Zero

For Sale: 88 Starion, 114k miles, $5,500-- SOLD! http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4940743052_cd0cf730d5_m.jpg This is the Original *DM Rebuild from 2003 http://www.starquestclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=8807&st=0 *DM Complete Rebuild (Port & Micro-Polished, JE Forged Pistons, Chrome Rings, SS Valves, Clevite Bearings, CBS Eliminated, Electronic Balance) Less than 15k miles on this engine 18G TD05 1st Gen Eclipse Turbo 3" Exhaust System (*DM Downpipe, Flex Pipe & Exhaust, High Flow Cat, High Flow Muffler) Performance Cam Upgrade Complete Chrome Hardpipe Kit (OCVP, Intercooler, AHP w/1st Gen MAS & K&N) Daikin HD Clutch 240mm & Lightened Flywheel GM Alternator w/Custom Bracket Repainted June 07 @ 106k **MUST SEE** (Kelly prepped the car & all pieces were shot separately) Pewter Metallic (dark silver/gray with metallic flakes) Fireball Ignition SS Braided Lines & Silicone Couplers all around Radiator System rebuild Hydraulic Roller Rockers Krankvent 8's and 9's with excellent tread New OEM front air dam Upgraded Fuel Pump If you have been to Kelly Dahman's *DM meets (or see the photos), my car has the ST*RION license plate...If you have access to Kelly, he knows this car better than I do. http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4940743092_0340a5fedc_m.jpg Other stuff: Hood cable just replaced. Motorized antenna replaced. Aftermarket sunroof. Front seats are from my '86...swapped because they were in great condition when I bought this car, still pretty good. Probably more that I've forgotten. What's not working? A/C works mechanically, but refrigerant leaks. Passenger door key does not work. Cruise control does not work (worked until about 6 mos ago & I haven't really checked it out). Steering wheel stereo controls not connected but has an Alpine Stereo Cassette that I bought because it accepts I/R signals from a module that can be wired to steering but I never followed this up. Performance: Hasn't been dyno'd lately, but 253hp at 2005 meet. 224hp at 2007 meet (found loose OCVP coupler after meet). Only about 8k driven since 2007 dyno. This car is my almost-daily driver, but I'm only driving about 5 mi one way to the train station. I drive another car w/AC when it's hot (fairly common where I live) or if I need to go somewhere directly from the train. Runs great! More Photos: Uploaded some photos to Flickr, however, light wasn't great when I took them. Also uploaded some photos from when I first had the engine rebuilt. http://www.flickr.com/photos/tabatav/sets/72157624713503759/

Having a similar problem. When you switch inj clips, is it supposed to run smoothly, or just run? My car started up fine, but idled like cr*p. Like 2 of 4 cylinders were missing.

ditto BTW, can we resort the list...it's roughly alphabetical based on conversion, then names are added based on date registered (I think). Makes it hard to find someone. Also, a search by partial name would help too.

If you're wondering what turboquestDMC is talking about, here's the civic pic ...Kelly, do we have enough clearance for one these? Â loFl http://photos.yahoo.com/vmtxxx (under Other)

Kellydahman...see the post 3 above this one.

I don't want to quote exact prices, since Kelly gave me some breaks and I don't want to give you prices that he won't be able to give you. Let's just say mid 4-figures...or if you've seen some of my previous posts, about 1/2 of what TEP charged, for about twice as much work and 10+ times the quality. Of course I didn't get the freshly barbequed fragrance that my old car had.

Still trying to work things out. I've got a family thing in OC until 3pm. I can still get out by around 3:30pm there if anyone's planning to stay later or meet for dinner.

I'm sure that was my engine you saw...it fits the time frame. Kelly started taking apart the stock engine in July and finished it about 5 weeks later...with some wait time for parts. You definitely can't see some of the effort he put in with the engine installed. He cleaned and painted just about every part (even ones you can't see and things like the alternator that he didn't work on) and buffed every nut & bolt before installation.

WILL NOT pass CA smog. The car ran too rich (CO) and was borderline or above all other readings. Passed with flying colors when the stock MAS was put back on. Thanks Kelly!

How about having a rating system (or two) for the questions & answers? Everyone viewing a post could rate the helpfulness of the thread from 1-10, then maybe the non-new topics could be sorted by helpfulness (search responses also?). Another could be difficulty level...by the way, I think only the mods should decide when a question goes into the advanced mechanic section. Eventually, simple & repeat questions would be relegated into the deeper pages and the best information would be found at the top.

Injector housing is polished. You'll have to check with Kelly Dahman on his source & details of the hoses (if he'll give it to you :-X) I actually feel the same way you do about non-performance expenses (at least until performance is maximized), however, *DM's prices were so reasonable on the chrome option that I took it. The exterior of the car is actually going to be "stealth" with the stock paint ($2500 for a good paint job :-/ or for MPI & TEC3 ). No sense in attracting any unwanted police attention. I can also imagine a ricer's friend saying (over & over) "remember when that 'junky looking' car smoked you?" ;D

Yes, that's me! I settled with TEP & their insurance (took a lot of time, updated post here http://www.starquestclub.com/index.pl?boar...665727;start=0). However, when I was stripping the car down, I had a problem with some of the parts they installed (or didn't install). I'll be posting a feedback entry in a few days. They sold me a high volume fuel pump that they didn't install, charged me for a high flow cat that was just a gutted cat and you can judge for yourself if the head was ported & polished...the pics are in another folder in the pics linked above. They haven't responded to 2 emails & 2 phone calls. I bought the 88 in June and Kelly Dahman has been ordering parts & working on it off & on until now. -Vince

First pics of my rebuilt 88. Â Kelly Dahman signature workmanship. ;D http://photos.yahoo.com/vmtxxx Complete/Installed: Complete Rebuild (Port & Micro-Polished, JE Forged Pistons, Chrome Rings, SS Valves, Clevite Bearings, CBS Eliminated, Electronic Balance) [*]Complete Chrome Hardpipe Kit (OCVP, Intercooler, AHP w/1st Gen MAS & K&N) [*]Daikin HD Clutch 240mm & Lightened Flywheel [*]Fireball Ignition [*]3" Exhaust System (*DM Downpipe, Flex Pipe & Exhaust, High Flow Cat, Dynomax Muffler) [*]SS Braided Lines & Silicone Couplers all around [*]Radiator System rebuild Tim C. Monsta Banshee Cam [*]Hydraulic Roller Rockers [*]18G TD05 1st Gen Eclipse Turbo [*]Krankvent Future Mods (in expected order): Aluminum Radiator & Upgraded Fans (10/03) [*]Note to Oscar the Grouch: I want that 5th gear! [*]Magna MPI (Already purchased & modified by Chad) [*]TEC3 EMS (2004) [*]???

Dave has been helping Kelly Dahman on my new *DM engine. He took the time to take some great pics of my TEP head that was removed from my burned up 86. I needed the pics to document the "quality" of my porting & polishing. Thanks Dave.

I settled with TEP's insurance company today for my car fire. While it took much more time than I would have liked, I believe that we were able to settle amicably and to everyone's satisfaction. At the end, Steve was pretty helpful in obtaining the settlement. Thanks for everyone's support! -Vince

I received an email from Steve asking me about my car with the comment that he hasn't heard from me, but that I;m bashing him on-line...which is curious because I've documented my communications with TEP here, including some emails with TEP's automated response email attached. Also, I believe there has been very little bashing (all considered...statements of facts are not bashing). However, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. He's asked me to call him tomorrow, which I will. But I also wanted to give him credit in the forum as soon as possible, as long as he's taking some action. I will post again after speaking with him. If this the result of any of you commenting on the posts...THANKS! Vince

I only had good things to say about TEP until they didn't respond to (actually sent back unopened) letters concerning the fire damage they caused to my car. Â In fact, if they had responded quickly & honestly, I STILL would be saying good things. Â I would have considered a mistake, a mistake...as long as it was fixed. Â I even wrote a letter of recommendation for Steve concerning the previous work he had done. Â That's what bothers me the most. For anyone who is still on good terms with him, why don't you ask him about my car and see what he says. Send me a PM (or post it if you're willing)...he won't answer the phone or my emails. I think I've detailed my side of the story pretty openly. -Vince

More on my engine fire: I'll post future updates on the post I created for my engine fire so that this post doesn't get filled with specifics. http://www.starquestclub.com/index.pl?board=general;action=display;num=1033665727;start=0 Vince

More on my car fire: I received a phone call from my insurance company that the insurance claim they sent by registered mail was returned unopened. Â TEP refused delivery.

I had $9k+ of parts & work performed by TEP.  I don’t have any complaints with the time Steve took to explain his services and his recommendations for improvements.  While I’ve been told that I overpaid, I also don’t begrudge a guy running a business to make a profit…as long as the work is good and the prices reasonable. I brought my car to him the first week of January, expecting the work to take about 1 month.  While speed wasn’t my main concern (and I did add some parts), I didn’t get the car back until late May.  After the engine’s break-in, I brought the car back to TEP.  Because of a defective FCD (not their fault),  they didn’t activate and tune the AIC system until mid-Sept and I picked up the car Oct 2. On the way home from TEP, my engine caught fire.  I drove about 15 miles. I emailed Steve that night, but didn't get a response.  I called Steve at TEP the following afternoon, and he said he didn’t think that they were responsible.  He said it was running fine when he tested it.  He asked about MY insurance and suggested I bring it to a body shop to access the damage and “we’d go from thereâ€. My insurance company telephoned Steve to ask for his insurance company's information in mid-October, but the call was not returned.  After a several messages were left, my insurance company received a message to contact him by email.  I've been told that they sent the same request by email, but there has been no response. We’ve found evidence to indicate that the cause was the fuel hose slipping off of a t-connector that TEP installed to auxiliary fuel injectors.  The exact area that they worked on that day. I mailed a letter on Oct 17 by registered mail, basically stating that I felt they should be responsible for the damage, since it was caused by the area they did work on... especially since it occured on the way back from their shop. However, I would hold the car for two weeks in case they wanted to inspect it.  The letter was "Refused by Addressee". In mid-November, I got an estimate from a body shop and sent it by registered mail, with a cover letter asking them to contact me, plus a copy of the first letter.  It was also refused. I could understand if they looked at the vehicle and thought that the cause of the fire was unrelated to their work.  But I can’t understand why the letters would be refused, especially since they would not even know the contents.  In fact, if it were me, I would offer to look at the car and MAKE SURE that it wasn’t something I did. In the meantime, my insurance company did an estimate and mailed it to them on Dec 4.  Neither I nor my insurance has been contacted to date (local mail, so it should have been received by now.  I received a copy by regular mail Dec 5). I’ve also filed a complaint with the BBB and the Bureau of Automotive Repair is next unless they settle with my insurance. I’ll update further as information becomes available.

Gabe came by to check out my recently burned up engine. I needed some advice on how to handle the repair claim. Gabe drove 30+ miles out of his way (during rush hour, with his son) to help me out. Thanks Gabe!