Annoyance... insert rant

[Rolling_Thunder]

Ok - I just picked up my Mopar Action and was reading about a 70 cuda vert...   and it never fails that yet again a tech editor decided to throw in his opinion on a tubular front end...     TWICE in the same article. I am curious why this guy continually picks on tubular front ends...     but if someone uses XV he will rave about how great of a product it is...     when in reality XVs have seen breakage...    and "other" tubular kits have not...          

Then later in the article it states the cuda is an extremely reliable street car that gets driven...            

Anyway - guess i'm just sick of arrogant tech editors who think they know it all...    when even I stumped him with a question        

rant over

[C5X DAYTONA]

    

[Stretch]

Just out of curiosity, What was the question that stumped him and did you ever find the answer?

[elanmars]

I'm still reading your thread and some others on the 5.7/6.1 conversions but just out of curiousity here-what are some better front end kits than xv's? thanks a bunch (plus thank you for that thread, as it has been GREAT with information!).

[Budnicks]

Reilly Motorsports Alterkation, Caps Automotive products, Magnum Force Racing just too name a few I like the Caps stuff for cost & fit, I have used all 3 they all have their attributes... All are either for use with factory steering or you can go to the forward mounted rack & pinion, you need to specify, also it gives you more room for oil pan & headers...

[Rolling_Thunder]

I  think every manufacturer has its strong points...   CAP is affordable and can use torsion bars and a steering box. However, I did not like their adjustable strut bars - they seemed questionable when I saw them - but they are still on the road on the car i installed them on -     

RMS makes a great front end -

I have had problems with MagnumForce...

I have had problems with CAP...       

but those there simple problems the company took care of when I told them about it...       so I cant fault them at all and would buy from them again.



The question revolved around a camshaft position sensor to be used on a Mopar BB using an existing O.E. product. Yes, I figured it out.

[John_Kunkel]

I am curious why this guy continually picks on tubular front ends... rant over

He believes that the front frame rails aren't strong enough to carry the car's weight, on the factory cars the rear torsion bar anchors carry that weight....but then again how many of those have we seen butchered without failure?

[Budnicks]

I  think every manufacturer has its strong points...   CAP is affordable and can use torsion bars and a steering box. However, I did not like their adjustable strut bars - they seemed questionable when I saw them - but they are still on the road on the car i installed them on -     

RMS makes a great front end -

I have had problems with MagnumForce...

I have had problems with CAP...       

but those there simple problems the company took care of when I told them about it...       so I cant fault them at all and would buy from them again.



The question revolved around a camshaft position sensor to be used on a Mopar BB using an existing O.E. product. Yes, I figured it out.

RMS are good but pricey, well engineered.... If your doing this kind of change/alteration you should be well versed on how to set up the front suspension in the 1st place for sure...

[BrianShaughnessy]

Ok - I just picked up my Mopar Action and was reading about a 70 cuda vert...   and it never fails that yet again a tech editor decided to throw in his opinion on a tubular front end...     TWICE in the same article. I am curious why this guy continually picks on tubular front ends...     but if someone uses XV he will rave about how great of a product it is...     when in reality XVs have seen breakage...    and "other" tubular kits have not...          

Then later in the article it states the cuda is an extremely reliable street car that gets driven...            

Anyway - guess i'm just sick of arrogant tech editors who think they know it all...    when even I stumped him with a question        

rant over

Next time you're in the metro NY area,   please give him a call and stop by...   I'm sure he'd enjoy a good debate - the email addy is in the front of the magazine,  phone number is listed.    He'd probably even pick up the tab for lunch at the diner.   I'll let him know your displeasure with his opinion when he gets back from his long weekend with his GF. 

You stumped him?   Good for you.     He was asking if I had a spare jeep cam sensor laying around the garage the other week.  He wanted to try something out from some reader mail.    If you're ever talked with him in person you'll find you get barraged with info on all sorts of mopar and non mopar related subjects.   

FYI...  he doesn't get paid to answer reader mail,  but he spends hours and hours every day trying to help people out anyway.

[Stretch]

I am curious why this guy continually picks on tubular front ends... rant over

He believes that the front frame rails aren't strong enough to carry the car's weight, on the factory cars the rear torsion bar anchors carry that weight....but then again how many of those have we seen butchered without failure?

Ok. That makes a lot on sense. A lot!

[Rolling_Thunder]

Ok - I just picked up my Mopar Action and was reading about a 70 cuda vert...   and it never fails that yet again a tech editor decided to throw in his opinion on a tubular front end...     TWICE in the same article. I am curious why this guy continually picks on tubular front ends...     but if someone uses XV he will rave about how great of a product it is...     when in reality XVs have seen breakage...    and "other" tubular kits have not...          

Then later in the article it states the cuda is an extremely reliable street car that gets driven...            

Anyway - guess i'm just sick of arrogant tech editors who think they know it all...    when even I stumped him with a question        

rant over

Next time you're in the metro NY area,   please give him a call and stop by...   I'm sure he'd enjoy a good debate - the email addy is in the front of the magazine,  phone number is listed.    He'd probably even pick up the tab for lunch at the diner.   I'll let him know your displeasure with his opinion when he gets back from his long weekend with his GF. 

You stumped him?   Good for you.     He was asking if I had a spare jeep cam sensor laying around the garage the other week.  He wanted to try something out from some reader mail.    If you're ever talked with him in person you'll find you get barraged with info on all sorts of mopar and non mopar related subjects.   

FYI...  he doesn't get paid to answer reader mail,  but he spends hours and hours every day trying to help people out anyway.

Oh I know he's a great guy - I'm not attacking his character - but this is the fourth time I have read his comments about the same part...     I'm just curious why he rants over and over yet when the XV stuff came out he seemed to be it's biggest fan. The XV stuff has had breakage while the others (he talks down about) have not...   it's been a proven system for years. So IMO there is no reason to continually criticize a product over and over...               He is full of tech advice and he helps a ton of people - but I just get annoyed when I spend money on a magazine for facts and technical advice - not unwarranted opinions.    I'll be the first to admit I make mistakes and I throw my opinion around a lot but that's here on a forum.

So I'm not talking ill about the man - just don't see why he continually endorses one product and talks down another when there is no call for it. Provide a comparison, list POTENTIAL concerns, and move on...       no need to say "we don't recommend...."   I just say give the facts and let the reader decide what he/she wants - Other than that I love his articles and love the knowledge he brings to the arena.   

[RallyeMike]

Anyway - guess i'm just sick of arrogant tech editors who think they know it all...    when even I stumped him with a question

I like E-booger's stuf, so I'll also weigh in:

1) Everybody has an opinion. Even those who write for a living. Don't mistake opinion for arrogance.

2) If you think that you will EVER be able to buy a car magazine and not be subject to writers opinions, you need to adjust your expectations.

3) Does it also bother you that he points out EVERY TIME that someone does not black out the core support?    I'm tired of this too,  but everyone has idiosyncrasies - he can't write to please very single person in the universe. It's clearly a pet peeve of his.

4) I'm quite sure that after a lifetime of living nothing but Mopars, He would absolutely destroy you in a battle of Mopar tech knowledge. So you stumped in on one question. What's is the point of this statement?