On Jan 24, 11:31*am, Copperhead wrote:
do you think Steve Bennet can be sold on putting some much needed
upgrades into the VW case and heads?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Joe,

Steve (and Linda) run a BUSINESS. What they offer reflects the
DEMANDS of the market-place. While they may be willing to RISK some
amount on making a particular 'upgrade' or modification, it would be
virtual suicide to do so if the mods or 'upgrades' do not SELL.

In the same vein, if you are convinced that a particular 'upgrade' or
modification is needed in YOUR engine, I am sure Steve would be
willing to include those features in the engine you ORDER, so long as
you are willing to back-up your request by putting the cash on the
counter. But you have to understand that there are some features
that simply do not justify the RISK, since Steve may be forced to have
that particular task done by an 'outside' shop.(*)

For example, I get lots of mail from helpful young gentlemen who take
the trouble to tell me how dumb I am for not building those fabled
'hundred horsepower' engines. The young gentleman will often go so
far as to cite some article in one of the VW-specific magazines in
which the fabled engine does a dyno-blip lasting as long as ten seconds
(!) in some cases, sure 'proof' that such engines exist... and that I
should be building them, instead of feeding everyone all this horse-
pucky about reliability, mean time before overhaul and all that other
UNIMPORTANT STUFF.

I'll tell you, Joe. I sure as dum. And I really appreciate having it
pointed out. :-)

I've got a hunch that Steve & Linda have a file of the same kind of
letters. And I'm sure they would be more than happy to build such an
engine for such young gentlemen... if they were willing to plunk the
cash down on the counter and sign a few documents that would not hold
Steve responsible if their dream engine turned out to be a few
horsepower shy.

Please don't take this the wrong way. There are plenty of mods that
SHOULD be on every flying Volkswagen, such as full-flow oil
filtration, or an effective oil cooler. Yet there are literally
THOUSANDS of potential customers who are firmly convinced that they
are being practiced upon when someone tells such modifications are
needed. And in the same breath those same 'experts' will agree that
adding a dilithium crystal is an absolute necessity.

Kinda makes you wonder...

The best idea, in my opinion, is to give Steve a call. If you need
something that has proven to be of real benefit, odds are Steve has
already done it. And on more than a few engines, too. That means he
can cite you a price. But Steve is addressing a market that grows
steadily smaller. The odds are, Steve is fully aware of those 'much
needed upgrades' you mentioned. But the truth is, the average newbie
looking for a converted VW engine is not. Including a lot of upgrades
that the typical newbie has never even HEARD about is simply shooting
yourself in the foot. And it's kinda hard to run a business when
you've got one foot in a cast :-)

-R. S. Hoover