Just trying to find out if they are good people to do business with,To be honest i am still on the fence about there business practices i really cant stand when you buy something and get no customer service and i am really one that dont complain so it really has to be something that really pisses me off to even bring things up, so i figured opening this thread would shed some light to make sure it's not me.
Anyone do business with dts?
- Thread starter bmos37
- Start date
I would avoid them like the plague. Dude built a motor for my cousin. It was supposed to have ported heads & valvesprings that were paid for but they were both stock when the motor was torn apart. He also charged 67 hours to build a motor, then charged another 1500 bucks for assembly. I could go on but it isn't worth starting a shitstorm.
didnt want to start a shit storm. just asking because they have become unreliable and i didnt know about any other threads.
Chris, They did the work for Nick (Duramax Tuner) directly because of what had happened originally, not for your cousin. There are a lot of points about your stories that don't jive man. Like how it made 10,000 miles of beating on it on the street (Facebook videos to prove it) before it broke a crank at the track that day. If they were stock valve springs, those have got to be the most stout stock valve springs on earth to hold 80+ PSI of boost at that power level for that long without floating the valves or worse. I get that you guys are frustrated, I would be too, but to straight up lie about details you really have no clue about (I'm not just referring to the one's above, since you also claimed the "oil clearances" were too tight before...I don't know how you would accurately check that since the journals were beat so bad due to the crank breaking. I've been through the same thing, I know it sucks, but the lies get old man. Maybe I am wrong, but if it was me, I would be accusing Nick of being shady in any situation of possibly not getting what he paid for, since the work was billed out to him, right?
Tim, no lies here. The springs were seat tested for pressure. I don't recall the exact spec but it was in the 50s. The crank is a moot point. Shit happens. The bearing wear was what lead to the comment about clearances. The first motor was handled by DuramaxTuner. It broke a piston with almost zero miles after the motor was in & out for a no start issue. DT did not do any machine work to the block besides align hone. Then my cuz wanted it to go to Merchant, but DT Nick refused and sent the whole truck to DTS. This was after he paid DT for the twin kit, motor parts and labor. After the truck was done at DTS, my cousin also paid David 13k for his work. He has the receipt. A lot of stuff was hacked on the motor. Piping rubbing, lines rubbing though wires, etc. Just looked like a rush job to us. I do think he was over-charged for labor and the ported heads that were bone stock. I don't really have a dog in this fight, but I stick up for family/friends when I think they were wronged. I'm not here to argue about stuff, just warn people to stay away from what I consider a bad shop.
$11,500 / 67hrs labor is $171/hr ??? I know David didn't charge him that....again doesn't jive man. I'm not trying to argue anything other than the details of your stories don't add up. I certainly wasn't at the machine shop when they tested the springs, or did any of the work. But all along certain parts of the stories have been added and left out it seems.
Why would I lie about that? It was 67 hours + 1500 for "engine assembly." He still has the receipt. I know what I saw and I know how much the total was on the bill. That's why I couldnt believe he was charged 13k and most of the parts were already there. DTS only needed to get new .040 race cast pistons, rings, HGs and bearings to complete the motor. I only posted what I did because that is all I can prove. It was a messed up ordeal. DT Nick should've never involved David. He should've released the truck to my cuz and he could've done as he wished.
Tim if you weren't at the machine shop or worked for David at the time, why are you defending DTS when you weren't there?
That's what is F'd up. Nick never offered to fix anything. He messed it up 2 times and there wasn't going to be a third chance. My cousin wanted it out of there ASAP. Nick already had his money. He downright refused to send it to Eric. Would you leave your truck with a shop that had it for 8 months & screwed it up twice? I think Nick's mechanic was a Ford tech that never built a Dmax in his life.
I was there when David called my cousin and told him he was in good hands. DT Nick told my cuz it wasn't his problem anymore and to deal directly with David. A month later he called and said it was done come get, here's how much you owe. My cuz just wanted his truck back so he went and payed up. After seeing the bill I was like WTF is it so expensive for? I know how much it costs to build a motor and what labor is involved since I just went through it a few months prior.
I was there when David called my cousin and told him he was in good hands. DT Nick told my cuz it wasn't his problem anymore and to deal directly with David. A month later he called and said it was done come get, here's how much you owe. My cuz just wanted his truck back so he went and payed up. After seeing the bill I was like WTF is it so expensive for? I know how much it costs to build a motor and what labor is involved since I just went through it a few months prior.
I had around 10 grand in everything for my built engine and that was getting injectors also. IMHO if he got charged for 13 he did get fucd. I have met david and stayed at his house when he first started his shop. David, wife, and daughter were all pleasant and fun to be around. That was about 4 years ago. Maybe he's to busy for his own good now? I can't speak for someone else now but it is a shame. I had BES racing do all my machine work and I thought that was steep? Maybe not so much.......
It doesn't make any sense still, honestly. Why would David only charge DT Nick for the parts then and not the $13,000 labor that is said to be on your cousin's receipt? When David first talked to your cousin, how did he explain what the arrangement would be?
I have never had a problem with DTS. Been good to me. David has always answered the phone and always answered any questions I could think up.
On a side note, if you all think $13k is really all that expensive for a motor build, call some of the "big name" shops and get a quote. Shocking for sure.
On a side note, if you all think $13k is really all that expensive for a motor build, call some of the "big name" shops and get a quote. Shocking for sure.
It's not $13k for just labor Tim. That was for the assembly of the motor, machine work and the parts I listed above. My beef is with the 67 hours + a $1500 dollar fee to assemble it. I thought the usual time was around 40, and that includes assembly of the motor.
David didn't charge Nick jack shit. My cousin payed Nick ~12k for the rods, pistons, HGs, bearings, studs, 1 journal bearing GT5533, 1 journal bearing s472 with a 96mm turbine, the piping from Wherli, 100% Exergy injectors. So it was around 25k total. What DTS charged him does not make any sense at all, hence why I'm posting in here. It's not even my truck and it still *****s me.
Why were his heads still BONE STOCK when he payed for "the best porting job DTS offers?"
I would be pissed too if that's really how the bill was broken down. Furthermore, honestly, I can't believe your cousin didn't go to DT Nick with a lawyer once finding out he was responsible for paying for the build, again. The version I was told was slightly different though regarding who was paying for it. As for the parts, I still Dont understand how stock valve springs lasted that long in that motor It sure sounded healthy in the videos I saw.
It sure sounded healthy in the videos I saw.
Wow!!!
I built Eric's motor and he just told the price so here again I'm not sure how these "Big Name Shops" can get these prices!!!!! I guess I need to double me shop rate and double my billing time to even get close to what they charge. It must be there "GREAT" customer service. I'm not saying nothing on the how it broke, why did it break or who is better but DAMN, these prices are something. That must be why I have a little building and just happy to pay the bills. I'm just not Diesel smart and get what I can while I can.
I built Eric's motor and he just told the price so here again I'm not sure how these "Big Name Shops" can get these prices!!!!! I guess I need to double me shop rate and double my billing time to even get close to what they charge. It must be there "GREAT" customer service. I'm not saying nothing on the how it broke, why did it break or who is better but DAMN, these prices are something. That must be why I have a little building and just happy to pay the bills. I'm just not Diesel smart and get what I can while I can.