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TDIPLC

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Posts posted by TDIPLC

  1. I was referring more to sole traders who sell small and lower value items such as accessories etc and where liability insurance is not only way OTT but can make the difference between profitability or not.

     

    Business models like that are not viable in this industry, and you have clearly identified one of the reasons why. Any business that does not make suffient profits to pay for insurance should not be in business.

     

    When it all goes wrong, it is normally the customer that has to suffer the consequences which is not fair, hence the original suggestions in my first post, which if you think about it actually prioritises the interests of the customer. That can only be a good thing in my opinion.

  2. Another very important issue regarding indemnity insurance that I forget to mention (sorry :lol: ), is that I beieve you should have the right to know whether the company you take your car to has adequate cover in the case of a mistake that damages your car or causes injury or death.

     

    You may take the view that you are not concerned with this issue as you can sue them for compensation. The bad news is that the majority of companies in this industry have a capitalisation of just £100 and struggle to break even so do not have much in the way of assets.

     

    Far from being "Rubbish", this is a very imprtant issue in my view.

  3. This is a tricky one.

     

    1. No part time traders.

    2. No traders without a proper premises.

    3. No traders without indemnity insurance.

    4. No traders without a proven track record.

    5. No traders that you are not comfortable being associated with.

     

    1. No part time traders. Why? many of us have full time jobs and the revenue from the part time trading is an additional income, not a primary income.

     

    2. No traders without a proper premises. And why does (for instance) a mail-order trader need (for instance) to rent a warehouse. Your justification is totally flawed.

     

    3. No traders without indemnity insurance. Rubbish!

     

    4. No traders without a proven track record. And how do you propose to quantify this? How many customer's cars you've blown up?

     

    5. No traders that you are not comfortable being associated with. As above, this is not quantifiable.

     

    As people have already said, my comments were just suggestions. These were based on my my own opions gained from extensive experience in this industry, but to answer your points:

     

    1. I am more concerened about the level of service provided to customers, rather than the income streams of a Trader. When someone gives their hard earned cash to a trader for a service, it is preferable to expect the trader to be available when needed - not at their day job.

     

    2. Aquisition of a proper trading premises is a clear indictation that the Trader is serious about his business. As a point of fact, every single Trader in this industry that starts from home either progresses to a premises or goes bust.

     

    3. There are plenty of Traders in this industry that are not adequately insured. I believe you should have a right to know whether they are or not so that you can make an informed decision of whether you are prepared to accept the risk. Here's a quesion for you Mike: Would you knowingly take your car to a Trader to be worked on by a person that had been banned from driving and who did not have a valid Motor Traders isurance policy? Would you knowingly accept the risk of the total loss of your pride and joy?

     

    4. I am sure that different people have different criteria to measure this issue, but generally speaking, customer satisfaction and length of time in business are good indicators, as is the reputation among the contemporaries and competitors within the industry, and also the prestige of the manufacturers who choose to partner or associate with the Trader.

     

    5. In this instance, it is for Tony decide who he feels comforatable associating himself with because his business could suffer with a poor choice of stategic alliance.

  4. The best thing is to get it looked at properly - preferably by someone that knows what they are looking at.

     

    An FCD won't cause this problem - it has no control over the boost whatsoever.

     

    When it's on a dyno you can visibly check the actuator movement, audibly check all of the pneumatic connections for leaks, and conduct an exhaust back pressure test.

     

    That's the best way forward Barrie, otherwise much wasted time and pulled out hair will result.

     

    i totally agree Mark

     

    no FCD

     

    being that it was a new HKS actuator, specified for the car, i was reluctant to believe it would be wrong

     

    it was mentioned by the mechanic who had just set it up, about the lack of air available ??, i felt this was strange as the smallest part of the incoming flow is the turbo itself

     

    thought i would take a look at re-routing the intake to avoid passing over the manifold area

    and guess what i found ?

     

    the intake pipe which was standard is made of metal, on the final connection to the turbo it has a rubber sleeve on the inside

     

    this sleeve had been squashed to the effect that one half was actually across the airflow, reducing incoming air by half

    the other danger is that it could have split, and theres only one way it could go, yes ! straight into the turbo

     

    anyway replaced the pipework

     

    and guess what !

    yes full boost right through the rev range

    slightly overboosting at 7000 revs

    what a difference it makes

     

    now i am somewhat relieved

    but also not very happy with the work that was carried out

     

     

    Mark

    how busy is that dyno of yours ??

     

    Glad you got it sorted Barrie - you must be well relieved.

     

    It was supposed to have been professionally installed too wasn't it? Time for Mr Boot to meet Mr Bottom methinks.

     

    If it's mapping validation/calibration you want done, there's approx 2 week delay at the moment.

     

    Let me know if you need any help :lol:

  5. The best thing is to get it looked at properly - preferably by someone that knows what they are looking at.

     

    An FCD won't cause this problem - it has no control over the boost whatsoever.

     

    When it's on a dyno you can visibly check the actuator movement, audibly check all of the pneumatic connections for leaks, and conduct an exhaust back pressure test.

     

    That's the best way forward Barrie, otherwise much wasted time and pulled out hair will result.

  6. What is the weight of these,are they lighter than stock?

     

    Will they have a cooling reservoir?

     

    Can they be reshimed by the owner or will they have to go back to you?

     

    Sorry for all the questions,but people will ask these :D

     

    Your 2 seconds a lap quicker?.............wet/dry same curcuit or different?

     

    Hope you've got plenty of chalk left :D :D

     

    There's not generally a significant weight difference between 2 and 3 way adjustables. Where weight is an issue, they can be made in aluminium but that is more expensive.

     

    The project we are working on at he moment is not Japanese related - it's a high value British car whose owners are generally more quality than cost conscious.

     

    The shocks will have to be returned to the manufacturer for revalving.

     

    The issue regarding the reservoir will probably vary according to the application, but a separate reservoir is preferable.

     

    Regarding the 2 secs per lap, it's exacty the same conditions except for changing the shocks.

     

     

     

     

    I can see the benefit of 3 way on bad surface but a smooth track? I guess she'll ride the curbs a lot better...

     

    Exactly :D

     

    When a car is set up using one or two way damping (or no adjustment at all), there is a big compromise as it must be set for adequate performance beween slow and fast reacting damping. If it was optimised for slow reacting damping (which most set ups are) the car is unbalanced when a bump or dip is encountered. Conversely, if it is optimised for fast reacting damping, the car will be unstable under smooth conditions.

     

    Imagine a scenario where both conditions can be optimised - thats 3 and 4 way adjustable :D

     

    My chalk is running out now :)

  7. This one is for Tony and any other suspension Genii.

     

    We are developing a new road orientated suspension kit for a car (secret squirrel at the moment) using 3 way adjustable dampers.

     

    We have seen truly amazing results on the track using this system (2 seconds per lap), and was wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this concept or has tried it?

     

    Thanks :)

     

    what about us mere mortals :)

     

    when you say three way adjustable dampers, do you mean height and damping adjustable,

    i am using the D2`s on the starlet, and they have an infinate amount of different adjustments, but are track orientated, which means although the can be adjusted for road use they are allways a bit stiff and therefore a bit uncomfortable for everyday road use

    presuming road orientated would have a more comfortable ride, but be less suitable for track use

    is it possible to have the best of both worlds !!

     

    Three way (or even better four way) adjustable damping is perfect for us mere mortals :)

     

    Let me explain (tapping chalk on blackboard) if I may?

    A two way adjustable damper allows you to adjust both bump (compression) and rebound (extension) rates to optimise handling to suit the application in normal use. That's fine, but what happens when the wheel hits a bump or pot hole? The car is sent completely off line because it's applying the same bump/rebound setting to a very fast change in cirumstances as is to it's normal operating conditions.

     

    What 3 and 4 way adjustable dampers allow you to do is to also set the bump and rebound for rapid reactions as well as for the normal slow reacting conditions.

     

    I'm not very good at explaining things so I hope that made sense :P

     

    Clearly, there is a layer of cost attached to this so it's not cheap, but anyone that has driven a car with good and bad suspension will know that it's money well spent.

     

    tsk tsk mark, its whiteboards now !, how long is it since you were at school :D

     

    if i am understanding this right

     

    normally when three way adjustment is mentioned it is concerning for example a "coilover"

    what you are saying is that your three way adjustment is solely concerning the damper

    sounds very complex

    but also sounds like you can have the best of both worlds

     

    i will sit back and listen now :)

     

    Blimey I thought blackboards were modern compared to the parchment and quill that I had when I was at school :)

     

    Three and four way adjustable shocks just refers the damping, and is considerably better that 1 or 2 way :)

  8. Is this a coil over oil application or just a damper only configuration.

     

    It can be either. It can also be gas or oil.

     

    The application we are working on at the moment is a coil over system. Exciting times :P

  9. This one is for Tony and any other suspension Genii.

     

    We are developing a new road orientated suspension kit for a car (secret squirrel at the moment) using 3 way adjustable dampers.

     

    We have seen truly amazing results on the track using this system (2 seconds per lap), and was wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this concept or has tried it?

     

    Thanks :)

     

    what about us mere mortals :)

     

    when you say three way adjustable dampers, do you mean height and damping adjustable,

    i am using the D2`s on the starlet, and they have an infinate amount of different adjustments, but are track orientated, which means although the can be adjusted for road use they are allways a bit stiff and therefore a bit uncomfortable for everyday road use

    presuming road orientated would have a more comfortable ride, but be less suitable for track use

    is it possible to have the best of both worlds !!

     

    Three way (or even better four way) adjustable damping is perfect for us mere mortals :D

     

    Let me explain (tapping chalk on blackboard) if I may?

    A two way adjustable damper allows you to adjust both bump (compression) and rebound (extension) rates to optimise handling to suit the application in normal use. That's fine, but what happens when the wheel hits a bump or pot hole? The car is sent completely off line because it's applying the same bump/rebound setting to a very fast change in cirumstances as is to it's normal operating conditions.

     

    What 3 and 4 way adjustable dampers allow you to do is to also set the bump and rebound for rapid reactions as well as for the normal slow reacting conditions.

     

    I'm not very good at explaining things so I hope that made sense :P

     

    Clearly, there is a layer of cost attached to this so it's not cheap, but anyone that has driven a car with good and bad suspension will know that it's money well spent.

  10. This one is for Tony and any other suspension Genii.

     

    We are developing a new road orientated suspension kit for a car (secret squirrel at the moment) using 3 way adjustable dampers.

     

    We have seen truly amazing results on the track using this system (2 seconds per lap), and was wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this concept or has tried it?

     

    Thanks :P

  11. This is a tricky one.

     

    The first thing is decide what WIM is going to be. Is it primarily and income stream or is it also a safe haven for like minded individuals in a semi-controlled environment? I suspect that it should be the latter.

     

    IMHO i think that brand association or endorsement is inevitatable although unfair, so you will need to give careful consideration to who you let advertise, and also have clear disclaimers to protect yourself.

     

    Unfortunately our industry is one of the few where there are little or no barriers to entry, which means that it is infested with people that shouldn't really be there.

     

    Perhaps you could introduce a system of due dilligence which has a minum criteria along the lines of:

    1. No part time traders.

    2. No traders without a proper premises.

    3. No traders without indemnity insurance.

    4. No traders without a proven track record.

    5. No traders that you are not comfortable being associated with.

     

    The above are just suggestions, so I am sure you will have your own which are more suitable for your business model.

     

    Getting back to the original question, as a business we expect to pay for any advertising medium. Most businesses view the resultant sales as a Return On Investment (ROI), so you will need to ensure that you pitch your fees correctly (quite low until WIM proves itself worthy of higher fees - which I'm sure won't be long :lol: ).

     

    TDI will be happy to support you in your formative period (and this may also help you to attract other reputable businesses) and will hope you're not tempted to bring in any traders that could potentially devalue our brands via the association.

     

    I don't have any preference of "pay per click" or a "banner" etc, as it is just a simple matter of "ROI" and "brand association" so will go with whatever works best. From your perspective, I would have thought you would have been better off selling advertising space.

     

    Hope this helps :lol:

  12. For a forced induction engine (and not so critical for N/A) the best policy means getting in as much COLD air as possible, meaning efficient induction and forced through a quality intercooler. Followed by removing the exhaust gasses through the least restrictive pipework while maintaining an acceptable noise level.

     

    Different cars react differently to tuning methods (otherwise r&d establishments wouldn't be necessary), but generally speaking, the exhaust efficiency is the primary consideration before the intake.

     

    The most efficient exhaust will use a manifold of equal length pipes (to equalise back pressure on each cylinder) and a decatted rear system.

     

    That's not really correct as the "equal length pipes" issue is more to do with pulse tuning than back pressure.

     

    The power gains achieved by decatting can be very cost-effective in terms of bucks-per-bang! :D

     

    That is true in many cases, but not all.

     

    Word of caution: Replacing the stock exhaust with an unrestrictive system will screw up the fuelling; you'll fuel too rich at low revs and lean out at high revs. It's well worth having a remap done at the same time.

     

    That is an over generalization as different models (even different years of certain models) react differently to tuning methods. Without doubt, recalibration of the fuel and ignition parameters can be beneficial or even essential in some cases.

  13. I understand that...(just) but what pre-empted this thread was some MR2 SW20's that only has one cat... this made me wonder since the de-cat must has the same uniform shape as the origonal to fit.... To my mind there is nothing mechanical about an empty box so why pay the price for a modifyed unit?

     

    Imagine aerodynamics inside a pipe. The stock cat on an MR2 turbo comes off the turbo and enters the manifold. To fit a cat in this somewhat small space they had to make the pipe bulge like a balloon to fit all the ceramic in there.

     

    Taking the actuall cat out of this bulbus pipe would certianly greatly increase spool times on the turbo cars as the exhaust gasses would have a much smoother flow, however due to the non uniform shape of the chamber there would be a large amount of turbulance (or dirty air).

     

    A cat replacement pipe (as i have sitting infront of me waiting to be fitted) has a VERY smooth path for the air to flow as it never had to accomodate a cat resulting in near zero back pressure.

     

    To summerise cat out is good, replaced pipe is better. Tuning the exhaust on turbo cars is all about getting the gasses out as quickly and as uneventfully as possible, the replacement pipes aid this.

     

    Regarding the legalities, pre august 1995 MR2 Turbos don't have a model report for the MOT testers to match to so they go through the very lenient "default" test. Shame that :D

     

    HTH a little.

     

     

    On the MR2, the cat doesn't "come off the turbo and enter the manifold", it's between the turbo and downpipe. I think Mr Toyota made the cat the shape it is to allow for a sufficient volume of catalyser material to fit in such a small space, which is a shame because the shape of the outer shell (and the replacement de-cat pipes) have an angle of convergence which is disruptive to air flow, so there is no real difference (from a performance perspective) between removing the catalyser material from the standard cat or using an aftermarket de-cat pipe. I think the main difference is the potential hazards to health from removing the catalyzer material, and the inability to refit the cat for any purpose if needed. Additionally, removing the material can be quite difficult (especially if the cat is fairly new) so if you are paying someone to do it for you it could potentially be as expensive as buying a de-cat pipe. Personally I would go for a de-cat pipe every time to keep my options open.

  14.  

    Well mine is 200 rwhp at the mo.

     

    Just as a point of interest, our Rototest seems to read about 5% lower than a Dynapack Dyno when measuring the same car.

     

    Rototest maintain that their figures are accurate because it uses a proper strain guage to measure the torque, whereas Dynapack "calculate" the torque by measuring the flow of fluid through an orifice. To summarise, Rototest measures the torque, whereas Dynapack calculates the torque.

     

    I never suggested anything of the sort.

     

    But I am familiar with a number of "motorsport" tuners where this problem does happen. The reason I mentioned Noble is that they appear to have a good record in returning customer's car to them with an intact engine.

     

    Thanks Mike. I was hoping you were going to say that :o

  15. Have you asked Mark him self mate ? he is rather clued up.

     

    Shame I'm going up to Walsall tonight, could have met you down here ......... only down the road from me ! :D

     

    Yes mate. He doesnt know either as no one has yet pushed the engine to see what it is capable of.

     

    Take the car to Noble Motorsport in Chesterfield Adie. They don't have a record of blowing engines :o

     

    Hello Mike, are you insinuating that TDI do have a record for blowing engines?

     

    Thanks :)

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