GTM Performance Engineering: VQ37VHR Twin Supercharger System
Update:
After spending the majority of the day checking the entire system for the cam timing issue, checking engine oil pressure all the way to pinout testing of the ECM. The only thing left in the system is the valve control solenoid. Everything is pointing to a failure in this component. Unfortunately, this solenoid is located behind the main supercharger bracket and will require the complete removal of both brackets to get to it. Below are a couple snapshots of what is happening with the solenoid. The one that is labeled "No Good" is the car we're working on. Notice how bank 2 solenoid voltage is flat lining vs. the "Good" one that is from a properly working car for comparison.
Once we get this resolved, we will continue with the tuning.
Sam
After spending the majority of the day checking the entire system for the cam timing issue, checking engine oil pressure all the way to pinout testing of the ECM. The only thing left in the system is the valve control solenoid. Everything is pointing to a failure in this component. Unfortunately, this solenoid is located behind the main supercharger bracket and will require the complete removal of both brackets to get to it. Below are a couple snapshots of what is happening with the solenoid. The one that is labeled "No Good" is the car we're working on. Notice how bank 2 solenoid voltage is flat lining vs. the "Good" one that is from a properly working car for comparison.
Once we get this resolved, we will continue with the tuning.
Sam
Update:
When the car threw the cam timing codes, we contacted the owner to advise him of the situation. While we had completed the system and the car was running on time per the owner's requested time frame, the car did have an issue that needed to be resolved. The owner decided to have us put the car back to stock instead of diagnosing and solving the issue to get the car running properly. Therefore, the results are on hold for the time being.
The good news is that we are 60% done restoring the car back to stock and we have another car ready and available to get this system installed. So, our press release should happen sometime next week.
Sam
When the car threw the cam timing codes, we contacted the owner to advise him of the situation. While we had completed the system and the car was running on time per the owner's requested time frame, the car did have an issue that needed to be resolved. The owner decided to have us put the car back to stock instead of diagnosing and solving the issue to get the car running properly. Therefore, the results are on hold for the time being.
The good news is that we are 60% done restoring the car back to stock and we have another car ready and available to get this system installed. So, our press release should happen sometime next week.
Sam
The timing covers do not get removed for the installation of any of our kits.
Sam
Btw, thanks for sending Rob my original file. Do you know why my boost level starts dropping off at the upper rpms?
His loss at not getting a finished quality kit. There are issues in making sure something of this magnitude is up to par, just a necessary pain in the butt. I am glad that you guys have another car lined up and are about 60% done. Can't wait to see that 100% and ready to order kit. Money is almost all saved up and I am more ready to buy some extra power!
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Woodside, CA
Sam got my car in March and told me the car would be ready for pickup in about a month and that the kit had been fabricated and was ready for install. At this point he already had $8,000 of my money. At the end of March I was told that he was almost ready. Then months go by and I find out that my car has just been sitting there collecting dust for no reason. In the interim I was contacted by him and asked to pay an obscene amount of money for the install, which I did. I was under the impression that the install was free since my car was the test mule. Instead, he was going to charge me $5,000 more (the breakdown has more details - request if needed). I had a hard time with this since he never talked about cost or gave me an estimate BEFORE my car had been shipped there, but I paid him. At this point I am $14,000 in. Keep in mind he quotes on his Facebook page that the job is 16 hours and a fee of $10,000 installed - so I get to pay an extra $4,000 to be the guinea pig.
Around June 7th I had enough after another forum member let me know that the car hadn't been touched at all and had been lied to over and over by Sam. I was pulling the plug and a local tuner got involved and brokered a deal where I got a $5,000 refund and agreed to keep positive in social media, and be a positive reference, which I did. He agreed that the car would be done no later than Sept. 7th, and if the car could not be completed by that time then a Twin Turbo kit would be installed and the car would be ready for pickup on that day.
3 months go by without a word from Sam. Complete silence. I only get updates through the forums. Finally, on Sept. 5th Sam calls to ask me what time I will be there on the 7th. I told him I didn't have a flight and would fly out the following weekend to pick the car up.
A week goes by and then I find out that the car still isn't done, and he has all these tuning issues to work out. He tells me that it isn't making great power because he needs a different size belt and that it would be 8+ months to get that belt, but that he would try to work it out and is basically trying to sell me on the poor performance. He picks that moment, 7 months later, to tell me that this kit is for the AWD model and not designed to make more power, though he had told me initially it was to better the performance level of the twin-turbo. So, basically, I would be lucky if it would match the performance of an off-the-shelf Stage 2 supercharger that I could have been driving months before. I find out Friday night that I am not picking up my car the following day and my airfare was wasted. I stew on it for a day and then cancel my order.
TODAY I ask about the status of my refund, money he has had for 9 months, and he tells me that he won't refund the money until the uninstall is complete, but that it is taking longer than expected. I tell him that is unacceptable as waiting to refund is only applicable when returning something - like mailing back a pair of shoes and he has possession of the parts and my car. He refused and so I called the police, BBB, my attorney, AMEX, and the CA Bureau of Automotive Repair and will pursue my refund and damages to the fullest extent of the law as well as spread the word on GTM as often as possible.
I have been contacted MANY MANY times on several forums about GTM and have heard many similar horror stories.
Take Aways:
1. Sam is a liar. Yes, I have proof.
2. GTM will price gouge
3. Sam has complained about cash flow several times. Might not be a safe place to send a big check.
4. Projects will end up extremely late, if they are ever completed - based on many other accounts and my own.
I advise anyone thinking about sending their car to Sam to really think about it. This appears to be the norm and not the exception.
From what I hear, the kits that tuners install are solid, so a kit from GTM might be OK, but I am worried about warranty issues.
This was truly one of the worst consumer experiences of my life. I am so disgusted I don't even want the car anymore.
Registered Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 245
Likes: 17
Sam is not telling the whole story, or even part of the story, as I would expect from him. Here is the story:
Sam got my car in March and told me the car would be ready for pickup in about a month and that the kit had been fabricated and was ready for install. At this point he already had $8,000 of my money. At the end of March I was told that he was almost ready. Then months go by and I find out that my car has just been sitting there collecting dust for no reason. In the interim I was contacted by him and asked to pay an obscene amount of money for the install, which I did. I was under the impression that the install was free since my car was the test mule. Instead, he was going to charge me $5,000 more (the breakdown has more details - request if needed). I had a hard time with this since he never talked about cost or gave me an estimate BEFORE my car had been shipped there, but I paid him. At this point I am $14,000 in. Keep in mind he quotes on his Facebook page that the job is 16 hours and a fee of $10,000 installed - so I get to pay an extra $4,000 to be the guinea pig.
Around June 7th I had enough after another forum member let me know that the car hadn't been touched at all and had been lied to over and over by Sam. I was pulling the plug and a local tuner got involved and brokered a deal where I got a $5,000 refund and agreed to keep positive in social media, and be a positive reference, which I did. He agreed that the car would be done no later than Sept. 7th, and if the car could not be completed by that time then a Twin Turbo kit would be installed and the car would be ready for pickup on that day.
3 months go by without a word from Sam. Complete silence. I only get updates through the forums. Finally, on Sept. 5th Sam calls to ask me what time I will be there on the 7th. I told him I didn't have a flight and would fly out the following weekend to pick the car up.
A week goes by and then I find out that the car still isn't done, and he has all these tuning issues to work out. He tells me that it isn't making great power because he needs a different size belt and that it would be 8+ months to get that belt, but that he would try to work it out and is basically trying to sell me on the poor performance. He picks that moment, 7 months later, to tell me that this kit is for the AWD model and not designed to make more power, though he had told me initially it was to better the performance level of the twin-turbo. So, basically, I would be lucky if it would match the performance of an off-the-shelf Stage 2 supercharger that I could have been driving months before. I find out Friday night that I am not picking up my car the following day and my airfare was wasted. I stew on it for a day and then cancel my order.
TODAY I ask about the status of my refund, money he has had for 9 months, and he tells me that he won't refund the money until the uninstall is complete, but that it is taking longer than expected. I tell him that is unacceptable as waiting to refund is only applicable when returning something - like mailing back a pair of shoes and he has possession of the parts and my car. He refused and so I called the police, BBB, my attorney, AMEX, and the CA Bureau of Automotive Repair and will pursue my refund and damages to the fullest extent of the law as well as spread the word on GTM as often as possible.
I have been contacted MANY MANY times on several forums about GTM and have heard many similar horror stories.
Take Aways:
1. Sam is a liar. Yes, I have proof.
2. GTM will price gouge
3. Sam has complained about cash flow several times. Might not be a safe place to send a big check.
4. Projects will end up extremely late, if they are ever completed - based on many other accounts and my own.
I advise anyone thinking about sending their car to Sam to really think about it. This appears to be the norm and not the exception.
From what I hear, the kits that tuners install are solid, so a kit from GTM might be OK, but I am worried about warranty issues.
This was truly one of the worst consumer experiences of my life. I am so disgusted I don't even want the car anymore.
Sam got my car in March and told me the car would be ready for pickup in about a month and that the kit had been fabricated and was ready for install. At this point he already had $8,000 of my money. At the end of March I was told that he was almost ready. Then months go by and I find out that my car has just been sitting there collecting dust for no reason. In the interim I was contacted by him and asked to pay an obscene amount of money for the install, which I did. I was under the impression that the install was free since my car was the test mule. Instead, he was going to charge me $5,000 more (the breakdown has more details - request if needed). I had a hard time with this since he never talked about cost or gave me an estimate BEFORE my car had been shipped there, but I paid him. At this point I am $14,000 in. Keep in mind he quotes on his Facebook page that the job is 16 hours and a fee of $10,000 installed - so I get to pay an extra $4,000 to be the guinea pig.
Around June 7th I had enough after another forum member let me know that the car hadn't been touched at all and had been lied to over and over by Sam. I was pulling the plug and a local tuner got involved and brokered a deal where I got a $5,000 refund and agreed to keep positive in social media, and be a positive reference, which I did. He agreed that the car would be done no later than Sept. 7th, and if the car could not be completed by that time then a Twin Turbo kit would be installed and the car would be ready for pickup on that day.
3 months go by without a word from Sam. Complete silence. I only get updates through the forums. Finally, on Sept. 5th Sam calls to ask me what time I will be there on the 7th. I told him I didn't have a flight and would fly out the following weekend to pick the car up.
A week goes by and then I find out that the car still isn't done, and he has all these tuning issues to work out. He tells me that it isn't making great power because he needs a different size belt and that it would be 8+ months to get that belt, but that he would try to work it out and is basically trying to sell me on the poor performance. He picks that moment, 7 months later, to tell me that this kit is for the AWD model and not designed to make more power, though he had told me initially it was to better the performance level of the twin-turbo. So, basically, I would be lucky if it would match the performance of an off-the-shelf Stage 2 supercharger that I could have been driving months before. I find out Friday night that I am not picking up my car the following day and my airfare was wasted. I stew on it for a day and then cancel my order.
TODAY I ask about the status of my refund, money he has had for 9 months, and he tells me that he won't refund the money until the uninstall is complete, but that it is taking longer than expected. I tell him that is unacceptable as waiting to refund is only applicable when returning something - like mailing back a pair of shoes and he has possession of the parts and my car. He refused and so I called the police, BBB, my attorney, AMEX, and the CA Bureau of Automotive Repair and will pursue my refund and damages to the fullest extent of the law as well as spread the word on GTM as often as possible.
I have been contacted MANY MANY times on several forums about GTM and have heard many similar horror stories.
Take Aways:
1. Sam is a liar. Yes, I have proof.
2. GTM will price gouge
3. Sam has complained about cash flow several times. Might not be a safe place to send a big check.
4. Projects will end up extremely late, if they are ever completed - based on many other accounts and my own.
I advise anyone thinking about sending their car to Sam to really think about it. This appears to be the norm and not the exception.
From what I hear, the kits that tuners install are solid, so a kit from GTM might be OK, but I am worried about warranty issues.
This was truly one of the worst consumer experiences of my life. I am so disgusted I don't even want the car anymore.
I figure I was the only one who was affected with bad luck from GTM. I was stationed at Camp Pendleton with 2/4, and took my car to GTM before I got out and left for Texas. I don't know but he said something along those lines too. A month should be fine, but he ran into few problems here and there. I figure it be fine since the work was being operated in house at GTM. Should be flawless right? I got the car back with few problems. Of course I contacted Sam back and forth, and he made it sound like I ****ered up the car. I kept telling him I'll ship the car back since they touched it, and it's there specialty. But man I had problems ranging from ALL sorts of problems. It could be problems from driving on the highway and everything just shuts off. I turn on the car and it dies instantly. Codes would just appear and make the car go into limp mode, etc. Also it took almost a year getting my UpRev cable. But all in all I was being patient, and he was helping with minimum effort. This **** pissed me off to the certain point where I bought another car, and just drove that around. Almost a year and half later I've decided to take the car to a shop here in Dallas. The cars been sitting in the garage after trying so many roms from Sam. One rom would disable my cruise control, another would make the car sputter like a retard on crack, and the other would just simply do nothing.
Now this is the part where I was mind ****ed. I took it to a well respected shop here in Dallas. T1. They were laid back and cool, and I told Tony about the problem. We started talking and the tuner guy got involved. They did some stuff and basically said this kit is ****. That's mind **** number one. I said "Get the **** out, they specialize in these motors." I got the stink eye from everyone at the shop. They flat out said I needed a tune, cause the tune from the initial tune from GTM was a complete fail, and all the ones following up through email. Mind **** number 2. So T1 called UpRev in Austin, and we started talking. Omar got involved at UpRev and the owner. I forget his name. So out of anger I threw my G37 back in the garage and said, "**** it all." So several months roll by and I went down to UpRev in Austin. I talked to them about everything. Left the car at UpRev for a month. Why a month? Cause they were finding ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS. Mind blown and lost all faith from GTM. So I spent nearly 2200 fixing all the problems, and a tune. Car ran flawlessly. The car had many leaks. Some of the stuff was poorly welded, **** was rubbing all over the place, and they were just going off with a list of problems. So before picking up the car I had a buddy from Tay's Automotive here in Dallas be my liaison to see if UpRev was just saying stuff to earn an extra buck. Nope, it turns out it was legit and they both said GTM kits are poor quality stuff. Mind ****ered times 10000 now.
I had fun with the kit at TX2K12. But the quality of the kit overall is poor. After looking at the manifolds the casting was done poorly. I have pictures of it but I kept everything to myself since its not my place to say anything, and everyone here seems to praise GTM like gods. But after meeting a handful of individuals in Southern Cali and here in Dallas, this kit is something to reckon with.
The car was fun minus all the problems, and then later realizing this is one of those shops as Sam always states, "the best bang for your buck." Simply means you get what you paid for. And apparently I paid for crap. But that's just me gentlemen, and the few, the proud, and the people who got screwed.
They probably have a different story, but I have pictures to prove my mind ****ed experience.
Sorry about your bad experience. Sucks but I hear you loud and clear.