Cams, "The Club", and politics The main reason I canceled my membership in "the club" in the mid-90's was due to the editor's constant, childish name-calling and bashing of one of the parts vendors, who until that point had a good relationship with each other. Around that same time a 235/245 cam was introduced, but was subsequently upstaged by 2 other (supposedly) more powerful profiles, a 230/240 and 230/245. After the split, the two organizations went on to sell cams (separately), with the 235/245 suspiciously missing from the advertised lineups. Coincidence or politics? What was so magical or mysterious or lacking about the 235/245? TA's 234/244 and 238/248 both seem to work well and are very popular. Is there a black hole in camdom at 235/245?
i have not been with "the club" too long. what is the scoop about the cams? and what company are you talking about. i have a 235/245 cam and it is FANTASTIC. the lobe seperation and the center line make it rumpy at idle, but that is what i want. just looking for some clearity with these issues. john
I fell out of the"club" around the same time and I do believe I know which vendor you are speaking about.I have had several transactions with the individual and NEVER had one complaint.I had a little problem and was immediately taken care of with no complaints.It was sickening to read the slanderous type of articles that were in the GSX-TRA.I felt the need to drop out when the 25 bucks that I was spending on my membership was being used for a a place to criticize others. Thats why I totally enjoy this forum.I just have to get off my lazy rear and send Jim W. a contribution to help out.I have been in some discussions here that maybe went too far but I have since apologized to others that I may have offended.This is such a great site and I enjoy visiting often (too often to hear the wife:laughand enjoy the info that comes from this forum.I am now in the process of trying to convert my wife but it has been a little struggle but with the help of others on here,I will win. :laugh:I am just glad that there is so little hatred here as opposed to other Buick sites too. Pat:TU:
Did you guys notice there are no more TA ads in the GS-XTRA? wouldn't have anything to do with a certain cam shootout would it?o No:
I had the chance to sit next to Keith at the GS Nats that year....got to talk about the RL/GSX-tra comments. He was really at quite a loss as to where all the negativity was coming from.o No: He told me he had been friends with Richard for years...next thing you know Richard is knocking him for this cam design or that one....also knocked his mandrel bent 3" exh. systems...and on and on.... Of course the kicker is...the GSCA sells cams and exh. systems now.ou: TT has had some really good press in the mainline magazines...I don't think he's too sorry he ended up going in that direction. In the long run, maybe Richard ended up doing him a favor - $$$ wise. Hope so!!!:grin: :Brow: I hope Keith is laughing all the way to the bank!!:TU: It's just a shame he got ostricized in the Buick community.:af: All because of one guys comments....how RL didn't get sued is beyond me. If that wasn't liable, I don't know what is!?
Speaking of Torque Tech I bought alot from them and always had good service, I was looking around the other day and noticed he still has some items other than exhaust he is trying to get rid of. www.torquetechexh.com
i am still at a loss as to what you gus are talking about. who was bad mouthed or what issue is it in so i can look it up myself. i am just trying to catch up. i have found quite a few people/builders/vendors in the buick community that bad mouth each other. is it because there is a small market and too many people looking for a piece of the pie? john
I found torque tech before I was a GSCA member and have always had good service from them. I only became a GSCA member to go to the GSCA nationals and never used them for any parts. Keith never spoke a bad word to me in many conversations when I told him I needed quick delivery to make the nationals. I did contact the GSCA about similar parts and always got a bad reference for torque tech even though I never asked for it. I am no longer a GSCA member but will use torque tech if I have a need for one of their products without hesitation. I think TA left the GSCA because they are now a supporter of the BPG and advertise in the buildsheet.
The Issues had to do with another long time Buick GS club / business, its Owner, A vendor who sells Buick parts, and the way he verbally attacked this vendor in the Club / Business's Newsletter - for multiple issues. It was a very low-class maneuver at the time and I, as an uninformed and fringe member (meaning little involvment other than donating $35 / year), had no clue why someone writing an article for a "CLUB" newsletter should be allowed to berate, abuse, and defamate someones business and personal character in such a manner. Water under the bridge but a lesson learned - such are the possibilities when a dictatorship exists and there is no system of checks and balances
Seems like Jim Bell, owner of Kenne Bell, had a lot of heartburn over a club that sells performance parts. :af: I'm sure all that Mustang money he takes to the bank these days soothes that heartburn...:moonu:
I don't remember the exact details,but it had something to do with fast ramp cams and how they stop making power after 5000 rpms or so. I think the shootout is on TA's web site.
Hey Guys.Not too long after I bought my GS back in `97 I started to check out vendors and their products.Keith at Torque Tech was one of the guys who gave me the time and the answers to many of my questions.A nice guy to talk to and we even shared a few laughes outside of Buick talk.Needless to say I have bought parts off of him several times.He knows his stuff and I could never say anything bad about his business or himself.Kenne Bell ...that`s another story altogether!! Later,Tony.
NATS MEET IN OHIO It is more apt to have been the removal of TA signs at the meet in Ohio. The man in charge was the one who tore down the signs. RL tried to smooth things over with Mike, but the damage had been done. Mikes wife said--------NO MORE. After that it was only a matter of time until the ads stopped also. I have had a lot of dealings with Mike and Keith too. Both have been good to me. More than I can say about Bennett and Richard. Harold Rolls.
I was a member of the GSCA on and off in the mid 1980's to the mid 1990's and remember all of this BS. At one point R/L even referred to Torque Tech as "Dork Tech". He went on to say that Keith had to change the name from GS GN Performance to TT because BUICK was tired of getting angry phone calls from ex-GS GN Performance customers! How about the BS in stating that If you use a popular cam grind (like I did with Crane) then you're throwing away HP with those "Chevy Grinds"? Now, we all know that they are not Chevy Grinds and weren't Chevy Grinds in the 1980's either! And the audacity to state that those Stinger Ignitions were the Only Way To Go?? Yeah, right.. Too many slanderous comments and competitive BS for a club whose motto is "Going Fast With... Class"!! My $.02 Andrew
