he get them? My issue is that he was impossible to get ahold of, he never gave my father a build sheet, used bad parts when my dad paid him >$10k all before even getting the engine back for longevity, which he didn’t as I had to fix it due to Ed using used parts, which would have been fine if he at least told my dad. I guess he didn’t figure on me being a former Ford Tech and ability to rebuild engines myself, Anyway, Ed was definitely the best there is at one time, but don’t tell him your not in a hurry like my father mistakenly did, do not pay him for all the work upfront, get a parts list used upfront as well or buy your own. Ed treated my father like dirt no matter what he thinks. I have all the pics and videos if anyone wants to call bs. Bottom line, do it right or don’t do it Ed.