I really did not want to post this but why not at this point. After seeing all you nut swingers talking up IPS and the completion of Erik’s rx7 I figured I would call them about ls1 swapping my rx7. Talked to Jeff initially over the phone and seemed like a nice legit guy. Keep in mind I did not own the rx7, but I was purchasing it specifically for this swap. After Jeff sent the original estimate in November 2008 and estimated the swap would take 4-6 weeks I pulled the trigger and bought the car.
His estimate was almost too good to be true and later on in this long story you will find out it was! The price he quoted me was cheaper then I could build the car for and due to time constraints I opted not to do it myself! Car did not run so I had it shipped directly to IPS.
Within 2 days of them receiving the car they already had the motor out. I was impressed on how quick they were diving into this project. Within the first week I had the rotary motor out of their shop and a complete ls1/4l60e pullout with wiring harness and computer at their doorstep.
Ran into the first problem which was a bent frame rail, so I think the project is toast. They inform me they know the best body man in the country so I spend days trying to find a front clip. Found one in California and had it shipped to their recommended body shop. Front clip was $1,000 and they said the body man would do it for $500. They also mentioned he sectioned another rx7 for a forum member on here so it would not be a problem.
Since the engine was out and the car was going to a body shop I told them to ask him to spray the engine bay for me which I feel is the right thing to do since the motor is out. He agreed to do it for $500. I give them $1,000 in cash. They still will not give me contact info of the body man for some odd reason.
3 months later my car returns back from the body shop frame front clipped sectioned in without a painted engine bay and the driver’s door won’t shut! I mention it to them but they say it was a bigger job then he expected. This shit frustrates me because I would have gone another couple hundred to have the bay painted.
During the 4 months it was at the body shop they talked me into head/cam swap while the engine was out. At this point I had given them $5500(parts) plus ($1,000) to have the frame fixed and bay painted. Mike insisted I give them the money for the parts because they were going to immediately start on the car! By this point in the project Jeff pushes me off onto mike.
At this point I come down with a truck and tell them I am taking my car out but they promise they will get started on it the following week. Initially they said they would make a “custom IPS subframe” because they already had the jig. Another reason why I chose to take my car there! After waiting 8 months for them to make this subframe I had to order the piece from Justin Samberg in California. Progress is still very minimal at this point. I also love looking through the bill and paying for broken parts that I have pictures of that were good when I delivered them!
By now I have lost all interest in the project so I quit the 4-5 phone calls per week. Ran into several other obstacles throughout the project but they ensured me they had done the swap before and it would not be a problem. This story could go on and on but this entire RX7 project with IPS has exhausted me.
As of now 9/25 the car still does not run. The vehicle does have a custom transmission bracket I paid them $500.00 to “fabricate” when they could have ordered one from Hinson for $130.00. Seems practical right?? It also has a $200.00 lengthened steering shaft that a month ago they told me the car did not need?? A $450.00 bracket that connects the Mazda shifter to the 4l60e.a $500.00 radiator that lists for around $300.00. And the list goes on and on.
I had to send the wiring harness to a guy in South Carolina because with their wiring modification which I paid them roughly $700.00 to do and the car won’t start. The man who fixed the harness thought they charged me so much because they had used about 100 quick splice connectors for a nice quality and durable connection and about 100ft of heat shrink. He found cracked wires because nobody at IPS owns a soldering iron and relies on cheap plastic crimp connectors! The picture of the wiring mess he sent me is amusing along with pictures of the split wires within the loom that IPS charged me $200.00 to “lengthen” these wires around my headers.
The vehicle still needs and exhaust, intake, and odds and ends. At this point I figure another 4-5 more months on this never ending RX7 project. I have been more then patient and fair with them. Every time they needed a part or money I was there. I drove the gas tank 4 hours to a guy in PA to be restored because there was not another usable one available and they said this was the last piece of the project. Lucky they dropped the labor rate from $70.00 down to $55.00 or I would have to part out the car in order to pay them!
I guess one positive is when I finally get the car back I wont need the a/c they were unable to put on because they lost the lines! This may seem like another IPS bashing thread but my current bill is around over TWO TIMES the cost of the original estimate not to mention it has been a year. I understand this isn’t a new Z06 corvette or something that gets much publicity but have some loyalty and respect to local customers. Jeff posts build threads of cars but nobody local…. Hmm.. I wonder why?
10/25/09
So not only am I broke but also extremely frustrated at this point. I rented a u-haul trailer and loaded up the truck to go get the rx7. Get there and they immediately question me about why I am taking the car. I explain to them that I am exhausted from the project and just want to square up with them and get the car out of there.
They think I am taking it to Gearheadz and insist that I let them finish the car! Jeff was about to cry when he had heard I was taking my car to Gearheadz! I explain that I have 0 dollars to finish the car and they said they will finish it for free! I thought I was hearing stuff so I asked again and they said they would wrap up the exhaust and intake, and tune for free! I am still skeptical because of how many times they have reneged on their word so I tell them I am still taking it! They promise I won’t owe them another dollar if I let them finish it, so stupid me agrees to let them finish the car and they promised it would be done in 2 weeks.
They said where else would I find somewhere willing to finish the car for free beside Gearheadz! I had brought a Crank Sensor plug with me and a pinout of the ecu so we go in the back and hook it up and amazingly the car comes to life! So after 1 year my $6.00 crank plug brings the car to life after these LSX specialists spend countless hours of my money troubleshooting and still had no luck firing my car!
The car needed injectors and an abs pump which I authorized them to order.
Fast-forward 4 weeks, yes 4 weeks 2 weeks over the deadline I get a call from Mike and they inform me that I owe them anther $2,600 for fabbing up the exhaust, intake, tune and putting the car back together and other odds and ends. After another 45 minute argument on the phone he claims I misunderstood him about finishing the car for free. I guess the guy I brought with me and the 4 techs in the back misunderstood the Yetzger Brothers about finishing my car for free! Any who the car is currently sitting at IPS because like I mentioned to them 4 weeks ago I did not have the funding to finish the project at this time. So now every penny I save goes into the “get the 7 out of the hands of these idiots fund.” I had no problem bringing the car back to them in a few months when I got some money saved up in order to finish the car, but what they did in suckering me in is a dirty thing for a business to do!
Now that all this has been brought to the attention is it just me or have I really been taken advantage of? I understand anytime custom fab work is done the estimate may change but they did Erik’s car before so they knew what they were getting into. I’m sure Jeff will get on there any say what a POS I brought him and how they “hooked” me up etc. but when it comes down to it I honestly feel like I got Screwed by IPS. I have nothing against the techs that work there or their quality of work, but have some respect and dignity towards a customer! I just don’t understand how a business can operate when they treat honest, patient, and cooperative customers like this!
So anyways by now its February. The car has been at IPS for 16 months and it is still not road worthy. I am heading down Thursday to get the car, all my parts and wash my hands of these unprofessional idiots who are trying to run a business and screwing unsuspecting customers.
I could go on and on how bad IPS screwed me. I could go on about how Mike’s brother was slow and wanted some money during the holidays so I had him paint the bumpers. We had agreed that they would fill the holes and wet sand and buff the bumpers. Come to find out that the holes weren’t filled and they weren’t wet sanded and buffed. How could there be so much confusion when it comes to a business.
The car has no brakes, Fuel pump relay jumpered with a paper clip and some heat shrink, Speedo does not work, oil pan clearance of 2 ¼ inches and exhaust clearance of about ¾ inch due to their master auto body tech sectioned my front clip in crooked! They had parked the car under a vehicle that leaked tranny fluid, oil, and gray RTV on my car which bubbled and etched the paint all over my car, grease stains on my leather seats because some intelligent individual put the old greasy driveshaft on the passenger seat! And that’s just scratching the surface.
The car is a complete cluster fuck. Is my rx7 a $125k ZR1?? No but have some respect for the average persons car. Erik named his car the red mess so therefore I’m naming mine “Black Mess” I will be the next few months fixing all of IPS’s screw ups on the car in order to make her road worthy! I am sure IPS will get on here and defend how the car is road worthy etc. but it comes down to the fact that I HAD to pick it up with a trailer!
Be men and admit your mistakes, how much bullshit can one person take? Once again I caution people to scope out the shop they are going to have working on their car very closely. 1st moral of this story- A businesses reputation doesn’t lie… 2nd moral- Take lube with you before you go to IPS because chances are you will get screwed!
2/4/2010
Well its d day and I just unloaded black mess from the trailer. It was an interesting experience picking up the car at IPS. I went down and squared up with them in an honest manner even though I did not agree with the bill.
It turned into the dirtiest unprofessional hour conversation I have ever had in my life. Both parties were in the wrong but Jeff as a business owner in the community showed his true colors arguing with me and a buddy about nothing that was going to be resolved. Making every excuse in the book and using some choice words with me and about my (Basketcase) car.
My last complaint with the shop is that I addressed the issue of a dented hood and scratched fender which occurred during the time at the shop. They said they didn’t feel the need to address the issue because I had never brought it up to them. They offered me $300.00 to fix the body work because that what it would cost them. What body shop in my local area is going to fix it for this rate? Were taking probably $1,000.00 worth of damages. Anyways I told Mike to keep the money and take all the employees out to dinner on me for all the hard work, time, and dedication to making my car into what it is sitting on jack stands in my garage, Thanks again IPS!
