The Truth about BSPZ28 / Kerminator
The Truth about BSPZ28 / Kerminator Here goes the long-winded post. Here is the deals that Pete and I have had over the years. First-off I'd like to say we have been friends since I first opened TTP in 1999. This relationship as I told Pete I never wanted to have damaged and I wanted to keep this open even if he ever sold the car. I indicated to Pete many times when he wanted to sell the car that I would buy it from him but he can drive it anytime he likes, I know Pete enjoyed that idea but I also know if he ever sells that car Pete will be miserable.
So let's flash-back to over a year ago. Pete had some problems dealing with the former shop and I was on his case to do a h/c package with us. After a few months Pete decided to drop the hammer on this package. The deal was that we would not be like the other shop was and command Pete to go to the events we wanted him to. The deal was that two banners were to be put on the car and remain on the car while Pete was owner. So now TTP is sponsoring the Kerminator, ok great!
I did the entire package pro-bono, the only thing I requested from Pete was that I take his old cylinder heads, ported ls6 intake manifold and camshaft from the car to help cover a small part of my costs. We used his bottom end that was in the car previously. Here is the list of what Pete received:
TTP Stage 4R AFR 225cc Cylinder Heads, with dual springs, titanium retainers, valve seals, hardened spring seats. Port/polished in house. These heads retail for $3400.00
TTP Stage 4R Punisher Camshaft (Comp ground cam with our own specific specs): $425.00
TTP Port-Matched FAST 90mm LSx Intake + Nick Williams 90mm Throttle Body: $1275 + $250 port-matching = $1525.00
Installation of Cylinder Heads + Camshaft (Inc intake manifold, injectors, etc.): $1350.00
Full Dyno Tune: $525.00
GM Gasket Set: $125.00
Amsoil 5w30 Synthetic Oil + Filter: $65.00
Dexcool x 1.5 gals: $15.50
Subtotal: $7530.00
--> Between all of the parts Pete gave to us we recoup'd $2700 of this money, but that is fine because this was the agreed upon deal to sponsor his car.
The numbers were great, we made 505rwhp/436rwtq SAE. The car went I believe 10.71 then pete decided to drop the t56 and go with the th350. Since I am not at the office I cannot give you a full total on the swap, but he was charged very minimal labor to do this swap and he paid my parts cost for all trans pieces involved.
Some additional parts we added:
28x10x16 Hoosier Slicks on firebird take-off rims: $361
28x10x15 Hooser Slicks for mounting on his weld draglites: $342
27x3.5x15 Mickey Thompson ET Fronts: $200 (These never made it on the car as Pete took the car before these were mounted but I still purchased them for him and he is more than welcome to these tires)
Spohn Pro-Series Drag Bar: $300 + 4 hours labor installation to resetup the suspension and adjust the drag bar to the precise height that Spohn requires for proper use.
Numerous oil changes and dyno time. More than 6 hours spent on the dyno past the intial tune, changes to be made as per Pete's request.
Removal of weight including plasma cutting floorboard, etc. to remove weight.
Now that everyone knows the situation and what Pete and I worked on towards his car let's move into the events that recently unfolded. I had asked Pete a few months ago if it was OKAY for us to take the car to track events as long as we give him a heads up. He said he had no problem with us advertising the car as he was appreciative of everything we gave him and if we made more money we would have more to dispense at his car (We were looking into a 364ci ls2 motor this winter as we discussed). We took the car to Island Dragway, had Jon from my shop do the runs. Told Pete, he had no problem with it. We never got one clean run from the car as the track was miserable there and it was Jon's first three times sitting in the driver seat of the car. Also the seatbelts were way too loose on Jon and it was not feasable to adjust them in the time we had a lotted so we packed up and went home!
Then the week before Englishtown closing came (ETown final events were on a Sunday). Pete and I had discussed what he was doing with the car and we decided to put travel limiters on the front for him no charge. We removed the right front fender well and began welding the first limiter on. Unfortunately, we had a lot of other cars in the shop and Pete's car being a pro-bono job had to take a backseat to these other cars. Pete said he was not going to take the car out that weekend but he really wanted the car by the next weekend so he could go to Atco on Friday night as he was going away with his family that weekend to hershey park. I said no problem!
On that Friday before etown closed my grandmother took ill again. I was in the hospital from Saturday until sunday night. Then back in the hospital monday-tuesday and a few other times than that. I was not available on Sunday during the day. Jon from my shop attempted to get ahold of me while I was not in the office but couldnt because my cell was off and the voicemails were full (Like usual!). Jon, being a manager at my shop, took it upon himself to take Pete's car down to the track with my truck and trailer. I will admit I did not know of this immediately, and I was kind of ticked off at first but I thought nothing of it I trust Jon with my belongings. The problem became that Jon never contacted Pete directly to tell him the car was going down there. Now I know pete gave me the go ahead to do what I need to do with the car to make advertising money, but I admit that Pete should have been informed. I know Pete would have said no problem go ahead, he probably would have even met us down there!
Jon took the car down to the track, with NO seatbelts in the car (And even if he had the seatbelts in the car they were expired belts), and NO inner fender well on the right-front side. This car was obviously not safe to race nor would ever pass a tech inspection at the track. We have a good friend of ours, his name is Jerome, he has a BBC 69 camaro metallic blue who Jon met up with at the track including our other friend Terrance who has a 05 red gto. Jerome's car was down there for a money race vs. a white Nova.
This is what got relayed to me on the phone that someone had told Pete his car was down there for a money race with a bunch of "black" guys around the car. Unfortunately the racial part was to proclaim that they are associated with gamblers racing, etc. The way it was portrayed was kind of insulting to me seeing as these guys are friends of the shop and personal friends. I can see though at this point that the way Pete was told would make Pete think that his car was down there for a money race. I can assure you it was not, I even gave Pete the offer to call Englishtown and find out that there was never even a tech card bought to race the car. Our sole intention this day was to show-off Pete's car that I put together for the sole reason of advertising. I agree that the property was removed from my shop and Pete should have been told. Jon went upon the assumption that since Pete told us we can do what we need to advertise the car that this was OK. I can agree now that it was NOT ok and pete should have been made aware of this.
The next morning, I was in the hospital once again and I called the shop on a cigarette break. Jake had told me that Pete came with a police escort to pickup his car from my trailer. None of my guys gave Pete a hassle we removed the car from the trailer, and returned his parts. Pete's front skinnies/metric radials were not on his car when he came. They were put on our friend's 05 GTO for tire fitment the previous night. Then the tires were to be pulled off of the GTO and the MT ET Fronts that I had purchased for Pete were to go on to the rims and put back on the car as a nice surprise to Pete when he went down to Atco with his travel limiters and new skinnies! He loaded everything up, asked for his parts and went on his way.
I was quite angry myself as to why Pete pulled his car from us and I am loosing a car I spent numerous thousands of dollars on. I did not hear from Pete until the following night in which we talked. We had agreed upon a few things between us and I told him I will contact him further about Jon and we had talked again on Thanksgiving day about an aid for my grandmother that Pete's wife was nice enough to call me about. Since then we have not spoken, Pete called me a few times I got back to him once last week and I left him a PM the other day. I called him today but he was probably busy I'm sure he'll call me back.
Once again my shop was in the 100% wrong for not calling Pete, but my manager took it upon himself that Pete had previously agreed we could use the car for advertising and let us drag race the car before. I am not defending myself, if Pete was notified we would not be having this discussion now.
Now, instead of having everyone attack us and act like babies here is the story that I present in the 100% truth. I want to keep Pete in-house as one of the members of our team. He has been a great friend of mine for seven years, I don't want to damage this. I hope he chimes in here with his side of the situation.
So let's flash-back to over a year ago. Pete had some problems dealing with the former shop and I was on his case to do a h/c package with us. After a few months Pete decided to drop the hammer on this package. The deal was that we would not be like the other shop was and command Pete to go to the events we wanted him to. The deal was that two banners were to be put on the car and remain on the car while Pete was owner. So now TTP is sponsoring the Kerminator, ok great!
I did the entire package pro-bono, the only thing I requested from Pete was that I take his old cylinder heads, ported ls6 intake manifold and camshaft from the car to help cover a small part of my costs. We used his bottom end that was in the car previously. Here is the list of what Pete received:
TTP Stage 4R AFR 225cc Cylinder Heads, with dual springs, titanium retainers, valve seals, hardened spring seats. Port/polished in house. These heads retail for $3400.00
TTP Stage 4R Punisher Camshaft (Comp ground cam with our own specific specs): $425.00
TTP Port-Matched FAST 90mm LSx Intake + Nick Williams 90mm Throttle Body: $1275 + $250 port-matching = $1525.00
Installation of Cylinder Heads + Camshaft (Inc intake manifold, injectors, etc.): $1350.00
Full Dyno Tune: $525.00
GM Gasket Set: $125.00
Amsoil 5w30 Synthetic Oil + Filter: $65.00
Dexcool x 1.5 gals: $15.50
Subtotal: $7530.00
--> Between all of the parts Pete gave to us we recoup'd $2700 of this money, but that is fine because this was the agreed upon deal to sponsor his car.
The numbers were great, we made 505rwhp/436rwtq SAE. The car went I believe 10.71 then pete decided to drop the t56 and go with the th350. Since I am not at the office I cannot give you a full total on the swap, but he was charged very minimal labor to do this swap and he paid my parts cost for all trans pieces involved.
Some additional parts we added:
28x10x16 Hoosier Slicks on firebird take-off rims: $361
28x10x15 Hooser Slicks for mounting on his weld draglites: $342
27x3.5x15 Mickey Thompson ET Fronts: $200 (These never made it on the car as Pete took the car before these were mounted but I still purchased them for him and he is more than welcome to these tires)
Spohn Pro-Series Drag Bar: $300 + 4 hours labor installation to resetup the suspension and adjust the drag bar to the precise height that Spohn requires for proper use.
Numerous oil changes and dyno time. More than 6 hours spent on the dyno past the intial tune, changes to be made as per Pete's request.
Removal of weight including plasma cutting floorboard, etc. to remove weight.
Now that everyone knows the situation and what Pete and I worked on towards his car let's move into the events that recently unfolded. I had asked Pete a few months ago if it was OKAY for us to take the car to track events as long as we give him a heads up. He said he had no problem with us advertising the car as he was appreciative of everything we gave him and if we made more money we would have more to dispense at his car (We were looking into a 364ci ls2 motor this winter as we discussed). We took the car to Island Dragway, had Jon from my shop do the runs. Told Pete, he had no problem with it. We never got one clean run from the car as the track was miserable there and it was Jon's first three times sitting in the driver seat of the car. Also the seatbelts were way too loose on Jon and it was not feasable to adjust them in the time we had a lotted so we packed up and went home!
Then the week before Englishtown closing came (ETown final events were on a Sunday). Pete and I had discussed what he was doing with the car and we decided to put travel limiters on the front for him no charge. We removed the right front fender well and began welding the first limiter on. Unfortunately, we had a lot of other cars in the shop and Pete's car being a pro-bono job had to take a backseat to these other cars. Pete said he was not going to take the car out that weekend but he really wanted the car by the next weekend so he could go to Atco on Friday night as he was going away with his family that weekend to hershey park. I said no problem!
On that Friday before etown closed my grandmother took ill again. I was in the hospital from Saturday until sunday night. Then back in the hospital monday-tuesday and a few other times than that. I was not available on Sunday during the day. Jon from my shop attempted to get ahold of me while I was not in the office but couldnt because my cell was off and the voicemails were full (Like usual!). Jon, being a manager at my shop, took it upon himself to take Pete's car down to the track with my truck and trailer. I will admit I did not know of this immediately, and I was kind of ticked off at first but I thought nothing of it I trust Jon with my belongings. The problem became that Jon never contacted Pete directly to tell him the car was going down there. Now I know pete gave me the go ahead to do what I need to do with the car to make advertising money, but I admit that Pete should have been informed. I know Pete would have said no problem go ahead, he probably would have even met us down there!
Jon took the car down to the track, with NO seatbelts in the car (And even if he had the seatbelts in the car they were expired belts), and NO inner fender well on the right-front side. This car was obviously not safe to race nor would ever pass a tech inspection at the track. We have a good friend of ours, his name is Jerome, he has a BBC 69 camaro metallic blue who Jon met up with at the track including our other friend Terrance who has a 05 red gto. Jerome's car was down there for a money race vs. a white Nova.
This is what got relayed to me on the phone that someone had told Pete his car was down there for a money race with a bunch of "black" guys around the car. Unfortunately the racial part was to proclaim that they are associated with gamblers racing, etc. The way it was portrayed was kind of insulting to me seeing as these guys are friends of the shop and personal friends. I can see though at this point that the way Pete was told would make Pete think that his car was down there for a money race. I can assure you it was not, I even gave Pete the offer to call Englishtown and find out that there was never even a tech card bought to race the car. Our sole intention this day was to show-off Pete's car that I put together for the sole reason of advertising. I agree that the property was removed from my shop and Pete should have been told. Jon went upon the assumption that since Pete told us we can do what we need to advertise the car that this was OK. I can agree now that it was NOT ok and pete should have been made aware of this.
The next morning, I was in the hospital once again and I called the shop on a cigarette break. Jake had told me that Pete came with a police escort to pickup his car from my trailer. None of my guys gave Pete a hassle we removed the car from the trailer, and returned his parts. Pete's front skinnies/metric radials were not on his car when he came. They were put on our friend's 05 GTO for tire fitment the previous night. Then the tires were to be pulled off of the GTO and the MT ET Fronts that I had purchased for Pete were to go on to the rims and put back on the car as a nice surprise to Pete when he went down to Atco with his travel limiters and new skinnies! He loaded everything up, asked for his parts and went on his way.
I was quite angry myself as to why Pete pulled his car from us and I am loosing a car I spent numerous thousands of dollars on. I did not hear from Pete until the following night in which we talked. We had agreed upon a few things between us and I told him I will contact him further about Jon and we had talked again on Thanksgiving day about an aid for my grandmother that Pete's wife was nice enough to call me about. Since then we have not spoken, Pete called me a few times I got back to him once last week and I left him a PM the other day. I called him today but he was probably busy I'm sure he'll call me back.
Once again my shop was in the 100% wrong for not calling Pete, but my manager took it upon himself that Pete had previously agreed we could use the car for advertising and let us drag race the car before. I am not defending myself, if Pete was notified we would not be having this discussion now.
Now, instead of having everyone attack us and act like babies here is the story that I present in the 100% truth. I want to keep Pete in-house as one of the members of our team. He has been a great friend of mine for seven years, I don't want to damage this. I hope he chimes in here with his side of the situation.
Thanks for posting the details. I know you and Pete have been trying to agree on some things lately.
For anyone that jumps into this thread just to be an assclown and take jabs at TTP, consider this your warning. You will be banned for no less than six months if you have nothing constructive to add here. If you think what you post might be borderline, I'd highly advise you not to post it.
Tony
For anyone that jumps into this thread just to be an assclown and take jabs at TTP, consider this your warning. You will be banned for no less than six months if you have nothing constructive to add here. If you think what you post might be borderline, I'd highly advise you not to post it.
Tony
Matt and I go way back (7+ years). I am not angry with Matt and I trust him with my car. I am angry with Jon because I believe he overstepped by taking my car to the track without notifying me. And Matt is right, I probably would have met them down at the track, had I known. But finding out my car was at Englishtown without mine or Matt's knowledge was infuriating. Not from a standpoint of " boo hoo you took my car without asking me" but rather what if something happened ie: a car accident or someone got hurt - who would be liable. I am a homeowner and I like my house (and my wife would kill me if we got sued because some moron didn't use his brain).
I went to get my car early the next morning because I was not able to get in touch with Matt on Sunday night as he stated in his post because his grandmother was ill. I did not know what Jon had planned for my car next and I was still angry at that point. The guys at the shop ( Jon and Jake) did not give me a hard time at all. They put my tires back on, they gave me my parts without protest.
I will continue to resolve this issue with Jon personally. I don't think that the actions of one person should reflect the whole shop operation and Matt's work ethic. I am proud of the collaboration between Matt and I. My cars' performance is a result of that hard work and respectful relationship between me and Matt.
We will continue to work together on future plans for the Kerminator.
If anyone has anything to say, take it up with me via PM's or Tony will crush your nuts.
I went to get my car early the next morning because I was not able to get in touch with Matt on Sunday night as he stated in his post because his grandmother was ill. I did not know what Jon had planned for my car next and I was still angry at that point. The guys at the shop ( Jon and Jake) did not give me a hard time at all. They put my tires back on, they gave me my parts without protest.
I will continue to resolve this issue with Jon personally. I don't think that the actions of one person should reflect the whole shop operation and Matt's work ethic. I am proud of the collaboration between Matt and I. My cars' performance is a result of that hard work and respectful relationship between me and Matt.
We will continue to work together on future plans for the Kerminator.
If anyone has anything to say, take it up with me via PM's or Tony will crush your nuts.
I can personally attest to how busy Matt has been over the last month, I've been down on a few Saturdays and Matt (and Jon and the rest of the TTP crew) are always working their asses off to help their customers. 
This sounds like a big communication lapse, nothing more.
This sounds like a big communication lapse, nothing more.
This sounds like a big communication lapse, nothing more.
And yes, Pete and I talked about some future mods to the kerminator
And he informed me he went 10.31 @ 129.xx on a 1.38 60' the other day. Good job pete we killed our last personal best by 2 hundredths! We know that the motor is probably getting a bit tired.. oh wait I said too much It's nice to see things explained as opposed to a **** storm starting over rumors and hearsay.
It's something that other shops should take note of, especially ones here in the east.
It's something that other shops should take note of, especially ones here in the east.
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some truth to the rumors, takes the better man to come clean with a story like that, kudos to all involved.
however... this jon guy that took the car without permission.. I'd boot his *** out the door, before he gets ttp in legal trouble by pulling a stunt like that.
however... this jon guy that took the car without permission.. I'd boot his *** out the door, before he gets ttp in legal trouble by pulling a stunt like that.
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I haven't been in to see matt since he moved to his new location. He's a good guy and if its ok....sometime in the near future I hope to stop in again just to say hello.
I had some problems with my car but it had nothing to do with Matt or TTP. It was those cheap *** FLP mild steel headers that kept breaking. Matt was cool in helping me and advised me to dump the FLP's that kept breaking off at the bellhousing bracket and throwing off air fuel ratios ...
I'd have them welded (not by TTP etc and hope it would hold...I didn't know they did welding at the time). Matt would look at it afterward and suggested two brands that were popular at the time.... either kooks or LG headers as a replacement and at the time I didn't want to drop the coin for it.
The car was pissing me off and I was smart enough to know it had nothing to do with Matt or his employees....It was those poorly designed FLP headers that he had nothing to do with.
Eventually I had enough continually welding and poor fitting FLP headers that TTP had nothing to do with ...and I then saw the new AMerican RAcing brand headers and a great installed price by the Vette doctors who I've known to have an excellent reputation....I took advantage of great promotional price and great service from the Vette doctors out in Long Island on American Racing Brand headers and couldn't be happier.
There are lots of great guys in business.
Like I said...Matt was always a gentleman to deal with and those in his shop were always respectful and helpful.
I know I see George driving around in his awesome blue C6 Z06 once in awhile and its one hell of a ride.
Happy holidays Matt and the rest of the guys over at TTP.
JB
I had some problems with my car but it had nothing to do with Matt or TTP. It was those cheap *** FLP mild steel headers that kept breaking. Matt was cool in helping me and advised me to dump the FLP's that kept breaking off at the bellhousing bracket and throwing off air fuel ratios ...
I'd have them welded (not by TTP etc and hope it would hold...I didn't know they did welding at the time). Matt would look at it afterward and suggested two brands that were popular at the time.... either kooks or LG headers as a replacement and at the time I didn't want to drop the coin for it.
The car was pissing me off and I was smart enough to know it had nothing to do with Matt or his employees....It was those poorly designed FLP headers that he had nothing to do with.
Eventually I had enough continually welding and poor fitting FLP headers that TTP had nothing to do with ...and I then saw the new AMerican RAcing brand headers and a great installed price by the Vette doctors who I've known to have an excellent reputation....I took advantage of great promotional price and great service from the Vette doctors out in Long Island on American Racing Brand headers and couldn't be happier.
There are lots of great guys in business.
Like I said...Matt was always a gentleman to deal with and those in his shop were always respectful and helpful.
I know I see George driving around in his awesome blue C6 Z06 once in awhile and its one hell of a ride.
Happy holidays Matt and the rest of the guys over at TTP.
JB
Last edited by JBsZ06; Dec 13, 2006 at 09:27 PM.
Hey JB,
Long time no talk! George is actually no longer with our shop, but hes still a good friend of ours. Come on down one day just to b/s. How is the family doing?
- Matt
Long time no talk! George is actually no longer with our shop, but hes still a good friend of ours. Come on down one day just to b/s. How is the family doing?
- Matt
