Independent mechanic in Boston area?
08-31-2007, 10:23 AM
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09-02-2007, 01:17 PM
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12-27-2007, 04:19 PM
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I'll second the vote of confidence in Rick at autobahn performance in Peabody. Seems to do excellent work.
ltc, yes, the banana is open. Has been for a year or so, maybe 18 months. How could you miss it? Really, its a big, yellow, banana after all....
ltc, yes, the banana is open. Has been for a year or so, maybe 18 months. How could you miss it? Really, its a big, yellow, banana after all....
11-11-2010, 01:41 PM
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Randolph Racing run for your life.
I used Randolph racing for a few things and here is what happened.
I used Kevin to repair my 930. He talked me into an Electromotive Ignition system that he installed and ran great. It turned out he had it so close to the turbo that the PCB inside the ECU became de-laminated. It took a while to figure this one out. It costs almost $500 to replace. thanks to Ove at Electromotive.
While I was in the shop for the 930, I saw a 944 T that looked well done on the outside. He mentioned it was for sale. He stated he built it and it was in great shape and needed nothing. I asked multiple times, Kevin are you vouching for this cars condition. He stated multiple times that he built it and knew it very well and it was in great shape all around. I bought the car based in his word that it was in great shape. A PPI from the guy who built it and is selling it in retrospect is probably a bad idea. He ended up getting a $1000 for helping sell it.
I told Kevin to go through it and get it ready for the track. He charged me a couple grand to replace the exhaust and a few other things when he was supposed to only replace the exhaust tip. That should have been a hint of things to come. We went to the car would not boost. It turned out the turbo was frozen. So much for going through the car!!! He unfroze it and I went out on the track. The car was smoking and filling the puke tank with oil rapidly. I asked him had this ever done this before and he stated yes. So much for full disclosure. He stated it just needed a ring job and 3200 was the price. I was screwed with a useless car and went ahead. I got the car back. I was heading to FLA with it for a race that day. I got to the track in FLA and went out for practice. The car puked all the oil out under boost within 10 second of getting on it and f'ed the crank bearings and a few other things. I called him up and he said, I don't know what it wrong but bring it back and I'll take a look.
1500 mile drive down, 10 seconds of track time, 1500 miles back. Needless to say, I was pissed. Kevin took the engine apart. He told me it was over boosted and had detonation. He would never show me the pistons. We argued quite a bit. This went on for months. I went into his shop and ask for my parts back. He wouldn't give them to me. I knew I was onto something. I had another company pull the engine apart and take a look, they saw no det. All they work on is turbo cars. I went to Kevin and he still insisted it was over boosted. I again asked him for the parts and he again would not give them to me. I finally got the pistons back and they still had the coating from the factory on them and no det marks AT ALL. He still refused to give me the rings back. I knew that was somehow the issue. He introduced me to a person who he stated could rebuild my engine and he would pay for the labor if I picked up the money for the parts. I talked to the guy on the phone and did some research about him. It turns out he is a VERY reputable engine builder with a GREAT reputation. A pretty decent guy too. I went back to the engine builder to talk to him. I didn't' think I should have to pay for any of the build because I knew it was something he had done. He was very helpful. He stated "I told myself I would give you this is you ever came in my shop". It was the piston build sheet from the original build of the engine. He was the original engine builder. He stated Kevin had came down and asked him what he thought had gone wrong with the rings. He explained everything to the builder. It turns out the block is steel sleeved and Kevin put the wrong rings in it. I was asked to not mention that I had spoken to the builder. I went back to Kevin and explained what I knew and what info I had. He denied it once again. I asked again for my rings back. He wouldn't give them back still. I asked him for the receipt for the rings. He had purchased them from EBS racing. He stated he couldn't find the receipt but I could talk to them and get a copy. I called them and asked for it while I was in Kevin's shop. EBS stated they would fax a copy to me. I left Kevin's shop. I not sooner got down the street when I got a call from EBS stating Kevin had just called him and told him to not give me any of the paperwork for the rings. I said ok, then give me a quote in the EXACT same rings he ordered and had put in my car. They were the STOCK ring gap rings for a non-sleeved car. I went back to Kevin again with all the information I had. He finally admitted that he made a mistake on the ring gapping and that's what caused the problem. This was in a Monday. He asked if he could fix the engine and I still buy the parts. I told him no. He then stated his insurance may cover the damage and to call him at the end of the week. I did ask requested. He told me that since I had the piston build sheet I should have given it to him prior to the build. Isn't he the mechanic and doesn't he know how to use a Vernier Caliper? I'm not mechanic and know this. I couldn't tell him where I got the build sheet and when. He told me go ahead and sue him. He knew all along what he had done. He spent a lot of time and effort to hide his mistake. He is one of the most deceptive people I've ever met.
I posted something on Facebook about what had happened and was inundated with stories of how others had bad experiences as well. He has left as long line of people who have had similar experiences. I would recommend you steer clear. I have used Rick Hetherington with great results. He's a good guy who knows what he is doing. Conway Autoworks ended up putting my 944T back together with a new motor from Lindsey Racing. I'm happy with the end result from both companies. Both have been very helpful through the whole process and I would do business with them again any day.
I have every piece of documentation I mentioned in either hard copy or email and will be happy to share with anyone who asks. Kevin Saltzman and Randolph Racing have left a long trail of broken cars over the years. Go to a PCA event and ask around. He's well known for his work or lack thereof.
I used Kevin to repair my 930. He talked me into an Electromotive Ignition system that he installed and ran great. It turned out he had it so close to the turbo that the PCB inside the ECU became de-laminated. It took a while to figure this one out. It costs almost $500 to replace. thanks to Ove at Electromotive.
While I was in the shop for the 930, I saw a 944 T that looked well done on the outside. He mentioned it was for sale. He stated he built it and it was in great shape and needed nothing. I asked multiple times, Kevin are you vouching for this cars condition. He stated multiple times that he built it and knew it very well and it was in great shape all around. I bought the car based in his word that it was in great shape. A PPI from the guy who built it and is selling it in retrospect is probably a bad idea. He ended up getting a $1000 for helping sell it.
I told Kevin to go through it and get it ready for the track. He charged me a couple grand to replace the exhaust and a few other things when he was supposed to only replace the exhaust tip. That should have been a hint of things to come. We went to the car would not boost. It turned out the turbo was frozen. So much for going through the car!!! He unfroze it and I went out on the track. The car was smoking and filling the puke tank with oil rapidly. I asked him had this ever done this before and he stated yes. So much for full disclosure. He stated it just needed a ring job and 3200 was the price. I was screwed with a useless car and went ahead. I got the car back. I was heading to FLA with it for a race that day. I got to the track in FLA and went out for practice. The car puked all the oil out under boost within 10 second of getting on it and f'ed the crank bearings and a few other things. I called him up and he said, I don't know what it wrong but bring it back and I'll take a look.
1500 mile drive down, 10 seconds of track time, 1500 miles back. Needless to say, I was pissed. Kevin took the engine apart. He told me it was over boosted and had detonation. He would never show me the pistons. We argued quite a bit. This went on for months. I went into his shop and ask for my parts back. He wouldn't give them to me. I knew I was onto something. I had another company pull the engine apart and take a look, they saw no det. All they work on is turbo cars. I went to Kevin and he still insisted it was over boosted. I again asked him for the parts and he again would not give them to me. I finally got the pistons back and they still had the coating from the factory on them and no det marks AT ALL. He still refused to give me the rings back. I knew that was somehow the issue. He introduced me to a person who he stated could rebuild my engine and he would pay for the labor if I picked up the money for the parts. I talked to the guy on the phone and did some research about him. It turns out he is a VERY reputable engine builder with a GREAT reputation. A pretty decent guy too. I went back to the engine builder to talk to him. I didn't' think I should have to pay for any of the build because I knew it was something he had done. He was very helpful. He stated "I told myself I would give you this is you ever came in my shop". It was the piston build sheet from the original build of the engine. He was the original engine builder. He stated Kevin had came down and asked him what he thought had gone wrong with the rings. He explained everything to the builder. It turns out the block is steel sleeved and Kevin put the wrong rings in it. I was asked to not mention that I had spoken to the builder. I went back to Kevin and explained what I knew and what info I had. He denied it once again. I asked again for my rings back. He wouldn't give them back still. I asked him for the receipt for the rings. He had purchased them from EBS racing. He stated he couldn't find the receipt but I could talk to them and get a copy. I called them and asked for it while I was in Kevin's shop. EBS stated they would fax a copy to me. I left Kevin's shop. I not sooner got down the street when I got a call from EBS stating Kevin had just called him and told him to not give me any of the paperwork for the rings. I said ok, then give me a quote in the EXACT same rings he ordered and had put in my car. They were the STOCK ring gap rings for a non-sleeved car. I went back to Kevin again with all the information I had. He finally admitted that he made a mistake on the ring gapping and that's what caused the problem. This was in a Monday. He asked if he could fix the engine and I still buy the parts. I told him no. He then stated his insurance may cover the damage and to call him at the end of the week. I did ask requested. He told me that since I had the piston build sheet I should have given it to him prior to the build. Isn't he the mechanic and doesn't he know how to use a Vernier Caliper? I'm not mechanic and know this. I couldn't tell him where I got the build sheet and when. He told me go ahead and sue him. He knew all along what he had done. He spent a lot of time and effort to hide his mistake. He is one of the most deceptive people I've ever met.
I posted something on Facebook about what had happened and was inundated with stories of how others had bad experiences as well. He has left as long line of people who have had similar experiences. I would recommend you steer clear. I have used Rick Hetherington with great results. He's a good guy who knows what he is doing. Conway Autoworks ended up putting my 944T back together with a new motor from Lindsey Racing. I'm happy with the end result from both companies. Both have been very helpful through the whole process and I would do business with them again any day.
I have every piece of documentation I mentioned in either hard copy or email and will be happy to share with anyone who asks. Kevin Saltzman and Randolph Racing have left a long trail of broken cars over the years. Go to a PCA event and ask around. He's well known for his work or lack thereof.