Doc if you got the money you might as well spend it, sounds like an awesome set up you have planned, good luck

 

Mac,

How do you like Sacto? I was born and raised there.

Speaking of money....is real estate getting any cheaper there?

 

well, if i think i can afford it when i do the build, ... i'll be going with the sleeves, etc. If not, ... I'll just do the pistons/rods. I want around 500 for DD, ... and then I want to turn it up on the track! That's why i was looking at what the APS Extreme kit will do, or I like the JWT BB700's too. i have not seen anyone post up with their results of the APS EX yet though.
The ATS clutch and LSD are just essentials in my mind. Probably LSD first, then the clutch. I do most of the work myself, ... so swapping **** out later isn't a big deal(cost wise). may get the cheapest 'street' clutch in the begining, then swap it out. What clutch is SGP telling you about?? I've been looking for a decent street disk at a decent price other than JWT. maybe Spec?

I think 450-500 for DD is plenty, ... but having the ability to 'choose' what you want to run on a given day (or moment) is what I want. I'm putting in the scramble boost switch for the FCon too...

who knows, i may just get the APS tuner kit, do my own fuel sys, and call it a day! LOL I have an S14 that needs some more mods, ... so i may have to 'share' my G's money with her!

And all of this may or may not come true depending upon my deployment schedule over the next couple years!

 

yes, APS has a tuner kit for their standard TT's, comes with no EM or fuel system, and has upgraded wastegate actuators. goes for about ~6400.
http://www.airpowersystems.com.au/35...z_tt_tuner.htm

That Sucks they are taking so long with your car, ... I Hate it when people take too long doing their . The problem in your case 'seems' to be that they have Way too much scheduled at once. How long did they tell you it would take?
As far as the engine build and TT install, ... if you can find a cheap used block to ge the build done with, you'll save yourself some time.
With the VPro, ... there are quite a few HKS Pro dealers out there, ... and there will be more Pro Dealers soon IMO, ... I think with the products that HKS puts out, bigger shops Have to get in on it. Shariff will be a pro dealer soon from what I hear too.
There are 4 Pro dealers in TX, not sure if all can tune well, ... but Jotech has a high pwr 350, right?
http://www.hksusa.com/dealers/Default.asp

good luck!!

 

well, SGP has a small history of DraMA....
And while they may do good work, ... I don't think that justifies poor customer service...

hmm, ... Intense Motorsports in AZ would be my next suggestion, they don't deal with APS as much (but they might have the JWT kit, they list it on their site), but Dyno Comp in Phoenix is a huge APS dealer, and then maybe you could work out something for Intense to tune it for you. I guess if you planned it out, and since it's a little ways off, a road trip woudn't be that bad.
Or with all of that work, you might as well head east to Forged Performance, (don't know which is closer to you) then you'll Know the customer service will be good!

**** is hard to figure out, huh? LOL All I know is I want the most for my money (as does anyone), and I Hate being d!cked around!!!
"If I were you", I'd let them know (after you know your car is tuned Correctly! ) that you're not happy with their service, b/c they may not realize it without you telling them (I have no idea why people have a hard time understanding that you are supposed to follow your word).
And then tell them you'll be going elsewhere for your future mods.

well, i guess that's one good thing about living in cali, ... lots-o-shops that have been around for a while that do good work.

 

Hmmm, there may be more to the story and if there is, I would be open to hearing it. But I must admit that your experience has greatly diminished SGP's reputation in my book!

Their failure to do what they said they would is a MAJOR issue with me. If they scheduled your work and specified a time frame, they should meet it, have a very reasonable explanation or make some significant financial allowances for tying up your car.

I'm guessing that a phone call from your lawyer would produce results and might not be too expensive.

One case does not make or break anyone, but it will put SGP under careful scrutiny for sure.

 

well, ... if you want to work with the 'other half' of what used to be SGP, ... get a hold of Import Parts Pro (Kyle), who was part owner of SGP, ... there was a "falling out....."
www.importpartspro.com

They know their **** for sure, ... same as SGP .... it would be worth talking with IPP just to get pricing differences, etc...
Hopefully all goes well for you when you're 'able' to talk with Mark.

 

I will call Kyle.

It seems that they have the same short block packages as SGP, just a couple of hundred dollars cheaper.

The remaining question is, can he get the software to tune the HKS?

EDIT: I just sent kyle an e-mail....does he only sell parts/build engines or is he a full service shop? I can't find any references to a dyno on his web-site.

 

Don't think he is a 'full service' shop yet, ... but there are ways around that. You could work with someone that could tune your car somewhere else, etc. When I lived in Hawaii, ... we had to fly people out there to tune **** sometimes! sucks ...

I saw on his site that they listed the aps kits though, ... maybe he has a better opinion of aps...

 

Doc,

the sac town is alright, moved here from Arizona by way of Hawaii after I finished my MA in Poly Sci, looks like you went all the way for the PhD, which I just could not do. No more school for me, I am done...I think...ok so I've thought about it...

real estate in all of CA is nuts, but Sacto has been nice to me, bought a place in North Natomas about 4 years ago and rode the wave of speculative investors pushing prices through the roof. Not that it matters to me I'm not selling anytime soon. right now you need about $400K to be in the ballgame (in a nice area, I mean you could always buy in Oak Park), otherwise don't bother suiting up.

looks like the car is coming along nicely, you'll have to keep us posted on how it helps out with the co-eds during office hours.

 

Hey all,

I just want to say that I had a long talk w/ Shaun at SGP and we worked everything out.

 

Another option is GT Motorsports in Rancho Cucamonga. Sam is one of the few hks pro dealers/tuners in california... Or the U.S for that matter.
He knows just as much as anyone else and possibly more about the VQ.
He builds engines in house as well.
My car is there gettin a build shortblock + titanium valve springs and such.
I have the EU and im turning mine up to ~13 psi or so. I would love to hit 500rwhp but we'll see what happens.
I previously had 406rwhp and it bent all 6 rods. .
Honestly, 400rwhp was not fast enough for me...It was deff. quick but it was very controllable in every gear at any rpm/boost level.

It's just something to think about. The VPRO IS the best EM out there so you won't have a problem getting the numbers you want.


ps: I have the greddy kit.

 

An engine management system is only as good as the person who tunes it. You act like your engine will be invincible just because you spent 4k on an ecu. Just make sure your tuner knows what he is doing...

 

^^ That is the point with getting HKS Pro Dealer Certified, and certified to tune the V Pro! HKS wants to ensure each person they allow to tune the V Pro is extremely competant!

 

yup, it only requires a 100 000 dollar initial buy in and 200 000 a year in sales to keep it....




damn thats a lot of money!!