Turbo update...
I wanted to write this two months ago but I got horribly sick for weeks and its taken me forever to just play catch up with regular orders, much less turbos. There has been a crazy amount of crap going on in the background with these kits. But as I’ve mentioned many times before I will not bother posting until there is information worth sharing. I also want to remind folks that I will generally ignore any turbo inquiries until there is information to give AND I will always post for EVERYONE to see here. No more games of telephone where things are taken out of context.
No turbos have shipped in two months. It’s been horrible. I was ready to slam a bunch out and all hell hit. I have three kits that need to go out to those whom I’ve already contacted. I have one that went to the wrong address and THANKFULLY was returned to me. So that’s four that will be heading out over the next week, since I’m STILL playing catch up.
As frustrated as all of you are that are STILL waiting, trust me I am more frustrated that I don’t have ready kits to send out. I want these gone and out of my life. Over the next two weeks I will be contacting the next seven folks on the list. If you are not contacted it means you are in the next batch. I will post here when those emails go out. Simple as that.
Now for those that keep asking where you are in line…I’m still not going to have a solid answer for you. The reason is simple: as of right now there are FOUR people that have pushed out their delivery dates. It was two, then six, then four. I don’t know why but they push delivery to the next person. This is fine but it really screws up delivery WHEN they all of a sudden say they are ready for their kit once. This pushed everyone up one. Now that guy at the end of the batch who thought he was getting it is now pushed to the next batch because the guy before him is ready. Everything is decided by your position. So when I am asked “where am I in line?” my answer is I DON’T KNOW. It can change. So I will let you know the moment you are getting yours and its when there is no chance of getting bumped. Perhaps I shouldn’t have done this from the start but it was the only fair way I could think of.
How do you get a turbo going forward if you haven’t already paid for one? The only way is buying a kit from someone who is selling theirs or by buying someone else’s spot. I have people all the time selling their spot. I think I’ve switched out easily ten since the beginning of the year.
So here are the goings on as of right now:
• Byron brought up an issue with the oil drain hoses being 180º off. That was right before getting sick and then became a headache in the background. I had Fragola start making the hoses for the turbo kits so that I could save myself time. First batch seemed fine and I press tested each one. Like an idiot I didn’t pay attention to the orientation of one side of the fittings. They should be 180º from each other. Anyone that notices this on the drain hose, please let me know. There should never be a work around needed. This was my fault for not catching it. Four weeks late the new batch arrived. Low and behold, they did them with the same error again. Well the correct ones showed up on Friday.
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• Pipework- this almost, and could still, become a major nightmare and possibly could kill any further turbo development past the pre-orders. The shop that is doing all of my pipework was sold. COVID did so much damage that they needed to find a buyer and it looks like their largest customer is getting them. I was told that the new owners have no interest in taking over my account and a handful of the other small accounts. This would end production. But got a stay of execution because there is some state contract that have to complete by year ending so the acquisition has been put off until the end of the year. This gives me time to try to get whatever I can made. My issue is it’s a capital thing. I have to move shops again and all funds are going to that. Sucky timing all around.
• Pipework X2- The pipe shop WAS able to send me out enough pipework to get seven more turbos out. This makes a big dent on what I have left to deliver so some good news finally. I have to get all of the other stuff together to complete kits but I’ll start that now that the pipes are here.
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• Turbos- two months ago I was offered ten turbos but I was sick, not working/shipping, and falling behind. I didn’t have any pipework coming anytime soon so I passed them up. Too much money to sit on the shelf collecting dust. I should have grabbed them because only two are available (and shipping to me) now. There are another five earmarked for me so that will get me caught up with the pipework I have.
• Turbo/downpipe blankets- I’ve been informed that all blanket prices are going up by 20% and all assembly times for custom orders are now 8-10 weeks. Up from 4-5. I’ve got them going but it pushes out deliveries of kits.