[Gunny]

Problems with Finish Line Performance in Denver, CO

Situation: Purchased Whipple High Output (intercooler) Tuner Kit with Siemen Deka 60# fuel injectors, Kenne Bell Boost-A-Pump, Diablosport Mafia, and HT0 AutoLite Plugs, from Finish Line. Tuned using Dyno and Diablosport Predator handheld tuner.

General Problems
1. Severed XM antenna wire when reinstalling trunk liner
2. Scored brand new $700 aluminum driveshaft because they didn’t watch for tunnel clearance and it touched something in there when doing hard acceleration
3. BMR Front drive shaft safety loop “shimmed” with tiny washers that caused the arm the loop is on to bang the underside of the car. Shimmed because the gear shift linkage apparently hit the loop.
4. Left screw out of passenger side bumper causing the black plastic under bumper to sag. This eventually got caught on a curb and cracked the front of the bumper.
5. Removed felt hood liner and failed to give me the tree screws back (said the Whipple wouldn’t fit with the liner in—maybe/maybe not). This doesn’t seem right.
6. Lost $45 Metco Fuel pressure adapter
7. Had car for a total of 4 weeks for a Whipple install and tune
8. Forgot to hook back up a harness for my A/C. Found the harness and plugged it in after driving home in 102 degree heat WITHOUT A/C
9. Have yet to see final A/F ratio, boost, and HP-Torque readings of current setup.
10. Was told rev limiter is set to 6,800RPM. This CANNOT be a good thing and I won’t be going anywhere near that number
11. Instructions for any of the parts put in the car not given to me
12. Was told a Powerhouse 4” Aluminum driveshaft was getting put in, but what actually got installed was something “like” it from a custom place in Texas. Having said that, I’ve had no problems with it whatsoever.
13. Put HT2 plugs in when HT0 plugs should have been used (from what I know)
14. Installed 12 PSI pulley for some reason. Went back down to 10 PSI after Finish Line expressed concerns about detonation
15. BMR Rear driveshaft safety loop and brace not installed because I was told the loop would not clear the tunnel and driveshaft. Maybe/maybe not.

Tuning Problems
1. Dropped car off for Whipple HO install. After two weeks, car was returned and would barely accelerate off the line. Eventually, the car would figure out what it needed to do and move out
a. Engine completely fell on its face on occasion when stepping on the gas. This was real fun when I pulled out into some oncoming traffic one day and the engine bogged completely down. I was nearly rear ended. Then, as if the planets aligned, the car patched out and took off. I was impressed.
b. Throttle response is virtually non-existent whether engine is cold or warm.
2. Brought car back to be fixed. It was there another week.
a. The bogging of the engine it mostly gone when engine gets to operating temperature.
b. Throttle response is still not even what it was prior to blower install.
c. Cold engine completely bogs when in first or second gear and pressing the accelerator.
3. Brought back car again and told them they had one week to fix it completely or all is lost.
a. Marginal improvement on cold engine launches, but still not even close to being right
b. Punched it in 4th gear the other day after driving for about 30 minutes and engine completely bogged and then recovered.
c. Throttle response still sucks.

Car scheduled to go to another shop to assess and hopefully fix. I have requested any money for tune work done by Finish Line to be refunded. That call was made on the 31st (voice mail left) and I haven’t heard anything from them since. I am compiling an amount based on my invoices of what should be refunded to me.

All of the above started around the first part of June and I have yet to see my car run the way it should.

The end of my sad story…

[flattusmaximus78]

Good work with the info and the heads up! I hope your tuning issue gets straightened out soon enough. It's certainly been a while!

[Gunny]

Me too, but I feel like a tool for putting up with this for so long. I'm pissed. Wife is pissed. Sleep has been lost. Enjoyment of my fine Steed no longer there. blah....

[05mustang_TT_charged]

why did you go with a mafia instead of upgradeing maf. we are having simular problems tuning procharged car with mafia.

[1FastFox]

You must be alot more polite and passive then me. Im not even sure what I would have done. I know it wouldnt have been good.
By the way, are you the one I was reading about about a month ago about the tuner saying your car was on the dyno for 70 hours or something like that?

[06RedfireGT]

man I feel bad for you. pardon my french, but that shop has fucked you in every hole. they seriously need to refund everything. hopefully the new shop knows what they're doing.

[Gunny]

Originally Posted by 1FastFox You must be alot more polite and passive then me. Im not even sure what I would have done. I know it wouldnt have been good. By the way, are you the one I was reading about about a month ago about the tuner saying your car was on the dyno for 70 hours or something like that?

Yup, same one. I haven't updated that thread because I haven't really felt this issue is completely resolved. By me taking it to the other shop next week, I should be able to ascertain exactly what was wrong and hopefully have an appropriately working ride.

[Gunny]

Originally Posted by 06RedfireGT man I feel bad for you. pardon my french, but that shop has fucked you in every hole. they seriously need to refund everything. hopefully the new shop knows what they're doing.

Agreed. I'm quite chaffed in every orifice by now.

[06RedfireGT]

once all these issues get resolved that car is gonna be a beast.

[StangStyle]

Once you get it to the new shop you will forget all about the old shop. With the numbers you have, you will be very satisfied with your car.

[Gunny]

Originally Posted by 06RedfireGT once all these issues get resolved that car is gonna be a beast.

That's what every one says, but to tell you the truth a lot of faith has been lost. This shop his literally destroyed much the reason I bought the car in the first place. You have to know that this is my FIRST real car and I seriously know little compared to most people on these boards. Hell, most of the reason I got the blower in the first place was because of all the great things I heard here regarding them. I know I am the exceptioon, but one can't help but get a little down. One positive though is I met a guy in my neck of the woods through this forum and will be meeting up with him tonight to chat cars (did that sound gay?). Anyway, say your prayers for me folks!

[Gunny]

Originally Posted by StangStyle Once you get it to the new shop you will forget all about the old shop. With the numbers you have, you will be very satisfied with your car.

I certianly hope so!

[Regency 2007]

4 weeks to install your whipple kit!

It took my tuner under 4 days to tune and install a hellion turbo kit, delete plates, aluminum driveshaft, and test drive it some!

[05mustang_TT_charged]

sounds like a tuning issue for the most part, do you have a wide band in the car, sounds like it is really rich on top end

[Gunny]

Originally Posted by 05mustang_kb_charged why did you go with a mafia instead of upgradeing maf. we are having simular problems tuning procharged car with mafia.

Now this is quite interesting. All of the gear I went with was on the recommendation of the shop. I understand the concept of the Mafia, but not why no one here seems to use it. They told me that the MAF sensor will peg and no longer be able to read appropriate intake air voluime after 5V gets hit. The Mafia goes inline between the computer and sensor to "trick" the computer into believing all is good.

What I don't get is that the Whipple complete kit comes with nothing like this (nor any other blower kit I saw), yet I have one in my car. I think the boost-a-pump could be a little questionnable, but the Kenne Bell comes with it and a number of people run it. Then comes the 60# injectors. Every kit I see comes with 38# or 39#. WTF? I told them I will want to get to 700HP someday so they recommended the 60# injectors so I wouldn't have to purchase injectors again later. Stupid me, I guess.

Can you detail the issues you are having with the Mafia tird thing?

[Gunny]

Originally Posted by Regency 2007 4 weeks to install your whipple kit! It took my tuner under 4 days to tune and install a hellion turbo kit, delete plates, aluminum driveshaft, and test drive it some!

That's what I'm screaming--and it still doesn't work. I read it takes 10-20 hours for the install. I have to pull the BS flag on this shop.

[Gunny]

Originally Posted by 05mustang_kb_charged sounds like a tuning issue for the most part, do you have a wide band in the car, sounds like it is really rich on top end

I just purchased the wide band A/F gauge from Autometer, but haven't hooked it up (no time this week). The bung is welded in, just need to tap it!!

[flattusmaximus78]

Your car is ganna be crazy when it's done. Trust me... it will never be the same. And about not knowing much hey, I'm right there with you lol. The gt I race isn't even mine its my dads. But I'm around the damn thing so damn much. I have acquired some decent knowledge though.

[nem]

Sorry to hear this Gunny,

I remember your first posts about the shop issues you were having. I hate to say this because im not that type of individual but i would document, take pictures and have an attorney on retainer. Have the attorney make the calls. Some of us gave advice to seek another shop if i recall. your BAP is fine. like you stated the kenne bell kits use the BAP and so do many others. I hate to see this happen to anyone.

[acehogg69]

Gunny I agree with nem, get a lawyer! Sucks that you got ripped best of luck.