ATR exhausts

[XXQUICK6XX]

Re: Re: ATR

Originally posted by James West
My family owns a couple of exhaust businesses and I've custom bent systems and install many an aftermarket exhaust system kits. There are better fitting kits than ATR!!!

Then Jim,
You can bend to fit on cars when they are right in front of you. But if you have body shift, weather it is by worn or missing body mounts or different mounts on engine/trans. Or if a body moved on the frame from a accident or whatever. And you have a general kit there pry will be some fittment issues from time to time, and comming from a family owned business I bet that there are a few customers that you can never satisify. Also I have seen where people start putting the pieces together and start clamping before the whole system is in place and end result is poor fittment and complaints weather it is clocking of the mufflers or tail pipes. hitting where they pry would have fit if a little patience would have resulted in a sucessful install.

Steve

Steve

 

[James West]

Re: Re: Re: ATR

Never have had a complaint or had to rework.

Originally posted by XXQUICK6XX
Then Jim,
You can bend to fit on cars when they are right in front of you. But if you have body shift, weather it is by worn or missing body mounts or different mounts on engine/trans. Or if a body moved on the frame from a accident or whatever. And you have a general kit there pry will be some fittment issues from time to time, and comming from a family owned business I bet that there are a few customers that you can never satisify. Also I have seen where people start putting the pieces together and start clamping before the whole system is in place and end result is poor fittment and complaints weather it is clocking of the mufflers or tail pipes. hitting where they pry would have fit if a little patience would have resulted in a sucessful install.

Steve

Steve

 

[XXQUICK6XX]

I find that hard to believe because I see people buy exhaust systems with a lifetime warranty that only includes only the muffler but not the mild steel pipes that rot away then their exhaust system falls apart. And it's usually the person who is looking for a bargain and not the best available. BTW I have never seen a business that has a 100% customer approval unless they are very lucky.

Steve

 

[Robert Kastle]

I have ATR's headers, DP and dual 3" exhaust and everything fit perfect. I did have a problem with a flapper valve but they fixed it. I have spent alot of money with ATR and have never had a problem with any of their products with the exception of the valve. I have been to ATR's shop and everyone is very professional. The owner is an Ex General Electric Engineer with years of experience dealing with manufacturing quality control.

I did have a problem getting my exhaust to line up but the problem was not the exhaust but the flang on my test pipe. It would not allow the exhaust to center and it pushed it to far back. Fixed the test pipe and the system fit perfect. Years back I purchase a pipe expander that goes up to about 3.5"...so a flang issue would not have been a problem. Most Auto Parts Store carry them.

I have had problems with Postons shipping me the wrong product twice....Are they a bad vender....NO. Postons is great.

 

[turbo2nr]

If this engineer is so good with quality control, then why do they still make piece of crap DPs? I mean, after eight years of failure, law suits for blown motors, etc....the DP still has a design flaw!! I asked if this was fixed before I ordered a DP, they said "Oh, yes....that was a long time ago". My DP lasted about 2000miles, then got seized in the open position. If it had seized in the closed position and ruined my motor....
Front mount IC fits like crap. Mounting tabs are WAY off. Too wide to fit on a GN unless you have a sawsall, and don't mind hacking up your whole front end. Pipes hit the swaybar, and don't really line up. DP hits upper suspension arm. My exaust constantly hit my body in many places...had to make new custom mounts. Tail pipes were not symetrical at all. One aimed down, one aimed up, one stuck out further than the other. No, my GN does not have bad motor mounts, bad frame bushings, etc.

Customer service is horrible, even after you spend $4000++ in one month. They treat you like an idiot.



I got so pissed off, I sold my GN and started over. (Sorry Greg) He also sold car.

 

[turbosam6]

You guys need to understand that as long as you insist on modifying american made cars from the 80's there will be fitment problems with mass produced parts. If you want drop in fitments and precise measurements, start building european and german cars, their manufacturing tolerances are much better.

If you wanna be a gearhead, you need to learn to use the BFH!

 

[turbo2nr]

Oh yes, teach me how to be a gearhead.

So how does that apply to a stuck wastegate that blows up a motor? Many many unhappy customers, no fixed product!

 

[turbosam6]

I was referring to the fitment of the exhaust, not the wastegate issue. My ATR dp never hung up on me, but thats just me. We are lucky anyone even makes parts for these cars, talk about a small market thats only shrinking.....

 

[turbosam6]

Not me, I have a THDP because I wanted 3.5" and ATR doesn't offer one.

 

[turbo2nr]

I like my THDP also.

What are you talking about the TR market shrinking??
Aluminum block, new turbos every day, chip development still going strong, new injectors comming out, suspension stuff, on and on. This market is flooded with stuff. Nobody is going out of business.
What rock are you hiding under.

 

[mazdatech78]

I understand that building an 80's car is going to be alot of tweaking and fixing...but when they say they sometimes have problems with the fitment of this pipe and then not bothering to double check it. Thats unacceptable IMO.

 

[Turbo Indian]

Originally posted by turbosam6
We are lucky anyone even makes parts for these cars, (

let's see would we rather have a little bit of good stuff or alot of junk! I personaly spend my $ on the better stuff hoping for good customer service if needed. instead of mail order I buy most of my speed parts from a local speed shop, (except turbos, dps, & special TR parts), for the simple reason if I have a prob. I know who's ass to chew!!

 

[vicious6]

I must agree with Mazda Tech on this one. If they had experienced problems like this in the past, it should have been resolved before selling anymore kits. The few times I have dealt with ATR they have treated me right though. Just my 2.

 

[turbosam6]

Originally posted by turbo2nr
I like my THDP also.

What are you talking about the TR market shrinking??
Aluminum block, new turbos every day, chip development still going strong, new injectors comming out, suspension stuff, on and on. This market is flooded with stuff. Nobody is going out of business.
What rock are you hiding under.

Of course theres new turbos, injectors, and things like that, because they fit other cars besides ours. I'm talking about things unique to our cars. I've talked to a couple well known vendors, trust me, the buick market sucks in comparison to others, and its simply because theres relatively few of these cars out there and no new ones since 1987. Obviously the TR market can only shrink as these cars get wrecked, junked, parted, etc. So, as I said, we are lucky to even have any vendors who care, they could all just sell mustang or import stuff and make more money and financial security. For some, its still a business and not a hobby.

I have automotive interest outside of Buicks, and trust me, its a whole different market. I will say however, I'd rather do business with a buick vendor or enthusiast any day over what I've seen of the mustang/ camaro crowd. ATR may have made a mistake, they fixed it, and tried to make the customer happy. If you think customer service like that is commonplace, think again. Theres alot of places out there that would tell you to get bent and go away, after all, theres thousands of other customers.

Use common sense, if you were to open a business today, would you a want a customer base that can only shrink, or one that has the capability to grow and has a solid future? If you're smart, you picked the latter, unless you have no bills to pay and just don't care. Unlike other marketplaces, our vendors are often enthusiasts themselves, so its often a labor of love, so to speak.

 

[turbo2nr]

There is a lot more than just generic injectors being developed for Buicks. New cranks, aluminum blocks, Guidence, Raptor, turbos just for TRs, T-top shades, on and on. Who cares if there are a fewer TRs every year due to wrecks, what is your point on this. The aftermarket is going strong. Nobody is going out of business. What else do you need? Flux capacitor? Dilithium Crystals? I just can't figure out why after years of complaints, ATR can't fix stuff, then they turn around and blow off their customers.
I mean ATR is not exactly cheap. For the money, they could at least try to make it worth it.

Everybody on this board loves cars and I'm sure we are all well aware of the aftermarket for many cars. I have had a few WRXs (10sec @126MPH), Mustangs,BMW, Mercedes supercharged cars, etc. A buick is never going to have a selection of stuff as a mustang or a SBC, but we have all we need, and more.
I have had plenty of bad experiences with racing parts, but none like ATR. Their attitude really stinks. I do not think they are true Buick lovers just doing it for the die-hard fans. They could care less. If the buick market sucks, then why are their still plenty of vendors. Not every business is going to be like Summit or Jeggs.
I don't understand all your talk about other make cars. The mustang world, import world, chevy world are all full of vendors in the same ratio as buicks. No company is going to just jump in and get rich in a market that is already flooded with plenty of parts. Does the world really need another Mustang exaust system, or import coffee mufflers? If you know so much about the business world, then go for it yourself!

H. Scott Hudson
Hudson Dental Laboratory Inc.


Buick vendors are the best. I love all of them, except you know who.

 

[turbosam6]

I do own a business. I've made my point numerous times, you apparently aren't reading what I've written. Let me simplify: ATR makes some of the best TR exhaust systems around. They also sell products for many other makes of vehicle. Chances are this comprises the bulk of their income. Lets say they stop making TR stuff. Now what would you buy? Hooker? OK, what else? What if you wanted a stainless exhaust system, something I consider important given the abuse a turbo car imposes on its exhaust? Hmmm, who else makes a stainless TR exhaust system? Maybe you could just have one made, that should only set you back a grand or so.

 

[mazdatech78]

turbosam...so your telling me that I should just put up with crap parts because of a small aftermarket for our cars. Frankly that BS!
You must just have money coming out your a**. I work hard for my money and dont feel like throwing it away on crap. Next time I will just buy a hooker or have an exhaust made. At least then I know what im getting for my money

P.S. our cars really dont need stainless exhausts, I dont think many of us are actually driving are cars in the salt and snow!!!

 

[turbosam6]

Originally posted by mazdatech78

P.S. our cars really dont need stainless exhausts, I dont think many of us are actually driving are cars in the salt and snow!!!

On that note, I'm done. I don't feel like arguing about stuff with people who have no idea what the hell they are talking about.

FWIW, turbo cars put alot of strain on the exhaust because of higher EGT's and condensation inside the system. Hence the reason people in states where they never see salt or snow still rust out exhasut systems.

I never said you should accept subpar quality, my point was they attempted to make it right and anymore thats getting to be rare. If everyone wants to knock vendors even after they try to help then don't cry when they stop making/ selling TR parts.

 

[turbo2nr]

My 1987 exaust still looks like new on my most recent GN. I have no plans to take it off. I just remove the cat to run dump style at the track. In another 18years, I expect it to still be there . Driving in salt or near the ocean is stupid! Get another car for that.

 

[turbo2nr]

Sorry, feel the need to share one more little item. My replacement driverside header also cracked very quickly, like a few months untill I noticed it. No help from ATR. They already put me on the sh1t list. But, other than all the problems I listed, ATR is a great company!