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EO2K 08-22-2014 07:17 PM

2 Attachment(s)
Abe is such a tease

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...1&d=1408749376

EO2K 08-23-2014 11:30 AM

Well, surprise surprise. Skunk2 didn't bother to send me anything on Thursday so I called them back.

Thursady afternoon:

Me: Hello, I called in this morning and spoke to X about a part I purchased that had been packed with the wrong ancillary parts. He said he would email me a form I had to fill out and email back. I never received the email so I wanted to follow up.

S2: Nobody by that name works here, your ticket number is not in our system, we don't know what you are talking about.

Me: Ok, let's start over then. What do I need to do to get this moving again?

S2: Email us pictures of box, parts, packing materials and the original invoice. Plus a brief description of what the problem is exactly.

Me: ok, what is your email address?

S2: support@Skunk2

Me: No, what is YOUR email address?

S2: I'm sorry, it has to go to the other address to be assigned a ticket number.

< I was prepared for this, mailed everything off at 3:45pm >

Friday AM

< crickets >

Friday 3:45pm

Me: Hi. Per the request of X at your support desk, yesterday at 3:45pm I emailed information about a product that was shipped with the wrong accessory parts to your support desk. It's been 24 hrs and I've not seen a reply, so I wanted to follow up and make sure I sent all the information you requssted.

S2: Nobody named X works here, there is no ticket number in our system that matches your name or email address, we never received your email, we don't know what you are talking about.

Me: Ok, fuck this. Just sell me the part I need because I need to get this resolved. I have my credit card ready.

S2: Humm... I can't seem to find the part number in our system so I can't set up an order. Why don't you give me your info and we can contact you as soon as we get that part number.

Me: When should I expect a call back?

S2: Maybe Monday.

:bang:

Efini~FC3S 08-23-2014 12:03 PM

That

Blows

Donkey

Balls


Sorry, bro...sounds infuriating

Jeffbucc 08-23-2014 01:24 PM

They need a company directory of employees on hand it looks like. That shit is infuriating. I have patience up the wazoo, but phone calls like that brings the angry italian out in me.

EO2K 08-23-2014 01:25 PM

Oh, it is. As much as I hate to say it, its what I've come to expect.

Speaking of expectations, I'm also expecting to be told I bought a knock-off, or that Doap was never an "authorized re-seller" and thus I have no claim for support, so something equally silly. Honestly I don't care at this point. I just want the part so I can install the TB and get it tuned. I'm half tempted to tap the fucking thing for hose barbs and remote mount the IACV like a caveman.

On the bright side, once I get the part I need I'll have both the NA and NB IACV mounts so that'll help resale value when I inevitably give up and part out :giggle:

Serious question time: Does everyone else have these problems with vendors or is it just me? Are my expectations that far out of whack? Am I expecting too much?

Jeffbucc 08-23-2014 01:27 PM

Honestly instead of waiting for the right 99 throttle body gasket I used gasket maker and bolted the bitch on! Sure it will be a bitch if I ever remove it but...meh.

dcamp2 08-23-2014 01:41 PM


Originally Posted by EO2K (Post 1160302)
Oh, it is. As much as I hate to say it, its what I've come to expect.

......

Serious question time: Does everyone else have these problems with vendors or is it just me? Are my expectations that far out of whack? Am I expecting too much?

I've had the same experiences with Skunk 2/Kraftwerks. They seem to screw up or send the wrong part every time.

hang in there;)

18psi 08-23-2014 03:26 PM

Junk2 is called Junk2 for a very good reason.

I think they are even worse than the other crappy knockoff egay china companies, because they ACTUALLY pretend to be legit. Mishimoto is another company I hate equally as much.

Mobius 08-24-2014 03:18 AM

I have low expectations of other people actually doing their jobs, but you really seem to be a corner case in being able to find true incompetence in both the individual employee as well as company practices and procedures.

EO2K 08-25-2014 03:11 PM

4 Attachment(s)
Despite the setbacks, I finished a bunch of crap over the weekend. I'll post progress pics later.

For now, I'd like to get some feedback on this...

One of the parts I've been sitting on for at least the last 2~3 years is a Hondata thermo isolator intake manifold gasket. It looks like this:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1408993894
This is one of those "while I'm in there" kind of parts so I figured I'd order it just for good measure.

Attachment 239021
The manifold and head could be port matched for better flow, but I decided I didn't want to screw around with it for the time being

Attachment 239022
Its about 3.5mm thick, but its a very hard plastic so I don't expect much compression. With my highly calibrated wrist I torqued the manifold nuts to "angry monkey" tight.

So here is my issue: with this gasket in place, I cannot reinstall the lower manifold brace. I can probably make a spacer of appropriate thickness to fit between the brace and the block to make things line up again, but I'm on the fence as to if I actually "need" the lower brace or not. With the aggressive engine mounts, the vibratory nature of the BP, and the possible compression of the plastic spacer I'm concerned with long term durability. The last thing I need is the manifold coming loose and causing vacuum leaks from hell.

Anyone with any insight into this particular set of circumstances? It's not beyond my ability to create problems that do not exist, but I'd like some feedback if just to prove I'm (not) insane. :bigtu:

18psi 08-25-2014 03:42 PM

I would absolutely retain the brace, esp since its so easy to make it fit again (as you proposed with a spacer).

Seriously. I would not take a chance with our dildo motors.

EO2K 08-25-2014 04:28 PM

Its probably a good idea, it just sucks. Not sure where I'm going to find a chunk of 0.138"/3.5mm aluminum. I'll swing by the hardware store tonight and see if I can get lucky with something as simple as a washer.

18psi 08-25-2014 04:37 PM

I don't see why not. That bolt is really big, and threads into the iron block, you can use any material you want. alum, steel, whatever.

EO2K 08-25-2014 04:51 PM

A lathe would be quite convenient about now. Its not the material I'm worried about, its the thickness.

18psi 08-25-2014 05:00 PM

That's what she said

EO2K 08-25-2014 05:31 PM

:giggle:

EO2K 08-26-2014 01:23 AM

19 Attachment(s)
Ok, here is where I was after this weekend

Attachment 238988
  • Squaretop
  • Hondata intake gasket
  • catch can
  • Tien strut tower bar
  • Cappuccino washer bottle

Attachment 238989
Tonight I installed the intake tube Gesso was kind enough to tig up for me :bigtu:

As its made of aluminum, its going to need some insulation. Its obviously heatshield fabrication time as well, as I don't want all this thermal control going to waste. Now you will all bear witness to my fabrication skills, or rather, lack thereof.

Attachment 238990
I started with a general shape out of cardboard

Attachment 238991
Its got some overlap over the framerail but I'll block it later

Attachment 238992
Add some sticks, slam the hood...

Attachment 238993
TAA~DAA!!

Attachment 238994
Another angle. You can see the hood ribs

Attachment 238995
From the front. Its a lot taller than I thought it was

Attachment 238996
Wooden sword hood prop

Attachment 238997
Remove, flatten, transfer to a taller sheet of cardboard with dots

Attachment 238998
Connect the dots!

Attachment 238999
Cut it out...

Attachment 239000
Lookin' good so far

Attachment 239001
Much, much taller than expected. I had no idea there was this much clearance.

Attachment 239002
So yeah, re-installed

Attachment 239003
That's the little fill-in corner I was talking about.

Attachment 239004
Smash it with the hood again a couple times, then trim as appropriate.

Attachment 239005
Extend it a bit further and add more sticks, repeat hood abuse.

Attachment 239006
Scab on some more cardboard and we have a template!

Note to self: use regular cardboard, not double wall heavy duty cardboard.

Now I need to pick some material and actually fabricate this thing. I have almost no fabrication tools so this is going to be a bitch. I need a piece of material that is about 33"x12" and easily shaped.

I'm seriously considering a chunk of black ABS plastic of some sort. I can easily cut and drill it, and bending can be accomplished with a heat gun. For insulation I plan on covering the engine side of the thing with DEI Floor & Tunnel Shield. Its seriously reflective and has an actual insulation layer that's about 1/8" thick. There is no way heat is going to get through this thing, even sitting and idling in traffic.

I also need some sort of rubber trim, kinda like door trim of some sort that will clip to the edge of the ABS. Something like this would be perfect:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1405489267

I'll undercut my pattern by about 1/2" or whatever and make up the rest of the space with that sort of trim so that it seals up real good.

Off to Amazon to find some plastic and some rubber trim!

Jeffbucc 08-26-2014 01:28 AM

Either aluminum or ABS plastic with some heat wrap like mine. Way way way more hood clearance on the NB than NA, surprised.

You also need a steam cleaner to clean your bay.


Also, I want that cappuccino wiper fluid tank, but couldn't justify the money for it. Luckily when I got my inspection done they overlooked that and the lack of a horn...thank god for car enthusiast techs.

EO2K 08-26-2014 01:41 AM

My office is out in the middle of a lettuce field, I shit you not. I've been dodging muddy pickup trucks, harvesters and line transfer trucks in this thing on a daily basis for the last 6 years. Honestly I'm surprised its not dirtier.

But yes, I'll pressure wash it in the next couple weeks. Gotta make it pretty again.

I snagged the cappuccino tank off the classifieds either here or CR a couple years ago back when you could still get them for under $50. Its been sitting in my garage ever since.

Rallas 08-26-2014 08:58 AM

LOVE the stick and cardboard method for making a cold air box that follows the hood contours! I need to try that out.


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