Savington

iTrader: (31)

There's no consensus to come to. Stephanie's comment is massively unprofessional and rude at best, and blatantly libelous and defamatory at worst. I expect a full retraction and a public apology and will accept nothing less. For her sake, I certainly hope she can come up with a source beyond her own imagination for that rumor.

Stephanie Turner

I have a few reliable sources that told me about it. Someone even said he was there when it happened. That is why I asked if it was a different set of studs. If the current studs work great, that is awesome, I am very happy for you. And, I hope they continue to work well.

I find it quite surprising that you continue to lash out at me so violently. We all know you never restrain yourself when being harsh and/or overly critical of BEGI parts and people. We have never, once, responded publicly, towards your numerous criticisms of us - currently or in the past. Yet, you have quite the ability to get bent out of shape over a legitimate question. If the situation were reversed, everyone here knows you would do the same thing, and ask the same question I did. Further, we all know you would be more critical about it. I am sorry you misunderstood my intention to clarify what actually happened. If my response is not to your liking, please feel free to PM Corky. Again.
Stephanie

Corky Bell

Will you two kids please knock it off. The drama and fuss is taking the fun out of it.

This is not WW3, not Cap and Trade legislation, not even in the league of cheap Tequila.

Furthermore, my stud is better than your stud, regardless................

Corky
did I say that?

Savington

iTrader: (31)

There was never any fun in it, Corky. Stephanie's statement insinuates that she heard that our studs stretched. She just reaffirmed that in her last post - apparently some "reliable sources" told her our studs stretched. For her to quote my group buy link, and then say that she had heard that they had stretched is beyond reprehensible. She has taken my product and defamed it in the worst way possible. If she actually cared about getting her facts straight, she would have messaged me privately instead of airing her baseless rumors publicly. The baseless rumors that she elected to publish publicly are absolutely un-true.

Let me be absolutely, perfectly, crystal clear: We have never stretched an Inconel stud. Never. There are no current and past studs, there is no second prototype, there is no design improvement due to a past failure. We ordered two sets, 8 studs, from our supplier in October of last year. They were custom made for us - I spec'd the alloy, the OAL, center shank length, and the lengths of each set of threads on either side. They are unique and proprietary.

I am not sure where Stephanie gets her sources, but perhaps she needs new ones. Both sets have happy, permanent homes - one set in an FM manifold, one set in a BEGi manifold. Both cars have proven their ability to destroy standard studs in the past, and both cars are having good luck with our Inconel studs. Let me say that again: Both sets of our R&D studs have happy, long-term homes, and both sets are performing as expected - flawlessly.

I have nothing more to say on the matter - I stand behind the products I sell, which is why it has taken me over 6 months to put them on the market. It has been tested to my satisfaction in both popular cast manifolds and I am confident enough in their ability to withstand serious track abuse to put my own reputation behind them.

$105 shipped in the lower 48 states. 4 Inconel studs, 4 Stage 8 locking nut kits, and a bottle of Resbond 907TS.

https://www.miataturbo.net/group-buys-member-discounts-23/trackspeed-engineering-inconel-manifold-stud-kit-%24105-shipped-46091/

hustler

iTrader: (6)

Hi, John Hennessy here. I wanted to take a moment to let both of you know that you can work for me any time. We do things a little differently though. First I rip you off, then I threaten to kick your ***. Its a little more extreme that what's going on here, but you can definitely sharpen your skills in my shop.

spoolin2bars

iTrader: (1)

careful sav., the last person to post their opinion on begi or stephanie got e-banned and attacked! watch yo back! lol

Stephanie Turner

I have no problem if you are critical of a BEGI part - if it is actually warranted. However there has still been situations where you have "defamed" our products in the "worst way possible" when it has not been our mistake at all. Is it fair? Not really. But we have attempted to address your issues, in private, but continue to put up with your public "dressing down" of our parts. Even when it is baseless. I did not defame your parts in any way. I was asking for clarification. Again, you can criticise others to your hearts content, but apparently cannot answer a legitimate question or stand the thought of someone possibly criticising your parts. As for addressing it publicly - I would have been happy to ask via e-mail or PM. However, the last four e-mails I sent you (that did not directly relate to someone else's parts) were ignored. The last PM I sent you at miata.net was also ignored.

Was that so hard to type? Geez. You assume I am being all snotty about this, when in reality I want to confirm that yours worked, and that is all. Period. End of story. We offer a similar product. Our parts don't look so good if yours have failed, as they are a grade of Inconel also. You have know that if people are telling me that your studs are "rumored" to stretch, then they are telling other people as well. Clarifying what actually happened is not a bad thing in this circumstance. God forbid I do you a favor, in a round about way.
Stephanie

Stephanie Turner

Jacob was banned for calling a moderators bad names. I had absolutely nothing to do with that. Did not even know about it until a few days after the fact. I think Savington is the perfect example that people are allowed to have an opinion, and express it. Read his posts. In the last two years, he has grudgingly agreed with me/BEGI ONCE. Otherwise, he is very vocal in his negative opinions. But he can do so without calling people names.
Stephanie

Savington

iTrader: (31)

If you legitimately think you did me a favor by publishing a false rumor in order to give me the opportunity to publicly rebuke it, then you'll have no problem telling me exactly who you heard the rumor from so I can put a stop to it once and for all. Publicly or privately, whatever seems prudent to you.

As far as my opinions and criticisms, they are what they are. I've formed them through my own personal experiences, and I've corroborated them with the experiences of others as well. My private correspondences with both you and Corky have detailed my opinions, and I wish you the best in correcting the problems I take issue with - problems that you both freely admit exist within BEGi. If you really think I've defamed your products, please post the examples and I will either explain myself or apologize.

VagaXt

Back in this thread after doing some more tests on this subject. In case anyone wants to know, I have 1 of the 2 Inconel studs that Savington provided for R&D. Here are the facts:

1. I have the current FM2 manifold in my MSM.
2. My MSM is a street-driven car, averaging 15,000 miles per year over the last 6 years.
3. I have had the stud problem since Nov. 2008, the first ever round of Miata Challenge (CA).
4. I have tried many possible solutions to the stud stretch problem, all have been attempts at isolating what I deem "secondary causes," i.e. preventing excessive exhaust system movement under heavy cornering G-forces and quick changes in direction, upgrading studs hardware sizes, creating a "crane-brace" (as Savington dubs it) to clamp the turbo to the FM2 manifold in case of stud stretch.
5. Standard 10mm studs (grade 8's and OEM 10x1.25 header studs) have failed to solve the main problem of the studs losing yield strength at the EGTs produced by my car, estimated at 1700-2000 deg F. As a result the studs stretched and bent as quick as three 20-minute track sessions on average.
6. I have installed the Inconel studs as my attempts to solve the problem by isolating the "secondary causes" were exhausted. The "crane-brace" has since been removed at this point.
7. The Inconel studs have not stretched, as verified by myself and Savington at near the end of the second day of the MRLS event (2 days of testing).
8. The Inconel studs were tested at Miatas at MRLS 2010 (April 10-11), tested for eight, 20-minute sessions. Also, two days after MRLS, I tested the studs at Adam's Kart Track in Riverside, CA as well. Some clips from the tests are here:
   
   
   
   

Again, these are the facts of my independent tested Inconel studs using one of the two of Savington's R&D prototype sets.

Also, please note that I am still long-term testing these Inconel studs to verify the longevity of the set. My next event is Miata Challenge Round 5 at Spring Mountain on May 16th, but I am thinking of another test before MC Round 5 on the weekend of May 1-2 at Streets of Willow Springs (pending confirmation of friends going to event).

That is all. The thread may continue.

VagaXt

Oh and one more point, as to adhere to the rules of this thread.

Yes, I am consistently under the SM records for all the tracks at which I have driven.

emilio700

iTrader: (3)

Way under

IMO, any other proposed solutions need to come with validated testing. IOW, you go slow enough, duct tape will hold your turbo on and no one cares.

Stephanie Turner

I do owe you an apology for that comment. I thought about it this afternoon, and it did not set well with me. Hence, I am typing at 2 am. I can't give you a good reason for why I wrote it, much less justify the "god forbid" comment. Never the less, it made no sense and it did not make the point I was trying to convey. It looked stupid on my part, and I apologize.

I will not divulge my sources. I would not expect you to if the situation were reversed. Some things are worth clarifying, some not. I felt this was. Like yourself, we are actively trying to resolve the stretching stud problem. A failure is a set back for everyone. You have made your side of the story clear, and that is all I wanted.

You may corroborate those experiences thru others, however if you have been provided false information on which to make those judgements, it hardly seems fair to hold a grudge. Or, to make bold statements like "I am proud that there is not a BEGI part on my car" because of it. Per the last PM correspondence we had at m.net, you cited three particular circumstances. I think I remember correctly, but I did delete the message. First, an intercooler tube not fitting properly. That is entirely plausible, however, I never knew of it. Nor was I asked to replace and/or fix it. I remember asking that stuff like this be mentioned to me so that it could be addressed.

Secondly, a downpipe for a customer not fitting and consequently breaking. As for the not fitting part, we warned him it might not fit. He chose to have it built that way knowing it was a "custom" piece. Apparently, he did not share that info with you. Then downpipe breaks, as we thought it might. He had it fixed locally, voiding the warranty. In my need to fix things and make it right, we got screwed. Corky and I did send him an brand new downpipe, and I have yet to see the older downpipe back. Nor did he pay for the new downpipe. I was promised it would be returned, but a year later, I am still waiting. My mistake for not getting the funds for it though.

Lastly, I believe we were heavily criticised for for an "entire kit" not fitting. No, the kit would not fit the needs of the person who bought it second hand. We originally sold it to a reseller as a 94-95 year kit only, due to some last minute changes he made. The reseller turned around and sold it as a 1.8L kit, not specifying the year. The person who purchased it from the reseller had a 96/97 car. So no, it would not fit. We did work with that person to help where we could. Yes, he got free parts, and yes, I made him pay for others. However, we are not responsible for the actions of other people. We cannot help that the reseller advertised it incorrectly. You did blame us for that mishap, ultimately we are not responsible for it though. To top off the irony, the kit changed hands a 3rd time after being falsely advertised, yet again. Go figure.

Yeah, you could get irritated with me over the intercooler tube situation. But I feel it is fair to know of the problem existing before we are to be blamed for it, and bullied online for it as well. As for the other two circumstances you mentioned, bad information came your way. Like you said, it is what it is. If the possibility exists that we are not to blame, maybe you will be nicer online in the future. One day you might apologize for some comments you made to Corky in a recent PM, maybe you won't. Find out both points of view to every story before you take sides. Maybe as someone who is trying to sell parts now, you might look at these situations from a different perspective. I don't like being stiffed for a $400 downpipe, as I am sure you wouldn't either. I sleep easier knowing I did what I could. Does not mean I like you throwing it in my face that we were wrong, when we weren't. You know that I will freely admit to the problems. But I will always try to make it right or fix it, wherever I can, and where it is justified.

Again, I apologize for my earlier comment.
Stephanie

bbundy

I ordered the Inconel studs from BEGI, I needed them in a hurry. Hopefully I get them today or tomorrow. Headed to the track again Thursday. Grade 10.9 studs did not work, but my turbo support seemed to keep me from having a massive exhaust leak even with just 1 out of 4 studs holding.

And I was a bit faster than VegaXt at MRLS.

Bob

falcon

iTrader: (13)

Someone who is fast should try the Nissan OEM studs that I will be running. I don't forsee my driving skill being an accurate test for these studs for the next little while. Also, I don't have any tracks that run "spec" to make a comparison to.

Who is up for it? They're cheap, and if they work we will have found a low cost solution. The manifold is m10x1.5 so it will work with many of your cars but the nut end is m10x1.25 so be sure to get the Nissan nut as well.

hingstonwm

iTrader: (2)

Vagaxt. nice job hustling the car around the track!! I really have nothing to add to the thread. Just wanted to say I enjoyed your in car!!

JasonC SBB

How long are those Nissan studs?
How long are the threads on either end?
What size are the nuts?

thagr81 us

iTrader: (5)

The M10x1.5 side is right about 25mm long

The M10x1.25 side is right about 30mm long

Overall length is 67mm

This was in a PM I got from him on them... Seem to be too long at 67mm considering Sav's are at 40mm.

falcon

iTrader: (13)

I'll take a picture of them on my manifold with the turbo attched when I get home from work.

I don't have clearance issues with an ETD GReddy and the GReddy turbo.

wayne_curr

iTrader: (8)

Every stud i've ever put in a manifold has been too long and needed to be shortened. Are these so hard that a cutoff wheel on an angle grinder wont shorten them?