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DDMWorks vs. RPM Motorsports

12K views 19 replies 17 participants last post by  vib_guy  
#1 ·
I am contemplating getting aftermarket charge tubes. There is a set manufactured both by DDMWorks and RPM Motorsports. Has anyone had any experience with either of these outfits ??? If so, please post some pros and cons of each......
 
#3 ·
DDM Works all the way!!!! Dave is AWESOME!!!
 
#10 ·
Dave,

Grandma always said if you can't say something nice about someone or something it is best to say nothing. I tried, but comparing the two really can't be done. Everything I have on my car came from Dave. Great support, good products, and a love for our community. Take that back, did buy a set of Norm's fenders, still need to get them on!
 
#11 · (Edited)
I bought DDMs, and paid a little more to have the optional starlight red w/gold microflecks powdered coated onto them. However, I now wish I had gone w/the polished finish and have thought about selling them. Live and learn.

You didn't mention a cold air intake, and a lot of folk have bought the charge pipes and CAI. At one time there was a lot of discussion about the aftermarket CAI oil soaked filters messing up the mass airflow sensor. I don't know if that proved valid, but I do remember a few posts about it. That was the reason I went with the GMPP CAI, granted it adds no power, and I don't really get into the car to hear the gobble sound effect people have talked (complained?) about but sometimes it's best to stay w/stock parts when you can.
 
#13 ·
I went with the GMPP CAI, granted it adds no power, and I don't really get into the car to hear the gobble sound effect people have talked (complained?) about but sometimes it's best to stay w/stock parts when you can.
The big benefit to me of the GMPP intake was cleaning up the engine bay and eliminating the vulnerable plastic fitting that often breaks on the stock system.

I went DDM on the tubes - their product support is second to none - what more can I say.
 
#14 ·
DDM. The only issue I had personally was the stock OEM mounting brackets that mount to the frame. The stock charge tubes sit a little lower than the aftermarket ones. I noticed after a month or so the hood bracket was wearing into my new charge tubes. I had them as far down as they would go as well. I made some custom mounting brackets that actually keep the charge tubes allot stiffer. Great fit and finish overall. DDM is a great source for most Kappa upgrades.
 

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#15 ·
They're both fantastic supporters of our charity car program and I know they both make high quality parts, so either are great. Dave and Ivy at DDM have donated numerous parts and expertise to several of our cars and Martin has donated tunes and is currently building us a 400 hp Stage 3 turbo system for our current White Lightning Charity Car (he is installing the DDM shifter for us, BTW).

We're lucky to have such choices.
 
#17 ·
As far as charged tubes go, I can only speak to DDM's as that is what I have. They are great but as the previous poster listed, it would be good if they came with some custom brackets to replace the flimsy stock ones. I have bought tons of stuff from Dave and Ivy and they have great service.

As for vendors, I have used RPM for my tuning and can't say enough good about them for that. I just haven't seen their charge pipes in person.

Bottom line, you won't get hurt with either vendor.
 
#18 ·
After meeting Dave from DDM at the nationals, and seeing his dedication to Kappa's I would purchase anything from him. I could not believe everything he did for a couple of the members that had issues with there cars, not his product's, but timing chain issues ect... Great guy and a great company we are lucky to have them!
 
#19 ·
Thanks for all of the support everyone!

Just to point out there are a couple differences we are aware of between Martin's charge tubes and ours. Martin is using steel for his charge tubes, we use lightweight aluminum. Martin's charge tubes only go to the stock rubber hose on the passenger side, which means you must re-use the stock rubber boot on the passenger side between the charge tube and the turbo. Our charge tubes go all the way from the intercooler to the turbo. We also include new silicone connectors for both the driver and passenger side charge tube connections to the intercooler and also a new silicone connection to the turbo.

Hope that helps,
Dave
 
#20 ·
I bought quite a few items from Dave at DDM.
Just a bit of my background, originally from Canada, I have own several performance vehicles/motorcycles in the past and I have a back ground in Mechanical Engineering. I live in the Cayman Islands and purchase a solstice gxp from a dealer in Rochester NY. The car had 7,000 miles on it with the stage 2 GMPP upgrade. Car was awesome for a little 2.0 engine. Before I shipped it, I had a Solo Dual center exhaust installed. I installed a Fugitsu CAI once I received the car here in Cayman.
Next upgrades were purchased from DDM. 1- Larger intercooler, 2- Charge Pipes, 3- Upgraded Clutch and 4-Big Wheel turbo along with Trifecta tune. Each Item was installed separately as to measure performance.
Car was pretty good up until the clutch and big wheel turbo. Clutch was installed by GM dealer along with the Turbo. Clutch rattles and sounds like a piece of garbage. Dave said that was normal (DFTS)!!! Since the turbo was installed I have had NOTHING BUT TROUBLE!!! I spent the better part of a year back and forth with tuning, first with Trifecta sending files to Dave waiting for him to send something back. When this didn't work Dave said we need to switch to HP Tuner. Dave was always pretty busy and difficult to get anything done. I would record log files send them to him, wait 3-4 days and finally get a tune back to try. Car ran like crap!!! try again and again.
Dave then tells me my CAI is no good and too difficult to tune, so he sold me a DDM CAI. Tried tuning with no success. Change wastegate actuator, send a log file wait 3-4 days, retune, try the car still garbage. Turbo is lazy as hell and almost linear with RPM, no boost down low and don't see 23lbs until about 5200 rpm. Messes around with tunes for months, I offered to fly Dave down and cover the cost if I or the certified mechanics had done anything wrong, Dave agreed. Every other week for about 6 months Dave said he was booking tickets to come, never did. After almost 1yr, June 2016 Dave tells me he won't be able to come for 2 more months. Pretty frustrated and disappointed with Dave and DDM by this time.

So here I am July 2017 with a Pontiac Solstice GXP with 24,000 miles on it, maybe 2,500 of that with DDMs Big wheel upgrade running like sht!!! Unfortunately, there is not much help here in Cayman tuning this car with the upgrades installed. Dave has washed his hands of this DDM project.

Just my story of dealing with DDM, would I buy charge pipes from them? I think not!!! I have a car with a rattling piece of crap clutch and the performance is well, embarrassing to say the least when a stock gxp would kick my ass. I know how this car should perform with these upgrades, but Dave has been useless at best in correcting the issue.