I started out searching for the perfect car... I found it in August 2007. A 2003 Chrome Silver Track Model in perfect condition.



I did the usual upgrades, exhaust, intake, plenum spacer, etc., but, of course, I couldn't stop there. At the time, I was not planning on doing a complete engine build, but wanted more power for my daily driver. I decided to go with the ATI Procharger Kit. I also installed 440cc injectors, Walbro Fuel Pump, and a Turbo XS UTEC for fuel management. I was off to SGP for tuning (4 hour drive). Mark tuned the car to some degree but said I was "running out of injector at around 4500RPM." He said to remedy this I would need larger injectors which he didn't have in stock. I went home with a semi-tune and the very next day I had white smoke pouring from my exhaust.
The car went back to Houston on a trailer on November 15, 2008. Mark was more than happy to accept the car for a complete long block build. He asked for the cost of parts up front which we paid that day. This was the beginning of the SGP Scam... After leaving my car with Mark in November, I rarely heard from him and when I did, I heard nothing but lies. I took weekly trips to Houston to check the status against what I was being told, and every time, I found that NOTHING had been done to my car. This went on for several months. The excuses seemed valid in the beginning, but after the New Year, they were getting old. I saw the posts on the forum and I was very reluctant to continue to believe that Mark was going to do anything but take my money!

I decided it was time to go get my car out of there ASAP! By the time I arrived to get it, he managed to remove the Engine and Transmission. I was sent home with my car in pieces! and a HOT check for my refund! He also charged me $1,500 to tear my car apart!





To make things worse, after I got on the interstate, my hood flew up on my car and caused $5,000 worth of damage.





I really thought that would be the end of my Z! Mark kept the money I would use to have someone else finish the job and I still haven't received any money back from Mark as of today!

I talked with Kyle at Import Parts Pro and Shariff at Forged about the problems I had with Mark st SGP and what it would take to get my car back on the road. Kyle put a long block engine package together and gave me a GREAT deal! Both Kyle and Shariff were willing to do whatever they could to help me out.

Kyle had my Engine complete within 3 weeks! We then loaded up and took everything to Shariff at Forged Performance. (10hr drive to Atlanta)
Shariff and Sandy are great people both in and out of the shop!


I would like to say MANY thanks to both of them for taking the time to help with all my questions and giving me the opportunity to have a great car.
Forged Performance and Import parts Pro have given me exceptional customer service and for the first time, made me feel like it wasn't all about the money. I would recommend them to anyone!!!

My car is now at Forged and should be ready before Z Dayz in just a few weeks!

Before some of you start to flame me for the Procharger, I did not go into this thinking I would end up with a Built block. If I had all the money Mark owed me, I may have gone a different route but having to pay for my build twice, I was just trying to get it back on the road. The good news is....its ready for twins when I can afford it!

My Engine build:

Wiseco 96mm/8.8:1 - VQ35
Eagle Rods
Machine Work - Block inspected and cleaned, Block redecked, Block Bored and Honed using a Torque plate, Rotating assembly balanced, Crank magnafluxed and the journals micro-polished, & Block prepped and assembled
ACL Trust Washers - VQ35
ACL - Main Bearings(STD) - VQ35
ACL - Rod Bearings(STD) - VQ35
HKS Headgaskets - VQ35
L19 Head Studs
Main Stud Kit - Nissan VQ35
Machine Work - Heads inspected and cleaned, Heads redecked, Ported exhaust and intake runners, 3 angle Valve job, Valve stem heights set, Cold Clearance set for stock cams, & Heads prepped and assembled
Viton valve seals - Nissan 300zx
Engine gasket Kit - VQ35
JWT HD springs/shims - VQ35
VQ35 Pathfinder Rear Cooling Mod
Oil Pump - VQ35 RevUp
ATI Procharger running 12-14 PSI

My other Mods include:

JWT Clutch and flywheel
Test Pipes
Dual Exhaust
650cc injectors
Walbro Fuel Pump
Turbo XS Utec
Auto Meter Phantom Series 3 Gauge A pillar
Nismo V2 front bumper
Kraft Square Carbon Fiber Mirrors
Polished Upper Plenum and Throttle Body
Seibon Carbon Fiber 2008 OEM Hood
Polished Bolt Kit
Greddy Oil Catch Can
Carbon fiber Battery/Brake Fluid Covers
Hotchkis Springs
PWR Radiator

Its been over seven months since I've driven my car and I look forward to Z Dayz this year BOOSTED!!!

I will post pics and Dyno results as soon as its done!

 

I did not know he had given you a check !!!!! DUDE !!!! There is a federal law against writing HOT checks.......report that and you are home free !!!!!!

 

im getting so sick and tired of seeing threads like these....Forged is so great, Forged has the best customer service, Forged rocks, yada yada yada. It seems like at least once a week a new one pops up, and ive just about heard all i can take.

 

hope all goes well... i am sure the end result will surpass your expectation.

 

Nice build. What numbers you putting down?

 

The car is still at Forged and has not been on the Dyno yet. I'll post the results in a few weeks.

 

+1 on what XKR said, writing HOT checks will definitely send you to jail. Get a decent lawyer and get your money back faster than you will ever imagine. The lawyer can also get his fees in addition to your hardship. Looks like you have good documentation. Hell, you might even be able to get him to pay for part of the build process it took to get your car put back together. I'm sure Sharif and Kyle can break the labor out for you in pieces to help with justifying that.

+1000 on Forged Performance. There is just no substitute for honest hard working people.

 

Where are you in Louisiana?

 

I'm in Shreveport. I grew up in Baton Rouge!

 

Another sad SGP story. For many years I had heard great things about SGP. All the way back to the 300Z days. It really is amazing how far people will go, and remain clueless at the same time. As a business owner you would think you would cut your losses at some point. Someone is going to kill the poor guy, or he is going to end up in jail for a long time. I really think this could have been avoided if he would have been honest with everyone from the jump....

I am glad Sharif and Kyle took care of you. It's obvious those guys know how to take care of their customers. I would say maybe Mark could learn something from them (especially Kyle--being a former employee), but it is way too late for that. I just hope he makes it out of this alive at this point, and he gets his just punishment and spends a few years in jail....

 

Looks like everything is changing for the good....about time.Good luck with the build and you know your in good hands now.

 

I have to agree with you on this one....The one I hate the most is " Sharif is a nice guy" .......If I see that one more time..I am getting that person BANNED !!!!

Someone has to put a stop to post like this !!!!!

 

Sharif and everyone @ forged are awesome. I keep getting ripped off by nissan and others and they keep fixing stuff when no other shop had a clue. Lol. Maybe if they worked in the dark with no lights they would on be slightly better. Haha

 

You getting dynoed with the procharger?? Good luck with belts.. Hope you have a lot of spares@12/14psi.....

 

My screwage date by Mark was March of 2006...can anyone beat that

 

I am well aware of the problems with the belts. Shariff and I agreed that it needs to be tuned to whatever it needs to be reliable. If thats only 10PSI then so be it. I just want to drive my car. I'm sure I'll be going Twins in the future like you ended up doing, but for now I need to save some cash.

 

Ok, just be sure to have spares.. He could do 1 pull and break the belts and wont be able to finish a tune that way...

 

I am just happy you got your car out of SGP....

 

I know you had to purchase quite a few. Any suggestions on where to get them at a good price or maybe a better belt?

 

Glad to see you out of the black hole that is SGP and nearing completion. Enjoy your car, it will seem new I'm sure.