Vick AutoSport In Fort Worth Texas!

[alfettish]

Ouch, this is really gonna hurt in the long term...

[junglejustice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GVVGTV6 Are folks just stupid Get what work is supposed to be done, the time frame it is to be done and the cost up front and in writing ... after that there is no excuse.

[SamW]

My 2 cents, I have been dealing with JJ for a while, I have two Gotech systems (only one installed), his street headers and an engine on order with him right now as we speak. I live on the opposite corner of the country, but I was in Seattle last year for business and hung out with JJ and his daughter while I was there. I know there has been question about him from someone installing a GoTech system, it is not easy to install one of these systems, it took me and two friends (one an electical engineer) to get it installed and up and running. I had several questions which both JJ and Jes would chime in on, sent me maps and gave advice free. Now that I have that under my belt, I am planning to do my other on the new engine.

I really hate to see all this go on in the Alfa community, I have three Alfas which are my only cars (I have a project that is none Alfa related). It is getting harder to get some of the little parts that keep our cars on the road, I really take my hat off to the big three and the others because they help us more than we know. I have had some slightly bad experiences with all three of the big Alfa places, but nothing out of the normal course of business, so I have no bad feelings for any of them. I just hope that we can get more people to buy the tired old Alfas out there and put them back on the road so we can give the Alfa places more business so they have more buying power to get us the parts we need.

OK, that is it from me....

[Alex Csank]

I understand your frustrations JJ. However, I believe that this thread is not the best way to go about discussing the issues and it will not make anything better. When someone has legitimate business claims, there are appropriate agencies which should be used to seek rectification.

Additionally, expressing your anger here on a public forum like the BB will not only damage Mr. Garcia's reputation, but will likely also cause concern regarding other suppliers and service agencies, including yourself. Ultimately, I believe that it will damage the small and fragile supply and service chain we - as owners of rare and unusual cars - need to keep our Alfas on the road and track.

I do not intend to get in the middle of this issue. I am sure that you have legitimate issues, JJ. But in my opinion, this isn't the best way to deal with them.

[HenryKrinkle]

JJ, never had a problem with you, so you should know I say this in your interest, i would cease bringing up any $$ or defamatory comments about anyone specifically you're in the middle of business with, on this board .. I'm sure you're upset and want to bring it all out in the open, but in the long run this could really come back to bite you in the arse.

[20yearoldspider]

I’ll save y’all some time up-front in guessing who I am…I’m Customer #1 from JJ’s initial post and the “gentleman” Zunige referred to in his post. Both of those guys have been enormously helpful to me, as well as many others on the BB, in beginning to sort out the mess Andrew has made. There is a lot left to do.

No one has or ever will accuse me as being even so much as a shade-tree mechanic so I trusted Andrew with my beloved Alfa that I purchased new in 1987. With respect to my experience with Andrew, everything JJ said was accurate except Andrew didn’t have my car for 2 years, it was only 1.7 years.

For the longest time I wanted to think the best of Andrew but ultimately what I believed to be only broken promises were in reality outright lies, deceit and finally fraud. When I was finally able to rescue my car from his shop, he held it for ransom, up-charging me for his own incompetence and mismanagement.

When Andrew base-lined the car at the dyno before any work began it made 93.3 HP at the wheels. $15K and almost two years later and it lost HP. Something went wrong in the rebuild and I am certain Andrew, Michael and even the guys at the dyno know it but Andrew is so upside-down on this project he won’t admit it. Instead, he tries to convince me the power is there and it’s the dyno that’s inaccurate.

I would like to challenge Andrew to say here on this public forum in front of the Alfa community that he is proud of and stands by the work he did on my car. How about it Andrew, are you proud? Is this your best work? Is this what prospective customers can expect from you?

I kept contemporaneous notes of my discussions with Andrew over the time he had my car. I also have pictures, emails and broken contracts. However, I believe the following email exchange, which is the last contact I’ve had with Andrew (the next contact I have with him I’ll be the one called “the Plaintiff”), sums it all up:

My email to Andrew-

From:
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 9:33 PM
To: Andrew Garcia
Subject: Performance

Andrew,
Putting aside the remaining issues and damage done while the car was in your care for 615 days (e.g. cold running, tachometer still inoperative, an oil leak, a coolant leak, wet black oily substance spraying from the tailpipe, paint/body damage, interior damage, top damage, etc…) and after now having driven the car approximately 250 miles, I am very disappointed by the performance. It’s flat at low RPM and only mediocre in the mid and upper range. Of course, I’m only guessing at the RPM since the tach doesn’t work.
I had an experienced Alfa restorer drive it and he was equally unimpressed with the performance considering the modifications and expense incurred. I got an opportunity to drive a stock ’84 w/125K+ miles on it and if mine performs better it’s only marginally better. In fact, I’d put my 2001 Ford Explorer with 100K+ miles on it against the Alfa and bet on the Explorer. You set my expectations much higher comparing the performance to that of a 911.
All this seems to verify the disappointing results on the dyno. I said that day that the proof will be out on the road. I’ve taken it out on the road and the power is not there. In your own words per your own work order, you stated “We will incorporate modifications into the rebuild in order to significantly increase power while retaining good mid-range torque; drivability, & the ability to pass emissions testing.” It appears this particular combination of modifications has yielded little if any increase in power.
I’m interested to hear your thoughts.
Ken
Here is Andrew’s reply:

There is more power than a stock motor, but it is higher up in the RPM range. The biggest challenge is that the cams determine more than anything the power curve and HP/Torque increases. The cams are the hottest emission legal cams available without developing from scratch new profiles. When you brought the car in the motor was down on compression and would not pass the Texas emissions test. Increases in performance affect all other parts of the power band. Everything was done to optimize the engine performance of your spider while still meeting Texas emissions standards. The programmable engine management system allows as broad a power band as possible while still meeting emissions. The stock L-Jet system would not be as flexible in your particular application. The only major differences between your motor and a stock rebuild are the head porting, exhaust header w/ performance cat, performance cams, and EFI system. Other such projects have resulted in bigger power gains, but they were earlier cars that did not have to comply with emissions testing.

The tach adapter was installed and tach operation worked at low RPM for a while. Mike later reported that the tach stopped working all together. The output signal from the Gotech is still present, so the tach itself may have failed. Before you picked up the car, you were made aware of the cold start issue and that it would not be resolved until the new fuel pressure regulator was installed and the map modified on the dyno. When the car left there were no leaks, so this is news to me. Unless the leaks are more than a quart in 500 miles, the leaks will be resolved when the car comes in for the head re-torque and dyno adjustment.

I have not been made aware of the particulars of some of the items you mentioned.

AG

[backfeeder]

JJ,
I suppose other people would like to avoid conflict at any cost, but I think that legitimate concerns should be aired. I am grateful that you gave us the heads up on the Vick's sale and now I will adjust my purchases appropriately. Yes, you could have been more diplomatic but it’s easy for someone to say that if they are not in your position. Go ahead and rage, and let him rage back, and in the end; the truth will surface.
This is a far more serious matter then when the board when loco stupid over DDouglas and his posts and that went on and on. (DD I'm not taking sides here and no disrespect intended.) This is a matter of my money...if I choose to spend it at Vick's...and I want the most information I can get. I don't see how this affects my relationship with the other vendors or repair shops. Do you stop going to Burger King because Wendy’s screwed you over? Do I trust them? Yes, as much as my next order or repair.
This whole issue reminds me of the “Tompkins Tech Library” fiasco. This person seems to have quietly fleeced many people with no one calling him out publicly. Now he is deceased and his widow apparently sits on a dragon’s hoard of Alfa loot.
If someone wants to bury their head and the sand that’s fine by me….don’t read/ ignore the thread. I want to know the good, the bad and the ugly!

[Zinhead]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HenryKrinkle JJ, never had a problem with you, so you should know I say this in your interest, i would cease bringing up any $$ or defamatory comments about anyone specifically you're in the middle of business with, on this board .. I'm sure you're upset and want to bring it all out in the open, but in the long run this could really come back to bite you in the arse.

[Gubi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zinhead I am not a lawyer, but these types of very specific public accusations invite a slander or defamation suit which might get the owners and/or moderators of the BB involved as a defendent. That would not benefit anyone here.

[lowmileage]

[junglejustice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 20yearoldspider I’ll save y’all some time up-front in guessing who I am…I’m Customer #1 from JJ’s initial post and the “gentleman” Zunige referred to in his post. Both of those guys have been enormously helpful to me, as well as many others on the BB, in beginning to sort out the mess Andrew has made. There is a lot left to do. No one has or ever will accuse me as being even so much as a shade-tree mechanic so I trusted Andrew with my beloved Alfa that I purchased new in 1987. With respect to my experience with Andrew, everything JJ said was accurate except Andrew didn’t have my car for 2 years, it was only 1.7 years. For the longest time I wanted to think the best of Andrew but ultimately what I believed to be only broken promises were in reality outright lies, deceit and finally fraud. When I was finally able to rescue my car from his shop, he held it for ransom, up-charging me for his own incompetence and mismanagement. When Andrew base-lined the car at the dyno before any work began it made 93.3 HP at the wheels. $15K and almost two years later and it lost HP. Something went wrong in the rebuild and I am certain Andrew, Michael and even the guys at the dyno know it but Andrew is so upside-down on this project he won’t admit it. Instead, he tries to convince me the power is there and it’s the dyno that’s inaccurate. I would like to challenge Andrew to say here on this public forum in front of the Alfa community that he is proud of and stands by the work he did on my car. How about it Andrew, are you proud? Is this your best work? Is this what prospective customers can expect from you? I kept contemporaneous notes of my discussions with Andrew over the time he had my car. I also have pictures, emails and broken contracts. However, I believe the following email exchange, which is the last contact I’ve had with Andrew (the next contact I have with him I’ll be the one called “the Plaintiff”), sums it all up: My email to Andrew- From: Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 9:33 PM To: Andrew Garcia Subject: Performance Andrew, Putting aside the remaining issues and damage done while the car was in your care for 615 days (e.g. cold running, tachometer still inoperative, an oil leak, a coolant leak, wet black oily substance spraying from the tailpipe, paint/body damage, interior damage, top damage, etc…) and after now having driven the car approximately 250 miles, I am very disappointed by the performance. It’s flat at low RPM and only mediocre in the mid and upper range. Of course, I’m only guessing at the RPM since the tach doesn’t work. I had an experienced Alfa restorer drive it and he was equally unimpressed with the performance considering the modifications and expense incurred. I got an opportunity to drive a stock ’84 w/125K+ miles on it and if mine performs better it’s only marginally better. In fact, I’d put my 2001 Ford Explorer with 100K+ miles on it against the Alfa and bet on the Explorer. You set my expectations much higher comparing the performance to that of a 911. All this seems to verify the disappointing results on the dyno. I said that day that the proof will be out on the road. I’ve taken it out on the road and the power is not there. In your own words per your own work order, you stated “We will incorporate modifications into the rebuild in order to significantly increase power while retaining good mid-range torque; drivability, & the ability to pass emissions testing.” It appears this particular combination of modifications has yielded little if any increase in power. I’m interested to hear your thoughts. Ken Here is Andrew’s reply: There is more power than a stock motor, but it is higher up in the RPM range. The biggest challenge is that the cams determine more than anything the power curve and HP/Torque increases. The cams are the hottest emission legal cams available without developing from scratch new profiles. When you brought the car in the motor was down on compression and would not pass the Texas emissions test. Increases in performance affect all other parts of the power band. Everything was done to optimize the engine performance of your spider while still meeting Texas emissions standards. The programmable engine management system allows as broad a power band as possible while still meeting emissions. The stock L-Jet system would not be as flexible in your particular application. The only major differences between your motor and a stock rebuild are the head porting, exhaust header w/ performance cat, performance cams, and EFI system. Other such projects have resulted in bigger power gains, but they were earlier cars that did not have to comply with emissions testing. The tach adapter was installed and tach operation worked at low RPM for a while. Mike later reported that the tach stopped working all together. The output signal from the Gotech is still present, so the tach itself may have failed. Before you picked up the car, you were made aware of the cold start issue and that it would not be resolved until the new fuel pressure regulator was installed and the map modified on the dyno. When the car left there were no leaks, so this is news to me. Unless the leaks are more than a quart in 500 miles, the leaks will be resolved when the car comes in for the head re-torque and dyno adjustment. I have not been made aware of the particulars of some of the items you mentioned. AG

[junglejustice]

Wait! it gets better... Turns out that Andrew Garcia installed a USED clutch-disc in CChan's car and THAT'S the real reason why it was slipping on the way to the dyno - the first time that I drove this car!

A further explanation here:

Stock Clutch Max HP

[slam105]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gubi Sit back, have some popcorn, and enjoy the show.