Well, I had my 86 Golf's N/A IP (Injector Pump) rebuilt at Seattle Injector. I have driven the car now for several hundred miles and thought I would pass along my experience for those near by looking for a place to rebuild their IP.
Overall I would rate them pretty good and for a reseaonable price. I am NOT receiving any kind of benefit for saying that. I just wanted to give my honest review from my personal experience.
The unit was completely rebuilt and cleaned for $403.77 and was ready in exactly a week.
Now I didn't get a chance to drive the car before hand as the pump was leaking so bad it wouldn't even fire but I have several other diesels and could notice a definite difference with this one being rebuilt.
I will have them rebuild my 82 Quantum's IP here soon and let people know how that went as well.
VW
Glad ya had a good experience. However for that much, I would of saved a few more clams and sent it to Giles.
Well, I have nothing against anyone. I never have had an IP rebuilt before and call me old school but I do like to do business face to face when I can. I don't have to though, I just feel more comfortable something when spending this kind of money. I feel others are like me on this one too. I like the idea if I have concerns I can deal with them quickly and feel a local business can offer the best option for that.
To prove I am not bias though, I would have Giles do my next one and do a comparison.
I only figure that since I am spending all this money to have these things rebuilt I should share the honest results so future readers could have something to help them decide what direction they might want to go.
This site has Helped me Tremendously over the years by what others have wrote and I want to return the favor with my review(s).
I firmly believe in the old adage of honesty and back scratching
Thanks, VW
I totally know what you mean about wanting to do things face to face, and there's also a lot to be said for supporting your local businesses. I mean Giles isn't going to be able to help you if you say crack the barb off an injector on a Saturday afternoon, but a local shop can probably find another Bosch body for you from a bin in the back.
That kind of service can't be offered over the phone or over the internet. I don't have a lot of sympathy for the Lordco / NAPA / whatever parts houses in the whole switch to digital - they rarely can actually help you with any kind of knowledge, and they've put tons of the local shops out of business big time so the online sites are basically a "what goes around comes around" kind of thing. But yeah a local diesel shop can save your bacon.
A straight up rebuild (ie keeping everything stock) is something I would probably tend to do locally, much like you. Giles is who I would call for a modified pump, since he's got a great rep for that kind of thing. Same kind of thing for injectors - I'd rather find a local shop to do mine since I don't gain a whole lot by sending them across the country. If I was doing some kind of crazy modified build I'd want someone who is willing to mess around with non-stock stuff and do some trial and error.
I didn't mean that in a bad way, I was just thinking of the "go faster" aspect. For a couple of hundy more you could of had a rebuilt pump that was ALSO beefed up for MOAR power. Thats all.
It's OK. I understand. I think that Seattle Injector could also tweek an IP but I wanted economy. I still will give Giles an IP to rebuild here before to long to compare the two.
Just to chime in...I have a Giles turbo pump. I just sent it back to have some rework done and have a very good N/A pump that I had to borrow since my 12mm cummins pump leaks a bit.
Regarding economy with summer diesel I was averaging 45.5mpg with the Giles and winter average was 42mpg. I have one tank on the stock N/A pump and got 40.25mpg winter diesel. I will not have it to compare summer diesel. I think it is more about driving style, but I haven't changed anything in how I drive really. I probably rip on it less since this pump has no rip on it in it. It gets up and goes ok but at the start of the mid range this has no more. This pump is in excellent shape too.
For what it is worth I love supporting local guys if it seems right to do so. I won't get ripped just to buy local, but I will give a local guy a shot if it is within reason. I used to go to a local parts store all the time for this reason. Eventually he had to shut down for Napa, advanced, and auto zone all came to town less than .5mile from his spot. Now instead of asking if the parts store has a bosch injector pigtail and getting it, I have to tell the guy behind the counter what car it came from...sucks I wish I could have supported the local guy enough to keep him around.