Hi, Guest
06-18-2004, 03:31 AM
My issue with FC is... they don't seem to do any actual engineering. They just figure out how to *build* a part, and don't actually engineer it.
The welding is just one perfect example of that.
Can they tell us why the headers are cracking? Why not? What filler material are they using for the welding? Is it automated, or manual? If it's automated, who set up the robot? What are their qualifications? If manually welded? Where, and what are their certifications? If the headers require bracing, why didn't they brace them? The stock header is braced.
It's not just the headers either. The control arms are scary. The control arms seem to be fracturing in the heat affected zone of the base tubing. It's not even the weld that is breaking, it's the HAZ. What alloy tubing are they using for the arms? What filler metal? What welding process, with the same questions as above. How did they determine if the arms needed a post weld heat treat to relieve the HAZ?
Are they aware that they are using rod-ends in a manner that is commonly accepted in the race engineering community as being very bad? It's been known for about 20 years at least, that rod-ends should not be loaded in bending.
It doesn't mean nobody ever does it, but just about everybody knows you shouldn't. It's another indicator of poor engineering.
Who designed the cam on the throttle body? Why does it open so fast at initial throttle input? Those things had WAY more issues than what you are suggesting, but I didn't follow them as closely.
Basically, I'd never buy anything from them because they are typical of most aftermarket companies. They have no idea how to design something other than "making it fit", and sending the job out to some shop, getting the parts, and throwing them into a box (with or without packaging...)
They were run out of the Mustang market for all these same reasons.
The welding is just one perfect example of that.
Can they tell us why the headers are cracking? Why not? What filler material are they using for the welding? Is it automated, or manual? If it's automated, who set up the robot? What are their qualifications? If manually welded? Where, and what are their certifications? If the headers require bracing, why didn't they brace them? The stock header is braced.
It's not just the headers either. The control arms are scary. The control arms seem to be fracturing in the heat affected zone of the base tubing. It's not even the weld that is breaking, it's the HAZ. What alloy tubing are they using for the arms? What filler metal? What welding process, with the same questions as above. How did they determine if the arms needed a post weld heat treat to relieve the HAZ?
Are they aware that they are using rod-ends in a manner that is commonly accepted in the race engineering community as being very bad? It's been known for about 20 years at least, that rod-ends should not be loaded in bending.
It doesn't mean nobody ever does it, but just about everybody knows you shouldn't. It's another indicator of poor engineering.
Who designed the cam on the throttle body? Why does it open so fast at initial throttle input? Those things had WAY more issues than what you are suggesting, but I didn't follow them as closely.
Basically, I'd never buy anything from them because they are typical of most aftermarket companies. They have no idea how to design something other than "making it fit", and sending the job out to some shop, getting the parts, and throwing them into a box (with or without packaging...)
They were run out of the Mustang market for all these same reasons.