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Hey guys

After waiting 5 months from getting certain parts made, i have been stressed to the max and very very pissed off with a certain performance place that had a reputation for good work.

I had made :

custom inlet manifold

Custom exhaust manifold

widemouth dump

oil braided lines and water lines

I received the car back a couple of weeks ago to notice that the plenum did not sit flat on the runners.

Which could clearly be seen by holding a ruler up next to it. The aac valve was bolted on with only two bolts holding it instead of three.

The bolts used to bolt the plenum to the runners were just normal bolts. As i am sure some of you are aware the bolts specifically designed from factory to bolt it up have a spacer on them for the plenum gasket.

The plenum was taken back to be fixed and add more vacuum lines required for my application.

I was charged 50 bucks for this.

Me and my dad then spent the day trying to line up the plenum to the runners cause now the screw holes didnt line up.

After having this fit up properly and started the car, it sounded like a v8 and thought i could possibly be a air leak of some sort.

There has been alot of other fiddely shit that had to be looked at and fixed, in order for my car to operate correctly, that hadn't been done either.

The car was then taken to Signature performance monday morning to find out what was going on with my car and for a dynotune. Today Mick contacted me and made me aware my exhaust manifold header plate has a 3mm bend in it, the pipes used were far too big, which inturn i would see full boost way too late then what i should. Also the back exhaust manifold bolt has been snapped off.

I am now getting Mick from Signature Performance to make a new exhaust manifold, re-aline the dump to match as the turbo will be sitting in a slightly different position.

I havent driven my car since feb 2007, i have been very anxious to drive it since that day, but after all this shit thats happened i am ready to chuck the piece of shit off a cliff.

i will be now seeking a refund from the original manifold made and the extra cost i have to pay mick to make me a new one, and to fix up the dump to suit. And possibly for wasting my time.

I have not said who made the certain parts i requested in early August because some people who know of the person would be shocked, and that he must of been smoking crack when he made my parts.

Edited by bazr33
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https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/200849-fark-up-after-fark-up/
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Welcome to the joys of performance modifications :)

I too haven't driven my car since Feb '07; something that was supposed to be a 3 month build has lasted 11 months and the engine is still not in the car. I honestly can not blame my mechanic, just the performance suppliers :thumbsup:

Good luck getting your money back, highly unlikely :P

Had a look at it today Baz. I must say I am a bit disapointed as well. I have used that workshop exclusively for other work and found them to be beyond reproach. I hope this gets sorted for you soon. Btw, Thats a damn clean straight car you have there dude. :thumbsup:

post-14294-1199914415_thumb.jpgpost-14294-1199914327_thumb.jpgpost-14294-1199914370_thumb.jpg

thats before the plenum was fixed.

Im just glad we ending up pulling the plenum off, cause me and my dad wouldnt of known what the hell was going on if we had started the car.

Exhaust manifold is still with mickpost-14294-1199914680_thumb.jpg

But as you can see there, the pipes are pretty big

Thats disapointing, happens all too much. Got for a full refund if they say no take the bastards to small claims.

A day lost work at the small claims court will cost them a pretty penny too even if you loose.

Sorry i just realised what section i posted it in

Can someone please move it to just Queensland

No worries, moved!

sorry to hear about all the misfortune youve had. But im curious to know who did the work?

I use kyles exhaust manifolds and plazmamans inlet manifold...both are very high quality pieces and ive never had any dramas. Used in both road and race applications.

It normally pays off to go down the quality road, saves you the hassles in the long run.

I feel for you mate this shit happens all too much, a good mate of mine has had his 32 gtst off the road since approx January 07 getting widebody / big built rb26 it was supposed to be finished ages ago every workshop its been at has f**ked him around too some degree, it is a disgrace.

I know the workshop concerned and I don't think there would have been any intention to try to rip you off.

I think it's mostly a case of yours being the first RB manifold he has done and therefore being a bit of a guinea pig. The inlet manifold does look a little rough though, and below his normal standard.

For the parts you are after, you are always better off going with a product that has some R&D behind it (ie. 6boost and Greddy) rather than going custom.

I makes you want to mod it more doesnt it :S i cant say i have had it happen yet, but i am touching wood constantly (no pun intended). i get mine back from a workshop on saturday so will see how it turns out.

That fabrication is absolutely disgraceful. The whole design, workmanship, etc is of Apprentice/Tafe standard and should not have come anywhere near a car, let alone charging top dollar for it. ;)

Just look at that plenum, it's a slapped, rush job.

Below is a pic of my mechanic's first major fabrication/big power job for a R33 gtst. Sure it took him a long time to calculate, design, fabricate, etc, but the end result is a professional looking setup, that was proven to work effectively.

Everything fabrication you see was done "in-house" apart from the polishing, powder-coating and anodizing.

post-1811-1199944149_thumb.jpg

It is a great possiblity as you said Lazy-Bastard, that i happened to be the first to come in to have a rb manifold made.

And going by the businesses previous work, i believe it to be true, as work i have seen on other vehicles has been oustanding.

I just hoped that if it is the case, that i was notified of the situation, a bit more researh went into building the manifold/s, and more communication of what was going on.

It's a lesson learnt by myself, to ask questions first.

I really would like to give him another go and have it fixed, but i just dont have the patience waiting any longer

When you go back to them. Don't forget to treat them with respect, dont raise your voice etc. Be nice and hopefully you get some joy back in return. Also mention that a number of your friends have been there and were happy with their work, hence you going to them. They have seen the work and couldnt believe it was the same shop rah rah. You go in there all guns blazing, you will put them in to defensive mode striaght away.

Trouble is tho, you arent giving them a good oppertunity to fix the problem, as you are getting new gear fitted. Also keep that in mind.

Sorry to whore your thread- but all these stories (and i'm very well aquainted with one of 'em- due to my friends GT-R having spent the last 1.5 years in my gararge with no engine) have just made me decide the "built, not bought" crew can go jump. The cost and frustration just isn't worth bothering with.

I'm just going to buy my next perfomance car near-as-damnit fully modified as possible.

That fabrication is absolutely disgraceful. The whole design, workmanship, etc is of Apprentice/Tafe standard and should not have come anywhere near a car, let alone charging top dollar for it. :P

Just look at that plenum, it's a slapped, rush job.

Below is a pic of my mechanic's first major fabrication/big power job for a R33 gtst. Sure it took him a long time to calculate, design, fabricate, etc, but the end result is a professional looking setup, that was proven to work effectively.

Everything fabrication you see was done "in-house" apart from the polishing, powder-coating and anodizing.

i dont mean to be rude.. your engine bay does look good.. but couldnt he find the K&n air filters with 4inch fitting on them... :(

oh and to you people winging.. my silvia has now been off the road since about july-aug 2004(from memory).. im definately goin to be getting my own sticker made up "BUILT NOT BOUGHT" once its goin again.. and lasts more than couple weeks on the road...

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