It’s September 2022, I’ve finished restoring the fab bench, it needed the top flattened out, a rear lip added, and some reinforcements installed to sure it up. It gets some paint and some rubber feet to finish it off – pretty happy with that.
The new bench is instrumental as I get to work on the tub kit, it’s great having a dedicated space for this type of thing. I learn a lot during the process and refine my welding abilities bringing the project to completion in reasonable time. I’m proud to find that ATP has used a picture of the completed tubs on the product website, big progress for someone used to blowing holes in everything 😅
During this time, I hear from Dale who confirms the porting work is now done and the consensus, when pics are shared around, is it looks the goods. As the month comes to a close, I grab some supplies and start thinking about installing the tubs.
I start chipping away at clearing out the front and begin removing the existing inner guards. In the meantime I’m going back and forth with Dale for updates, but he doesn’t seem to be making a lot of progress, apparently there’s only basic head assembly to complete before it’s fitted and the whole thing is done. After a few years of waiting, I’m annoyed by this point and working on the S13 just becomes an unenjoyable exercise.
I only get as far as roughly fitting/shaping the tubs before I take a step back and decide to take on something a little different as Project XR5 begins.
Project XR5 is underway in the background while I keep checking in on Dale more regularly, he provides some assistance as I work through my own engine rebuild, but progress on the SR20 seems to be slow to non-existent. This goes on until around June/July 23 when I start asking more directly when it will be done.
There’s not a lot of pics to show at this point, beyond a lot of screen shots, but the pattern is basically me chasing Dale for an ETA and Dale providing some vague update/next step and saying it will be done in July, August, September, etc. Late Sept I need to be in Sydney for something else so I tell him I will stop by and have a look at how he’s going, my hope is a visit from the customer might prompt some progress. Before the trip he tells me, the head might even be on, but when I get there of course it’s not complete. I take some snaps of the Nismo 350z and cast my untrained eye over my bottom end, it looks good. All the head bits are there, seemingly ready for installation, I notice a few other engines on stands in the semi disorganised workshop.
Dale goes to Japan in October, injures himself in the process falling down some stairs and doesn’t get back on the tools until early December. I’m noticing a pattern, there’s always something stopping him getting the job done, relationship issues, injuries, business dealings, the 350z, World Time Attack, the list goes on, but it’s clear building engines for paying customers is not a priority. I try to be understanding, I did tell him not to rush, but this is becoming a bit of a joke and I’m increasingly frustrated by the delays.
Dale suddenly mentions he’s moving to Brisbane, but assures me the engine will be done before he goes, I’m clear that I want this too as that will be easier for everyone – I start chasing him up more frequently. By January 2024 now Dale starts talking about having someone else potentially finish the head, but seemingly presses on. Progress is very slow and by February he’s unhappy with me pressuring him, I remind him it’s been over 4yrs at this point, and I just want to wrap this up. In less time I’ve removed, stripped, rebuilt, refitted, and run in my own engine project, then driven that car for a few months, all while having had various delays through learning/acquisition of appropriate tools etc.
By April Dale has moved to Brisbane and palmed my head off onto someone else who he assures me is more than capable. Updates are fewer and further between and increasingly more difficult to get. I receive some pics of the head assembly and testing. A random Facebook post raises concerns after they tag Dale in an SR20VVL head lash post, claiming it’s their first time doing SR “stuff”, I reach out to this person and confirm it is indeed my head – the post is quickly edited after I raise the issue with Dale. Everyone has to learn, that’s fine, but I can’t imagine many of us want to be the first, especially after so many red flags already.
This is basically where work halts, I’m told that all that’s needed is shims and the head can be assembled and fitted. The bloke with the head says he doesn’t have any and Dale says he’s ordered some. Weeks go by with no progress and I’m getting more and more annoyed. I decide to ring Precision Shims to confirm the order and am told no such order for Dale/DM Motorsport, the name of the guy with the head or indeed ANY VVL SR20 exists in the system. Fantastic.
Dale tells me some Tomei shims “have been found”, but they need to be set to size, the head guy maintains at every point there are no shims and I’m inclined to believe him as more and more of Dale’s claims appear to be worthless. With some basic searching, I get hold of the guy with the head on the phone at his day job, his boss is not happy, but I need answers. He’s adamant there are no shims and that’s what he’s waiting on. I go as far as sharing each man’s messages to me with the other, so they are both clearly aware of what the other is claiming.
You’d think that would put an end to the lies, but nothing ever changes. Worse still, I’ve been contacted out of the blue by not 1 but two other people in a similar boat, having seen my previous posts tagging DM Motorsport, their stories are equally concerning and there’s an obvious pattern – big claims, no delivery. It’s no wonder Dale has run off to another state with his tale between his legs.
Aside from a few tense calls, I maintain my professionalism and stay in touch with Dale, but make it clear the project is cancelled and that he has failed to delivery the service in a reasonable fashion.
We’re in May at this point and I start calling and messaging frequently to arrange the collection of all my parts, a nightmare in itself. The head guy wants nothing to do with any of it, tired of being hounded by disgruntled DM customers, and Dale is not in Sydney, my guess being he’s shafted many others who are not as polite or restrained. Naturally, Dale also has personal issues complicating matters, apparently, he’s hurt his hand this time…
NCR keeps growing, meaning more people see I’ve been involved with Dale and DM. Clearly I’m not the first and I start receiving more messages from Dale’s victims as I keep trying to arrange collection of all my parts.
I head to Sydney in late May to collect everything, unsurprisingly, there’s a number of things missing because Dale cannot organise anything to save his life. Thankfully the short block and all of the head gear is there, no shims of course.
I’m still missing a Cosworth headgasket, ATI balancer, a few pickups, and a Taarks billet tensioner, might be under 2k worth but I see no reason not to pursue it. I’m told it’s “all there” just has to be boxed up, sent etc and this goes on for months, couriers never pickup, con notes never show anything, typical Dale bullshit. I’m told it’s now all at a workshop, I work out easily where.
I need to be in Sydney for something else, so I stop by to get “everything”, but there’s only a head gasket and some pickups. Still missing the tensioner and balancer. The balancer, I’m told, is coming from OS, which no doubt is more bullshit. Others I’m talking with are in the same boat with lots of things missing.
It’s October 2024 now, and by this stage Dale has basically gone radio silent as another ex-customer, who’s also missing items, has an engine fail on the run-in tune, not a good look at all. It appears Dale has gone into hiding, more people message me with various info which helps me understand why he might have tried to do a runner. Unfortunately for Dale, I’m pissed off and have been slowly getting my ducks in a row in the background….
