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02-17-2006, 01:05 AM | #2 |
Scooby Newbie
Member Sales Rating: (2)
Member#: 53352
Join Date: Jan 2004
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Chi
Vehicle:74 260z |
My Garage Tuning experience
Hello everyone, my name is Brad, i live in IL and decided couple months ago to get my car swapped by GT in CA. At the time GT did most swaps out of anyone, and I thought it would be worth for me to send my car down there and have it done by them.
Kevin, the owner of the shop, said that he has a guy that can ship my car, its also same guy that supplied STi motor/trans for my swap. Shipping the car there was pretty smooth, but once the car got to the shop, problems began to pile up. I was promised by Kevin himself that the swap would take no longer then 2 weeks(one week for all the work/one week to make sure everything is ok). Well, it didn't. It took a lot longer then that, little over 2 moths(I was without the car for 3 months all together from around 07-25-2005 to 10-09-2005), In the process the shipping guy was blaming kevin that its his fault and kevin was blaming shipping guy, saying that car is ready for 2 weeks and he doesn't want to pick it up, fun part is that I knew that kevin is still working on the car, as he told me later that he couldn't get cluster to work until last minute(week before car got shipped). Car was shipped to me(shipping took only few days), I got the car with boost leak(fixed it same day), and leaking tranny(that was also fixed on 2 or 3rd day). The biggest problem was that car was going into limp mode almost every time I would go WOT in 2nd gear, kevin tried to help for a little while, then he just stopped answering my calls. I got most help from Paul @ East coast swappers. Some other problems with the car: -blown r160 diff that kevin got me(blew in a week) -my 12v lighter thing doesn't work -4&5 gear is grinding now -needs STi gas tank, because car is cutting out in the corners(I was told about that by kevin after I received the car. Kevin said that he will ship me the tank, if I pay $65 shipping fee. so I did in december....I haven't seen my gas tank yet - I don't have a horn, nor wires to wire up the horn Thanks for reading, now I know 2 more people that had similar problems with GT, too bad I didn't knew them before I decided to get that swap with GT. -Brad Edit. I forgot to add that he also sold me endless brake pads, that werent design for my brakes, after I found out(while putting a r180 diff) he stated that "they were modified to fit Your car" PS. Sorry for some spelling mistakes etc. English is my second language, and I tried my best with this Last edited by RaDZio; 02-17-2006 at 12:04 PM. |
02-17-2006, 12:18 PM | #6 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member Sales Rating: (2)
Member#: 53352
Join Date: Jan 2004
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Chi
Vehicle:74 260z |
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02-17-2006, 12:56 PM | #7 |
Former Vendor
Vendor Sales Rating: (39)
Member#: 77164
Join Date: Dec 2004
Chapter/Region:
BAIC
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Vehicle:2004 WRX Wagon 2013 BRZ Limited |
Did you try looking at LIC Motorsports in Novato, CA? They have done JDM swaps before and they do really quality work. I have had them do two swaps for me.
Sorry to hear about that experience. Regards, Gary |
02-17-2006, 07:38 PM | #9 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member Sales Rating: (36)
Member#: 62555
Join Date: May 2004
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: DTLA
Vehicle:1993 FD3S E92 / CBR600RR |
Kevin's response from the same thread on RS25.com. I'm guessing the RS25 thread will be where most of the post's will take place.
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02-18-2006, 02:24 AM | #11 |
Top Scoob 002
Member Sales Rating: (15)
Member#: 32771
Join Date: Feb 2003
Chapter/Region:
BAIC
Location: Danville, CA
Vehicle:03 Black WRX 04 White M3 |
+1 for LIC motorsports for all swaps. I've seen alot of his swaps and they are super clean and have no problems. Adam is da man!!!!!
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02-22-2006, 06:07 PM | #13 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member Sales Rating: (2)
Member#: 53352
Join Date: Jan 2004
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Chi
Vehicle:74 260z |
Quote:
Anyway Im talking here about things that were like that when I received the car, not after I started driving it. |
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02-22-2006, 06:09 PM | #14 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member Sales Rating: (36)
Member#: 62555
Join Date: May 2004
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: DTLA
Vehicle:1993 FD3S E92 / CBR600RR |
This is all I read...
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02-22-2006, 07:10 PM | #15 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member Sales Rating: (2)
Member#: 53352
Join Date: Jan 2004
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Chi
Vehicle:74 260z |
Quote:
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02-28-2006, 05:08 PM | #16 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member Sales Rating: (4)
Member#: 35739
Join Date: Apr 2003
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: 2015 Red WRX
Vehicle:1 2001 GC8 R.I.P R.I.P 2007 WRX Wagon |
Quote:
http://www.rs25.com/forums/showpost....81&postcount=1 granted pre-swap but it will give you an idea on his style of driving http://www.rs25.com/forums/showpost....96&postcount=1 http://www.rs25.com/forums/showpost....8&postcount=13 |
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04-03-2006, 07:13 PM | #17 |
Scooby Newbie
Member Sales Rating: (2)
Member#: 52238
Join Date: Jan 2004
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Guilford, Vermont
Vehicle:2001 Legacy GT LTD Hummer Black |
i'm sorry about your experience w/gt. i never had work done by kevin (mostly because i'm on the other side of the country) but if i ever had a question he was always very willing to help me, so i do give him props for that.
rob in vermont |
04-06-2006, 08:46 PM | #18 |
Scooby Specialist
Member Sales Rating: (16)
Member#: 10268
Join Date: Sep 2001
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: San Diego
Vehicle:gc8 I ride ride 24s with the top down low. |
+1 for gt my swap has been running flawlessly since oct 03? and no problems. kevins been there for EVERYONE with any type of questions.
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06-30-2006, 10:40 PM | #19 |
Scooby Specialist
Member Sales Rating: (1)
Member#: 50433
Join Date: Dec 2003
Chapter/Region:
W. Canada
Location: Calgary, eh.
Vehicle:2001 Impreza 2.5RS BDP |
I just got a set of brakes from them.
They arrived basically when they said it would. I dealt with both Kevin and David. Both are good guys. I'm looking forward to doing business with them in the future. |
07-13-2006, 10:35 PM | #20 |
Scooby Guru
Member Sales Rating: (19)
Member#: 78952
Join Date: Jan 2005
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: BSG junkie
Vehicle:2005 WRX CGM |
Wow, I stopped reading at "I was doing 115 on the highway today...." that is all I needed to read to know his driving style.
I've dealt with GT with trying to get a couple of parts for my 05 WRX for some aftermarket driving lights. Kevin's a bit slow in responding to PM's (by slow I mean a day or two...not 3 weeks), but he has answered me everytime (so far haha) and gave me a great price on what I need. I'll let you know how it turns out after I recieve the parts. |
07-14-2006, 05:12 AM | #21 |
Scooby Specialist
Member Sales Rating: (16)
Member#: 10268
Join Date: Sep 2001
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: San Diego
Vehicle:gc8 I ride ride 24s with the top down low. |
if u wanna see a real hook up, ask him about prodrive parts/prices...he almost ALWAYS can beat anyone elses prices on prodrive.
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07-28-2006, 09:37 PM | #22 |
Scooby Newbie
Member Sales Rating: (4)
Member#: 64542
Join Date: Jun 2004
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: Venice, CA
Vehicle:2006 S2000 Black |
I just got my clutch replaced with the ACT HD full face organic and 13.9 lb flywheel done by Garage Tuning. Great prices, Work was done in about 5 hours. Kevin was even kind enough to drop me off and pick me up at the local mall while I waited for the clutch work to be done as I did not have a ride. Very friendly guy, and does good work. I would reccomend Garage Tuning 100%. I will do business with them again.
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07-17-2006, 01:41 PM | #23 |
Scooby Newbie
Member Sales Rating: (1)
Member#: 11354
Join Date: Oct 2001
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Eagan, MN
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TWE and Garage Tuning
My Hell (sorry, it's kinda long )
I’m building an ej22t into a 2.35t capable of anything. I got the motor from a friend with a wrecked legacy turbo for two hundred and sixty bucks. That was everything, turbo, heads, block, pistons… everything was immaculate. Cool. What do I do now? I decided to get the best stuff I can so I start looking online… fmic, injectors, fuel rails, methanol injection… etc… I figure I will an STi crank, STi rods and get some custom TechWorksEng (TWE) pistons (made by Wiseco). Along with the pistons from TWE I will get cams, valves, titanium valve springs, and titanium retainers so I can raise my redline and enjoy boost longer. I called them on March 3rd, told them my plans, and ordered everything. We started taking the car apart the following week and preparing it for it’s new engine. During this time, I realized that I might need a new tranny to hold the power. So I send a pm to Garage Tuning to ask about a possible tranny that can support 300 whp. I was suggested a JDM WRX transmission as long as I don’t beat on it too bad (I went for a year on the RS tranny while boosting 6-7 psi… I think I can handle it). I would also need a stronger clutch and flywheel so I order a ACT full face organic clutch and lightweight flywheel through them. I also ordered Subaru 4-pot front and 2-pot rear brakes, they were already attached to the tranny so I would just receive the axles, hubs, driveshaft, tranny, slave cylinder, everything. Alright! New motor, a stronger tranny, and new brakes. I was pumped. And this is the point where everything fell apart. I will tell you my story with each vendor separately. Garage Tuning (GT) So I ordered everything in the beginning of March and sent payment via paypal right away. They received it and I was excited. When I ordered everything I told them I would like to have the tranny by april 19th at the latest. This is over a month to get a tranny to my friends doorstep (Mike Wray, legacypgt was doing all the work). Kevin at GT assured me it would be there in time. I never heard from him until I sent him a pm a few weeks later asking if the tranny would still be there by april 19th. His response was, it’s on the boat. Hmm… on the boat… on the boat… FROM JAPAN?!?! It’s never going to arrive in time. He still assured me it would be there. Then a pm was sent with one week asking for an update. The boat is here, we’ll ship it right away. Then a pm was sent the day before, he still assured it would be there. Well, april 19th passed by with nothing. From then on it was next week next week next week. Eventually some time in June a tranny shows up at my friend’s doorstep. He gives me a call and tells me that it’s a tranny and a rear diff. That’s it. No brakes, no clutch, no flywheel, no driveshaft, no axles, and no hubs. So I call up GT and tell him what I’m missing. Kevin apologizes but says there is some good news. He oversold his trannies and the one I have sitting in my friends garage isn’t just a wrx tranny. It’s an RA tranny. But there is a catch. He wants me to use the stock clutch and flywheel that came with it and eat the cost of the ACT stuff. In my mind I’m thinking… are you kidding me? He screwed up and I’m going to pay for it? No way! He didn’t even call me and ask me if it was ok to do it before he shipped the wrong transmission. I think it would have been different if he called me up and asked if it would be ok… but he didn’t. Oh, and the clutch and flywheel have been on backorder for 3 months anyway, so I don’t have that stuff yet either. And here is the other kicker. Another package arrived. It was a set of wrx brakes. I instantly called him up and told him he shipped the wrong thing. He insisted he was right, according to him, the price I paid was for just wrx brakes. I still had the pm’s he sent me that included the price and everything included. So I just forwarded the messages back to him and he apologized. But… he didn’t have the brakes, so now I have to wait for the next shipment sometime in august before I get my brakes. So after all this, I’m still waiting on brakes and my clutch/flywheel… 3.5 months later. TechWorksEng (TWE) This is another wonderful story. As with GT I ordered everything at the beginning of March. I can’t remember exactly who I talked to but he took my order and agreed everything would be at my friends place by April 19th. Now, I didn’t really know this, but TWE hates to reply to e-mails. I kept sending them, but no responses were ever returned. So I had to call the majority of the time which is a pita because I don’t have any written confirmation of when stuff will arrive. So I call and call and I keep getting the typical response that it’s right here and we’re waiting until the pistons are done before we ship the stuff for the heads. Until one day I call and I get a different person. He tells me that the person I was talking to before was “let go” and he took horrible notes and we pretty much have to start all over with the order. He does know that I paid him though, which is good. So that whole month or so that I was getting told everything was ok, wasn’t. The order to Wiseco never went in and now everything is going to be late. I kept asking about the stuff for my heads and he said he would just ship them with the pistons when they’re done. I wanted them earlier so we could build the heads and when the pistons arrived we could just throw everything together. He said he would ship everything right away. After a few weeks I called them up again, now I need to send in my old cams so they could be re-ground because they had no cores. We rip the cams out of the old heads and 2-day ship them up there (which isn’t cheap… like 80 dollars or so). Now it’s June, I’ve graduated from college and would like to have my car back. Finally I get news that the pistons are done and are shipped. I call up Mike and tell him to keep an eye out for a package. He never gets one. I get home from college and find them on my stairway (the place my parents usually put my mail and random stuff). Great. They shipped them to the wrong place. I also get news that the cams should be done soon. So I decided to head up to Minneapolis (where my car is… I’m from NW of Chicago) and hope to put the car together and get tuned before the rally out in Maine (second to last week of July). My GF lives in Minneapolis so I have a place to stay and I can relax and hang out with her. So it’s alright. I only expected to be up there two weeks at the most. Back to car stuff, I get a call from my Mom back home saying that she has a note about a package that is arriving at the house in two days, they want 80 dollars for her to pick it up, she said it was from some car company. Fantastic, I talked to TWE before and they said they would pay for the shipping of the head stuff and now they shipped it to the wrong place again and want her to pay? We didn’t really have a choice, so she pays for it, then ships it up to Mike’s place. It arrives and he opens the box and only finds cams. No valves, no retainers, no springs. So I call up TWE and they apologize and say that they will ship everything out right away and I should send him an e-mail with the shipping address so he doesn’t screw it up again. I also asked for a tracking number so I can figure out when to head over to my friends house and work on the car. A week goes by with no response, I send another e-mail and get one in return. They just shipped the stuff. So when I tell them on in a hurry and he says he has the stuff boxed up right next to him, it still takes them a week to get it shipped. Everything arrives July 11th and Mike starts building the heads. Then the other day he gives me a call. “We have a serious problem, the pistons don’t fit. They’re one mm too large.” Now I talked to TWE a while ago and had a discussion with them about how I’m not boring the block because it’s nearly perfect and it doesn’t need boring. But no, I get 98mm pistons when the block is 97. So Mike calls them up and they decided that they’re going to pay Mike to take apart the block and reassemble it after boring. But I have to pay to have it bored. And that’s where I finally decided to write this huuuuge frickin review on the two vendors that I have been dealing with for the past three and a half months. The good news, it looks like the car is going to finally be put back together this coming week using everything I have now. Although it’s going to suck to put the good clutch and flywheel in later because that isn’t exactly a cheap process. But at least I’ll have my car back. What do you think? Here is the build, everything is going into a 01 RS Coupe. Block: 2.2t stroked to 2.35 STi Crank STi Rods TWE Pistons 9:1 CR Heads: 01 SOHC from an RS TWE Stg II cams Titanium valve springs Titanium retainers stainless valves (oem size) some mild pnp work Misc: Turbo- smaller t3/t4 (around a 50 trim from a minnam stg. 2 kit) Ebay FMIC Coolingmist Meth Injection Aeromotive FPR 83lb fuel injectors (around 850cc's... I think) Larger parallel fuel rails 2.5" catless exhaust (will probably move up to 3" sometime soon) 35mm tial external wastegate greddy atmospheric bov stock RS headers, ceramic coated and gasket matched 96 RA tranny 3-puck oem sti clutch with stock flywheel (unfortunately) Cliff notes, GT ships the wrong thing, late, wants me to eat the cost, and I still don’t have half the stuff I ordered from them 3.5 months later. TWE ships everything late, to the wrong place, and also sent the wrong pistons, but at least I have everything from them. |
07-17-2006, 03:43 PM | #24 |
Scooby Specialist
Member Sales Rating: (4)
Member#: 2003
Join Date: Aug 2000
Chapter/Region:
W. Canada
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Vehicle:'99 BGP Legacy GT '98 QS Legacy L (auto) |
imp2.5 - long story indeed! Hope you get the stuff from GT soon!
About the pistons though, 1mm = ~0.040"; the cylinder bores from factory are not necessarily "true" (or totally round). I would've rather bored the cylinders to fit with the piston then rather find out that the bore is out of round and wreck a set of new pistons. It'd suck if you had to dissasemble everything again just because you tried to "save" on boring the cylinders. that's just my 0.02's. Other then that, sounds like a nice build! |
07-17-2006, 05:06 PM | #25 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member Sales Rating: (1)
Member#: 11354
Join Date: Oct 2001
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Eagan, MN
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