RPM Engineering - Ron Metcalf - aftermarket disc brakes

[CarFreak]

Does anyone personally know Ron?  

There's a CLC member who paid Ron of a couple thousand $$$ almost 5 years ago.  Ron was telling a story that may not be true and still owes this guy parts or money.

Once upon a time........
a foreigner from Europe with a 1957 Cadillac series 75 saw an ad in Hemmings.

The advertiser offered modern steering and front disc brakes as a retrofit kit for the 57 Cad.
The foreigner contacted the him by phone and had a pleasant talk about the parts offered,
agreed on a price and that the seller should start fabricating the parts.
It was also agreed that half should be paid up front and the rest when the parts were ready for shipping to Europe.

Time went slowly by and the foreigner talked to the seller on the phone on several occasions to talk about the progress
(the seller was sort of an old fashioned guy and not good with email etc.) .

Eventually after about 8 months, the parts were ready for shipping and shipping was arranged by the foreigner
out of L.A. to Europe. The balance of the payment was to be drawn via credit card.
Initially the transaction didn’t go through and the seller sent an email asking for another card.
This was given and the money transferred, and the seller promised to initiate the shipping via the foreigners shipping company.
Time passed – and nothing happened.
The foreigner contacted the shipping company to inquire about status on the shipment – surprisingly they did not know
of any shipment destined to the foreigner.

The foreigner tried to contact the seller – always got the answering machine asking for a number to return the call to,
but nobody called back.
Emails weren’t answered either.

The foreigner realized that something was wrong and tried to find out what had happened.
As the seller is a member of CLC the foreigner naturally asked on the Forum if anybody could
help with some sort of information.

At one time a member informed him that the seller had been run over by a truck driven by an
illegal immigrant and hospitalized with severe injuries.
While in hospital, his house and garage was broken into, things were stolen, including computer and telephone stolen.
Then the place was set on fire, apparently to cover up.
Indeed very tragic and would explain a lot of things.

More time went by and the foreigner had contact with fellow members of the CLC who
promised to look into it and perhaps get help from even more members to find out what had happened.
The foreigner was advised to complain to Hemmings, but their “complain service” expires one year
after a purchase, so that was a dead end.

Instead the foreigner tried to get information from the local newspaper about the accident, robbery and fire.
Surprisingly, there is no mentioning of anything anywhere.
Then the foreigner got a tip from a CLC member, that the seller had messed it all and was still operating his business,
although now with an associate to fabricate the parts.

The seller is still advertising in Hemmings with the same parts and the same
telephone number – only difference from then is that his web site is closed.

And he is still a member of CLC.

It has now been almost five years and the 2000 USD the foreigner paid must be considered lost.
Draw your own conclusions – some people apparently have no conscience when it comes to cheating others.

http://www.cadillaclasalleclub.org/forum/index.php?topic=118321.0



Doing a web search, looks like he's actively in business - postings by persons on the HAMB, Jalopy Journal, others talking about his products and services.  And even here too. 

Hate to see when someone gets cheated like this, especially when he's across a big pond and hard for him to try to recover his $$$$. 

[CarFreak]

Found a post by Kurt dating back to 2007 with more info:

Hi,

I'm trying to get in contact with Ron Metcalf, Desert Hot Springs, CA.

He is running a company called RPM Engineering. He advertises on Hemmings for custom made brakes and steering for older Cadillacs. For six months I have been trying, but only gets his answering machine. His website is currently down (www.caddyclassicsbyrpm.com). No responses on emails.
I need to get in contact with him - can anybody help me with an alternate way to contact him?

OK to email me direct - kjelgaard@wanadoo.fr

Thanks,
Kurt Kjelgaard
CLC# 23671

http://www.cadillaclasalleclub.org/forum/index.php?topic=99126.msg102227#msg102227



This is the story that Ron was providing when someone would call looking for their parts: 

I spoke with Ron and he explained that he has been in the hospital since a bad car accident left him with a concussion, broken hip, collar bone and other fractures.   He is still spending a lot of time in and out of the hospital with physical therapy and all.  He sounded pretty rough; like he'd been wrung through the mill. 

A truck driven by an undocumented, uninsured illegal alien hit him.

Then to add insult to injury while he was in the hospital Ron was the victim of robbery at his shop.  They cleaned him out including phones, answering machine, fax, computers, etc. and tried to start a fire to cover their tracks.  A lot of his records were destroyed. 

Kurt - Ron asked that you please keep trying to reach him - be persistent.

[CarFreak]

His contact info from our list of Cadillac vendors: 


RPM Engineering                            Rack and pinion conversion kits, power disc brake conversion kits
22400 Lamel Road
Desert Hot Springs
California 92241
(760) 329-1886  (877) 329-1886
Ron Metcalf - owner
RMetcalf760@aol.com


Looks like he's located north of Palm Springs.   

He's a CLC member according to the Directory, anyone in the Region for that area that has a connection? 

[cigarsmoker]

I bought a disc brake conversion kit for my 57 from Ron. While I will admit that he was a little slow I did get everything that he promised. Maybe you should try this number that he gave me.

760-468-0624

John

[EZ]

What a crock.  I hate a liar and a thief.      I hope this guy gets his money back or at least his parts he paid for.

[CarFreak]

I bought a disc brake conversion kit for my 57 from Ron. While I will admit that he was a little slow I did get everything that he promised.

Presumably he took less than 5 years? 

Maybe you should try this number that he gave me.

760-468-0624

John

Thanks, I will share that with Kurt. 

What a crock.  I hate a liar and a thief.      I hope this guy gets his money back or at least his parts he paid for.

Hey EZ (and others), remember that saying:
   
'they told two friends, who told two friends, who told two friends and so on and so on and so on....'
 
be sure to share the story with others who might be considering using RPM so they can be forewarned. 

[EZ]

We have several guys on the '65-'66 Cadillac forum that live in California so I posted a link to this thread.  I don't want anybody I know of getting ripped off.   

[Roadkill]

As a foreigner from Europe I must admit that this is my biggest fear when dealing with sellers in the states (not that we have much choice).

I got properly stung a couple of years back (only for $180 or so !!) when I ordered a sway bar for the '58 and, after paying that again in shipping, ended up with a bar that looked nothing like the original !!!
(The company blamed my "bent chassis" - I checked it against the workshop manual and found the critical dimensions to be within 1/64" !!! - No joy though).

Also a friend of mine brought a S.B.Mopar and trans from a builder in California . . . . . 6 years, $4,800 later and nothing, basically.

I plan to have a motor built in the U.S for the '58 next year but the thought is terrifying me !!!

[EZ]

Roadkill, if I were you, when it came time to spend big money I would have someone from the USA to help with the transaction, even if you had to pay them.
Use someone you trust and then you won't have to worry about being taken to the cleaners.  For smaller purchases, use established companies that you can get
other car guys to vouch for.  If using Ebay make sure their "Gaurentee" applies to your purchase.  I think the limit is $50,000.00.  Cheapest is not always best.  Using a company no one has ever heard of before might save you a little money but will they deliver? Who knows??!!!  A crate motor built by a no name shop might never get shipped so even if the one built by Edelbrock is $800 more expensive you know they will deliver the motor and stand behind it.

Good luck Brother.  I'd hate to have to do everything long distance like you blokes do.........

[Roadkill]

Agreed.

I used to have a guy in S.C who used to be a great help . . . alas, I think a few too many people over here took the **** a bit when asking for his help.  It became apparent that he was less keen to help.  When I had the issue with the sway bar he was the one who contacted the company and fought on my behalf but in the end he, understandably, had better things to do.

I've not made any major purchases since.

It's even getting to the point I may actually fly to the U.S when it comes to sorting getting the engine built.  Extra cost - but it'd help me sleep at night !!!

[CarFreak]

I've done that in the past for several persons on the other side of the pond until one person ruined it. 

He took advantage of my generosity until I put a stop to it; became obvious it was going to be a never-ending task. 

He covered my costs, I never asked for any additional, but eventually it got to the point of ridiculousness. 

Over and again the requests kept coming through and many of these purchases were not for his personal vehicle but rather
entire cars and parts for cars he intended to resell for profit along with parts to repair cars belonging to customers. 

Some people have no concept of when they are overstepping the boundaries of friendship. 

[Roadkill]

Jeeze.

99% of the stuff I sent to my mate was new and boxed - he just needed to re-box it into bigger boxes and take it to the P.O . . . I always paid his costs plus extra - then paypal'd some $$ extra when I received it so he could buy a bottle of JD !

I know another guy sent him a load or dirty old second-gen camaro steering stuff which was from a scrapyard and from what I understand belonged there !!! - Then left it with him for months while he hunted for other stuff . . . A real p*** taker.  

[William Murphy]

BBB Business Review
http://www.la.bbb.org/business-reviews/Automobile-Customization-Services/RPM-Engineering-in-Desert-Hot-Springs-CA-100074936

File a BBB complaint: http://www.la.bbb.org/ComplaintDetail.aspx?CompanyID=100074936

(760) 329-7886
RPM Engineering
22400 Lamel
Desert Hot Springs, CA 92241

[CADEZE]

This might be a little late....but, I've used Ron for TWO disc brake setups and one rack and pinion conversion...They were great. Nothing but praise...

[CarFreak]

CADEZE,

How recent were your transactions?   

Wonder if Ron is ignoring this international buyer because he thinks sufficient time has passed that there is no recourse.