Well,yes and no.I believe the initial contact was through another site,but the item in question was also listed on RJ,and most all communication was through RJ.
Here are a few details without mentioning names(at least for now).
I made first contact on the deal.What was advertised and described to me was a one race since freshened 383 Chevy engine with a steel crank and forged pistons,which is basically what I had my Blazer advertised to trade for.
We traded,his engine for my Blazer,on May 1st.He delivered the engine/picked up the Blazer.We didn't pull the pan or anything on the engine at that time.He was in a hurry to get back home,the engine was supposed to be fresh,it was nice and clean,all sealed up,looked to have no leaks,he seemed like a stand up guy,etc,etc,so I saw no immediate need to look inside the engine.
Yesterday,May 11,I finally got around to pulling the pan on the engine(mostly due to my work schedule).When I took the pan off,the engine had a cast 350 crank(casting # 3932442),and it looks to have cast pistons(hard to tell without taking them out,so that part is still in question).Also there was a very strong gas smell to the inside of the oil pan.I suspect there has been some sort of carb problem,and excessive gas has been put into the oil at some point.I have yet to pull any bearing caps off(awaiting his intentions),but I do expect to find damage or wear to the crank/bearings.
When I confronted him with my findings,his response was"I'm sorry if the engine is only a 350,I was told it was a 383,I don't know what else to tell you".
He did not describe the engine to me as"I was told it was a 383,I was told it has a steel crank/forged pistons,I was told it is fresh".He said that the engine IS all the above.He said he pulled it from a drag car,had it freshened,put it in a round track car,ran it one time,traded it to me.
I should also add that he then asks me if I knew the Blazer I traded him had the rear main seal out.I told him I did not know the cause,but I had put a few quarts of oil in the Blazer in the few months I had driven it,and that I thought it was normal and to be expected for a vehicle with 200K on
it.The fact is,the Blazer was in no way,shape or form misrepresented to him.Plenty of pics were sent to him,a detailed description was given(and listed in my ad),every question he had concerning the Blazer was answered accurately and honestly.The engine,on the other hand,was grossly misrepresented.Whether it was intentional or not,it was on him to make sure the engine was,in fact,what he was advertising it to be.
I did offer to trade back with him.It seemed like a legitimate offer,since we both seem to be unsatisfied.I also told him he could buy the engine back for what he had it listed for-$2,000( the same price I had on the Blazer),if he wanted,and I also told him I would accept a good 383 rotating assembly to make the engine what he traded me-that'd still leave me with the machine shop bill.More than fair!
I do feel like he needs to make it right,and he says he don't know what to do,so I guess we'll see.
Sorry this was so long guys,but hopefully I have left no loose ends on the story.
Glen