620Z Posted October 30, 2009 Posted October 30, 2009 Well I had a custom Moustache Bar made up a couple of years ago by Melbourne Performance Centre in Bayswater and yes it has already broken. I had questioned the design and possible weakness at the time. What would a bean counter know. Yet I was assured it would be fine. Well surprise, surprise it has now broken. As a result the diff dropped, hence the half shaft fell onto the suspension arm cutting the rubber boot on the Z31 shaft. I took it back to him requestion a new one be made up out of stronger grade material and to get them to fix the half shaft. All they wanted to do was some half assed patch up job by welding metal braces all over it top & bottom. something I wasn't happy with. They also refused to fix the half shaft. Typical of the industry but I didn't expect this from Melbourne Performance Centre. They have Lambo's and all sorts of exotic cars in there yet can't afford to fix a problem they created due to poor design. Well that's more money down the drain for me and another customer done over. Eventually poor service and lack of support will catch up them. As it does with most in the industry. Quote
waxhead Posted October 30, 2009 Posted October 30, 2009 Im shocked to think they thought that would be strong enough Suprise suprise it broke right on a welded section Quote
620Z Posted October 30, 2009 Author Posted October 30, 2009 Yeah the least the idiot could have done is butted the metal plate up against the other section and welded them together. That would have given it half a chance to last. But I think it was doomed anyway. :-\ They even suggested solidly mounting it with no rubbers/poly. Would have last weeks had I done that. Same guy that built it also put oil hoses around the wrong way on my brothers GTR around a year later thus causing self destruction after an expensive re-build. And yes guess who paid for their mistakes again. Sometimes I wonder how these people stay in the game? Lot's of BS I guess. Quote
. Posted October 30, 2009 Posted October 30, 2009 What were the extra bits either side of the diff mount anyway? Quote
620Z Posted October 30, 2009 Author Posted October 30, 2009 One held the electric fuel pump and the other side with no holes had the fuel filter attached. Quote
waxhead Posted October 30, 2009 Posted October 30, 2009 Yeah you think that would have been a given huh welding that on Quote
PeterAllen Posted October 30, 2009 Posted October 30, 2009 I'm not sure what diff you are running but with the Greenback in such bad shape an ArizonaZ bar might be worth consideration. http://www.arizonazcar.com/brakes.html I really only developed my bar for the GM diff with a focus on where is would be positioned. You have made me realise I need to put a bit more consideration into its strength. Quote
DAT392 Posted November 1, 2009 Posted November 1, 2009 Mate understand your pain.The problem with a lot of these gooses is they get busy and think they are gods gift to this earth when they fab something for you or do a job,what ever.At the end of the day we are paying customers.If you bought something from eg kmart you are rewarded a refund.These guys piss me off and unfortunately we must really research,do our homework,or discuss in this forum before doing a lot of mods which haven't been done by guys in the know.Honestly I wish I knew about this forum many years ago as it would have helped,but I spose we all must learn.Same going, I had a boss 302 in my car popped a head gasket ,so recoed the heads as specified by the so called performance place I frequented.Well they changed 2 of the valves with standard valves, instead of manley sever duty items,well at 7800rpm it dropped a valve.TNT brother.$$$$,piston pushed into $3000 heads.Who'fault,mine yeah right! Quote
DAT392 Posted November 1, 2009 Posted November 1, 2009 Just to add.I am a baker buy trade and if I made you a loaf of bread that or cake etc that was contaminated etc you wouldnt be happy, wheres the integrity with a l;ot of these places.I understand things break but, just like flour is seasonal , there must be some answerability, if thats a word? Quote
waxhead Posted November 1, 2009 Posted November 1, 2009 On another note re Moustache bars I have been collecting pics of them and im going to make my own As i teach cad drawing it up is easy and then its a simple job of getting it lazer cut out Quote
chris240 Posted November 1, 2009 Posted November 1, 2009 dont be off-put by repairing it..give it to 2-3 decent structural steel fabrication workshops (not neccesarily automotive) and ask for opinions & alternatives for repairing & strengthening it. with 1000hp under your bonet Im suprised you got 2.5 years outa it Quote
620Z Posted November 3, 2009 Author Posted November 3, 2009 Couldn't agree with you more DAT392. Well I have decided to go back to the original Moustache Bar. Whilst I had broken one before I think it was pre the front diff brace I have in place now. The orginal design does allow for a lot of movement and should resist cracking and fatigue so I will put the old one back in and see how we go. Whilst I love the look of the Arizonacar Design I still question it's flexibility and the 8 screws which might work them selves free. S/Steel screws into soft Alloy + loads of vibration don't make sense to me. So $1,400- later I will go back to the original and hope she will be OK. If I have problems only then will I do my own design. I have some ideas but won't worry about it unless I need to. Cheers. Quote
zr240 Posted November 4, 2009 Posted November 4, 2009 Hi Craig Thats a bummer. Its so hard to find people who can do a good job. Thats why I have stuck with the do it myself option. Then if it brakes at least its my fault and I dont mind paying the money to fix it. The only thing I go done by someone else on my racecar was the cage and the place that did it still managed to stuff a few things up and even charged me a fair bit more than the quote. Safe to say I will not be recommending them to anyone and they have already lost business as I send people elsewhere now. All that said Im sure there are a lot more dodgy customers than shops around (not directing this at you Craig) I think the orignal is better than the one they made as (correct me if im wrong) It has a bit more spring/ give to it so it moves before it brakes? I also broke one on my car when I had the L series motor with the big slicks. Ash Quote
620Z Posted November 4, 2009 Author Posted November 4, 2009 Yeah I have to agree Ash. Unfortunately I am not real good at working on cars but am learning fast at the moment. I am changing over the gear box at the same time. thankfully I have Gordon's hoist to use. But I have to agree the best and cheapest method is do it your self. You just can't trust anyone else in the automotive business. 90% of the m a rogues despite swearing black and blue they know there stuff. :-\ Quote
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