ENOUGH IS ENOUGH...

Grant, to say that I am EXTREMELY disappointed with how I have been treated is
the understatement of the year.

I lent you my parts and allowed you to use my car for measurements and test
fitting in good faith based on your promise to provide me with a kit free of charge
after developing the LT1 kit for the 3rd gen. RX-7, which you would then be free to
sell through Granny's Speed Shop.

It has now been THREE years (Fall of 1999) since you received my OEM parts,
and they have not yet been returned. It has now been THREE years since the
project was started, and I STILL do not have the complete conversion kit I was
promised.

Worse, I have an engine cradle which is NOT warped, as you stated, but doesn't
properly fit the LT1 because you took it upon yourself to eliminate the backing
plates of the motor mounts I chose to use. The backing plates are ABSOLUTELY
necessary to the structural integrity of the motor mounts, and without them, the
mounts quickly fail because the polyurethane tears free.

I was told this by Bill Hagen, who you sent my first cradle to, who has now gone
through three sets of motor mounts because of this mistake. John Pham, who
bought a cradle from you, has also been unable to bolt in his engine without
modifying the motor mounts. Brian Hinson, who was unable to bolt in an LS1
using your cradle kit sold it to another RX-7 owner who is unable to bolt in an LT1
without modifying the motor mounts. And I have heard from many others that they
have not received parts when promised, or in some cases at all.

I have been overly patient with you over the years. I have sent many potential
customers to you in good faith, telling them how high the quality of your kits are,
and how well they'll fit. You have used pictures of my car and engine on your site,
and the attention of my own project has generated an incredible amount of free
publicity for your business. Yet you have not seen fit to conclude our agreement
by providing me with my conversion kit, and returning my OEM parts.

Worse, you have been uncommunicative for months now. I have not received a
single response from you in several months now, and have never been able to
reach you by phone without getting your answering service. I will state again that
I have been EXCEEDINGLY patient with you, in my opinion, and have not held you
to providing a kit before I was ready, yet now you are holding up my project, and I
have discovered that the engine cradle you gave me was not warped, but just
doesn't work because you designed it that way.

Do you have anything to say for yourself? My patience is at an end. I don't expect
to hear from you or receive my conversion or OEM parts in a timely manner, based
on your previous behavior, and I am no longer willing to listen to excuses or promises.
I have held back from saying anything truly negative about my dealings with you in
the hopes that you would live up to your end of the bargain, but your silence tells me
all I need to know about the chances of that happening.

I will not threaten you again with negative publicity in order to get my parts. You
promised once before that you'd take care of everything after I found out that Bill
Hagen received the first engine cradle without my knowledge and I voiced my
displeasure. Consider this fair warning that I will no longer hold back my opinions and
the details of what I perceive to be very, very poor treatment. You've now sold several kits
and still have not taken care of the one you promised for the person who provided you
free publicity, potential sales, and the parts and car to model the kit from in the first
place.

In addition, I ask that you immediately remove any pictures of my car and engine and
any reference to me from your web site. You will no longer be allowed to use my name
and the pictures of my project to further your own business. Thank you for complying
with my wishes immediately.

Sincerely,

Jim LaBreck

Originally posted by SERIES7
I was heavily considering it in the future for my FD, any suggestions at this point?

Originally posted by jimlab
It's not worth my time and wouldn't accomplish anything. I'll put money on the fact that he doesn't have an FD LT1 engine cradle ready to hand me if I showed up in person, and even if he did, I guarantee that it has the same problems as the one I already have does. RedTT's, TwinT78's, and Bill Hagen's experiences with their LT1 cradles are proof of that.

He knew what his obligations were and chose not to honor them. He also knew, especially from the "Hayes incident", how vocal I can be when a vendor screws me over. He knew the risks of pissing me off, yet chose not to live up to his end of the bargain anyway. So be it.

Originally posted by GotBoostd7
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Originally posted by skunks
BTW: Did you have any sort of written contract with them?

It's customary for the guinea pig to get the first set of parts off the jigs for
free. Particularly when the car is as nice as yours and has potential for PR
references.

I would like to get my hands on as many 3rd gen parts as I can, if for no other
reason than to catalog dimensions and take reference pictures. Even the P/S pump and
A/C compressor would be nice to look at for bracket designing purposes.
It feels like the 3rd gen kit might be moving off the back burner.... : )

Grant

Great pictures, Jim. Much more than I expected.
I plan to bring an adjustable mock-up version, along with a lightweight
foam dummy engine and a few other parts, down for some real trial fits
in mid Jan.

The foam dummies are dimensionally very accurate, and have threaded
inserts for attaching headers, water pumps, valve covers, etc. The
mock-up cradle is adjustable up/down, fore/aft, and to a lesser extent,
side/side. Using them, we will be able to accurately determine & record
different placements that optimize clearances w/ and w/o the
distributor. We will also be able to determine, with reasonable
precision, real world induction system to hood clearances, which will
allow you to make an informed decision on what you can use. Might even
be able to stage a few pictures to really scare the hell out of the
insecure.

I'm still pretty liquid on the PPF thing. We'll get the car elevated a
little more in the back so we can work under there.

After we get placement finalized, it won't take much more than a week to
come up with a finished cradle. Maybe longer if we get it powder coated.
At least, you can get your suspension back together. Then someone can
push you around while you strap in, make engine noises, and practice
your reaction times. : )

Grant

From what we learned last nite, the T-56 shifter location will be 1" forward of
the center of the shifter opening, exactly (I measured the RX-7 shifter hole as
4"wide x 6"long). At a point 7" ahead of the T-56 shifter, the RX-7 tunnel is
11" wide. By applying a grid to a picture of the T-56, it appears that just
before this point, the T-56 begins to narrow. The number I had for shifter
offset was for the ZF (Corvette), so the offset may be less than the quoted
3-1/4". If it is close to the 1-1/2" as installed T-5 offset, there should be no
problems.

Grant

I will go ahead with a LT1 version. If you decide on another route, I've got a
couple guys bugging me for the #2 and #3 subframes, so it will be no problem to
get rid of. I just wanted yours to be the first.
The suspension part was held up only because of the "wings", and their possible
effect on the rear lower control arm bracket's support design.

Grant

The LT1 version will be done in a few days. A burned hand and a full shipping
schedule slowed progress last week. I would like to help install it, to see
firsthand if any problems are encountered.

Grant

I'll try to have the cradle ready by the end of the week. It's still awaiting
engine mount struts.
It will use the '82-up Camaro/Firebird style mounts.

Grant

If you prefer, we can use the type that the rubber DOES attach to the engine. It
was avail. on models other than the F body.
I can work with whatever you want to use.

Grant

The mounts I want to use are more common, but not quite as compact as the
Suburban type. The reason to use the these is that it's 7/16" dia bolt runs
parallel to the engine and is loaded in double shear, which is stronger.

Grant

The short one will work.

Grant

Jim LaBreck wrote:

> OK, I just don't want to buy the wrong motor mounts. They have a "short"
> motor mount and a "tall, wide" motor mount for Chevy early model. Which
> ones do I need?
>
> http://www.energysuspension.com/products1.html

I should be ready to go middle of next week.

Grant

Sorry for the late response.

Pressing business has prevented completion of the cradles so far, but I expect
to accomplish that soon, in the next couple of days.

Grant

Business here has been absolutely crazy lately. Progress is at a snail's pace on
the cradles, but they will soon be ready for powder. As soon as I'm done with
one, it will be coated and then sent it down for your approval.
Sorry for the delays......

Grant

Ready when you are.

I would like to bring the plastic engine again, to see if our headers are close
to clearing. It looks like they may work with only a re-design of the #7 pipe.
It will clear the brake booster already, but it presently runs into the left
rear lower control arm mount. If it looks like the collectors are positioned
well in relation to the floor pan.........

Looks like the rack will require some minor massaging to seat properly. I added
an inner step on the inner side of the left rack mount, but the register flange
on that side of the rack is quite large and will likely need a little trim. I
will bring an electric angle grinder to make short work of it.

At least it will be back on the ground again. : )

Grant

I've got a finished & coated subframe, 4th design, waiting to be installed (i'm
happy to report that the powdercoat does an excellent job of covering all of
the interior surfaces).

While I was at it, I made a couple of 'em. The other went to an AZ car, for a
stock LT1/6spd, and that engine & trans are presently in place. This is where I
learned of the locating flange mod needed for the steering rack. The mod is
required only on the inner flange on the left side, and only on the bottom
corners (that will be cured with the 5th design).

Grant

I will bring the cradle, and would love to have the rack for a while.
Guess I better figure out where Marymoor park is. Any tips on getting to
Marymoor Park?
What time is the meeting?
Someone called me a few months ago about coming down to attend a meeting for a
question and answer session, but I haven't heard from him since.

Grant

Jim LaBreck wrote:

> Looks like you're going to be at the RROW meeting at Marymoor Park on
> Saturday at the Velodrome. Would you mind bringing down the engine
> cradle. If you're interested in having the steering rack, I will bring that
> to
> the meeting.

I believe that it's the sandblast process that was to blame. In their
efforts to insure that both the inside and outside was thoroughly
etched, they must have induced some distortion.
Looks like i'm going to have to find a suitable dip process. Dipping may
be cheaper too.

Sorry for the inconvenience,

Grant

Jim LaBreck wrote:

> I got a little creative with a Dremel tool, and a sanding wheel, and
> now it fits. I removed about 1/16" - 1/8" from the outside edges
> of each hole. I'll just mask it off and paint the bare metal to keep
> it from rusting. I will probably just measure on each side of the
> car before I tighten it down to make sure it's even. I did not touch
> the alignment pin holes which are located between the front studs.

Grant, you have to have at least some idea that I'm extremely unhappy
right now with the way I've been treated. Bypassing me after the lengths
I've gone to in order to ensure that I had the parts we needed to check
fitments is very, very poor treatment. I bought an LT1 and T56 before I
was even sure what I was going to do with my motor way back in May,
just so we'd have the parts to test fit the subframe, trans mount, and
other parts, just so I wouldn't be holding you up. I now have a motor that
I'm not even using because of that.

I also loaned you all the parts to make the kit, and have had the cradle
off my car for over a year now waiting for its replacement, so that you
could use mine to make the welding jig to make prototypes. Short of
buying your own car, I doubt you would have found anyone willing to
have their 3rd gen. down for a year while you made the engine cradle.

So now I find out that you've eliminated me from the project, gone behind
my back and sent the first cradle to someone else not even involved in
getting this going, and now he has a car up and running, and I still don't
even have all of my conversion parts, let alone a cradle on the car because
of fitment problems.

You know me, you know full well what I do when I'm upset about the way
I've been treated, and I do NOT like to threaten, but you have to know that
if I don't feel like you've held up your end of the bargain, which was to
use
my car and parts to develop a KIT, which I would receive FOR FREE, that
I'm going to be very, very upset. And I think you know what happens when
I get upset with a vendor. Hayes has lost an incredible amount of 3rd gen.
business because they screwed me on my motor by replacing my good
parts with shoddy parts. Again, I don't like to threaten, but in my capacity
as a consumer, I am fully within my rights to vocalize my displeasure with
the way I've been treated by a vendor.

Right now I'm willing to walk away from it. You've gotten a lot of publicity
out of MY conversion, and out of MY name, and I've sent dozens of people
who have inquired about the project to check out your website. I am a
HIGHLY visible member of the RX-7 community, and I'm sure you can
guess what impact my displeasure with the process might have on your
chances of selling the kit. I am not at all happy about the way I've been
treated right now, but I am willing to walk away from it and keep my mouth
shut, provided you comply with the following wishes:

1) I want the rest of the conversion parts, as agreed upon, free of charge.

2) I want my stock parts returned, if possible. You have my cradle, my
driveshaft, my powerplant frame, two aluminum cross-braces, and my
speedometer sender.

3) You may keep the conversion information and pictures of my car on your
site, provided that you comply with #1 and #2, but I will no longer provide
you
with pictures or further information on my conversion.

I'm very disappointed that our relationship turned out this way. You would
have
gotten a lot of mileage out of my conversion and feedback, but it appears
that
you chose, for whatever reason, to disregard the fact that I was the one who
made it possible for this kit to happen in the first place, and bypassed me
for
another. I'm sorry that it turned out this way, but you leave me no other
choice.

Jim LaBreck - jimlab@earthlink.net

Jim,

I noticed a lack of any smiley faces on your reply. Sorry you took it that way,
as it was intended as food for thought on what improvements might be made for
your application. I was so happy that one is actually on the road to prove that
the conversion is workable and the interface and emissions issues can be easily
dealt with.

Just to let you know, the only part I sent to Bill was the subframe, which he
paid for. All the rest of the fabrication was done by him on that end, as he
didn't want to wait for me. The torque arm adaption and the transmission
crossmember are his own design, with my only input being suggestions and tech
guidance.

If you want, I can come down 3 or 4 nights a week until I make you happy again.
I have seen what can happen, and don't see any reason to experience it
firsthand. Just let me know when you're available.
The sessions should not take long, as they are only for tweeking fixtures and
verifying clearances.

All your parts are still here, in exactly the same shape that I got them, except
for maybe a little more dust!

Grant

Fine tuning of the engine height we can easily do by modifying some mounts. I
will bring a set with mucho adjustment potential, and we can play with it till
we're happy with the rack/oil pan/crankshaft/hood clearance. Then I will either
provide you with modified poly mounts, or a subframe w/ custom engine placement
(another batch of those go together the 1st/2nd week of Jan.). Either way, you
can use the mount backing plates : )

Grant

Jim LaBreck wrote:

> Did you make the cradle so that the engine fits if you don't use the backing
> plates on the urethane motor mounts? They're there for a reason, which is to
> hold the urethane in place and keep it from tearing free.

I need to make sure that the torque arm bracket can be installed
on the rear diff housing, and that the torque arm still clears
the tunnel.

Just a last minute confirmation that no further mods are needed
before they go to the powdercoaters.

The rod ends are apparently on a slow boat from Minnesota. They
were supposed to be here last Monday, but still no sign of them.
If they come monday, your parts should be ready to be installed
wed.

Grant

The torque arm, brackets, trans crossmember and some hardware.
Pretty much what you need to take the floor jack out from under your car.
Are you going to want an exhaust hanger on the torque arm like the PPF?
I was going to come down tonite, but decided not to take the chance.
How about Sat. about 6pm ?

Grant

Things are running fairly smoothly now. We spent a lot of time refining the
manufacturing processes, which proved to be quite worthwhile (2nd gen Basic Kits
are down to 1.4 hrs production time). More work in the area of packaging and
documentation, and we may be ready for the wholesale market.

The torque arm turned out fine. The current version uses 3/4 chrome moly rod
ends, but I may change the rear to a 3/4" clevis arrangement, as clearance is
tight between the tunnel and the upper bolt.

The transmission crossmember has also been fitted, should give you room for a 4"
pipe.

Grant

Jim LaBreck wrote:

> Grant, would you mind letting me know what's going on? My engine is getting
> close to completion and will be dyno tested in a month or so, and I will be
> needing the conversion pieces so that I can get on with the project.

I should be able to make it down there around mid-week to exchange the
subframes. I was going to bring the Hank (the header guy) down, but i'll give
you a chance to re-assemble things a bit so he'll have something to look at.

Grant

Jim LaBreck wrote:

> I've got the other cradle pulled out of the car for you, and I'm ready for
> my final
> cradle and the transmission cross brace whenever you have time.

93 is a tough year. Reluctor could be either 11 or 17 tooth. As I
understand
it, they went to 40 tooth wheels to get better resolution for the
anti-lock
brakes in the '94-up cars.
One way to know once and for all is to remove the VSS sender and
count the teeth
blah blah blah blah blah.

Grant