The owner was/is a crook screwed people out of money. He took payments in lump sums and the customers vehicles, never finished them and let them sit for years on end damaging the cars in the Texas climate.
Don't give him, or the supposed new owner any money.
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02:03 PM
nosrac Member
Posts: 3520 From: Euless, TX, US Registered: Jan 2005
Originally posted by TXOPIE:[color=#000000][/color]
DO NOT just bring it to a shop with all the bolt on parts...they will screw it up...just search for dfw nightmare on here to see my pains.
It depends how soon he is looking to have it completed...I know Stephen is pretty booked...but he could only say for sure.
But he is the best resource in the DFW area for the swap in my opinion.
True, Stephen is the best in Texas but he has his LS4 swap to finish....
Again this is NOT rocket science with ALL the correct pre-made swap parts and a swap guide (PFF)a 16 year old kid in his dad's garage can do it. (has done it...LOL)
So why couldn't a "QUALIFIED" mechanic do it? They can with all the BOLT on swap parts. You can't just drop the swap off to someone and expect them to know what to do.
There are many custom parts needed to make the swap work or you can easily buy them off the shelf.
The ones who fail usually try to fabricate something custom (harness, mounts, PCM, etc )and don't know or are too cocky to follow what works and has already been done 100+ times already.
Originally posted by nosrac: So why couldn't a "QUALIFIED" mechanic do it? They can with all the BOLT on swap parts. You can't just drop the swap off to someone and expect them to know what to do.
The same reason they can't figure out how to disengage the parking brake when I take my car in to get the annual state required safety inspection?
Just because mechanics are mechanically inclined doesn't mean they don't get tripped up every once in a while. There are also plenty of kids who buy "JDM" engines off eBay to swap into their Civics, and have no idea what they're doing or asking to have done, that just drop them off at mechanics who don't really know what to do either. A lot of mechanics just get burned out with people asking to do engine swaps that aren't direct replacements. Not to mention the lack of knowledge in general about Fieros in standard mechanic shops around the country. Maybe they could do the swap and get it running, and maybe it'll have crushed coolant tubes when it's done, too.
Best bet is to find someone who knows what they're doing with Fieros and engine swaps, to do it. And to have some idea of what you're asking to have done, before taking the car anywhere.
The same reason they can't figure out how to disengage the parking brake when I take my car in to get the annual state required safety inspection?
Best bet is to find someone who knows what they're doing with Fieros and engine swaps, to do it. And to have some idea of what you're asking to have done, before taking the car anywhere.
True, but people who know how to work on Fiero's are NOT plentiful. Some of the one who know what their doing charge mega $$$K for a swap or have a year waiting list.
So to get a reasonable price and a reasonable time frame you really don't have much of a choice.
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05:21 PM
mptighe Member
Posts: 3321 From: Houston, TX Registered: Aug 2009
Yeah, if Mstangs can't get you in, it would be a good idea to either try yourself or see if one of the other more reputable shops in other parts of the country could do it. I wonder if Mstangs knows anything about the FF "new ownership".
EDIT, it doesn't say anything about new ownership on their home page.
[This message has been edited by mptighe (edited 02-21-2013).]
Originally posted by nosrac: True, but people who know how to work on Fiero's are NOT plentiful. Some of the one who know what their doing charge mega $$$K for a swap or have a year waiting list.
So to get a reasonable price and a reasonable time frame you really don't have much of a choice.
Right. Though just purchasing some of the necessary parts can also be a chore with the people offering them being back logged, unresponsive, or just disappeared, at this point, as well.
Is there a vendor known to have stock ready to sell that is responsive right now? I've seen plenty of "where are my parts" threads come up in recent past, with people trying to get 3800 swap parts.
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05:28 PM
mptighe Member
Posts: 3321 From: Houston, TX Registered: Aug 2009
Right. Though just purchasing some of the necessary parts can also be a chore with the people offering them being back logged, unresponsive, or just disappeared, at this point, as well.
Is there a vendor known to have stock ready to sell that is responsive right now? I've seen plenty of "where are my parts" threads come up in recent past, with people trying to get 3800 swap parts.
VERY true. Also, from experience, you could probably buy a swapped car for less than it would cost to have the swap done. Just a thought.
OH ok well that answers that. i'm looking to buy a full engine kit upgrade 3800 s/c everything from brackets to tuning and i moved here recently and now have a tiny garage with stinks. I do have the abilitly to do it just not the space right now..... so they r defiantly out lol thanks everybody any idea who could help me out?
OH ok well that answers that. i'm looking to buy a full engine kit upgrade 3800 s/c everything from brackets to tuning and i moved here recently and now have a tiny garage with stinks. I do have the abilitly to do it just not the space right now..... so they r defiantly out lol thanks everybody any idea who could help me out?
First you need to collect ALL the conversion parts, that can take anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months.
Then you need to work out most of the details of HOW to do the install before the install (pictures, spreadsheets, etc).
Finally set up everything on a spare cradle ready for install before you drop/take out old engine.
Then ANY "QUALIFIED" shop/mechanic can finish the install as it is MOSTLY plug and play at this point.
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07:44 PM
mptighe Member
Posts: 3321 From: Houston, TX Registered: Aug 2009
Did he move to New York, or is that a company he registered through? Man I hope this isn't another bad vendor trying to slip back into the community on or off the forum,
[Edited by C. Pennock: Personal Information removed]
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07:49 PM
nosrac Member
Posts: 3520 From: Euless, TX, US Registered: Jan 2005
Is there a vendor known to have stock ready to sell that is responsive right now? I've seen plenty of "where are my parts" threads come up in recent past, with people trying to get 3800 swap parts.
Sure, but it is a long process as you can't get ALL the conversion parts in two weeks. There are many vendors who have some of the parts and you usually can't get all the parts from just one.
Hell, I could be the middle man and get all the parts for you for a fee for a true bolt on kit. .
I'm NOT just talking out my AZZ either as I couldn't get the best installer in Texas so I have to go to several local shops for my swapped car.
Muffler shops, Trans shops, General shops, Brake shops. You gotta shop around and get a good feel for the person working on your car.
Did he move to New York, or is that a company he registered through? Man I hope this isn't another bad vendor trying to slip back into the community on or off the forum,
It looks like its a company that registers on your behalf, and blocks your real address, phone, etc..
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07:57 PM
85fierogtmaster Member
Posts: 229 From: Houston, TX, USA Registered: Jun 2010
I am a qualified performance mechanic so I can just do the whole thing ... i guess its time to clean out the garage lol
Interesting..... Do you know how to tune? When I finally beat out the crappy NJ weather and get my car, I'll be happy to let you look it over if you want to see an example.
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08:12 PM
nosrac Member
Posts: 3520 From: Euless, TX, US Registered: Jan 2005
I am a qualified performance mechanic so I can just do the whole thing ... i guess its time to clean out the garage lol
This IS the best option. I would recommend getting most of the conversion parts from established forum vendors and make a build thread so the veterans can point you in the right direction. The more bolt on parts you get the easier the build. The conversion has been done many many times before and besides a 3.4 pushrod it is the easiest conversion and highest performing swap out there.
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08:15 PM
PFF
System Bot
85fierogtmaster Member
Posts: 229 From: Houston, TX, USA Registered: Jun 2010
I know a little enough to edit a tune but nothing i would feel comfortable doing on someone elses ride just yet i don't have any software tho lol... but picking right parts, fabricating (once i get a better welding), install is not a problem. lol
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08:17 PM
nosrac Member
Posts: 3520 From: Euless, TX, US Registered: Jan 2005
Interesting..... Do you know how to tune? When I finally beat out the crappy NJ weather and get my car, I'll be happy to let you look it over if you want to see an example.
There are a lot of tuners out there but its gona cost ~$350. I bet your tune is pretty good already and won't need to be changed unless you are going to the track.
But again you can do it....Hell, I learned as I was green as the Hulk when I started.
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08:24 PM
Tony Kania Member
Posts: 20794 From: The Inland Northwest Registered: Dec 2008
There are a lot of tuners out there but its gona cost ~$350. I bet your tune is pretty good already and won't need to be changed unless you are going to the track.
But again you can do it....Hell, I learned as I was green as the Hulk when I started.
Tuned in 40 - 50 degree weather and with a somewhat anemic fuel pump. I'm going to have the pump changed out and have another tune created for Houston summers. I also want it dyno tuned to get it as efficient as possible. Either way I have HP Tuners and will be able to work with whoever is involved. I'm also on the lookout for someone who will help me maintain the car locally in case Mstangs is too busy or I don't have the time to get it to him.
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08:35 PM
nosrac Member
Posts: 3520 From: Euless, TX, US Registered: Jan 2005
Tuned in 40 - 50 degree weather and with a somewhat anemic fuel pump. I'm going to have the pump changed out and have another tune created for Houston summers. I also want it dyno tuned to get it as efficient as possible. Either way I have HP Tuners and will be able to work with whoever is involved. I'm also on the lookout for someone who will help me maintain the car locally in case Mstangs is too busy or I don't have the time to get it to him.
The pump should make NO difference in the tune as the fuel pressure reg should keep it the same, Unless the pump couldn't keep up in higher RPM's and it was leaning out the AFR.
I'd love to, but I was burned out about a year ago...I need some serious R&R.....like building my own car
Dave
What this man said...I burnt myself out on swaps and it sucks cause I loved the finished product that I produced. But like Guru said u never get to work on ur own cars which tends to suck.
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10:22 PM
Feb 22nd, 2013
bmwguru Member
Posts: 4692 From: Howell, NJ USA Registered: Sep 2006
Tuned in 40 - 50 degree weather and with a somewhat anemic fuel pump. I'm going to have the pump changed out and have another tune created for Houston summers. I also want it dyno tuned to get it as efficient as possible. Either way I have HP Tuners and will be able to work with whoever is involved. I'm also on the lookout for someone who will help me maintain the car locally in case Mstangs is too busy or I don't have the time to get it to him.
Not to derail this thread, but your fuel pump was fine on 14psi. On 16.5psi, it started to give up, but it never got anywhere near dangerous. You won't need to adjust your tune when changing the pump. When you come up to test drive your car, I will show you some basics on the HP Tuners to adjust your tune for the temperature difference. I'll load my configuration setup for your car on your laptop so you can datalog and make sure it is right (I ran the wideband through the EGR 0-5v for datalogging).
As for Loyde, he is a real piece of crap. He ripped off my tech years ago, but in turn that was how I met Ryan. He came to me for a harness that Loyde never completed and I liked his fabrication skills. If he is saying he is back in business, then he is going to rip more people off. I'd say 75% of my swaps I completed were people not on this forum. Anyone who is none the wiser and has Google will be a potential victim. He needs to be stopped.
Dave
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05:03 AM
mptighe Member
Posts: 3321 From: Houston, TX Registered: Aug 2009
Not to derail this thread, but your fuel pump was fine on 14psi. On 16.5psi, it started to give up, but it never got anywhere near dangerous. You won't need to adjust your tune when changing the pump. When you come up to test drive your car, I will show you some basics on the HP Tuners to adjust your tune for the temperature difference. I'll load my configuration setup for your car on your laptop so you can datalog and make sure it is right (I ran the wideband through the EGR 0-5v for datalogging).
As for Loyde, he is a real piece of crap. He ripped off my tech years ago, but in turn that was how I met Ryan. He came to me for a harness that Loyde never completed and I liked his fabrication skills. If he is saying he is back in business, then he is going to rip more people off. I'd say 75% of my swaps I completed were people not on this forum. Anyone who is none the wiser and has Google will be a potential victim. He needs to be stopped.
Dave
Cool, just want to have my bases covered. So, I should be thanking Loyde for my headers since Ryan fabbed them, and you only met Ryan because Loyde ripped him off? Kind of weird to think of it that way.
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12:47 PM
nosrac Member
Posts: 3520 From: Euless, TX, US Registered: Jan 2005
Cool, just want to have my bases covered. So, I should be thanking Loyde for my headers since Ryan fabbed them, and you only met Ryan because Loyde ripped him off? Kind of weird to think of it that way.
It is sad to say that FF may be still up to the same tricks as of last year. I know I directed someone off of motorswap.org to phonedawgs for a harness in October of last year, as he stated that FF had his money and did not send him a harness.
I really don't know what happened to FF as he showed excellent business practices with me.
I never had a problem with him and I guess I was lucky. He was always polite, knowledgeable, had excellent products, and was very helpful. It is such a shame to waste that talent.
