Excellence Magazine Article (Harder then Hardcore)
#31
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The car in this article is the same one that is now at Orbit. When this test drive was done and Ian was out visiting us last year, the car was running 100% without any issues. I personally drove it at Willow Springs myself.
After the test day, the owner wanted us to put some more miles on the car and we did and it was at the time we had an oil pump failure. The engine did not "blow up" OP, as we shut it down and did our investigation.
We rebuilt it and the car was running when the owner decided he wanted the car back as it was certainly here at the shop much longer than anyone anticipated. In the meantime we were building the Orange 4.0 RS and in the end of that build we discovered that the issues with these builds and the oil pump failures were due to the same harmonic issues that the stock Porsche engines were experiencing and we decided to put an upgraded billet oil pump into the engine and it has proven so far to be the resolution we were looking for.
Now back to the Grey car........as I said, when the car was shipped, it was running. 2 weeks later when it arrived at Orbit, it was started by Roger and it smoked. He quickly shut it down and he called me and we spoke about the sequence of events with this RS as well as the fact that we had the other GMG 4.0 build running on the road with its owner with no problems.
At this point I informed Rodger of our fix to the 4.0 and we wanted him to pull the motor and ship it to GMG on my dime.
Understandibly so, the car owner was so frustrated at this point, he just wanted his car fixed and he wanted to go to the factory 4.0 specs. I told him we had the fix but he was adamant about going factory after all the delays and I told him I will make it right. So Rodger and I worked it out and I am taking care of him and sending him factory 4.0 parts to get his car back on the road. The parts cost me $25K+ but I felt it was the right thing to do.
In the end, there is no question we could have done things better during this process but we did find a resolution and we didn't give up on the customer. I have been with him the entire process and took his calls 24/7 and always let him know that I will take care of him.......this is what we are doing now.
If anyone has any other questions, feel free to contact me directly at GMG or my email at james@gmgracing.com
After the test day, the owner wanted us to put some more miles on the car and we did and it was at the time we had an oil pump failure. The engine did not "blow up" OP, as we shut it down and did our investigation.
We rebuilt it and the car was running when the owner decided he wanted the car back as it was certainly here at the shop much longer than anyone anticipated. In the meantime we were building the Orange 4.0 RS and in the end of that build we discovered that the issues with these builds and the oil pump failures were due to the same harmonic issues that the stock Porsche engines were experiencing and we decided to put an upgraded billet oil pump into the engine and it has proven so far to be the resolution we were looking for.
Now back to the Grey car........as I said, when the car was shipped, it was running. 2 weeks later when it arrived at Orbit, it was started by Roger and it smoked. He quickly shut it down and he called me and we spoke about the sequence of events with this RS as well as the fact that we had the other GMG 4.0 build running on the road with its owner with no problems.
At this point I informed Rodger of our fix to the 4.0 and we wanted him to pull the motor and ship it to GMG on my dime.
Understandibly so, the car owner was so frustrated at this point, he just wanted his car fixed and he wanted to go to the factory 4.0 specs. I told him we had the fix but he was adamant about going factory after all the delays and I told him I will make it right. So Rodger and I worked it out and I am taking care of him and sending him factory 4.0 parts to get his car back on the road. The parts cost me $25K+ but I felt it was the right thing to do.
In the end, there is no question we could have done things better during this process but we did find a resolution and we didn't give up on the customer. I have been with him the entire process and took his calls 24/7 and always let him know that I will take care of him.......this is what we are doing now.
If anyone has any other questions, feel free to contact me directly at GMG or my email at james@gmgracing.com
__________________
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James F. Sofronas | President & Owner
Global Motorsports Group ™
E: james@gmgracing.com
P: +1 (714) 432-1582
F: +1 (714) 432-1590
A: 3210 South Shannon Street, Santa Ana, California 92704
W: gmgracing.com
![](https://rennlist.com/forums/signaturepics/sigpic65950_4.gif)
James F. Sofronas | President & Owner
Global Motorsports Group ™
E: james@gmgracing.com
P: +1 (714) 432-1582
F: +1 (714) 432-1590
A: 3210 South Shannon Street, Santa Ana, California 92704
W: gmgracing.com
#33
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Typical in situations like this, when you are out ahead of the competition you will be the first to encounter the problems.
I have personally seen the Oil pump and the parts that actually failed. I was shocked at the voilence that causes this to happen.
Luckily, there are people involved here that know what they see, understand what is gong on and can fix such problems.
I have personally seen the Oil pump and the parts that actually failed. I was shocked at the voilence that causes this to happen.
Luckily, there are people involved here that know what they see, understand what is gong on and can fix such problems.
#34
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Questions:
Is your 4.0 a strict race car or a track/street car? Wish to care and share details of your build? Bore & stroke or just bore?
Who IN GMG is/are the engine builders? Who built the motor?
Believe you made a comment that you've seen oil pumps break often?
So the two RS's did so great then with such ultimate builds why no dyno graphs to illustrate? One spends multi-bucks to go from pt. A to pt. B, hell I want to know and quantify the change.
Oh and racer I'm not talking internet 4th and 5th layer hear say.
I know the owner and we're colleagues in same specialty and we speak often.
I'd say the owner is a good source unless he's been lied to.
So are you calling me a bull$h!tter.
Ranger
#35
Race Director
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Bam! Go Ranger....
FYI Im bored and such at an airport with 5 H&R flight delay...
FYI Im bored and such at an airport with 5 H&R flight delay...
#36
Nordschleife Master
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Knowing Rodger and the caliber of work at his facility, I'm trusting that while it is down the gearbox is being torn down and being given the once over. An engine failure of this nature can do nasty things to a transmission and I would hate to wake up two month from now and read about how this car is down again because a gear ate itself. Engine failures are very rarely without gearbox consequences and that is far too often overlooked when the focus becomes on the failed power plant. Thank goodness the boys at Orbit know their way around a gearbox pretty much as well as they know their way around an engine.
#37
GT3 player par excellence
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never mind me.
#38
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It sounds to me like GMG is doing the right thing.
But I've gotta ask you guys doing these conversions- why?? It would seem to me that with all the potential (or real) aggravation and expense you'd just get a factory 4.0. While the grey car sounds like a fantastic track car (if it had some seats) it would seem to be pure PITA poseur overkill for the street. And if you are tracking the car- is it competitive in club racing? It seems to be an awful lot of money to spend just to win a DE event. Maybe I'm overestimating the costs......or I'm just too poor to understand....so please enlighten me.
But I've gotta ask you guys doing these conversions- why?? It would seem to me that with all the potential (or real) aggravation and expense you'd just get a factory 4.0. While the grey car sounds like a fantastic track car (if it had some seats) it would seem to be pure PITA poseur overkill for the street. And if you are tracking the car- is it competitive in club racing? It seems to be an awful lot of money to spend just to win a DE event. Maybe I'm overestimating the costs......or I'm just too poor to understand....so please enlighten me.
#39
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It sounds to me like GMG is doing the right thing.
But I've gotta ask you guys doing these conversions- why?? It would seem to me that with all the potential (or real) aggravation and expense you'd just get a factory 4.0. While the grey car sounds like a fantastic track car (if it had some seats) it would seem to be pure PITA poseur overkill for the street. And if you are tracking the car- is it competitive in club racing? It seems to be an awful lot of money to spend just to win a DE event. Maybe I'm overestimating the costs......or I'm just too poor to understand....so please enlighten me.
But I've gotta ask you guys doing these conversions- why?? It would seem to me that with all the potential (or real) aggravation and expense you'd just get a factory 4.0. While the grey car sounds like a fantastic track car (if it had some seats) it would seem to be pure PITA poseur overkill for the street. And if you are tracking the car- is it competitive in club racing? It seems to be an awful lot of money to spend just to win a DE event. Maybe I'm overestimating the costs......or I'm just too poor to understand....so please enlighten me.
His car, he can do what he wants with it. If putting a 4.0L in the GT3RS makes him happy, all that matters.
#40
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It sounds to me like GMG is doing the right thing.
But I've gotta ask you guys doing these conversions- why?? It would seem to me that with all the potential (or real) aggravation and expense you'd just get a factory 4.0. While the grey car sounds like a fantastic track car (if it had some seats) it would seem to be pure PITA poseur overkill for the street. And if you are tracking the car- is it competitive in club racing? It seems to be an awful lot of money to spend just to win a DE event. Maybe I'm overestimating the costs......or I'm just too poor to understand....so please enlighten me.
But I've gotta ask you guys doing these conversions- why?? It would seem to me that with all the potential (or real) aggravation and expense you'd just get a factory 4.0. While the grey car sounds like a fantastic track car (if it had some seats) it would seem to be pure PITA poseur overkill for the street. And if you are tracking the car- is it competitive in club racing? It seems to be an awful lot of money to spend just to win a DE event. Maybe I'm overestimating the costs......or I'm just too poor to understand....so please enlighten me.
PM me if you wish.
Ranger (LRRP)
#41
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PM sent thanks.
I understand it's his car and I'm not being critical of the decision to upgrade I do it too It just sounds to me like waiting months on a car that isn't running after spending a small fortune wouldn't make one too happy.
His car, he can do what he wants with it. If putting a 4.0L in the GT3RS makes him happy, all that matters.
#42
Rennlist Member
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Oh really? Believe you'd get a challenge on that comment.
Questions:
Is your 4.0 a strict race car or a track/street car? Wish to care and share details of your build? Bore & stroke or just bore?
Who IN GMG is/are the engine builders? Who built the motor?
Believe you made a comment that you've seen oil pumps break often?
So the two RS's did so great then with such ultimate builds why no dyno graphs to illustrate? One spends multi-bucks to go from pt. A to pt. B, hell I want to know and quantify the change.
Oh and racer I'm not talking internet 4th and 5th layer hear say.
I know the owner and we're colleagues in same specialty and we speak often.
I'd say the owner is a good source unless he's been lied to.
So are you calling me a bull$h!tter.
Ranger
Questions:
Is your 4.0 a strict race car or a track/street car? Wish to care and share details of your build? Bore & stroke or just bore?
Who IN GMG is/are the engine builders? Who built the motor?
Believe you made a comment that you've seen oil pumps break often?
So the two RS's did so great then with such ultimate builds why no dyno graphs to illustrate? One spends multi-bucks to go from pt. A to pt. B, hell I want to know and quantify the change.
Oh and racer I'm not talking internet 4th and 5th layer hear say.
I know the owner and we're colleagues in same specialty and we speak often.
I'd say the owner is a good source unless he's been lied to.
So are you calling me a bull$h!tter.
Ranger
#43
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Serge,
With all due respect, your build was a bore build, and I'm not taking your credit there, just saying that the stroker motor involves a lot of different things, to make it work properly.
Ranger's car is the first 4.2 I have seen with my own eyes, dynoed and driven at the track so far. Street car wise of course.
With all due respect, your build was a bore build, and I'm not taking your credit there, just saying that the stroker motor involves a lot of different things, to make it work properly.
Ranger's car is the first 4.2 I have seen with my own eyes, dynoed and driven at the track so far. Street car wise of course.
#44
Rennlist Member
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I don't need any credit. The people who pioneer the components to make these builds happen don't spend time on forums - some don't even have a website.
I'm just blown away by that some feel entitled to be internet experts on something they paid someone to do. It's one thing to offer advice, and a whole nother to try to discredit someone or pursue a crusade to just be "right."
I'm just blown away by that some feel entitled to be internet experts on something they paid someone to do. It's one thing to offer advice, and a whole nother to try to discredit someone or pursue a crusade to just be "right."
#45
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I don't need any credit. The people who pioneer the components to make these builds happen don't spend time on forums - some don't even have a website.
I'm just blown away by that some feel entitled to be internet experts on something they paid someone to do. It's one thing to offer advice, and a whole nother to try to discredit someone or pursue a crusade to just be "right."
I'm just blown away by that some feel entitled to be internet experts on something they paid someone to do. It's one thing to offer advice, and a whole nother to try to discredit someone or pursue a crusade to just be "right."
What I stated was NOT about me nor for that matter Champion Motorsport.
The challenge I referred to would be from others who came before to under take the endeavor of such builds. Well before my car and others in Europe.
I think Alex at Sharkwerks would have a say, been making a very good product many times over.
GMG's comment states that since they are "leaders of the competition",
that's when I responded, "oh really?"
So I say again, I was NOT referring to myself or Champion!
As for me, I'm just a cardiovascular interventional radiologist (a dumb a$$) who doesn't pretend to know much about cars but I do know right from wrong in what this thread has been addressing.
Sir.
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Ranger