sorry to hear about all the problems Dixit .



-Steve

 

Wow some of those welds to look very bad. I had a buddy of mine do some welding on his own custom turbo project and his didn't look that bad. VERY rookie job. Looks like they were just trying to finish asap and not paying attention to anything. THEY KNEW YOU HAD TO FLY IN to the shop and had to drive 600 miles back. It's pretty lame that they didn't seem to make any effort to have the car even close to being ready by the time you arrived. Your VERY lucky you weren't stranded on the side of the road.

Best of luck and I hope you get it fixed. Unfortunately, I think you will be stuck with fixing it yourself(if you really want it done to YOUR satisfaction). Then negotiate some type of refund for the things you had to fix on your own.

 

that sucks that it came down to this...I agree with Jeff though, I would definently look into a partial refund of some sort, thats ridiculous. be it the first made 5th gen custom kit or not, when you advertise a service and put somehting out on the market and make the buyer pay top dollar, the work should either be top qulity or no go...this post will probably bring up A LOT of second thoughts on which turbo system to choose.

 

Hal has a lot to learn about doing business and customer service if he thinks that is any kind of excuse.

You (the customer) don't care what kind of profit he is or isn't making. The only thing you care about is getting quality products & service.

 

I can't believe that you were some mild in your post.
You are a very honorable man to not really let him have it here on the org.

Note: Dixit has made many attempts to contact Hal and he will NOT reply back to his e-mails or calls. So he tried everything to correct this with Hal but Hal seems to NOT want to do the right thing.

If it were me I would seriously seek legal help. (that might get his attention)

 

Kev definitely has the resources and knowhow, that's for damn sure! If Kev came up with a kit, it would be perfect I am certain of that cos Kevin is very detail oriented (hehe wanted to say **** ) Kev has been invaluable in making the kit better and also helping others with install not only on PFI's but others as well. Can't thank him enough!

Dixit, truely sorry you went through this. Kev and Doug went through hell with our kit too! Things have to get better. I was kind of waiting for someone to start bashing me too cos of the problems we have been having.

 

Just a note to Dixit, not that you have not been: Make sure in all messages and such, you are Mr. Cool. No Kinsu (sp?) knives!

Also, legal assistance should be a "for sure". Make sure to get a note book going, document your time (plane tickets, phone calls, time in shops). Document money spent. Get check cashing dates, bill of sales, values and everything. If you send email, cc: a few "responsible" people for documentation sake. If you are voice mailing, check on laws of his state and yours about recording conversation and every conversation should be recorded w/in the letter of the law. Since he is not replying, this will merely prove you are trying to get ahold of him.

And for sure buy some time of good legal counsel. Dont wait to long.

I dont want to condem anybody, but as the facts that I see currently represented in this thread (I have no reason not to "distrust" them) I believe that Dixit is getting a very short stick.

 

Just a heads up....HAL stated in this thread that he MOVED to CA ???
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....hreadid=208857

 

Sorry to hear about your problems. I seriously did consider a turbo kit from Hal even before Bags got his. I'm glad for once I could hold back. Best of luck to you.

 

Dixit, I fly off the handle when I'm cheated out a soft taco let alone something that huge for my car, some good restraint you have. Since I'll never buy anything from his lame azz I can say whatever I want and I say its a crying shame to take a prime ride like Dixits and fubar it because you don't have the talent or timing to build a quality product. Take a mans money and leave him with half the car he started with, that should be worthy of some sort of vehicular castration.

 

I am sorry to hear all the problems you had dixit. All I can say is goodluck and I hope everything turns out to be ok

 

Well I know about all of this because we talk often and you have really given me even more incentive to take my car to a shop that does high end work and just have them do something custom that will accomodate keeping both fans, running piping smoothly and etc.

My car is my only car and I wouldn't have the time or patience to deal with so many problems. Granted when I first started with my air ride I had a bunch of issues, but to Alex's (southwest autoworks) credit we worked everything out and I learned that this **** is custom and whether or not you pay a certain amount of money you aren't going to be able to have that 100% stock feeling. I think this goes for both turbo kits out there, as Nigel just attested to.

I have come to find that if a shop looks shady, unless it has a reputation that preceeds it, the work will be shady. And it's hard to know that unless you find out from someone or you find out yourself. I am really sorry that all this stuff happened to you and it's hard to believe that Hal wouldn't be helping you out on all of this, but that is none of my business or the org's business really.

Best of luck, and I look forward to chillin at some shows and when I come up to ATL for my coilovers and turbo this summer. I can refer you to the shop which will be doing a couple turbo maximas this summer and hopefully they can fix it up for you if you are going to keep the car.

Jason

 

i told you time and time again, it was never your fault and you should never beat yourself up over it. My kit is fine, i am happy with it. I can't thank you enough for putting your money where your mouth is when you first stepped up and said you would do a turbo kit, i was one of the first ones to flame you and you did what you were going to do. I got nothing but love for you brotha

 

Holy crap.

I can't believe you people. I mean, do you really expect FI on an NA car to be plug and play? This isn't installing a USB mouse. This is getting an NA factory car to do something it was never meant to do. You can't just drop a turbo into the car and hope everything runs right from the get-go. I'm truly sorry that dixit had to go through everything that he has, but most of you haven't even bought the kit let alone had experience working on a turbo car.

Let me tell you, I've worked on several turbocharged and supercharged motors with my friends. They are all FRAUGHT with problems. Even the ones that come boosted from the factory have boost pipes that pop off and leaky oil lines. It seems like the first opportunity you get, you just want to jump down his throat. People with first hand experience with his kit have a right to complain and voice their opinions. People who are just spectating and chiming in their prejudgement are just lemmings.

I've heard hal on the phone with dixit and I think he is totally misrepresenting hal's attitude. Maybe it's because i'm hal's friend but I think they're interpreting his intentions through the filter of their frustration. I mean, you heard it yourself, the man gave up his OWN MUFFLER OFF HIS OWN CAR. He's STILL driving around with no muffler, because he's too broke to buy a new one and you guys are talking about suing him? I mean, I understand the frustration, but really, what did you expect?

It's quite a feat to ask of one guy working with a shop, to drop off your car for a set period of time, have a custom turbo kit fabricated and installed for free, and have set number of days to complete it. There is no time allocated for testing or tweaking. I've seen him overnight products to customers on more than one occasion, and take phone calls to try to diagnose problems late into the night. Never EVER have I heard him give anyone the attitude that 'it's not my problem.'

Call me biased because I'm his personal friend, but I don't make friends with scum. Hal is a good guy. Give him a friggin break. He just moved to california and has to do everything over the phone. I'm getting really frustrated because all I see is a few people having problems that they should expect with any turbo kit, and a million other people jumping on the bandwagon and just bashing him.

Frankly, I'm starting to see a pattern develop here. Anyone who innovates or offers his services to the .org invariably gets hated on by the resident haters and lemmings. I've seen it happen to Don in Texas, RoadBeast, Brian Catts, and now Hal.

Do you understand that these people are not huge companies like stillen or greddy and they cannot provide the level of customer service or product quality that you feel you have a RIGHT to? I think the risks are pretty much implied when you employ the services of an individual that helps out other enthusiasts in their spare time with their own money. They may not have all the resources at their disposal to provide a top notch experience. After all, wouldn't most people would just do it all themselves if they had the know-how.

That's my piece,

Dennis

 

Mine was! No, its not a turbo kit, but its basically the same kind of money. For that type of money, people expect high quality stuff. If it was just a small fitment problem here and there, that's one thing, but from the pictures, this is just low quality stuff.

You're kidding....right?

 

Ok bad example, but most of you wouldn't have even heard of the MEVI without him. I also remember Iansw getting flamed a lot when he first offered to bring some in from NZ or AUS.

It's just the prevailing attitude of the org. Bunch of haters

 

Yeah the lemmings have got to go.

 

well now thats conflict of interest.

oh btw.. i totally forgot about that PN for the tranny.. please pm me that type of tranny again.. i forgot if its the HLSD or the VLSD.. i got buried in some printer projects at work sorry.

 

To all the lemmings

 

I agree. But then you ought to spend that type of money on a larger reputable company like Greddy, HKS, or Stillen. No wait.

THEY DON'T MAKE TURBO KITS FOR US!?

I guess you have to just take the risk and understand everything that comes with it.

As for the quality issues, the welds look bad, but i've seen much worse. However, they function and don't leak or break. I can't speak for Hal, but last I heard he's not working with that shop anymore after Dixit and Baggs' bad experiences.

 

Hey I made no bones about my personal friendship with Hal

I'm just being a good friend and telling things the way I've seen them.

I'll pm ya

 

This is an understood point, its NOT plug and play. But thats not the supreme beef that Dixit has. Missing parts, non-delivered correct parts, crappy installation, a car that does not run....so on and so forth.

No, we have seen picture of poor installation(s), as there are more than just one out there. We have "read" about how Dixit was not even able to keep the motor running above 4 psi. Not a tuning issue, an INSTALLATION issue. Basically stuff was being tried one way and then another way, no real direction or "knowledge" there.

We can only evaluate the facts present. Dixit mentioned a month or so ago that he was having issues, but said that at the time Hal was working on the problem. Seems that Hal has LEFT the problem and ignored the issues. He did not say that he is being treated "super" badly, but not returning phone calls and email is to be interpreted how?

Dont promise it then. Plain and simple if you cant do it, dont promise it. Its not the CUSTOMERS fault that the promise date was not met. The INSTALLER should know how long it takes to install. Parts are not available is NOT the customers fault. I also believe that FREE does come into play. Because if someone installed that kind of half assed work in MY car for a FEE, I would not have hesitated to get a refund, through legal means if necessary. Heck, Dixit said (only information available) that he sent it xxx weeks in advance and it was cashed. So why were the parts not available and ready? I pull that crap with my customer and I am out of a job. A phone call to Dixit to say it mostly here except for xxx and it will take xxx time will allow Dixit to rebook his flight and appropriately account for his time.

Being his friend WILL bias you. But it will bias any human being towards their friend. I believe you are wrong about the bashing. But again, you are defending your friend, nothing wrong in the attempt. There are just to many facts (in picture form) that cause a bad taste in many peoples' mouth. He may mean well, but people are coughing up large amounts of change to have this work done. But its a different story when FULL mandrel bends are promised, but crushed delivered. When FULL 3" back exhaust is promised but no muffler to be seen and a "make" do 2.5" muffler installed. Heat wrap promised, but never delivered. Who knows about delivery promise dates, promise of quality and so forth.

Are you kidding me? Roadbeast? Don in Texas? Are you for real? Do you READ the .ORG? Those two people walked off with MONEY for serviced NEVER rendered. Totally different situation. I have no idea about Catts.

Now thats just plain hiding behind the skirt. If you cant provide the service, DONT CHARGE for it. Hence my guess as to why installation is free. Very tempting, but inspection is required. If I cough up xxxK dollars I have a RIGHT to get proper delivery, installation of said product. The sellar has NO right to hide behind being private dealer. My guess there is a TON of other "legal" issue that could be explored here, but thats not the point.

Everyone is allowed their .02, and often one persons .02 does not match another persons .02

 

Can't disagree with that.

I was making my comments based on what I know first hand of the situation at hand. Of course differing perspectives exist and must be considered. I will let Hal respond to the specifics and technical considerations himself and reserve further comment.

 

Like I said, I am biased.



The issue at hand is the way that people treat each other on the .org . I was noticing hostility and accusations towards the above mentioned persons long before any wrong-doing. Don in Texas for example, pioneered the VB mod for maximas, offered his services, built a bad-*** maxima, and for a long time was considered the ultimate guru of the .org. How quickly he fell from grace! I was pointing out how quickly people are willing to jump on the hate band-wagon around here. I still hear differing opinions as to wheter he really 'walked off' with cash or not.


I already conceded roadbeast was a bad example.

 

where is hal?

 

 

Would you buy a turbo kit from Hal? If so, would you expect to see the same kind of problems others here have had? And if not, then why do you think you wouldn't have the same problems?

I've personally built one of the most difficult turbo cars that can be built, and it's not nearly the hassle and heartache that I've read from your statement (or from any of the other experiences shared here and in various other posts/threads). It's poor planning and design on the part of the seller, plain and simple. It's bad judgement on choosing his assembly shop/point. Each kit should be, at the very least, tested before it is released back into the hands of the owner/mod buyer. Each kit should be of equal or greater build quality as the owners own ride. I would consider his kit if/when these issues are resolved...not a moment before. For the money, it's a good deal IF IT'S A GOOD ASSEMBLY and at least decent quality components.

 

I am not going to back up Harold for this kit, I mean obviously the work and effort put into it are horrible. What I will say is Harold for what I have known him is a good person I think and is not someone to run away with the money and not do anything. It was known he was moving to Cali so that is nothing new...I just hope he resolves everything for you guys and everyone is happy at the end...I can understand your frustration with the kit and the amount of $ spent on it...I hope he pulls through for you guys...Like I said I am not backing his work up or defending him, just hope all works out well

 

hehe...took me so long to write, spell check and work at the same time, I missed that post {DOH!}

 

Yes, I would. And I would also expect all the problems above. However I would also plan to have a hand in every stage of the process, from selecting the turbo that fits my needs, to planning out the routing of the exhaust and intercooler piping. It takes a certain level of knowledge and reasonable expectations to even begin to contemplate modding a car with custom turbo kit.

Bad judgement on Hal's part? Probably, but I haven't seen any indication that he isn't willing to make things right.

I've worked on boosted DSM's, VW's, and Nissans, including a 300zxTT. Agreed, if everything goes perfectly, everything is gravy. But how often does that happen? I dunno, you're most likely just luckier or more qualified than I though.

Lets wait till Hal gets off work and see what he has to say?

 

Hi Dennnis!

 

 

Ooops... too many n's.

 

Sounds like you are getting screwed, but maybe things will work out. I can tell you one thing, that weld is the worst I have ever seen. I have spent my share of time at my friends race shop and the tack welds that his guys do are 10X's nicer than that. That is obviously very poor work and I would expect a weld like that from a beginner. A poor weld like that will eventually break or start leaking.

 

Thanks dude! But I was refering to you beating me up but others!

Dixit, Dunno if you've changed anything in your enginebay since these pics were taken but better be wary of stuff melting close to the turbo. I think someone else has melted stuff too.

Good luck

 

I second Sprint's comments. You have definitely helped a lot... without you, I would still be waiting on the correct pipes.

I will get back to your emails soon since I have time to reply to them now.

 

good luck man

 

I think the muffler thing is kind out of a slap in the face.. I mean, yeah he took the one off his car, but it wasn't even the right one and it didn't fit. I think Hal is responsible for the shops work only because he is the one who chose that shop. If their work gets worse after he leaves he can't be accountable for that.

What happened to the few turbo maxima that I saw pictures of there at the shop earlier on, did they all have problems? I just am wondering for myself how many cars got turbos there and what the ratio of poor work to good work is?

It's easy to pin this on hal on a few levels but I think you need to look at the risks he was taking and how much time/effort/money he put into this and realize that it's not really "bolt on."

 

im sorry to hear about this, and sorry for your disappointment. Im still waiting for someone to blow up their engine... .. unless of course there has been a managment system setup.


i wish you the best possible from this situation

 

I think Hal is resposible for every aspect of the job for one reason: He's the one who took the money. Dixit is Hal's customer, not the shop's customer. Plain and simple.