New motor for my vette...

Well, I was supposed to have gotten rebuilt units, that were rebuilt using heavier duty parts. I'm not sure WHICH parts those would be. The car was driven about 100 feet from the side of the building that I had it towed from to the front of the building. But certainly if the gears are supposed to be new, that would not be anywhere near the wear that my stock unit has with 85K+ miles on it.

On one hand I really want to try to put the guy behind bars if he defrauded me and don't mind spending the money to make that case. But on the other hand, I've seen far too many cases where law enforcement just really doesn't give a damn about things of this nature, claiming it is civil instead of criminal, therefore not their department, and even with rock solid evidence, nothing at all would happen, and I would wind up just pissing that money away.

Originally Posted by army_greywolf

The housing will have a production number on the casting, and in many cases major assemblies like that have the last six digits of the vin number from the car it came from if not the full number. If the guts are supposed to be brand new, and there are literally zero miles on the car at present, easy enough to open the diff cover and take a picture of the gears because THAT will identify for shotgun sure if the gears have wear or not. IF they do, you were screwed over.

As for the manual/automatic, I was referring to the switch to automatic in the quest for more horsepower, drag racers often ditch manual transmissions when power gets serious.

Well, here's the evidence I have gathered about the fraud this guy perpetrated against me....

First, about the turbos being ceramic coated:

It really starts here on 01-05-2010, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by Rich Z

Chris told me today that the intake manifold got to LME today, and they may get the porting done today or tomorrow. Quite likely the engine will be packed up to ship back Wednesday or Thursday. So I'm guessing it will be back in Blountstown by maybe mid next week.

I asked Chris to send the turbos off to have them Jet Hot coated, so they are on the way out there. Hopefully the turn around time will be quick enough to now hold up things once the engine is back.

I sure am looking forward to having this over and done with so I can bring my car back home.

I didn't make note of the date anywhere, apparently, but sometime between the end of July and the first week of August, Chris had my car up on the lift. I noticed that every time I walked towards the rear of the car to look at my turbos, Chris found something for me to do for him. Get this tool or that, or run out to Autozone to get something for him he needed. This happened a good half a dozen times, and I finally just ignored him so I could look at my turbos that were supposedly Jet Hot ceramic coated. I guess he just thought I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between something ceramic coated and simply spray painted with gray paint. He said he thought the coating looked crappy himself and spray painted clear over it to try to make it look better. Yeah, right..... I suppose it was just a coincidence that there was a can of gray spray paint on the table that exactly matched the paint on those turbos. And I could see where the bolt heads had over spray on them.

I figured it would be senseless to try to get the truth out of Chris, so I went along with his claim that it was Jet Hot that did a piss poor coating on those turbo housings. He said he would pull them back off and send them back to be recoated properly by Jet Hot on THEIR dime. I really knew what was going on, but the best path at this point appeared to just allow Chris the opportunity to fix this issue. By giving him enough wiggle room, I felt I could get what I actually paid him for.

But such was not to be the case. What follows is a series of emails, starting with those passed between Chris and myself concerning those turbos after they were supposedly sent back to Jet Hot for the recoating.

On 8/18/2010 9:51 AM, Chris Harwood wrote:
> Rich
>
> I am well aware of whats outstanding on your car i printed it out as a reminder.the bung is welded in and the top portion of the cover is being recoated at the powdercoates in tallahassee i droped it off yesterday afternoon and it will be ready for me to pick up this afternoon i had it recoated because im guessing the acidic mixture used to strip the anodising off was making the aluminium oxides it looked bad and i didnt want it to lead to premature curosion. Tomorrow we will reassemble your car finish the alignment bleed the brakes and resume tuning it on friday
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rich Z
> Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 4:14 PM
> To: Chris Harwood <chris@sportscartech.com>
> Subject: Fwd: Status - 08/10/10
>
> Chris,
>
> I assume enough time has elapsed to get the timing case cover drilled
> and the bung welded on. I had expected to hear from you today about this.
>
> How about getting those receipts to me so I can clear that one off of
> this list below? If you don't have time, is there a way I can contact
> Keli directly to see if she has the time to get this done? I want
> original receipts showing who did the work on the transmission and
> differential and what was done to them, for my record folder. Hate to
> keep pestering you about it, but the only way I'm going to stop
> pestering you is when this gets done.
>
> Of course I want to know the status of those headers and the turbos
> getting coated as well.
>
> Please reply via email concerning status issues.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Rich Z.

On 8/25/2010 8:56 AM, Chris Harwood wrote:
> Update the new bolts didnt come in yesterday chris says the store he ordered them from missed the ups cut off and he got the tracking number they will 100% positive they will arrive at fastenal today i knew i should have gotten stock ones from gm.turbos are finishing up and eta on shipping them is friday and the headers were coated and shipped back to american racing but havnt been recieved yet is the story I got on them basicly they are in transit to them and ill have that invoice to you today so tomorrow will be the day you need to come out sometime after lunch will be fine i had a rough day yesterday no sleep and alot of paper work to do on our new building if the bolts come in before lunch im going to get started on it but if not ill be starting on it in the a.m. Just so you know
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rich Z
> Sent: Monday, August 23, 2010 8:31 PM
> To: Chris Harwood <chris@sportscartech.com>
> Subject: Re: Fwd: Status - 08/10/10
>
> Chris,
>
> Been out of town all weekend. Left you a message today on your voice
> mail around 5:20 pm and have not heard back from you.
>
> What is the status of my car, please?
>
> Also, I want status of the items on my previous list I sent to you.
> This just needs to get wrapped up and there are too many loose ends that
> I'm not getting answers to.
>
> Rich Z.

On 8/31/2010 8:43 AM, Chris Harwood wrote:
> Rich i would save your gas justin obviously leaft shortly after i did friday and didnt get **** done im going to have to do it myself you want a refund on the headers i understand im telling you this so you dont come out and your head explode
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rich Z
> Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 1:57 AM
> To: Chris Harwood <chris@sportscartech.com>
> Subject: Re: Fwd: Status - 08/10/10
>
> Chris,
>
> You didn't get back to me. Time is running out on my believing you are
> going to get this done for me.
>
> And I really want you to shake a leg on those items on my list. I want
> tracking numbers on the turbos and the headers, please. If the headers
> aren't on their way to me, I guess I'm going to have to live without
> them and get a refund of the money I paid you. That was $1,000 if I
> remember correctly. I'm tired of waiting on them, and need to get all
> these loose ends wrapped up one way or another.
>
> And there is the matter of the receipts. If you can't get it together
> to get them for me, then just give me the name of the place or person
> who did the work and I will go to them directly.
>
> In any event, I expect my car to have the tuning resumed on Tuesday. I
> am coming out there to take a look on that progress.
>
> Rich Z.

On 9/3/2010 9:20 PM, Rich Z wrote:
> Chris,
>
> I remembered that you told me that I really need to talk to Keli about paperwork and stuff along that line, so is there anyway I could reach her directly? That way I don't have to keep nagging you about those receipts. BTW, I figure I should go ahead and get a copy of the receipt for having those turbos rebuilt so I can remember to have them looked at maybe in three more years to see if they need to be rebuilt again.
>
> Since the turbos are going to be coming back uncoated, I will need a refund for the money I paid to have that done. Please reference your invoice dated 1-22-2010 where I paid $510.00 for that service.
>
> Also please reference your invoice dated 5-12-10 for the headers that I did not get, which means I am due a refund of $1,000 for them.
>
> Please let me know how to get in touch with Keli so I can have her write out a check to me for that $1,510.00. Please make it out to Rich Zuchowski, and I can just pick it up at the shop on Tuesday when I come out there.
>
> Hope you guys have a good weekend. Connie and I will probably be pulling weeds. Oh joy....
>
> Rich Z.

On 9/9/2010 9:06 AM, Chris Harwood wrote:
> Rich
>
> They came in yesterday afternoon.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rich Z
> Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2010 10:04 PM
> To: Chris Harwood <chris@sportscartech.com>
> Subject: Re: Turbos
>
> Chris,
>
> DId the turbos show up yet? If not, how about bringing those center
> sections to the shop Thursday anyway, so I can polish them up a bit
> waiting for the housings to finally arrive?
>
> And I would like the tracking number, too, please, so I can check on
> them. What carrier was used to ship them? I have contacts with most of
> the carriers through my reptile business that might help.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Rich Z.
>
> On 9/8/2010 9:27 AM, Chris Harwood wrote:
>> No they didnt they shipped friday and got rescheduled for delivery for
>> today it didnt say what happened just it was rescheduled the tracking
>> number says its in chipley fla out for delivery and yes the gaskets
>> came in.justin will be there today to recieve them I am going to
>> finish up some loose ends here with the new place i have to get the
>> electric turned on so we can begin working on it at night and on the

On 9/8/2010 10:24 AM, Rich Z wrote:
> Chris,
>
> How about getting those gaskets installed today? That way you can run the engine for a while and then change out the break-in oil. You don't need the turbos to do that, and honestly, I would rather not have the break-in oil flowing through the turbos anyway. So please replace those gaskets causing the coolant leak today so the entire day isn't wasted on my car. It's already Wednesday.
>
> I know you need to get your new building in shape, but quite honestly, in my opinion, you need to get my car done ASAP. Please start putting it together now. I want to bring Connie by there Thursday or Friday and I want her to see the car COMPLETE to ease her mind. That means the panels installed in the insides of the wheel wells, etc. Try to get the guy you mentioned to see about buffing out those scratches. I know she's going to be pissed to see that. She's more protective of that car than even I am.
>
> Can I have the tracking number for the turbos?
>
> Let me see if I can remember what ORIGINAL receipts I want copies of:
> Transmission
> Differential
> Turbo rebuild
> Clutch/flywheel
>
> How will the people who sold you those things know when the warranty period actually starts? I believe you bought some of this stuff back when this project actually started a year ago, so I don't want to hear that the warranty has expired before the car even gets back onto the street.
>
> Oh yeah, don't forget that check for the refund for me.
>
> Thanks,
>
> RIch Z.

Unfortunately a lot of details done via phone and in person at Chris's shop just were not captured. But I think the above gives a pretty good idea of what was really going on.

Now, I will copy emails between myself and Kevin Pell, who is the Senior Sales Manager at Jet Hot.

>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: z____@comcast.net [mailto:z____@comcast.net]
>> Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2010 6:06 PM
>> To: sales@jet-hot.com
>> Subject: Coating request from: Rich Zuchowski
>>
>>
>> ******Customer Information******
>> Customer ID:
>> Name: Rich Zuchowski
>> Address:
>> City: Crawfordville
>> State: FL
>> Zip: 32326
>> Phone:
>> Contact Phone:
>> Contact Email:
>>
>> ********Shipping Information******
>> Same as above
>>
>> ********Order Information******
>> Part to be coated
>> Type:
>> Size:
>> Details: Looking for verification. Back in January of this year, I had a
>> pair of turbos supposedly sent to you from XtremeMotorsports in Blountstown,
>> FL to be jet hot coated. We I finally got to see them on my car, and they
>> look like they were merely spray painted with gray paint. And only the
>> exhaust side was coated. I suspect that they weren\'t coated at all, and I
>> would like to ask you to check your records to make certain that you did in
>> fact get these turbos and coat them. Please respond and/or contact me if
>> you need any further info.
>>
>> Thank you,
>>
>> Rich Z.
>> \Where heard about:
>> Coating Requested: sterling

> On 8/5/2010 2:28 PM, Kevin Pell wrote:
>> Rich -
>>
>> I am sorry but I will be unable to give any information on their account. I
>> will have to direct you into the dealer for any and all questions. I would
>> ask Xtreme for details and or paperwork showing the parts coated by us. I
>> have placed a call to Chris at Xtreme to either call me or call you.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Kevin

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rich Zuchowski
> Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 12:51 PM
> To: Kevin Pell
> Subject: Re: Coating request from: Rich Zuchowski
>
> Well, then you put me in a rather awkward position. Without contrary
> statements nor evidence, then I will have to assume that the crappy
> coating (which looked more like someone used gray spray paint) on my
> turbos was done by Jet Hot, as Chris insists. Supposedly my turbos were
> recently sent back to be recoated and were supposed to have been shipped
> back to Chris on this past Friday. This build of mine is a very public
> event on multiple message boards, and unfortunately my posting about the
> Jet Hot coating on the turbos will have to be based solely on my
> observations, and the statements made by Chris at XtremeMotorSports (now
> SportsCarTech).
>
> You know, I specifically stated to Chris that I wanted those turbos
> coated by Jet Hot, and no one else, but obviously my faith in your
> company is unfounded. You obviously don't give a damn about helping
> your customers, which I am one of, so certainly I have no reason to
> remain one of your customers when future coating needs arise.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Rich Z.

On 9/1/2010 6:44 PM, Kevin Pell wrote:
> Rich -
>
> I understand your frustration and do not blame you for your feelings at all. Please understand that under our privacy policy we are not allowed to share details to a third party on another's account. Seeing this has reached the point it is at we are allowed to protect our name and standards if the need arises. I feel based on your information and the details I have on this issue we have reached that point.
>
> I can tell you this; We did receive parts that would fit your description from XtremeMotorSports although had to ship the parts back WITHOUT coating as they were not dismantled.
>
> I can also tell you that we have not had another order from them since we shipped those parts back for proper dismantling.
>
> Again I am sorry for your frustration and am more than happy to assist in future coating needs directly!
>
> Thank You,
>
> Kevin Pell
> Senior Sales Manager
> Aftermarket, Manufacturing, And Dealer Sales
>

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rich Zuchowski
> Sent: Thursday, September 02, 2010 5:33 PM
> To: Kevin Pell
> Subject: Re: Coating request from: Rich Zuchowski
>
> Kevin,
>
> Thanks for letting me know the true situation.
>
> Now, I spoke to Chris again today, and he specifically mentioned talking
> to you about my turbos. I asked specifically who he talked to and he
> said "Kevin at Jet Hot". He still claims my turbos are there. The
> situation is that I asked him to check on them to see if they were done,
> and if not, I wanted them back anyway so I could get my car on the
> road. He sounded believable, so I want to make CERTAIN that you are
> sure about this. Are you currently corresponding with Chris Harwood who
> used to be XtremeMotorsports, and has recently changed his name to
> Sports Car Technologies, either one hailing from Blountstown, Florida?
> I want to be CERTAIN that I am barking up the correct tree here. I
> don't want to make a mistake and accuse him of a further lie to compound
> his original one with the coating that never happened.
>
> Thank you for your help.
>
> Rich Z.

On 9/3/2010 2:47 PM, Kevin Pell wrote:
> Rich -
>
> I have spoken to Chris on two occasions concerning this situation, the first upon your prior request for information and the second yesterday. My conversation with him yesterday was short. He had only asked that I refer you to him if and/or when you contacted me again. I do not agree with or like being in the middle of this situation. The information that I have provided is true and accurate based on the details I have been given. I am more than happy to assist you if you choose to have the parts coated direct through us when and or if you are ready to have this completed. I would ask that you please contact Chris if you have not been offered resolution as of yet.
>
> Thank You,
>
> Kevin Pell
> Senior Sales Manager
> Aftermarket, Manufacturing, And Dealer Sales
>

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rich Zuchowski
> Sent: Friday, September 03, 2010 4:09 PM
> To: Kevin Pell
> Subject: Re: Coating request from: Rich Zuchowski
>
> Kevin,
>
> I do apologize for putting you in the middle of this situation, but I'm
> sure you realize that I have no choice if I am going to get the the
> TRUTH. This is not my choosing, but the position that Chris Harwood has
> thrown BOTH of us into. And of course he wants me to talk only directly
> with him. That is the only way he can keep a lid on this lie. There
> would be no way for me to get to the truth without directly contacting
> Jet Hot. I'm sure that you would not want to be responsible for my
> believing his lies and therefore besmirch the reputation of your
> company. THAT is the position he is trying to place YOU in. I just
> want what I paid for, and apparently Chris has defrauded me of that
> money. So I have to deal with that aspect of this situation now.
>
> In any event, my turbos are supposedly going to show up magically on
> Tuesday, uncoated of course. When the smoke clears from all this I will
> likely send you those turbo housings myself to have them coated.
>
> Thank you for the time you have spent with me, and sorry it had to be in
> this manner.
>
> Rich Z.

On 9/7/2010 5:18 PM, Kevin Pell wrote:
> Rich -
>
> It's not your fault. This is not the first time I have been in a situation such as this although I always hope it is the last. I do wish you the best in getting this worked out. My understanding is he is going to refund your money.
>
> Thank You,
>
> Kevin Pell
> Senior Sales Manager
> Aftermarket, Manufacturing, And Dealer Sales

> From: Rich Z
> Date: Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:26:16 -0400
> To: Kevin Pell
> Subject: Fwd: Turbos
>
> Just thought you might find this email I just got from Chris interesting.... He is still adamant about those turbos coming from you..
>
> Rich Z.
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Turbos
> Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2010 09:27:15 -0400
> From: Chris Harwood <chris@sportscartech.com>
> To: Rich Z
>
>
> No they didnt they shipped friday and got rescheduled for delivery for today it didnt say what happened just it was rescheduled the tracking number says its in chipley fla out for delivery and yes the gaskets came in.justin will be there today to recieve them I am going to finish up some loose ends here with the new place i have to get the electric turned on so we can begin working on it at night and on the weekend we have 22 days to be moved in there .yes i did get my printer i bought a wireless one and it took me a little time to set it up i got it going now so ill et it scanned and to you today

On 9/8/2010 11:35 AM, Kevin Pell wrote:
> Rich -
>
> See if you can get a tracking number and I will check again to see if it is one of ours. I still show nothing in the system under either of his names unless it was done under a personal name. The tracking number or an order number would confirm. If it was me I would try either of those routes. We offer a lifetime warranty on our products so that would be a good leverage point in getting the order number. I would tell him you want that for your records in the event you have a failure in the future.
>
> Thanks,
> Kevin Pell
> Senior Sales Manager
> JET-HOT & HPC

> From: Rich Z
> Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2010 11:55 AM
> To: kevin pell
> Subject: Re: Fwd: Turbos
>
>
>
> Kevin,
>
> Yes, I have asked Chris for that tracking number, but I am doubtful he will comply. I assume you have checked under his personal name (Chris Harwood). Any way you can check by location? Either Blountstown, FL, or Tallahassee, FL?
>
> I'm pretty certain he is lying to me. When I was out at his shop this past Friday, I asked him if he had taken the intake and exhaust housings off of the turbos to send to Jet Hot. He said that yes he did. I then asked him if I could take those center sections home so I could clean them up and spray paint them, and he got the "deer and the headlights" look. He told me they were at his home. Which is completely ridiculous, of course, as he NEVER takes stuff like that home with him. But I'm going to get as much hard evidence as I can so there is NO mistake about my opinion. I tend to like things in black and white, without ANY gray, when possible.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Rich Z.

On 9/8/2010 12:53 PM, Kevin Pell wrote:
>
> Rich –
>
>
>
> I have looked and searched for everything that I can. My last conversation with him was short but he asked that I send you back to him as he was going to refund your money for the coating. If needs be I will call him again and restate to him that our Name needs to be taken out of the equation as we have not had the parts back in our possession since we sent them back for break down.
>
>
>
> Thank You,
>
>
>
> Kevin Pell
>
> Senior Sales Manager
>
> Aftermarket, Manufacturing, And Dealer Sales
>
> Jet Hot High Performance Coatings Logo

On 9/8/2010 1:44 PM, Rich Z wrote:
> Kevin,
>
> Just a FYI.
>
> I just got off the phone with Chris and asked him about the tracking number. He said he needs to call you about it as he got the tracking number from you, I assume today. So he said he will call you and get that tracking number from you for me.
>
> Obviously he knows I have contacted you. Either he believes you are no longer talking to me and I'm just a mushroom, or just doesn't care that I know he is lying to me.
>
> RIch Z.

And now about that transmission and differential:

Now this is an interesting video I just worked up. I was tied up with something a while back, but left my camcorder with Chris at the shop, so he set it up and took the video footage of himself hooking up the supposedly rebuilt transmission and differential onto my torque tube to go into my car.

I had actually seen what he claimed were my transmission and differential on the floor near the torque tube, and made comment that they didn't look like rebuilt units to me, in that the cases looked like they had freshly come out of a car. At best sprayed down with Simple Green and wiped down. I had figured that anyone rebuilding those units would have certainly cleaned them up, and put some sort of identifying mark or tag on them. You will notice in the video that they ARE nice and shiny looking, however, they are merely spray painted with silver gray paint. Coincidentally enough, the same spray paint that I had noted on my supposedly Jet Hot ceramic coated turbo housings, mentioned earlier in this thread. Quite honestly, that fact alone raised my suspicions that all was not as I was being told. So this video explicitly shows Chris mounting the transmission and differential to my torque tube to be installed in my car, all the while claiming that these were the units that I paid him $3,450.00 for. Only to have him admit under threat of inspection now by a third party, that I had not in fact gotten what I had paid for at all. All of the evidence plainly pointing to my belief that my old units were merely spray painted and put right back into my car, with Chris hoping I would be none the wiser.

Inserted between the sections of video footage are emails I exchanged with Chris concerning the transmission and differential. There is also a view of the invoice he finally sent me as a JPG attachment to an email claiming that this was the invoice I was seeking from him. I only got this "invoice" after an extreme amount of nagging about it. I believe the time period of this nagging spans MONTHS.

I suggest that you click the PAUSE button for those text sections so you can actually READ the correspondence that took place between Chris and myself. In the last email, Chris Harwood plainly admits that I did NOT get the transmission and differential that I paid him for, and says he will refund my money for them. What makes this even more noteworthy, is that with this fact in mind, then it is obvious that the invoice he sent to me is completely bogus and was created to mislead me into believing that he had, in fact, provided me with those items I had paid for. And as an aside, it is noteworthy concerning the conflict of stories that the bogus invoice shows that the transmission had been "media blasted" which was NOT the case with the unit that Chris spray painted and put into my car.

The PROOF of what transpired doesn't get much more black and white than this is.



This is all being documented in this thread on my other site: http://www.corvetteflorida.com/forum...ad.php?t=50585

Man, this SURE has put a damper on the fun Connie and I were planning on having this first part of our retirement......

Getting closer to getting this done.....





But come to find out that the original guy put in the wrong clutch that is underpowered, so it is slipping when the turbos kick in.

And the new guy working on it noted that the differential is making an odd clicking noise. So the drivetrain from the clutch on back has to come out again.....

Another couple of weeks and the car will have been in the shop for a total of 11 months....

be damned if it doesn't idle 900 times better now though. You can see it smoking the clutch when the power comes on, let me guess it flatlined the torque at a point on the map where it looks kinda like the start of a heartbeat but flatlines to a low even number that rises sharply as the clutch gets very hot and sticky. It is possible a brand new clutch that has zero miles isn't wore in or ready for service yet.

I forgot to add my own troubles.

I've blown my SECOND front trans mount bushing...really not designed for the power I make but hey. I'll look into an upgrade soon.

In other news, I found out I can swap for a stronger cam to get better turbo spool out of the hole and keep it longer beyond 7K rpm. Right now I sort of start falling off around 5500 as the factory cams aren't really in the zone beyond that. Turbo cars don't really need alot of intake duration, it's all in the exhaust to get things moving, the best turbo engines have awesome exhaust cam grinds with HUGE duration and lift, a decent intake grind and a fully ported and polished head(s).

I make excellent power for such a small car, and have no problems daily driving it. Which is weird because they say once you pass the 100hp/liter mark it becomes VERY difficult to drive your car on the street without problems. Even manufacturers use this mark as sort of a "don't stray beyond". I make roughly 200hp/liter probably a hair more now that I've got it dialed in.

If you make it out to one of the big shows, or the show they have in New Orleans every year, and the cruise that follows, I want to see the beast in person.

Originally Posted by army_greywolf

be damned if it doesn't idle 900 times better now though. You can see it smoking the clutch when the power comes on, let me guess it flatlined the torque at a point on the map where it looks kinda like the start of a heartbeat but flatlines to a low even number that rises sharply as the clutch gets very hot and sticky. It is possible a brand new clutch that has zero miles isn't wore in or ready for service yet.

When Aaron pulled the drivetrain apart, it appeared that the clutch disks were not fully engaging the pressure plates. It wouldn't surprise me in the least to find out that the guy who originally installed the clutch did it incorrectly. But at least Aaron now has the higher rated ceramic clutch disks there at the shop.

Since the drivetrain had to be pulled out anyway to replace those incorrect clutch disks and Aaron noticed a clicking noise coming from the differential, I decided to have them sent up to RPM Transmissions in Indiana and get both the transmission and differential replaced. In effect get what I had originally paid to get anyway. Of course, I've got to chase down the guy who cheated me out of the transmission and differential I originally paid him for to get my money back. Yeah, scammers are everywhere, apparently.

Anyway Fidanza recommends putting 100 miles on the clutch before running it at full power. Since South Georgia Corvette is 50 miles from my home, looks like I might be taking the car for a drive home and then back to the shop to get those 100 miles under it's belt. Probably won't be for another couple of weeks, though, as the transmission and differential won't be built till the middle of this upcoming week.

Heck, in just 3 more days, my car will have been in the shop for a FULL YEAR.

Originally Posted by army_greywolf

I forgot to add my own troubles.

I've blown my SECOND front trans mount bushing...really not designed for the power I make but hey. I'll look into an upgrade soon.

In other news, I found out I can swap for a stronger cam to get better turbo spool out of the hole and keep it longer beyond 7K rpm. Right now I sort of start falling off around 5500 as the factory cams aren't really in the zone beyond that. Turbo cars don't really need alot of intake duration, it's all in the exhaust to get things moving, the best turbo engines have awesome exhaust cam grinds with HUGE duration and lift, a decent intake grind and a fully ported and polished head(s).

I make excellent power for such a small car, and have no problems daily driving it. Which is weird because they say once you pass the 100hp/liter mark it becomes VERY difficult to drive your car on the street without problems. Even manufacturers use this mark as sort of a "don't stray beyond". I make roughly 200hp/liter probably a hair more now that I've got it dialed in.

If you make it out to one of the big shows, or the show they have in New Orleans every year, and the cruise that follows, I want to see the beast in person.

Yeah, that's the reason I wanted to beef up the entire drivetrain on my car. I'm not planning on racing the car, but if I do get a bit frisky with it, I just don't want to have transmission and differential parts blowing out the back of the car on me.

I'm not certain of the specs of the camshaft in this engine. The original guy working on it (Chris Harwood) told me the following:

232/228
630/630 lift
116 lsa

It's a Cam Motion custom Hydraulic roller cam, supposedly spec'd for a turbo charged engine. Reason I say "supposedly" is because that guy Chris hasn't really been on the up and up with my car. As a for instance, I just discovered that the transmission and differential brace I paid him for was NOT put on my car at all.

Heck, I don't know, maybe my car will be finished by Thanksgiving. But it's sure gotten tough to be optimistic about ANY finish date now...

On a forced induction car, I'll explain how the cam specs play into more horsepower.

Because air is FORCED into the cylinders and does not rely on piston driven vacuum to fill up the cylinder you can have overlap (a still open intake valve while the cylinder is starting to come back up on the compression stroke). Something that does not work on N/A motors and reduces power makes MORE power on F/I motors, so if your cam is spec'd to be a hot N/A cam your hurting your power potential and drivability. If that is the cam, it seems like it's spec'd right. You will know if it's right when you drive the car for a while. If it feels like it has alot of get up power but the turbos don't feel like their adding to the equation like they should, that would be something to think about.

Your tuner will know if that cam spec isn't whats in the car once he starts pushing the limit and seeing the air load or VE isn't where it should be at that spec.

Well, got a call from RPM Transmissions today (Monday) and my transmission, differential and brace, all assembled, and ready to be put in my car, will be shipped out today and should be delivered at South Georgia Corvette on Wednesday.

Aaron says he can start right on it when it shows up. I'm hoping the new clutch disks will stop the slipping after being broken in, and then the tuning can be finished up. Still some cleanup to be done, as Chris Harwood (the original guy working on the car) apparently wasn't too worried about aesthetics when he was putting the plumbing and wiring together underneath the hood. But unless some other head banding type problem shows up, maybe this will all be done soon. Of course, getting this done on the 13th month might not be the best of omens.

Here's some pics of the trans, diff, and brace that Jeremy at RPM sent to me.