Bad Sellers

[Kraftsman]

Theres a difference in "tooning" a car and "tuning" a car. Most people with a manual and a laptop can "toon" a car but it takes a real pro with knowledge and experience to truly tune a car and understand how the parameters hes messing with will effect the car and its drive-ability. Just cause a tune makes more power then another doesnt mean its a better tune either. Some tuners are willing to run your car on the edge for those numbers while others take into account reliability and longevity.

Here is why I think they screwed me. I'll start from the beginning so you know the whole story.
When they were going to dynotune the car, I told him I wanted to be there for it, just to snap some pics, maybe bring a video cam with me whatever. He said it was no big deal but the guy that did the dyno tuning wasnt going to be there until 4pm so we didnt need to show up until then. Well we decided we wanted to get there a little early just in case, so we get there at NOON, and the car is sitting in the parking lot in front of the building already done. I was kinda upset, not a big deal though, didnt click at the time. Chandler comes out with a dyno sheet that reads 532 rwhp on a race tune with 110 octane race gas.
What? 532? That was a far cry from the promised 575 to 600. He says well you gotta understand, I can put the same car on the dyno from one day to the next and get a 50 hp difference. WHAT? 50 HP? What the fuck is wrong with your dyno? I understand if the s/c is heatsoaked or something, but not just one day to the next with same conditions. Still didnt click.
Well the car ran ok for a little while, until one night I raced a guy on a crotch rocket. I jumped him off of the line, but when my car hit second gear, it broke up like crazy, poppin and bangin. The guy on the bike said when it did that he saw 12in flames shoot out my tailpipes. Now I'm worried that I hurt something in the motor.
The car never ran the same. Everytime I tried to put my foot in it a little it was breaking up. Now I'm fucking mad!
I have heard nothing but good about Jim sr. at jdm so I decided to take my car to him, and add a few goodies to the mix. New cams, tb and intake, cj maf housing, carmen 2.8 s/c pulley, just to name a few. I thought and Jim jr. agreed that maybe my valve springs were getting weak, and maybe having valve floating issues, so i decided to go with comp high load valve springs.
As jdm was doing my springs, they did a leakdown test, and found out all the cylinders had excessive blow by and two were up to over 18%! I gave them the ok to tear the block down and replace the rings. Nope, all the cylinder walls and pistons were scored very badly. The block would have had to been bored to be usable again and pistons replaced. Jim sr. said the scoring was caused by predetonation caused by a bad tune. ding ding ding.
This is the reason for my post against Brenspeed. They lied to me, screwed me, sold me a tune that broke my shit, and I want to let everyone know so you dont make the same mistake I did.
I did not post any false info on this. I did not bash brenspeed, I simply stated facts about my dealings with brenspeed. If they decide not to make it right with me because of this post it is because they dont want people to know the truth. I'm mad, but you decide, if this happened to you, wouldnt you be?

DON'T USE BRENSPEEDS TUNES!!

 

[SherrodMustang]

 

[bullittrevor]

Here is why I think they screwed me. I'll start from the beginning so you know the whole story.
When they were going to dynotune the car, I told him I wanted to be there for it, just to snap some pics, maybe bring a video cam with me whatever. He said it was no big deal but the guy that did the dyno tuning wasnt going to be there until 4pm so we didnt need to show up until then. Well we decided we wanted to get there a little early just in case, so we get there at NOON, and the car is sitting in the parking lot in front of the building already done. I was kinda upset, not a big deal though, didnt click at the time. Chandler comes out with a dyno sheet that reads 532 rwhp on a race tune with 110 octane race gas.
What? 532? That was a far cry from the promised 575 to 600. He says well you gotta understand, I can put the same car on the dyno from one day to the next and get a 50 hp difference. WHAT? 50 HP? What the fuck is wrong with your dyno? I understand if the s/c is heatsoaked or something, but not just one day to the next with same conditions. Still didnt click.
Well the car ran ok for a little while, until one night I raced a guy on a crotch rocket. I jumped him off of the line, but when my car hit second gear, it broke up like crazy, poppin and bangin. The guy on the bike said when it did that he saw 12in flames shoot out my tailpipes. Now I'm worried that I hurt something in the motor.
The car never ran the same. Everytime I tried to put my foot in it a little it was breaking up. Now I'm fucking mad!
I have heard nothing but good about Jim sr. at jdm so I decided to take my car to him, and add a few goodies to the mix. New cams, tb and intake, cj maf housing, carmen 2.8 s/c pulley, just to name a few. I thought and Jim jr. agreed that maybe my valve springs were getting weak, and maybe having valve floating issues, so i decided to go with comp high load valve springs.
As jdm was doing my springs, they did a leakdown test, and found out all the cylinders had excessive blow by and two were up to over 18%! I gave them the ok to tear the block down and replace the rings. Nope, all the cylinder walls and pistons were scored very badly. The block would have had to been bored to be usable again and pistons replaced. Jim sr. said the scoring was caused by predetonation caused by a bad tune. ding ding ding.
This is the reason for my post against Brenspeed. They lied to me, screwed me, sold me a tune that broke my shit, and I want to let everyone know so you dont make the same mistake I did.
I did not post any false info on this. I did not bash brenspeed, I simply stated facts about my dealings with brenspeed. If they decide not to make it right with me because of this post it is because they dont want people to know the truth. I'm mad, but you decide, if this happened to you, wouldnt you be?

DON'T USE BRENSPEEDS TUNES!!

I take it if your using race gas your probably pushing 14+ pounds of boost? If so 532 is way low. Definitely should be closer to the 575 range if not higher(depending on what other mods you have). I would have to had a better explanation about why the numbers were low other than the explanation they gave you. Hope everything works out for you.

 

[Brenspeed]

Couldn't agree more, "tooners" are a dime a dozen. Ive been waiting on a tune update since before thanksgiving. I'm optimistic that based on the shops positive feedback that it will hopefully be right this time. I will say based on the customer service I have received from them I wouldn't recommend them to anyone.

PM'd!

 

[Brenspeed]

This is Brent from Brenspeed, Chandler typically makes posts but sometimes he sends something my way if he thinks I should see it, so here is my reply.
I have always said Forums are “typically” a good place to get and give information but a lot of times (like this one) false facts are thrown around and bad information is pumped out. I have been tuning S197’s since the day SCT had software available. I remember way back when the software was released you couldn’t even data log them because at the time the programmer was an Xcalibrator 1 and you couldn’t even pass through data log. Since then I have put my tunes on an absolutely ridiculous number of 3V cars. Just from 12/1/2010 to 12/31/2010 I put my tunes on 1,531 3V cars (in house and mail order). That’s more 3V cars than some shops ever tune. This doesn’t include revisions for upgrades either so when I read somebody say the tune 100% caused a problem or refer a shop that just bought tuning software a year ago and doesn’t own a dyno and tuned a hand full of cars, if that, gets frustrating.
The car in question has run fine for a year from what I have been told and supposedly all of the sudden had detonation. There are so many variable that can cause that and we are only talking about a car that makes 530 to the wheels here not a 700+ rwhp car. A car that runs a less aggressive tune than our automatic transmission NMRA cars that make a couple hundred passes a season. Did the car get a tank of less than the desired octane? Did some oil work its way up into the inlet or blower which will cause detonation? Etc…. Its hard saying, but to just up and blame a tune that has been on the car for a while sounds a little odd especially one that is not crazy aggressive.
Roy your tune was not so aggressive as you can tell by the dyno numbers to be the cause of your issue. Your 93 tune only runs 16 degrees total timing, and your 110 race fuel tune runs the same timing schedule we run our race car on with 93 octane. This will not cause your car to detonate. Yes we run more aggressive tunes on our cars we race but this is for R&D purposed to see the limits of the engines. Yes we do use the IAT for protection so yes on the dyno if it is not cool numbers do not come out as high as some people want. It’s not that the dyno has a 50HP variance, it’s that fluctuating IAT (which adjusts spark) can cause a big HP variance on blower cars.
I am just stating facts from our side. And I know you are frustrated also just stating what Jim told you. I am not mad at you for this. I do think it’s ridiculous to find this post and never get a phone call from you beforehand so I can explain your tune. I do apologize if you wanted a video of your car and didn’t get it. My tuning schedule does fluctuate sometimes if a car is ready for the dyno or a previous appointment cancels and I am able to get on it I do.
Brent

 

[Kraftsman]

Brent, all I can go by is what Jim Sr. told me. He says its predetonation caused by a bad tune, his EXACT WORDS. And the reason for lack of communication is because of exactly what you just did, blame it on some other variable. Your tune also just about took 3rd gear out of my tci trans. Jim Sr. said the fluid pressure was way to low on that gear and he doesn't know if the damage can be reversed now just by upping the pressure in that gear. I understand you can't make everyone happy, but this is what these forums are for, so I can say your tunes suck, you say ,"no they don't" , you get a hundred people on this forum to back you up, and I get stuck with a junk shortblock.

sent from my Droid Incredible.

 

[Kraftsman]

Here is why I think they screwed me. I'll start from the beginning so you know the whole story.
When they were going to dynotune the car, I told him

I take it if your using race gas your probably pushing 14+ pounds of boost? If so 532 is way low. Definitely should be closer to the 575 range if not higher(depending on what other mods you have). I would have to had a better explanation about why the numbers were low other than the explanation they gave you. Hope everything works out for you.

I was making about 16 pounds then, now I'm making 18.

sent from my Droid Incredible.

 

[1FastS197]

This is Brent from Brenspeed, Chandler typically makes posts but sometimes he sends something my way if he thinks I should see it, so here is my reply.
I have always said Forums are “typically” a good place to get and give information but a lot of times (like this one) false facts are thrown around and bad information is pumped out. I have been tuning S197’s since the day SCT had software available. I remember way back when the software was released you couldn’t even data log them because at the time the programmer was an Xcalibrator 1 and you couldn’t even pass through data log. Since then I have put my tunes on an absolutely ridiculous number of 3V cars. Just from 12/1/2010 to 12/31/2010 I put my tunes on 1,531 3V cars (in house and mail order). That’s more 3V cars than some shops ever tune. This doesn’t include revisions for upgrades either so when I read somebody say the tune 100% caused a problem or refer a shop that just bought tuning software a year ago and doesn’t own a dyno and tuned a hand full of cars, if that, gets frustrating.
The car in question has run fine for a year from what I have been told and supposedly all of the sudden had detonation. There are so many variable that can cause that and we are only talking about a car that makes 530 to the wheels here not a 700+ rwhp car. A car that runs a less aggressive tune than our automatic transmission NMRA cars that make a couple hundred passes a season. Did the car get a tank of less than the desired octane? Did some oil work its way up into the inlet or blower which will cause detonation? Etc…. Its hard saying, but to just up and blame a tune that has been on the car for a while sounds a little odd especially one that is not crazy aggressive.
Roy your tune was not so aggressive as you can tell by the dyno numbers to be the cause of your issue. Your 93 tune only runs 16 degrees total timing, and your 110 race fuel tune runs the same timing schedule we run our race car on with 93 octane. This will not cause your car to detonate. Yes we run more aggressive tunes on our cars we race but this is for R&D purposed to see the limits of the engines. Yes we do use the IAT for protection so yes on the dyno if it is not cool numbers do not come out as high as some people want. It’s not that the dyno has a 50HP variance, it’s that fluctuating IAT (which adjusts spark) can cause a big HP variance on blower cars.
I am just stating facts from our side. And I know you are frustrated also just stating what Jim told you. I am not mad at you for this. I do think it’s ridiculous to find this post and never get a phone call from you beforehand so I can explain your tune. I do apologize if you wanted a video of your car and didn’t get it. My tuning schedule does fluctuate sometimes if a car is ready for the dyno or a previous appointment cancels and I am able to get on it I do.
Brent

i'd have to go with this... i have seen a friends car on the dyno detonate with fresh gas from a Shell station... it would not take timing... changed over to Chevron gas and it took it fine... not saying you put the wrong octane in... sometimes even the reputable stores get bad gas as well... just throwing my .02 from what i have seen...

 

[Kraftsman]

My problem with brenspeed has been resolved. In case you cared. Probably not.

sent from my Droid Incredible.

 

[1FastS197]

My problem with brenspeed has been resolved. In case you cared. Probably not.

sent from my Droid Incredible.

yeah man, i wasn't trying to be an douche about it... glad ya'll got everything worked out!

 

[SherrodMustang]

My problem with brenspeed has been resolved. In case you cared. Probably not.

sent from my Droid Incredible.

How did they resolve the issue if you dont mind me asking? Glad you got it worked out with them, always been standup with me.

 

[Greg Hazlett]

Put him in contact with SD to get a new short block....



















Sorry..so wrong but I had to do it!

 

[SherrodMustang]

Put him in contact with SD to get a new short block....



















Sorry..so wrong but I had to do it!

That is funny....

 

[UltraKla$$ic]

How did they resolve the issue if you dont mind me asking?.

I'd like to know this as well.

 

[Kraftsman]

We went from screaming at each other to talking now, kinda like you resolve something with your wife. I'll let you figure out what that means.

sent from my Droid Incredible.

 

[stkjock]

We went from screaming at each other to talking now, kinda like you resolve something with your wife. I'll let you figure out what that means.

so you said I'm sorry and I was wrong and bought Brent something shiny and expensive?




sorry I could resist.


Hope it works out to your satisfaction.

 

[Kraftsman]

We went from screaming at each other to talking now, kinda like you resolve something with your wife. I'll let you figure out what that means.

so you said I'm sorry and I was wrong and bought Brent something shiny and expensive?




sorry I could resist.


Hope it works out to your satisfaction.

How'd you know? LOL
No they agreed to warranty the trans if I quit bitching online.

sent from my Droid Incredible.

 

[moostang09]

Prolly some sort of make up sex.... Lol! Glad to hear y'all are getting it figured out!

 

[Blxcklist]

Prolly some sort of make up sex.... Lol! Glad to hear y'all are getting it figured out!

lol Thats funny! On a side note Ive dealt with Brenspeed a lot and Chandler and Brent have always done everything they could to help.

 

[slo5o]

so you said I'm sorry and I was wrong and bought Brent something shiny and expensive?




sorry I could resist.


Hope it works out to your satisfaction.

Now thats funny. Ive never dealt with brenspeed but I did meet the guys at the nmra show in bowling green. They seemed like a good bunch of guys and were willing to answer all my questions. Glad you got things worked out with them.