Re: Will RIPP tell all?

["Graydon D. Stuckey" <graydon@apollo.gmi.edu>]

On 12 Jun 1997, Neil Swanson wrote:

>  Some of you have or are putting Ross in a no win situation.  When he does post
> if you get a hint of him puffing up his chest you slam him. Right, like he is
> the only chest puffer here.

you are very right here.   This happens all the time, but usually it is a 
result of the person's own demeanor.

> Now you want to know what he has done in detail.  Well I just know that if you
> catch wind of any "sales" attitude in those posts he will get slammed yet again.
> Either for the sales angle or 'cause he didn't give up enough.  And tell me just

Personally, I don't care if he has a "sales pitch" or not.   Some of the 
others on the group really dislike that, and I can see why, but I think 
they should be a little more tolerant of sales pitches.  (lets _not_ 
start another thread about this)

> Remember Peter Wales?  He got much the same treatment.  And he gave up quite a
> bit of info.  Now he is gone and he could have been of help.

Peter was of some help, but there were some ethics questions in his 
case. Peter also had enough of a sense of humour to laugh at himself.   In 
Ross's case, he's just a relatively unknown enthusiast.  Not really 
analogous IMHO.   Peter also is very willing to help.   In other lists, 
Peter has offered lots of technical help to people interested in 
deciphering the code in their auto ECUs.   I don't see that kind of 
expertise or willingness to help from Ross, yet.

> OK, Ross's big Spearco IC.  What do you want to know?  How big?  How many CFM it
> will flow at a given pressure?  What is the pressure drop at what boost level.

Yes.  Even something _approaching_ this level of detail would be great,
but Ross won't talk, even in private email he has sent me.  Ross claimed
1380cfm flow through his intercooler.  Obviously that is not on the car,
because even a wild turbo won't flow that amount of air on the 2.2turbo (I
don't think.)  So, what test rig produced that kind flow, and why is it
significant to the 5KCSTQ? 
	Then Ross told us that we weren't getting the boost we thought
because our stock intercoolers suck.  Well, I have a boost gauge in the
manifold, so I know that I'm getting 14 - 17psi, and I'm able to get up to
22psi _IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD_.  I saw it with my own two eyes (Brendan
was watching the road :-) I know I'd get more if I had a better I'cooler,
but that is with the stock one. 

> If you think Ross is the only person out there who has done something on his own
> forget it.  Some of those very people are right here and they aren't telling all
> either. And when some tell they are told that they just did something that can't
> work anyway so where is the impetus to tell?

I'll tell all that I've done.  I'll tell the gory details (including the
mistakes) of my fuel rail if someone wants it, or info about fuel
calibrations on a 10V EFI-equipped engine, or details of how to fit a 3"
exhaust through the type 44 chassis.  Some of that could potentially be
valuable to a few racers out there.  Much of it is for sale if someone
wants it, but I'm not making a living out of it.  Much of what I've done
has been by the help of people on this list, so I don't really have a
right to hold "secrets" anyway. 

> Now the way I see it since Ross is in business to sell this stuff if you want to
> buy it is he should say nothing.  Tell nothing and let the mag article say it
> all.  He needed it, he made/bought it and adapted to his car.  There it is in
> black and white.  Interested?  Call him.  You do have his phone number.  And it
> will be told off the list where I hope he is safe.

Well I haven't talked to him live, but by private email, he comes across
exactly the same as he does over the list - cocky, uninformed, and
unwilling to share details.  If that is not his way, then he really needs
to proofread before posting. 

> I hope he flat out screams at the Glen.  I hope he won't even open his hood!

At first I thought maybe he had something impressive.  Now I think he
might have _something_ based on some second party reports on the list, but
I doubt he has all that he says he has.  If he can tell us what he's got,
then great.  I'm not holding my breath.  I also have been civil with him
right from the start as I recognize we need to be patient with internet 
newbies.   And I think most everyone else has been civil also - we're all 
asking for details and have been from the start.

The way I see it, anyone can make claims, but in a forum such as this, 
you have to back those up with real numbers, time slips, or an in depth 
discussion of why you think your claim is true.   Then it is up to the 
others on the forum to decide if it is true.   So far, Ross hasn't 
convinced me.

OK, that's enough from me.    I'll let it slide hoping to hear from Ross.

Later,
Graydon D. Stuckey