Jim Hogan

It was suggested on my local mailing list that I post this over here as appearantly several people here have been looking to get an SFI approved flexplate so I figured I would share.

The quick story is I finished my th400 with a gear vendor install and as I was getting exhaust made for the car, the flexplate came apart pulling into Mufflex's garage. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" />

Also, as an update since I sent the below email to my local list - I should add that Will Vance from TCI "says" THEY will have a SFI approved LS1 flexplate available within a month or two as demand has been high there - that said here goes my sad story <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" />

Let me start by saying this is only my opinion based on my experience, maybe others have had better experience but I think this one is worth sharing.

For anyone following the saga of the Broke *** TA, I broke the 4l60e back in September, being as patient as I am, I waited until the end of the winter to order a TH400 and a Gear Vendor (why fix it for a NJ winter?). Once I had the parts, it took me 3 weekends to get the car running rouble free as I was very excited to have it running but I had dropped the insurance and registration since I knew I wasn't going to fix it quickly. I put a few short drives around my block on the car, no problems. But, as my luck would have it, the stock LS1 flexplate broke as I was at mufflex to get a new y-pipe put on as the y-pipe had to be removed to fit the GV.

SO, on the advise on a few list members, I called Reactor Products in CA and told them what I had, what I needed. I'm not 100% sure who I spoke with,
either Jerry or Ryan or Olen - all sound the same to me and they never give me a name when I call. Anyhow, the person I spoke with said that if I can
give them some measurements, they could drill me a flexplate and overnight it back to me in "1 or 2 days" - since my only other option was to try the cheap, stock $60 part in my $6000 drivetrain (2300 Moser 12 bolt, 350$ Denny's driveshaft, $1500 TH400, $2200 Gear Vendor) I thought that $220 for a solid flexplate from them in 1-2 days, same as it would have taken me to get a stocker here, was a good deal. They asked me for some measurements which I just didn't have/don't know - SO since I really wanted the flexplate ASAP - I asked Wayne Edelen on the MA list to pickup one at his local cheap supplier and OVERNIGHT it to them - a 60$ flexplate and 40$ shipping - ouch - but again, seemed worth it as I should have the new flexplate here for the weekend and this way they had the exact bolt pattern and such that
they needed.

I could not have been more wrong - 3 weeks later I STILL have no flexplate. I called them last Friday to question where it was since 1-2 days had now reached 1-2 weeks, I honestly tried to continue being patient. He (which ever clown I spoke with) told me "maybe by next Friday" - So I got home from work today to find no flexplate - I called them about 5pm their time figuring it was the end of the day, I shouldn't be bothering them - "Hi this is Jim Hogan, just curious about the status of my flexplate" - INSTANTLY - the tool who answered began yelling at me as if I was doing something wrong by asking where my, now up to 320$ instead of the $220 I was originally
quoted, flexplate was. I was _BOTHERING_ them and _INTERRUPTING THEIR WORK_ ... _THEY HAVE OTHER ORDERS TO FILL_ and _MORE IMPORTANT_ flexplates, he was being nice to me by _BUILDING MINE RIGHT AWAY_. Keep in mind he is at this point actually yelling at me. Again, trying to be patient with them, I ask "well you told me 1-2 days before I gave you a credit card and sent the stock part - can't you just match the holes and drill it." he then continued on to tell me he was working on it and it was very difficult to match (uhhh) - he then told me "MAYBE by next Friday" - and at that time, I repeated "but you told me 1-2 days, it's been three weeks" - he then went on this long yelling rampage and hung up on me - some customer service.

I then tried several times over the next half hour to call them so I could politely cancel my order and ask them to return the stock flexplate - with Memphis just around the corner - I still have no running car and no parts either. Needless to say, they did not even pickup the phone.

Having been left with no choice because they won't talk to me, I called my good friend Wayne to pick up another stock flexplate and send it to me - at this point, I'm better off trying my luck with a stock flexplate than waiting for them as I could probably break it and replace it 200 times
before they get me one in "1 or 2 days" SO seeing as they have taken so long (I am not convinced he has worked on it at all) their customer relation is to hang up (I am concerned that even if I do get one and have problems, they will not stand behind their product) I am also not convinced that if they can't match and drill holes that my
guinea pig flexplate will be worth the $320 I'd of been paying for it and why is mine now 320 instead of 220 like the others - custom flexplates is supposedly their business, is my custom flexplate more custom or do they just randomly change prices for people?

So with no options left with Reactor, I called my credit card company - they hadn't/haven't charged me yet and the credit card company says it is illegal to block a specific vendor from charging me, I ended up canceling my credit card and having them send me a new one - at this point - the worst I can lose is the 60$ stock flexplate and the 40$s in shipping to them - better than giving these people 320$s so that they can continue to run a poor operation robbing other people and holding up their projects then treating
the customer like they are doing something wrong when they call to find out where there $320 version of a $220 flexplate is 3 weeks after being told "1 or 2 days"

So again, call this a vent if you want - but I think people should know what kind of scam operation this is. I guess the only good news is that if/when they finally complete the flexplate, someone out there with an LS1 will be able to get one from them at a ridiculous overpriced charge or the guys at reactor will call me to find out why my CC keeps failing at which time I'll hang up on them as they did me and they can keep trying to call until I'm ready to talk to them again.

I'll be trying my luck with a stock flexplate again and if/when I can't make it to Memphis, it will be cause Reactor products are liars and thieves. My suggestion is that you avoid this company regardless of their claims.

...wish me luck - maybe the stocker will work out for me :/

<small>[ May 19, 2002, 10:04 PM: Message edited by: Jim Hogan ]</small>

AlonzoVersion 1.0

Sorry to hear that bro.Thanks for the heads up though. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" />