The ratios are closer on the US version than on the european, so I saw it like a good performance gain.
Later, I buy from Little Rocket a swap kit to install a 2ZZ in my MR-S.
He's the only one making it, so here we go.
Again, everything goes fine.
After I swapped the engine, I found that the 5spd gear box, even closer, doesn't match the engine well at all, so I decide to buy a Celica 6spd from Little rocket in July 2006. I pay him the box, I send him a Cusco LSD and pay him parts and labour to install the LSD, modify it to go into the MR-S and revise the gearbox.
I was confident, because previous orders went well, and he's the only one worldwide to modify the selector shaft to match the spyder linkage.
And there, everything begins to go wrong !
I had to treat him publicly on Spyderchat to get my gearbox, as he would never answer emails. Of course I didn't have a phone number !
I finally got my gearbox in... december !
No excuse, no explanation, just the gearbox in a box.
Then a customer comes by, and says that he broke his 1ZZ and that he wants to swap a 2ZZ in his spyder just like I did. He's on a budget so that leaves few options to source the engine. In fact, only one : USA, the only country where Celica GTS sells ... and crashes. He's car will receive some aero parts so, he can wait for the engine 1 or 2 months. As I still have to order him a swap kit from Little rocket, well why not buy the engine at the same place.
WHY NOT... was I stupid to forget the 6 speed gear box affair :-(
In february I send my customer's $3500 to Rocket industries.
This time I have the word from David that I would get the package in 6 weeks after my payment is received. It's the time required to find, get and inspect the engine. That sounds well.
This time I have an email address, and better... A PHONE NUMBER.
I feel safe.
Now I feel stupid for that.
I sent PM, mails and called, I would never get an answer.
In june, my customer called the cops and decided to sue me because the engine which should have been here in april was nowhere to be seen.
The morning when the cops called me is I think the wirst day of my life.
After that I made a public message on Spyderchat, and OH SURPRISE, my lovely thief decided to answer.
He sourced the engine, but it arrived broken, so he took another one... broken also.
Why didn't he told me in time ? because he doesn't care of me.
The future ? no more answer after that.
After several public messages and flooding spyderchat where he is moderator, asking for a refund, he finally shipped the engine, by the end of june.
Why no refund ? because he has no money to refund me, so he prefers ship the engine.
That my customer don't want it naymore don't bothers him, David is a free guy, he does as he wishes.
He's customer's choices don't matter, especially when he knows that the customer cannot come at his home and shoot him, Texas style !
So we finally devide that when I get te engine, I sell it locally, even for cheaper, and that he would refund me the price difference.
I managed to do so, and when the engine arrived in France, I cleared the customs and had it shipped directly from customs to my second customer, the 25th of July.
Paid in February, I remind you all.
It looked like this :




Again, PM, emails, phone calls, no answer.
So Spyderchat flooding.
Fianlly David and I come to an agreement :
- he sends me $250 because I sold the engine cheaper to the 2nd customer
- he sends me $330 to cover the engine damages
- he sends me $570 when I send him the swap kit back (yes, remember I bought this engine to go in a Spyder at the beginning, now it's used to repair a Corolla)
The only detail in the agreement was the payment schedule.
I look like a bank maybe, because David seems to think that "refund" includes the notion of "being free to do it when you want".
So he sent $250 because he had it, and said he would borrow money the 21st of August to send me the remaining $330.
Remember he's always broke.
After the 21st, no message, nothing, so back to flood.
The 31st I get the $330 and a kind word saying he won't refund me the swap parts.
$570 not a small ammount I think. Definitly not here in France in any case.
At the same time, David the broke guy, the guy who cannot refund me $330 when I ask it, makes a lovely post on Spyderchat to ask what color repaint his car, with he's brand new bodykit.
LOL ?
I've finished my rant.
I'm off the MR-S scene, and David's actions are partly responsible for this.
Now you see who is David Lea, how he runs his business Rocket Industries, and who you send your money too.
Always have in mind that whatever you pay him, he won't be able to refund you whatever happens, because he will have spent it before you get your parts.