If the allegations that RACINCJ posted about the matter involving SVS in the “SVS uncovered” thread are being spread throughout the Chicago area and being used to diminish our credibility, then I feel that it is necessary to post the TRUTH about the situation and how it happened.
This situation happened in 1998 and somebody obviously knew this story and placed it here on the board in an effort to discredit SVS. They tried to spin it that we forced the dealership to sign a release over an engine we built that they spent 20k on and we acted as if we didn’t want to be liable. There were also allegations of intimidation by SVS through lawsuits. This is total fabrication in an effort to discredit our company.
This was going to be a limited edition Viper that was being done for a dealership. There was going to be around 5 of them built. I was approached by a representitive from the dealership with the idea to build these Vipers.
I worked with this representative from the dealership on pricing on all of the items that were going into the limited edition Viper. The list was made and pricing on all upgrades were agreed upon by the dealership. We received a $20,000.00 check to start the project. This was a small part of the overall price.
As the car was being put together and custom parts were being designed, the overall amount became an issue and changes were made by the dealership after we had already started the project. They felt that the overall amount of the package added to the price of the car would be hard for them to sell. We discussed what could be done to lower the price of the overall package, but because we were in midstream of following the original agreed upon pricing some of the original $20k was allocated for already started work and parts.
The car sat in limbo because either the dealership was going to send us more money to finish the job we were already in midstream with or they were going to decide to lower the overall package and decide what parts they actually wanted to incorporate into the limited edition Viper. It completely became their decision on which way they wanted to go with the project.
I remember dealing with the representative at the dealership and him telling me that they were going to most likely go with a package from another well known tuner for the rest of the limited edition Vipers. They felt that the overall price of the originally agreed upon contract added to the cost of the car was going to be hard for them to sell. This was all being told to me after we were already in midstream of building this 1st limited edition Viper.
The Viper sat here in the shop for quite a while because a decision had to be made by the dealership on which route they wanted to take with it.
They decided to pick up the Viper in an “uncompleted state” and use the 20k towards whatever had already been completed.
The engine had been built and ready to be placed in the car. My Father informed the dealership that if they wanted to come and pick up the Viper that was fine. The 20k was broken down into what had already been completed for the overall project. We informed the dealership that the engine absolutely needed to have an upgraded fuel system to properly run the level at which the engine was built. The engine was built very strong and somewhere around 11.3:1 compression. We informed the dealership that if they were going to complete the car themselves or have anyone else work on it that we were very uncomfortable letting the engine out of our shop without a properly managed fuel system to match the engine.
We gave the dealership the amount that it would cost to complete the fuel system, because the 20k was already used up in the overall areas of the project.
The dealership informed us that they felt the car didn’t need an upgraded fuel system. They said that they had a local guy that was going to help them finish the car and they were informed that a fuel system wasn’t necessary. Who informed them that a fuel system wasn’t necessary? I have no idea!
We said fine that’s your call, but we are going to require that you sign a release that states we are not going to be responsible for someone else finishing the car or the installation of the engine without us incorporating a fuel system to our standards. They agreed and signed the release that we had drawn up to cover ourselves around the incomplete nature of this project.
They picked up the car in pieces. We placed the engine in the car with NOTHING hooked up, just so they could transport the car. The transmission and other parts were also not installed. They signed the release and took the car.
Now from what I understand I believe that they placed the engine in a different Viper and sold it to a customer. I’m not sure if they tried to put a fuel system on the engine or not and who actually did the work. Also from what I understand the engine did blow up and they tried to come after us. We informed them that we wanted to help but that the car went out of our shop in an incomplete state and that they had “others” finish the job and most importantly that they didn’t incorporate the upgraded fuel system. Our release covered SVS in this situation and we still wanted to try to help out with whatever the dealership needed.
They sent the engine to a guy that was going to rebuild it. This gentleman contacted my father and told him he seen nothing wrong with the engine build and the only problem was that it didn’t have a sufficient fuel system. He asked my Father about sending a fuel system and if we could help. My Father was more than happy to “TRY” to help out in this matter and even offered to send somebody to install the fuel system. We gave the gentleman the pricing for the fuel system and he said he would get back to us. I believe the gentleman contacted the dealership with requirements for additional money to add a fuel system to the engine. My Father contacted this gentleman and asked what was going on with the situation and was told that no additional money was going to be allocated for an upgraded fuel system.
It is my understanding that the second time around the engine had blown up again.
So what happens? SVS gets blamed and bad stories are spread that this was our fault?
We couldn’t force the dealership to pay additional money for what we felt was very important to ensure the proper fuel system to run the engine. We couldn’t force the dealership to finish the car in the state that we had originally agreed upon. They changed there minds and we tried to work with that on every angle.
The only thing we could do is have them sign a release that we can’t be responsible for these types of decisions, mainly the fact around the fuel system and that others were going to finish the car.
The bottom line is that the cost of a fuel system to handle the engine (Motec was originally involved in the limited edition Viper, but not in the simple additional cost of a piggy back fuel system to help ensure the engines life) would have solved this entire matter that has turned into a “Blame Story” centered on SVS.
As a tuner the worst possible situation is NOT BEING GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SOLVE OR NEGOTIATE A RESONABLE SOLUTION FOR ANY GIVEN SITUATION THAT COULD LEAD TO FURTHER PROBLEMS.
At least in THIS situation we were given the opportunity to state what needed to be done. :nod: Our diagnosis to help save a problem was denied. We needed to cover our own position on the matter and I feel we tried to save this situation in the best that we possibly could.
Jr.
This situation happened in 1998 and somebody obviously knew this story and placed it here on the board in an effort to discredit SVS. They tried to spin it that we forced the dealership to sign a release over an engine we built that they spent 20k on and we acted as if we didn’t want to be liable. There were also allegations of intimidation by SVS through lawsuits. This is total fabrication in an effort to discredit our company.
This was going to be a limited edition Viper that was being done for a dealership. There was going to be around 5 of them built. I was approached by a representitive from the dealership with the idea to build these Vipers.
I worked with this representative from the dealership on pricing on all of the items that were going into the limited edition Viper. The list was made and pricing on all upgrades were agreed upon by the dealership. We received a $20,000.00 check to start the project. This was a small part of the overall price.
As the car was being put together and custom parts were being designed, the overall amount became an issue and changes were made by the dealership after we had already started the project. They felt that the overall amount of the package added to the price of the car would be hard for them to sell. We discussed what could be done to lower the price of the overall package, but because we were in midstream of following the original agreed upon pricing some of the original $20k was allocated for already started work and parts.
The car sat in limbo because either the dealership was going to send us more money to finish the job we were already in midstream with or they were going to decide to lower the overall package and decide what parts they actually wanted to incorporate into the limited edition Viper. It completely became their decision on which way they wanted to go with the project.
I remember dealing with the representative at the dealership and him telling me that they were going to most likely go with a package from another well known tuner for the rest of the limited edition Vipers. They felt that the overall price of the originally agreed upon contract added to the cost of the car was going to be hard for them to sell. This was all being told to me after we were already in midstream of building this 1st limited edition Viper.
The Viper sat here in the shop for quite a while because a decision had to be made by the dealership on which route they wanted to take with it.
They decided to pick up the Viper in an “uncompleted state” and use the 20k towards whatever had already been completed.
The engine had been built and ready to be placed in the car. My Father informed the dealership that if they wanted to come and pick up the Viper that was fine. The 20k was broken down into what had already been completed for the overall project. We informed the dealership that the engine absolutely needed to have an upgraded fuel system to properly run the level at which the engine was built. The engine was built very strong and somewhere around 11.3:1 compression. We informed the dealership that if they were going to complete the car themselves or have anyone else work on it that we were very uncomfortable letting the engine out of our shop without a properly managed fuel system to match the engine.
We gave the dealership the amount that it would cost to complete the fuel system, because the 20k was already used up in the overall areas of the project.
The dealership informed us that they felt the car didn’t need an upgraded fuel system. They said that they had a local guy that was going to help them finish the car and they were informed that a fuel system wasn’t necessary. Who informed them that a fuel system wasn’t necessary? I have no idea!
We said fine that’s your call, but we are going to require that you sign a release that states we are not going to be responsible for someone else finishing the car or the installation of the engine without us incorporating a fuel system to our standards. They agreed and signed the release that we had drawn up to cover ourselves around the incomplete nature of this project.
They picked up the car in pieces. We placed the engine in the car with NOTHING hooked up, just so they could transport the car. The transmission and other parts were also not installed. They signed the release and took the car.
Now from what I understand I believe that they placed the engine in a different Viper and sold it to a customer. I’m not sure if they tried to put a fuel system on the engine or not and who actually did the work. Also from what I understand the engine did blow up and they tried to come after us. We informed them that we wanted to help but that the car went out of our shop in an incomplete state and that they had “others” finish the job and most importantly that they didn’t incorporate the upgraded fuel system. Our release covered SVS in this situation and we still wanted to try to help out with whatever the dealership needed.
They sent the engine to a guy that was going to rebuild it. This gentleman contacted my father and told him he seen nothing wrong with the engine build and the only problem was that it didn’t have a sufficient fuel system. He asked my Father about sending a fuel system and if we could help. My Father was more than happy to “TRY” to help out in this matter and even offered to send somebody to install the fuel system. We gave the gentleman the pricing for the fuel system and he said he would get back to us. I believe the gentleman contacted the dealership with requirements for additional money to add a fuel system to the engine. My Father contacted this gentleman and asked what was going on with the situation and was told that no additional money was going to be allocated for an upgraded fuel system.
It is my understanding that the second time around the engine had blown up again.
So what happens? SVS gets blamed and bad stories are spread that this was our fault?
We couldn’t force the dealership to pay additional money for what we felt was very important to ensure the proper fuel system to run the engine. We couldn’t force the dealership to finish the car in the state that we had originally agreed upon. They changed there minds and we tried to work with that on every angle.
The only thing we could do is have them sign a release that we can’t be responsible for these types of decisions, mainly the fact around the fuel system and that others were going to finish the car.
The bottom line is that the cost of a fuel system to handle the engine (Motec was originally involved in the limited edition Viper, but not in the simple additional cost of a piggy back fuel system to help ensure the engines life) would have solved this entire matter that has turned into a “Blame Story” centered on SVS.
As a tuner the worst possible situation is NOT BEING GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SOLVE OR NEGOTIATE A RESONABLE SOLUTION FOR ANY GIVEN SITUATION THAT COULD LEAD TO FURTHER PROBLEMS.
At least in THIS situation we were given the opportunity to state what needed to be done. :nod: Our diagnosis to help save a problem was denied. We needed to cover our own position on the matter and I feel we tried to save this situation in the best that we possibly could.
Jr.