I really do not go out of my way to Poo Poo vendors. I'm in the business and I know I don't want people poopooing me, my work or my shop. That's why I work so hard to make sure nobody ever gets that opportunity. That being said, I wanted to share an experience to hopefully help you avoid any headaches. A customer brought me a 53 Chevy with a Helix under floor brake booster and master conversion. As a rule I do not allow customer supplied parts, but the guy is a friend's son and a neighbor. The following confirms precisely why I have this policy. There were no instructions included and the instructions that are available online are not "Comprehensive". I've been a pro a long time and I know how to figure things out. I also know that "bolt in" kits rarely are, and I don't want to get stuck out by a vendor because I did something that violates policy. Whenever I run into something on a "Bolt In" kit I always assume I'm doing something wrong because the parts are obviously designed and engineered by pros who know what the heck they're doing... right? So I call the manufacturer to make sure I'm not missing something in my old age. I took the kit out of the box and it had a bracket, pedal assembly, booster, master and two residual valves. I called and asked if the kit was supposed to have a proportioning vale in it (maybe the customer lost it). He insisted that you never need a proportioning valve. That's what residual valves are for. He insisted that as a 45 year professional, a proportioning valve is not necessary on a disc/drum conversion. Well that trumps me by 15 years, but I resigned to pick up a Prop valve from ABS Power Brake anyway. The kit requires that the frame be notched and that a rivet in the frame be removed or the bracket be drilled out to fit. I called to make sure that was the case and that I had the right bracket and it took 10 minutes of wandering questions and general incoherence with the head tech guy, who turns out to be the owner, to get a simple yes or no answer. I asked him at least 5 times directly about the modifications and he must have been watching memes on youtube or flipping thru questionable reading material because it really seemed like he had no idea what I was talking about. Eventually he blurted out, Well your going to have to notch the frame and drill the bracket or it won't work. Which is what I had asked him over and over agin. Once we got the thing mocked in position, the pedal arm was way off. Like no way it was going to work. I called again to make sure I didn't miss anything. I compared the physical parts to the illustration in the online instruction and they were different. The illustration made sense, but the physical parts made no sense. I sent the owner pictures of the discrepancy to see if he had any insight and he, for the life of him, could not see that where the pedal is supposed to go thru the toe board was a good 4" off. it was clear as day. I tried explain what i was dealing with 10 different times and this dude was either obfuscating, being deliberately obtuse or is just plain dimwitted. "We've sold this product for 19 years without a complaint". "Then tell me what I'm doing wrong." "Well, What's the problem." "Just take a look at the picture." "I'm trying to help you but you won't let me talk. what's the problem?" "Take a look at the picture. the pedal is not in the right place, so either i'm doing something wrong or this product is defective." "We've sold this product for 19 years without a complaint" "Then why don't the pedals line up? What am I doing wrong?" "What exactly is the problem?" "Can you not see what is right there explicitly in the clear and detailed pictures I sent you from multiple angles?" "You're getting me all flustered, I'm trying to help you but you keep interrupting me and I don't think we're getting anywhere". It went on like that for about 10 minutes until I just hung up. I showed the picture to my cousin who knows as much about mechanical things as I know about quantum physics and he could see it clearly. I sent them to the salesman at Helix who admitted he was technically clueless and se saw it in about 2 seconds. at this point I just pissed it off and decided to get a new assembly from ABS. THEN I tried to use the proportioning valves and my 3"16 line wouldn't go thru one of the fittings. So just for grins I called back. I made sure that these were designed for 3/16 line and he confirmed. Told him what was going on and yep, you guessed, I've never heard that complaint before. OK Fine, so just tell me what you suggest. "I don't understand." "The line will not go thru the fitting." We've sold this kit......." So just for grins I asked him, You think I should just drill it out, and his response was, Uh, Yeah if that's what you have to do. Of course I wouldn't so I went to look for some different fittings. Turns out these damn things are metric. So after looking at the diagram, the stock master cylinder and the physical parts from Helix, it turns out the arm for the brake pedal was welded to the wrong side of the pivot. If it was on the correct side it would have lined up perfectly. So short of a long story, buyer beware, use trusted vendors, don't use customer parts, and If you do only if you know and trust the vendor.
You just gotta love the Hoffman Groupe. Make a profit, change the name of your companies so no one can keep track of who makes what, sell parts that don't fit, are dangerous, have questionable customer support, and then move on to the next sucker.
What is really sad about this is a back yard mechanic might fart around and jimmy rig it to work ......... kinda sorta ...... with potentially disastrous results. We all don’t want government mandated inspections etc ( the boys in Australia really have to jump through hoops on the builds ) but now the government knows that what’s on the road is safe. tje more companies like Hoffman and the dinks that build really shitty rat rods are allowed to do this stuff just gives “ big brother” more of a reason to come down on our hobby. No one wants there kids, mom, etc to die ‘cause some ass hat sold , then another asshat bought and installed an inferior part that led to an accident or death. uphere safety is becoming a huge buzz word and more and more it’s becoming common place in my industry as to many people where bypassing safety protocol and leading to unnecessary injury’s and deaths. sad that the dollar and stupidity trump common sense more and more. Thanks for sharing .
"So after looking at the diagram, the stock master cylinder and the physical parts from Helix, it turns out the arm for the brake pedal was welded to the wrong side of the pivot. If it was on the correct side it would have lined up perfectly". Now that you know what the problem is with the kit you have, can you not contact Helix once again and explain exactly what is wrong with the item you received and request demand a replacement?
Don't use or install Hoffman Company parts. Problem solved. But most can't resist spending less. No matter what the ultimate cost is. Problem continues. Repeat.
The OP needs to copy of this entire thread, and send it to the Hoffman Group. And the same should happen with every Hoffman group thread here on the HAMB. They (Hoffman) need to know the word is getting out about them, and maybe, just maybe, things may change (???). Nahhhh, who am I kidding? I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
Oh, another Hoffman Group thread! Ryan just closed one last week as well. After all these years and complaints why would ANYONE even attempt to use their crap? That owner is an outright liar and crook.
I know I'm not the first. I didn't know these were helix parts at first. They came in a Johnny Law box. when I called them about the first issue, they said a tech guy would call me back. And he did. From Helix. I've been seeing stuff about helix for years, but i'm sure there are a ton of guy on here shopping the internet who don't know any better. I did get back with them about what the problem was, but I want nothing to do with their stuff.
The shame of it is that not all inexpensive parts are complete garbage, and I've unfortunately spent good money on what were supposed to be quality parts only to receive garbage. You almost need to take it as it comes, and there is no rule in particular to "avoid these companies" and you're going to get good parts every time. I'll give you an example. I recently bought a set of headers from Amazon for a project I'm working on. I was looking for rear dump, shorty headers for a SBC, and came across these on Amazon. They were stainless, the right configuration, and were CHEAP. I ordered them. Shipping was free and I feel like they teleported to my house. I figured if they were crap, I can return them free with Prime. I opened the box and was stunned at how nice they are. Good welds, thick flanges, everything quality. They were easily $300 less than any other offering from Jegs or Summit. Unfortunately they wound up not fitting my custom application and they got returned, but I'd buy them again in a second. Last year I bought a few Moon electric gauges, specifically an oil pressure, water temp, volt, and fuel gauge. They used to be made by Autometer, and even now made by Dolphin were far from inexpensive. 2 of the gauges were lit differently than the other two, so when the lights come on the gauges are backlit differently and looks strange. The Oil pressure gauge is so vague, the instructions literally say, the sweep is not to scale. So if I have to guess what my oil pressure is, WTF do I need a gauge for? Terrible.
In a moment of having extra spending money and maybe an alcohol infused lack of common sense and the want for a front end for the 48 I bought a "universal crossmember from "Welder Joe" one of the Hoffman group outlets that is no longer around. This is a prime example of the quality of or lack of it on Helix suspension pieces. The only good is that it is seriously heavy plate. Note the weld (s) ground down to where the seam shows though. Welds that look like first week ag student welding class work., It actually isn't too ugly but will have to be basically reworked to be safe to use. On the other hand I picked up a set of stainless headers off Ebay for the 500 Cad in my 71 GMC and the quality rivals what 57JoefoMopar (write that without looking three times) posted in post 15. I've got to pull the engine back out again before I install them but they are nice pieces. I sold them last year but about 25 years ago I bought a set of Chrome tight tuck headers for a big block Chevy for some ridiculous cheap price from JC Whitney. Either 150 or 250 for them but I think it was 150. They came shipped direct from Ernie Immerso Enterprises and were the most beautifully welded show chrome pieces you can imagine. They big block install stalled out and they hung on the wall for years and sold the first day I posted them for sale to a guy putting a big block in a 57 Chevy 3100.
If you want high quality parts at an inexpensive price try Welder Series Inc. next time. His suspension parts are top notch.
I'll get on my soapbox AGAIN and say "if guys would spend as much money on quality hot rod parts as they do on their cell phones" we would see less of this Hoffman Group SHIT.
Thank you! Just a reminder that we have no affiliation, expressed or implied, with the H***man Group.
Used a Welder's Series front cross member in my 34 and it was first class stuff. Sorry to hear about the sub-par parts.
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