Custom Imports

[DriftingisLame]

Anyone ever do business with them? I have the opportunity to have a CA front clip loaded on to the next container from japan, leaving tomorrow or something. The problem is its $1900...thats $400 more than DDX or Venus auto. I would have bought from them but even though the clips are advertized on their site they dont actually have them.

I have to let them know tonight, so any input would be appreciated.

thanks!

-Max

[float_6969]

I'd stay away from anybody you don't have any info about. I doubt that it's worth the extra $400. I've ALWAYS believed that it's much better to purchase a motor/clip that is already stateside. It takes out that much more chance of you not getting your motor or getting you money taken.

[DriftingisLame]

well its not like I'm gonna give him all the money and then hope my clip comes, I'm going up there to pick it up in person and give him cash once it arrives. Also, no one else has a clip... I dont know where else to find one.

[float_6969]

Well that is different. Do they do compression AND leak down tests on their motors? (The leak down is the more important test as it tells you more about the rings are sealing.

[ca18detizzle]

yes. tino from custom imports IS reliable. he knows his sh^t. i have also ordered my clip from him and he is LAGGiNG like a mofo! i talk to him on AIM everyday asking where it is!! it's been 2months. Still @ customs. Dont know what is going on here.. He is just busy.. I WISH MY CLIP WOULD COME ANY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! btw.. ask him whats the progress of my clip! maybe he'll hurry up

[8ggalant]

hey tizzle yer post doesnt really make him seem reliable @ all...even if it is stuck @ customs customers dont wanna hear that...when u say sumthing will be ready, it should be ready (IMHO)

from reading your post i wouldnt even deal w/ the hassle of ordering through him...good luck to you two tho

[ca18detizzle]

^ .. i agree.. im debating if i should urge a refund and just get one from osakamotors. Or just tell him to give me one of his SR's in his garage for the same price. I'm getting mad too. I bought a whole lots of CA parts for this motor and it hasnt arrived. Only good thing is I KNOW his motors are reliable. He tests them and shows you the picture of the car in japan before it's chopped in half. He picks cars that hasnt been in any accident or anything. But yes, my patience is running thin

[DriftingisLame]

Hmm well, I called back last night to ask if the motor would be comp/leak down tested, and if it came with the SMIC/piping. But there was no answer...so I dont know if its too late to load the clip or what now.

I'm getting impatient as well, thinking of looking into another motor for my 240 if I cant find a place with a CA.

[RMiller]

I assume you're getting a clip so that you do get the intercooler, piping, fan shroud, radiator hoses, heater hoses, and possibly 5 spd. swap parts.(Even then the manual parts can be found at a pick-a-part for next to nothing.) That's about all a clip is good for. Venus gave me the option to buy the radiator, intercooler and piping for an extra $200 with my motor. That would have put me at $1200, and after tax and shipping it would have been $1550. To me the burden of a clip is an expense, it will take time to pull the motor out of it and then dispose of it later on. Your time is worth something!

[DriftingisLame]

So you think I should go with a motor set even though I'm converting from auto-5spd? I was thinking about that but this is my first nissan motor swap, and I thought that if i had a clip and took everything out of that and put in my car then I would have a much better idea of how everything was set up.

[ca18detizzle]

^ same thought as me. But honestly now I think of it, I would just go with a motorset. alot more cheaper. and with the money you saved you can pick up an FMIC and some piping.

[SMoKeM240]

tino is awsome, i got my transmission from him for $80 and it was clean like new and smooth..

[ca18detizzle]

yeah.. he talks it. But to me he hasnt pulled through. prob the last time I do business with him.

[float_6969]

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER buy a motor that isn't already stateside!!! Everytime I've heard of someone having problems with a motor, that was exactly what was going on. It's poor business practice on the sellers part. It's like selling **** to your customers that you don't actually have. [/rant]

[RMiller]

So you think I should go with a motor set even though I'm converting from auto-5spd? I was thinking about that but this is my first nissan motor swap, and I thought that if i had a clip and took everything out of that and put in my car then I would have a much better idea of how everything was set up.

I suppose it depends on your space constraints. If you have the room (don't kid yourself) maybe a clip would be better for you. I'd say don't get a clip if you're doing the swap in your parents' garage and if you're like the average busy person set aside a month to complete the project and dump the leftover clip. I got a motorset and it was my first swap. Since the radiator works for the KA or CA, getting a clip for a CA swap isn't as advantageous as getting a clip for, say, an SR, which uses a different radiator. You will get the stock fan shroud. However, the KA-E shroud keeps things plenty cool, I know from experience. As far as how everything is set up, nothing is really ambiguous. The motor bolts in, you attach the heater hoses and radiator hoses, plug in the harness connectors, and hook up the intercooler and piping. Bottom line: if you have excess space, I'd say the clip is worth about $400 more than the motorset, maybe $500, and this is only because you're converting to a 5 spd.