Rep Power: 327

This is for those who need some reasurance about SF's service...

I have been having minor problems with my kit since I've got it. Some pipes blowing off, major fuel problems, couple missing parts, etc....

SF has taken care of me EVERY single time I need them. They retuned my fuel system for me for free (only had to pay shipping) and got my severe lean issue fixed. They told me some tips on how to prevent the pipes from blowing off and it's been perfect since. One of their suppliers sent them the wrong turbo from what I ordered, so they sent me alcohol injection for free to compensate for that, taking issue into their own hands versus making me wait (I had told them I needed the kit in time for a show, which they did get it to me in time to install it).

I have now been having some turbo/wastegate problems. I can make about 6.8-7psi at abour 3800rpms, but as the revs go up, my boost gauge goes down, dropping to 4psi, sometimes high 3. He told me all possible problems causing this. I did everything he said but for what I can do, it didn't fix the problem. I have a completely gutted cat now, making a lot less restriction and spoolup got better but still had boost fall off.

After talking to Mike Stafford again for abour 5 minutes on the phone, he offered an incredible deal, one that I took up. My parts are being overnighted to me and sent here tomorrow. My last problem will soon be fixed, all by spending next to no money.

SF does stand behind their product, just understand they're not business men, they weld and make kits so the business part has been hard for them but they are working to make it better.

My new setup will be pushing quite a bit more power, you'll have details when it's all done, I expect to have it running again by Monday night.

 
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I have nothing against them, but reading about members with missing parts just seem like there rushing to much to send these kits out. Id be extremely pssd if i waited 2 months or more and parts were missing.

 
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^^^Sh*t happens, thats all i have to say. I dont think its being "rushed" i just know that the crew at SF isnt very deep, only what, 10 people or so? And they get a lot of business, its not just civic turbo kits they built either. I would definately buy from them, but im doing a custom route, to save money and what not...but by all means Madwheels is right and they do back to keep their company running and its customers satisfied

 
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10? Try 3 people at the shop and me as a guy helping them take care of marketing and sales for free for them. Why do I do that for them? Because they really are the best group of guys in the industry. No other company will go out of their way to do what SF does for customers.

Richard del Rosario
Advanced Marketing Concepts

 
Rep Power: 402

as long as all the parts are in the box when i get my kit and they are built with quality, all is forgotten and forgiven. i wont even mention waiting 5+months for it ever again.

 
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Perhaps a checklist of items to be shipped should be placed into effect. Going out of your way to FIX problems is great....but preventing them is BETTER.

 
Rep Power: 812

That's a great idea. And another thing. Alot of members don't want a kit that's gonna have tons of problems that need fixing, even if SF does a great job of supporting products and helping out. Imagine getting a new car and having to visit the dealer every week to replace parts or fix something. This is not my opinion, only that of many members and customers on here. I guess it's all part of the R&D process, and we should be glad that a company like this makes a turbo for our cars to begin with.

 
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DH racing is running Dave and Josh... i think so at least

 
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Thanks.

And you're right R&D plays a great part in items like these. In light of R&D....Quality Control. Along w/a checklist of parts... a quick revision of the quality of the items would be helpful too.

When you're a company that has gained a notable amount of recognition (not to mention income) for making available an item that was previously so scarce...you want to make sure that after you've achieved that status.....that you can maintain it. Making a turbo kit for newer generation vehicles proves to be no easy task....but once it has been accomplished, and knowledge has been gained, the future possibilities are countless.

Making sure you watch your step and do your best to improve along the way can only help you grow further.

 
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Oh yeah...not sure if this has been mentioned before....but when it comes to building and modifiying a car....there ARE problems that will undoubtedly arise.

For example...(Like madwheel experienced) pipes blowing off is probably one of the most common problems when it comes to turbo kits....it's probably the most prevalent on I've seen occur in recently turbo'd cars.

I wish people would understand / research things more before they just jumped into it, that way they'd understand and know how to trouble shoot when occassions such as these arise, rather than simply blaming the people who manufactured a kit.

Guaranteed, I think a large part of problems might be installation related as related to lack of info./know how and not part/manufacturer related.

 
Rep Power: 402

good idea, someone should make a parts list of the kit and maybe even take a picture of the whole thing (uninstalled), that way everyone will know what they should get when their kit arrives.

 
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I think thats a wonderful idea as well. So lets go ahead with it guys and start making up the list. Since I just placed my order therefore I dont have much idea of details but as a rough start this is my contribution to the list (based on the info Catalyst gave me sometime ago):

Turbo: Garrett T3 .48 exh, .42 int (.60 int. on upgraded)

Manifold: (Tubular cast steel or Stainless)

Wastegate: Internal or External

Downpipe: Regular or 3"

Dumptube:

BOV: TurboC

Air Filter: Matrix

Fuel system: Integrated pump, pnumatic fuel pressure multiplier, regulator

Intercooler:

Intercooler pipes: Powdercoated to Buyer's Choice

Alcohol Injection System

Alcohol tank & Pump


Thats pretty much what I know and as I said its just a rough start. Now if someone could add more parts and details to it. Also stuff like how many clamps, nuts, bolts etc, and in what Quantity. I think people who just got their kits could contribute the most!

 
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Oil return and feed lines (w/fittings)

Couplings (sp?)

 
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what did they recommend to you madwheel to stop the pipes from blowing off or apart on ur turbo?

 
Rep Power: 327

use hair spray, worked fine. also make sure the clamps are nice and tight...

 
Rep Power: 313

turbo
manifold
MAP sensor isolation valve
Hex screw and Hose for ^^
3 way vaccum T
vaccum lines
oil supply fittings (1 T, 1 Straight)
Oil drain fittings (bottom of turbo, pan)
oil supply line
oil drain line
clamps for drain line x2
7 x 2.25" couplers
14 x 2.25" clamps
3 x 2.5" couplers
6 x 2.5" clamps
Air filter
BOV
Fuel system
Relay for ^
Fuel lines
Intercooler pipes
Intercooler
nut rod
Downpipe


I believe that is all. If i left anything out, it is because it is 1:30 in the morning here and i installed a corolla kit at 8:00 am this morning. So yea, im tired. But theres the check list.

 
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Yup. Didn't anyone ever change the handles on their bikes when they were young? Hairspray was what everybody used to make sure they stayed on.

I had my pipes beaded. One of them couldn't be due to the angle and cut. But the shop used hairspray and it made it pretty difficult to even pull the pipe from the coupling. I had to actually cut the coupling off from around it. So... mega hold is no joke haha.

 
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Good tip! That pipe blowing off thing only happened once last fall but that is really a good thing to know.
Another thing that I think is important to add to the list is your gauges-boost and a/f. You really are going to want to know what is going on (VAFC is another option too).
Oh and on the SF thing, I ordered by turbo about the last week in May and got in the beginning of August- yeah I had to wait and it sucked. Then I had to send back my fuel system too and that sucked. But you know what makes up for it? Realizing that turboing a non-turbo car is a hard thing to do and flying down the road listening to the BOV
It IS worth it IMO.....

 
Rep Power: 402

dunno if this is a whole kit but this is what you should get for the most part, i got it from the installing the sf kit thread.

 
Rep Power: 812

For some reason I was expecting it to come with more stuff.

 
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Theres not much to it thats why alot of people go custom. Check out homemadeturbo.com.

 
Rep Power: 327

Well for the gauges... the thread was first to shed some postive light on SF, I see the whole list thing for what SF ships within the kit as somewhat on topic to what I stated; but the gauges do not come with the kit and do not belong in this thread, neither does talking about custom turbo setups.

Not trying to sound like a **** but let's please keep this on topic for what this thread was intended for, and not turn this into almost every other thread in the FI forum.

Thanks again guys, sorry if I sound a lil harsh...