To all,

Now I don't really like to do this, but sometimes you have to make the public aware of these incompetent idiots out there who we try and do business with.
Usually I don't like to put names of places into posts, and please anyone let me know if this offends. I will edit it, and replace it with 'xx..' or something..
Hope you all can learn from my mistakes.

Situation goes something like this:
I make an agreement with motor importer (Best Jap in Molan Rd Ringwood), to import an S14 turbo motor HALF CUT. I agree with the importer to keep the price down, it would be a good thing if they kept the bonnet, guards, and suspension, as I would not be needing them when I put it into my 1600. BUT I still need to have something resembling a half cut. I agree on a price and put a deposit down of $500. These guys weren't going to give me a receipt, but fortunetely I specifically asked for one. The guy pulls out a business card and writes down the money I paid, and said 'here you go' I said, no can I please have a proper receipt, so I end up getting a proper receipt. (YAY!)

I get a phone call about 3 weeks later saying that they weren't going to let me have the intercooler with the half cut, unless I pay an extra $200. They also said that they would be removing all of the driveline (steering etc. etc.) I said that I was not happy, as I agreed that I was going to get a HALF CUT, minus the bits we agreed to. So they agree to give me the intercooler with the price, and leave all the stuff on for me to remove later. I agree to this and wait until the motor reaches our shores.

Half cut reaches our shores. I am then told that they have sold the Radiator mounts and other parts of the front sheet metal, and they would be supplying me with just a motor, gearbox, loom and computer. NOT A HALF CUT!!! They were going to remove it all, and I specifically didn't want this as I wanted it all in working order. I said that I did not agree to this, and was not happy. He said, you can have your deposit back then.

I spoke to the ACCC, and they told me if he says I can have my deposit back, then there is nothing I can do. Apart from being frustrated, If I get my money back, then there is S.F.A I can do!

So I am now motor-less and very and and not to mention and

Don't deal with these great big stinky poo poo heads, and if anyone out there knows of an S14 HALF CUT for sale, please let me know!

Thems the lack of brakes and other associated components hey.

Dave

_________________
USA Daily: 2014 Nissan GT-R, very minor modifications for the track
USA Project: 1978 280Z, minor suspension upgrades, VK56DE conversion in progress. SOLD
AUS Race Car: 1973 240Z, L28ET, Autronic, GT35R. SOLD
AUS Project: 1972 1600, 3200km old S15 SR20DET, ground up rebuild. SOLD

Yeah I know my sides are bursting with excitment over getting my deposit back.

10 points for insisting on a receipt. Almost every day on forums you read of some guy that got ripped because he didn't have a receipt to stand on legally. It saved your arse and deposit! Good luck with the next front cut

The competitive market seems to force importers to sell all those little bits. If they don't profit off the front cut itself so they must profit from selling hard to get little bits from the cuts for inflated prices.

I agree with everything you said.

Still doesn't make it 'right' to promise something, agree to it, and then go back on one's word. Multiple times.

I thought I was doing them a favour by saying they could keep the bonnet, guards, and suspension. Seems they got greedy and wanted more!

Oh well. Next half cut will be twice as good ( ) if that is possible....

Funny thing would've been handing them the business card with the scribble on it and saying 'can I have my deposit back?' Now that would have been funny!! I would have been laughing at myself on that one..

Why are you so hellbent on a half-cut? Really, what are you going to be using from it?

Dave

_________________
USA Daily: 2014 Nissan GT-R, very minor modifications for the track
USA Project: 1978 280Z, minor suspension upgrades, VK56DE conversion in progress. SOLD
AUS Race Car: 1973 240Z, L28ET, Autronic, GT35R. SOLD
AUS Project: 1972 1600, 3200km old S15 SR20DET, ground up rebuild. SOLD

Well two things:

Fircstly (he he)
A half cut would really mean that the wiring would not be tampered with by the wreckers, AND I would have known that I was getting EVERYTHING that I needed, and could sell, or chuck out the stuff I didn't need.

Secondly, it is the principle that I asked for a half cut and didn't get it (whether I need it is another matter...)

Fair enough. So you're going standard computer? Read: not too much power?

Dave

_________________
USA Daily: 2014 Nissan GT-R, very minor modifications for the track
USA Project: 1978 280Z, minor suspension upgrades, VK56DE conversion in progress. SOLD
AUS Race Car: 1973 240Z, L28ET, Autronic, GT35R. SOLD
AUS Project: 1972 1600, 3200km old S15 SR20DET, ground up rebuild. SOLD

Getting a half cut is a great idea.
Once you have taken all you need there would be a lot of $$$ worth left for sale. Plenty of Drifter wannabes crashing their S14's

Glad you got your cash back.
Good that you name shamed them.

_________________
1975 P610/180B SSS ex PRC3 Rally car (parts car)
1974 P610/180B SSS (parts car)
1972 P510/1600 Currently sitting untouched
1977 P610/180B Wagon Daily Driver

Dave,

That was the general idea to start of with. 6PSI on 1st gear and the full 9 from then on.

Factory computer would have been more than enough to keep me happy for a while and let the good old wallet recouperate after passing $4500 from it.

Should also be easy to get engineered, AND it would also mean getting a plug and play computer would be a piece of cake.

Oh, and haven't got my deposit back yet. Should be getting that back next week....

Nik,

Fair enough. I like control myself, I doubt I'll ever D!ck around with standard computers again. Which is a shame because my S15 has got the entire front car loom sitting there untouched (I pulled it out of the car myself). Meh.

Dave

_________________
USA Daily: 2014 Nissan GT-R, very minor modifications for the track
USA Project: 1978 280Z, minor suspension upgrades, VK56DE conversion in progress. SOLD
AUS Race Car: 1973 240Z, L28ET, Autronic, GT35R. SOLD
AUS Project: 1972 1600, 3200km old S15 SR20DET, ground up rebuild. SOLD

Hey dave?

Ummm....

Got a question for you!

Umm....

You wanna sell your S15 half cut?!!

Its not a half-cut. Its just engine/gearbox/computer/loom/afm etc.

Oh, and no.


Dave

_________________
USA Daily: 2014 Nissan GT-R, very minor modifications for the track
USA Project: 1978 280Z, minor suspension upgrades, VK56DE conversion in progress. SOLD
AUS Race Car: 1973 240Z, L28ET, Autronic, GT35R. SOLD
AUS Project: 1972 1600, 3200km old S15 SR20DET, ground up rebuild. SOLD

Poor effort at customer relations, morons.

I have a friend who was in the same sorta situation. Had a 1991 silvia sr20 NA. Well, got sick of only having the 120kw at the flywheel. Planned to do a conversion to a blacktop sr20t like outta my daily driver ( 95 180sx turbo sr20 ) into his silvia. Living in Tamworth NSW, he found a "half cut" in Newcastle NSW for $3500. So he payed the extra $200 to get it freighted here. Mechanic inspected the "halfcut" on arrival here in tamworth to find brakes were gone! and this is where the story gets interesting. upon futher inspection, mechanic finds the all so crucial part of the package, the turbo, is absolutely rooted, would not turn, JAMMED! Rings them up, they say " well thats not good". and tells me mate to take the turbo off the engine and freight it back to them and they would send another back. What ever happened to quality assurance? Not to mention he shouldn't have to take the turbo off, they shoulda checked it out before sending it. What a pack of losers.
Anywho, my sources say SSS Automotive sell well, but are a lil pricey, but if you want quality gear and service I guess you have to pay a lil extra.
Don't let the bastards get you down.

SSS are great, i bought my engine package from them. They are honest and made sure everything was there. And an engine package from them means intercooler, cat converter, fuel pump as well as all the usual essentials. The guys there (Joe and Geoff) are very familiar with every bit you need to be on the road.

They have around 6-10 turbo SRs in there at any time. I was free to take my pick from the bunch. They let me take the rocker cover off for inspection and let me use their boroscope to check out the bores too. The engine I got looked like new inside and only had 35k on the clock.

They have a piping room which is full of intercooler piping bits. You are free to take what you need if you want to mix and match to save costs.

They keep the ECU until you are ready to start it up, then you collect the ECU and your warranty starts from that date. When I got mine all installed the synchros were rooted in 1st and 2nd gear. They exchanged the box for another one without any questions asked or dramas. (The new box is good - no problems).

So basically I can highly recommend them. And no I don't personally know anyone there other than as a customer.

_________________
1971 Datsun P510 SR20DET 276 rwkW
2005 Mercedes AMG E55 350 kW
1969 Datsun P510 L20B EFI 95 rwkW
1975 Ford XB Fairmont GS Wagon 179rwhp
1980 Escort Van SR20DET unfinished
2002 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa 185hp