Does 4G63 + Universal OFH Relocation Kit = BAD?

[jnf63]

Are universal OFH relocation kits on a new 7 bolt 4G63 turbocharged motor a bad idea?

When I took my 1995 GSX to a performance transmission shop, the shop removed my stock OFH and replaced it with an OFH relocation kit. I had not asked for it to be done. The shop was working on my A/T to improve it. When I saw the OFH relocation kit, I was surprised. It also cost $400.00 extra. The shop said the OEM OFH made it difficult to remove the A/T. The shop also claimed that the OEM OFH was “too close” to my downpipe which created “overheating” of my oil. According to the shop, the OFH relocation kit was the solution (and $400 more for them). The kit looked so weird that I took pictures of it. Next, the shop mechanic wanted me to go with him on a test drive to feel how my upgraded A/T shifted. My GSX made a lot of noise as he pulled out of his shop. I told him that my GSX never made that noise before. He said that my “timing was incorrect” and he kept driving (my timing had been set correctly prior to going to his shop). After driving 4 miles, while the noise continuously got worse, my new motor seized. Later, it was found that all my new ACL bearings became garbage (only 2450 miles on the motor). Since my motor operated excellently before the A/T shop’s work, I am curious about this OFH relocation kit. Could some experienced people offer any feedback about an OFH relocation kit used on a 4G63 motor?
Thanks,
Jim

 

[ziggo0]

...did they forget to put your oil back in or something?

 

[Gamble97]

It's not a bad kit persay. People have used them although I would go the other route by using a 90 housing on a 6bolt or a evo3 housing on a 7bolt.
Looks like they forgot to put oil in it and how was that in the way of them pulling the transmission? It's on the opposite side of the car?
The downpipe won't overheat the oil, that is where it has coolant lines going to it to keep the oil cool.
Also why would they do that and make you pay $400 and not even tell you or ask you?
You can buy those cheap kits all day long for $60
Trans Dapt 1113 Single Oil Filter Relocation Kit JEGS: eBay Motors (item 200498922535 end time Aug-20-10 07:16:27 PDT)

 

[knochgoon24]

They have no clue what they're talking about. They took you as a chump and thought they could get some extra money out of you.

The OFH is no where near the transmission. That adapter they installed is just as large as the old oil filter. If anything, it's more in the way now than the oil filter would have been.

Why was a transmission shop messing with your engine?

Looks like you'll be taking someone to court.

 

[ramsack]

Time to lawyer up!

 

[DSM_PWR]

They have no clue what they're talking about. They took you as a chump and thought they could get some extra money out of you.

The OFH is no where near the transmission. That adapter they installed is just as large as the old oil filter. If anything, it's more in the way now than the oil filter would have been.

Why was a transmission shop messing with your engine?

Looks like you'll be taking someone to court.

x2
They definetly ripped you off.

Obviously they were messing with the engine to even come to some conclusion that "the timing was incorrect"

^ At that point he should have know better than to keep driving

OFH is no where near the transmission, in fact its on the opposite side

Definelty get a lawyer

 

[99gst_racer]

So many things wrong to address...

Why was your car taken to their shop in the first place?
Oil filter relocation kits don't cause bearing problems, but forgetting to refill the oil can. It's definitely not the kits fault though. And as others have said, their reason for installing it is complete BS. The OFH is nowhere near or related to your tranny, nor is it a problem using the factory OFH in the factory location.

Threads like this sure do make be feel warm and fuzzy inside knowing that I'll never need to rely on shops like this to do antyhing to any car I ever own. Shotty and overpriced shop work happens way too often.

 

[dsmdeliveryboy]

Sounds like another shop is going to court for effing up a DSM! Why does it seem like NO shop knows how to correctly work on a DSM and people seem to always have these problems? I just don't understand it.. DSM's sort of remind me of BMW's, when you change things out of OE spec everything always seems to go to shit haha.

 

[jnf63]

So many things wrong to address...

Why was your car taken to their shop in the first place?
Oil filter relocation kits don't cause bearing problems, but forgetting to refill the oil can. It's definitely not the kits fault though. And as others have said, their reason for installing it is complete BS. The OFH is nowhere near or related to your tranny, nor is it a problem using the factory OFH in the factory location.

Threads like this sure do make me feel warm and fuzzy inside knowing that I'll never need to rely on shops like this to do anything to any car I ever own. Shoddy and overpriced shop work happens way too often.

They have no clue what they're talking about. They took you as a chump and thought they could get some extra money out of you.

The OFH is no where near the transmission. That adapter they installed is just as large as the old oil filter. If anything, it's more in the way now than the oil filter would have been.

Why was a transmission shop messing with your engine?

Looks like you'll be taking someone to court.

Thanks to everyone giving me some insight about my situation.

Paul, my GSX has an IPT performance A/T in it (getting all their upgrades). Being a novice, I had not instructed IPT to omit the "welded center differential" from my build (or to use a 4 spider type instead). I did not like the way my GSX handled at slow speed turning (parking lots, turns from a stop sign, etc.). So, I had this local performance transmission shop remove the welded center differential. The shop said that they would also do any necessary changes to optimize my shifting characteristics. Apparently, they did a lot more without asking me.

Wes, the shop's reason for "messing with my engine" is beyond me. In fact, before road testing my A/T, the shop had claimed that my "timing was off," and the mechanic had removed most of my hoses. The shop had done this, saying that there must be a vacuum leak. Since they did not label anything, I had to give them prior pictures of my engine to correctly place my hoses back on my engine (even I noticed my BOV vacuum hose, and others, at weird places).

The main reason for my curiosity, about the OFH relocation kit, is that I wondered if that type of kit caused other people bad results. I am looking for explanations from experienced "knowledgeable people" for the purpose of illustrating whether the shop made a poor choice in selecting an OFH relocation kit. The likelihood of the shop making a mistake, in regard to properly placing oil back in my GSX, exists as well. At the least, the shop seems to have made some mistakes about my "timing being off."
Jim

 

[knochgoon24]

So you let this shop "optimize my shifting characteristics" after IPT already had done their work???
Sorry, but that was stupid. You won't have any other shop make your A/T shift better than IPT.

Get your car away from that shop. Even if they replace your engine, from the sounds of it, it still won't work right.

Like it was said before, it's time to lawyer up.

 

[jnf63]

Honestly, Wes, I do not think the local performance shop did any "optimizing" to my shifting characteristics. After removing my welded center differential, I believe they had been in the process of determining if my A/T needed any further adjustments. I stopped at the shop after work, and the shop was putting my hoses back in place using the pictures that I had provided them. I waited while the shop finished this, and the mechanic asked me to go with him on a test drive. Since my engine seized during this initial "test drive," I believe that no preceding "optimizing my shifting characteristics" efforts occurred. I believe this "test drive" was my GSX's first drive after the shop's work done inside their garage. I recall that on a previous visit after work, the shop had started my engine because they claimed that my timing was off. I had AAA tow my GSX to my house after my engine seized on a highway while the mechanic was driving it (I was a passenger). I paid the shop for the work they performed after having them write on the invoice that my engine seized during the mechanic's test drive (I also had them write everything they did and had claimed to be "off"). This is what they removed.
Jim

 

[constant_proj21]

SO, are you planning on doing something to get your engine replaced (legal action), or is the shop actually stepping up?

 

[gsxtasy]

Why would the mechanic drive you around in your own car for a test drive?

 

[m_0ney_pit]

someone most likely was obviously 'out to lunch' when they should have been refilling your oil after it was drained to install the relocation kit you didn't need. That sucks man sorry to hear. Easy check, did they charge you for the oil on the receipt they gave you?

 

[BigSorn]

did you have oil in your car?

 

[2GRick]

Time to lawyer up!

Sue the bastards. It's illegal to perform work that is not authorized.

 

[jnf63]

This event happened a while ago. I had all my ACL bearings, as well as the bottom portion of my Eagle rods, removed from my engine. I mailed the ruined parts to ACL for analysis. Since I requested an extensive analysis, the parts were sent to Australia for their inspection. I recently received my ruined parts, and the analysis, from ACL because the process took a while. I am collecting as much information as I am able to gather.

At the time of my engine seizing, the performance transmission shop had not taken full responsibility. The shop had told me that they would “determine what happened,” but I decided to tow my GSX to my house.

One thing I forgot to mention was that immediately after my GSX’s engine stopped, and it slowed down quickly from 55mph, the mechanic driving it saw my expression, and he said “your oil pressure gauge was showing oil pressure.” I could not see my gauges to confirm it. Anyway, it seemed like an odd statement considering he previously kept talking about my timing being off.

In response to whether my invoice lists any added engine oil, it does not. Under the labor portion, the invoice states “install oil filter relocator.”

In the near future, I am going back to the performance transmission shop with the analysis by ACL. The analysis identifies that one potential cause was a lack of oil leading to catastrophic bearing failure (it is very technical, but this part I comprehend). ACL surmised that because my engine functioned prior to going to the shop, and my engine failed after only a few miles of the shop operating it, that somehow oil was not getting to my bearings after the shop worked on my GSX. I am hoping the shop does not force me to use small claims court to recover any damages. I have learned that my burden of proof concerning “poor workmanship” by the shop is no easy task. So, I have taken some time to get reports, and ideas, to assist my assertion. In PA, it cost about $175.00 to file with a magistrate, which is lost if I fail to meet my burden of proof. Still, replacing my engine will cost over 30 times that fee.
Jim

 

[m_0ney_pit]

ahh looks like you got them then! Don't tell the shop your receipt doesn't list the oil until you get the bastards to court or they might try to fix their mistake. One thing you can always count on is that shops will not give you anything free, if its not on the receipt it wasn't in the car.

 

[constant_proj21]

They did an OIL FILTER relocation kit (key word being OIL). I have never done one myself, but if I had to take a guess, I'd say that some oil would have been lost in this process. Therefore, they would have to refill whatever oil (or just drained it all out) was removed. Seems like someone f**ked up along the line.

 

[jnf63]

I would like to provide an update concerning my situation with the performance transmission shop.

After 19 months of doing my due diligence, and letting the shop investigate its responsibility, I have been forced to take my allegation to Small Claims Court. The Hearing has been scheduled for 8/26/11, unless the shop asks for another time.

The shop had submitted a claim to its Commercial Insurance Company a long time ago. Ultimately, the determination by the shop’s insurance had been a denied claim. This process had taken many months. Since I have all my ruined parts in my basement, and my GSX has been in storage, the Insurance Company sent different people (automotive engineer, claim adjuster, etc.) to examine the damage. Their investigations lead to denying the claim “since our insured worked on your engine.” The shop appealed this decision, and had me send my oil cooler, my oil filter, and my relocation kit to their respective manufacturers for analysis. All the parts the shop installed had been proven to not be defective in any way. So, the shop’s Insurance Company closed the case as a denied claim due to the shop undertaking “internal engine work.” Following this decision, I met with the shop owner. I gave him all my repair estimate receipts, storage fee arrangements, and towing receipts, as well as photocopies of my engine build details (the engine that seized). I had waited over a month after meeting with the shop owner, and I attempted contacting him through email and telephone during this period of time, yet no response had been given to me. Consequently, my Small Claims Court judgment against the shop involves $7507.00 for my documented losses.

Considering that I have reports from several parts’ manufacturers (some requested by the shop owner as an appeal), that I have emails from the original engine builder, that I have statements by the shop’s Insurance Company about undertaking something unacceptable, and that I have precise estimate invoices for my repairs (parts and labor), I am confident that I shall receive a favorable judgment. Nonetheless, it is up to the judge to decide my judgment.

 

[Jon91TSi]

Good luck, I hope it works out in your favor!!!

 

[4Lurker4]

x2 best of luck on the judgement. Definitely the shop's fault from what I've read.

 

[92EagleAWD]

Man i sure hope you get your money back.. I hate this crap, if you have the original estimate of the work to be done it should say somewhere on it that they can/can not perform work other than specified on the estimate without permission. There is usually a part of the document that says this and requires a signature or a check-mark of some sort. Of course shops never tell you this so they can replace parts and do work you didnt ask for then charge you for it. If you have an estimate look for it. There should be something that says they are or arent allowed to. If not then its a pretty open-shut case in court.

 

[nitroazz]

Good Luck. Keep us posted on it!

I had a seal go on my 400hp 93 plymouth laser rs awd. It was one of the ones at the ofh. I was doing a 100kph at the time (65mph) when it blew. My car was out of oil before I could even get it over on the side of the road.

Anyways, the part where I lost was here. Towing company showed up at the same time my buddy did to grab me. I told them AWD when I made the initial call, had great big awd stickers on the sides and I mentioned it to the operator when he first arrived. They company dragged my car about 30km (20 miles) with 2 wheels down and 2 up on the hoist before they figured out something was wrong.

They denied responsibility for their actions...

 

[jnf63]

Thanks to everyone for their kind and favorable words. I shall update my situation as it proceeds.

Nitroazz, if your statute of limitations (time period) has not elapsed, then you could attempt to recover your losses from such an careless act. I don’t know if Canada has similar civil recourse as USA’s Small Claims Court, but a professional towing company should be able to listen to your description, as well as read the car’s identification of AWD. Normally, ignorance (carelessness) is not a feasible defense to a damage claim for personal property.