I'm not going to say anything about my experience (guess all you want, you're wrong [img]images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]).
I'm curious on parts quality, usual turnaround times, prices, ummm, getting in contact with them, and all the other good stuff. There is no need for fire suits because there is no fire in my pants. I'm just curious as who has bought stuff from AAPA and how it went.
That sumo ii head sure looks nice online! Can't wait!!! [img]images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Bought 2 things from DaveAZ.

The CSC front YJ reversal kit, took 3 months.
CSC wasnt building them fast enough

Sumo front Driveshaft, took 3 days.
He even shipped it before he put my card thru the machine, and since it was a visa/debit card, my bank sucked and didnt put my money in right so he wasnt paid when it first went thru [img]images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] but it was all settled a day or so later.

I did most my dealing thru email, except for tha autuall order. emails were replied in a decent amount of time.
Though, that was 20 months ago, and dave has had a few growing pains and employee troubles .. sooo not sure how it is today. But I had a mostly positive experiance.

Doug how long ago did you get hte S/R?

Are yiou running it now?

How do you like it?

I placed a large order in July and have not received it yet. That Sumo II head probably looks better in real life than it does on their web page, but I wouldn't know because I'm still waiting for mine. Can't comment on the "good stuff" yet because there hasn't been any. HTH

It took almost 2 months for my 1.6 8-valve engine to arrive. I nearly missed the ZookiMelt because of this. I am still waiting for a refund on the cores that I sent in.

There is another problem that needs to be addressed, but I had a hand in not getting that problem resolved in a timely manner. Hopefully, this matter will be resolved a little quicker than my other transactions.

You remember this?

http://bbs.off-road.com/ubbthreads/s...art=1&vc=1

Good? The end result was the only good thing.

Half my rig is AAPA stuff, most not even on the web site :-)
I'm local so never had any ordering or shipping problems.
Dave is a real good guy and tries hard to make things right. He just moved the business from his back yard to a real shop so hopefully things will get better. I know in the last year he has had trouble with the help.

Ok, I must compliment Dave at AAPA and I also must reprimand him.
First the good. I'll keep the board posted as new good or possibly bad
things arise out of this. [img]images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

He's the ONLY company that has some major pimp stuff for the samurai engine.
He's got good prices for the components.
He's got a free phone line.
He's got a samurai [img]images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img].
He knows his stuff about engines.
He packs his stuff well (shipping wise) and insured the package.

<font color="red"> Now for the reprimands. </font color> [img]images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

The free phone line is either always busy or the mailbox is full.
Fix: call his fax line [img]images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

A part that was ordered was not shipped (I had a full gasket set for
an additional 20 dollars vs. the standard head set that comes with the sumo ii)

Email response was/is not too great, if he replies, it would be in 24 hours or less.

He ships via USPS vs. the UPS office that is 4 miles from him causing:
over paid shipping (usps:42,ups30) and very long shipping times (usps:14 days ups:5 days)

He did not include a receipt or paperwork/invoice/anything.

<font color="red"> There was NO tracking number on that package!! </font color>

<font color="red">One of the spark plug holes had a "dent" ,as I call it, that really makes getting a spark plug in there very difficult. I had to destroy 4 new spark plugs in order to rethread that hole.</font color>

The stuff they spray on the head (looks like aluminum paint) is inside the spark plug holes (gets clogged, jams and screws up the spark plug threads!) and is also on top of the engine head bolts (bolts that bolt the head to the block). Would this possibly cause the bolts to become loose after time as that stuff breaks down vs. just bare aluminum for the head bolts to bolt down to?

Things that I am not sure about....

I don't know for **SURE** on this one if there is a fault with myself or Dave.
The manual fuel pump area seems to be missing something. Is there a piston/rod that drives the fuel pump from the cam? I noticed that there is a hole in the block that goes directly to the cam and if I rotate the cam I can see an indentation that could cause a rod/piston thing to move in and out (driving the fuel pump?!!?).

I am wondering if the cam that is in that engine is a "regrind" or is a new cam. There is a pencil mark that notes "260" on it. I'll post more on this as I do not have ALL the info.

Overall I am still happy. There are things that could have been done better or more to my pleasing. With David's new office location I hope QC and customer service will be improved.
If no one said anything, nothing would get done.
Constructive Criticism!