I haven't gotten into the prom burning scene yet, but I hope to soon. I am very **** about dropping my car off to have work done to it (alignment, paint, etc.) and would like to assure myself that my car is not beaten on when out of my hands and supervision.

Has anybody yet tried to burn "valet" proms which have very low speed and rev limiters? I would feel much more comfortable leaving my car somewhere knowing it is temporarily incable of exceeding 25mph or 2000rpm. That should be more than adequate to pull it into a bay. They shouldn't be taking it out to get cigarettes/lunch/parts anyway.

 

Good point!!! I worked near a brake shop a few years ago, eveyday I would see this jerk brake tech go to the end of the block and hammer on the car he had been working on. Everything from caddys to corvettes. I never take my car unless I have too, then I stand near the tech the whole time. I had some stuff stolen out of my car at a tire place a long time ago, I learned my lesson. As far as burning proms, never throught of trying to burn a weaker chip. But it doesn't take much RPMs to spin the tires.

 

I've often thought of that - Problem is, some grease monkey might take your car for a test drive, pull out in front of somebody, realize he's got no acceleration, and KAPLOWIE!

 

First, only take it to a shop you trust and second, note the mileage on the odometer. Unless you have authorized a road test, they have no business putting a single .1 mile on your car. In fact, when you take it to the shop, tell them you DO NOT authorize a road test and have them sign it. This way if they DID drive your car and had some accident, it was without your authority and you won't be liable for it. Then you can sue their butts.

 

I agree with Glenn. I authorized a dealer to drive my car one time. Then again he is a friend of my family. The reason was so he could see and fix any problems (probably bad idea). Other than that, i never ever allow anyone to drive my car. Last mechanic type person to drive my car was the tranny specialist. Even then i goto school with his son and i know for sure he wouldn't beat up a car or tranny because he's old fashioned like that. I have met mechanics around town (i live near 3 dealers, a chevy, a pontiac, and ford) All 3 of them, i see their mechanics as soon as lunch rolls around take a car that they were working on and run it hard. Not what i call quality service. Just be careful.

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89 IROC-Z 350 TPI

-Flowmaster Catback
-Performance Resource Chip
-700R4 (Rebuilt) Too much done to actually list
-K&N Airfilters
-Ported Plenum
-2.77 Gears (not much to brag about but eh, its there)
-MSD 8.5 mm plug wires
-Gutted cat
-!AIR
-Gutted Air Boxes

 

Heh, heh, A parking-jockey at the dealership where I bought my brand new truck dented it driving it out of the service bay (on the day I took delivery).

I saw a car (unattended) roll into a median strip out of a Midas parking lot. The same Midas dropped a stretch limo off its lift.
Long and short - A shop doesn't have to take your car for a road test to wreck it

 

DISPITE what they tell you, when you leave a car in the hads of a mechanic, or trans place wherever, it is no longer under your insurance. From what I understand, if ANY damage occurs while in their possession it is their responsibility and thier insurance that covers the damage.

At least that is how it is in Michigan

Trust me, I have a small fortune in my Bird, and I get shakey when I take it anywhere I am not able to watch. I STILL stand and watch from the Bay Door, I DONT care if it is Raining, or a blazing 100°.

As for the Valet Prom, I think JET has something similar to that Idea. I don't own one, but I have read about a switchable PROM from JET. I think it offers a Valet mode.

Side note: Even my radio offers a Valet Mode, go fig.

John

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87 Formula Yellow/Black
Engine & Transmission
.040 over 5.0 converted to TPI, 9.5:1 Compression, SLP Cam Dur 206/212, Lift 480/487, Cent Line 112, SLP headers, SLP cat-back exhaust, K&N Airfilter, Modified Stock cold air intake, Ported & polished Stock TPI intake, Holley Adjustable Fuel Press regulator, AC Rapidfire Spark Plugs.
Gil Younger (no yo-yo) Shift Kit, Aluminum Driveshaft, 3.73 Posi gear
Suspension & Brakes:
Baer 12" brakes 4 wheels, KYB AGX Adjustable Shocks & struts, Hotchkis strut tower brace, South side machine frame connectors, Custom reinforced control arms and pan hard bar.
Interior:
Custom Leather interior, CUSTOM Yellow Gauge Faces, Kenwood Receiver, Pioneer Speakers, Kicker Substations, Kenwood 10 Disk Changer, Pioneer Amp.

87 Formula TPI (5 Speed) Yellow/Gray STOCK

1967 Buick Riviera 430hp Turns high 14's (Not bad for 4300 lbs)

83 Camaro (Parts)
83 T/A (parts)

http://www.3rdgenformula.com

 

Hey, they can move my seat, adjust my mirrors, but they BETTER NOT touch my radio!!!

[This message has been edited by Greg '85 T/A (edited June 27, 2001).]

 

Thanks for the replys. As soon as I start burning proms, that is going to be one of the first BINs that I make.

I dont trust mechanics I dont know, but once in a blue moon I am in a situation where I have to. When I was driving cross country I had to get a front end alignment, and specifically requested "no road test" but they did one anyway. (Funny thing that he didn't notice the car still pulled left and he managed to leave a breaker bar and flashlight under the hood) And if they wreck my car because it wont go over 25mph, then they've got a LOT of explaining to do!

 

Face it. No matter how good of a wrench you are, you will have to take your car to someone else for some work. Alignments are a good example. Techs MUST drive your car before and after an alignment to ensure the job was done right and there are no bad parts. My suggestion on a valet chip would be setting the rev limiter to 4500 rpm and the speed limiter to 50 mph. Should be good enough. If you are really good, you could also cut back on the timing and fuel tables to limit power that way.

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1987 Trans Am GTA WS6
5.7L SuperRam
4L60-E Trans
3.73 SRD

1987 Pontiac Fiero
3800 Series II
4T60-E Trans
3.33 Final Drive

1988 Pontiac Grand Am
3800 Series I
125-C Trans

1966 Plymouth Belvedere II
318 Semi-Hemi 2bbl
Torqueflite 727 Trans

Domestic Terrors Car Club Online

 

that sounds like a very good idea Madmax. This way the it doesn't seem strange that a car has full power and torque until it peaks at a low speed/rpm and then cuts out.