So a question - is there no one in the industry that actually knows their stuff
My rant:
Spoke to a few engineers about the manual conversion. A couple said it would be fine but other mods may not pass.
The third said it would all be ok subjected to a few things. Advised him the trans tunnel is different auto vs manual. Wouldn't believe me. Sent photos. Still sceptical.
So he advised it should be ok to just have customer crossmember fabbed up and certified by him if I used my original gearbox mounting points.
I made it exceedingly clear that there were many other mods on the car. Asked what the effect of that would be he said he would just certify the Gbox but would need to note all other mods as not having been certified.
Went through exercise of listing every mod.
My engine apparently needs certification even though its from a Subaru, is the same 2.0litre capacity as the oem engine, is from a later model vehicle, and did not require custom mounts or customization to fit to the chassis. (Even though rules clearly state, and even a dummy could understand, that if the above conditions are met it doesn't require certification)
Now this is the baffling part. Of all the things he's concerned about, said he didn't believe the Sti braided brake lines I have were factory. Didnt see how the bilsteins could fit my vehicle from a later model. He wanted evidence the brake calipers did not need modification to fit (after i explained twice that it was all bolt on affair). Wants to do an independent brake test to certify them.
Even funnier was he couldn't understand that the factory bov plumbed back into the pre turbo inlet pipe, and that I would be looking to replicate that system. I went to extreme lengths to explain that the above were all as per factory. Still concerned.
So the baffling thing is these guys are happy with a custom xmember to be made by someone of potentially questionable skill (not saying it wouldn't be done right but by mere fact that its not oem factory made it opens the door to further error); but was sceptical on Subaru oem issued parts being used that have not had any mods done to fit.
I also advised him the ewg was plumbed back into the dump pipe. He said it would need to be directed into the exhaust. Are we serious?
Oh and get this - my wheels (again Subaru Sti issued) which are within guidelines for size etc, would need to be independently certified for me to use them.
Mind you this is after verbally advising it wouldn't be a problem.
I really don't understand these people. The whole industry is full of crack pots, exaggerators, ill-informed know it alls without the slightest inkling of care.
Fkn mechanics, parts suppliers, dealerships, tuners, workshops - fkn everyone. They're all a bunch of imbiciles and know two tenths of jack squat.
i had a guy tell me the fuel dampeners don't affect anything. Put them back on and low and behold my lean stumble at spool up disappeared. I can sit here and list so many more contradictions I have heard from so many so called experts, that its absolutely atrocious. These people are getting paid good dollars by otherwise unsuspecting customers who entrust these people to actually know stuff.
If only I had done mech engineering to gain a certificate - then I can charge for masquerading as an expert whilst knowing nothing...
Mick