Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 15:56:01 -0700
Reply-To: Ben McCafferty <ben@VOLKSCAFE.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ben McCafferty <ben@VOLKSCAFE.COM>
Subject: No spying here,
was: Re: [Syncro] Paging owners of syncro.org springs...info
needed
In-Reply-To: <200302142122.PUS68291@vmms5.verisignmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Thanks, Chris, for the words of support.
You have indeed hit the nail on the head with your first thought. When I
installed an Air Lift kit on my own syncro westy last year, the engineers at
the Air Lift Company didn't even realize a 4WD Vanagon existed. They
offered to help me with appropriate air bags if I could provide various
dimensions for springs on syncros. I am indeed writing an article on
installation of the Air Lift kit for Vanagons, and figured that syncro
owners might be interested in the product as well. And since there are a
number of syncro owners who use syncro.org springs, I figured I'd include
both sets of springs in the article, i.e. if you use stock syncro springs,
air bag # 1 is appropriate; if you use syncro.org springs, air bag #2 is
appropriate.
Those on the syncrolist list (Steve's list after he left syncro) saw my
message trying to track him down yesterday, and I still haven't heard from
him. I know he's a busy guy and figured there was another way to accomplish
the same thing.
In addition, Peter (of Volks Cafe) and Steve (owner of syncro.org and
producer of the springs) have worked together on orders of these in the
past, and Volks Cafe has no interest in trying to duplicate Steve's work.
If we did, I imagine posting such a blatant question to the syncro list
probably wouldn't be the way to go; maybe just buying a set of the springs
and copying them would be more effective?
Tom and BenT, I'll let you get back to your John Grisham novels, and hope
everyone has a happy Valentine's day. :)
take care,
bmc :)
Ben McCafferty
ben@volkscafe.com
Volks Cafe
1823 Soquel Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
831-426-1244
http://volkscafe.com
> From: 80 Westy Pokey <pokey@VANAGON.ORG>
> Reply-To: 80 Westy Pokey <pokey@VANAGON.ORG>
> Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 16:22:47 -0500
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: [Syncro] Paging owners of syncro.org springs...info needed
>
> If Ben was doing something as devious as the "industrial
> espionage" you suggest why in heck would he use is real
> handle & e-mail? And why would he only care about the rears?
> Last time I checked hotmail was still free and Gerry wasn't
> rejecting anyone who wants to sign up. If he was trying so
> desperatley to steal someones idea why would he use his real
> name? To me the posibilities are:
>
> 1) He's trying to work out the compatibility between
> syncro.org springs and the air lift kit VolksCafe is working
> on, or maybe some shock combination or something...
>
> 2) He's asking because he wants to see if they'll fit on his
> own van and it takes Steve a while to get back to people.
>
> 3) VolksCafe is thinking about carrying syncro.org springs in
> regular inventory.
>
> Give the guy a break...
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
>
> ---- Original message ----
>> Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 13:04:22 -0800
>> From: Tom Forhan <fourwdvw@YAHOO.COM>
>> Subject: Re: [Syncro] Paging owners of syncro.org
> springs...info needed
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>
>> Ben,
>>
>> Like others, this raised questions about industrial
>> espionage in my mind. Of course, now that you have
>> asked, in my mind Volkscafe would be totally
>> discredited if they produced spring sets for syncros.
>>
>> Still, if you are curious, search the archives and the
>> first thing you will realize is that there is no one
>> "syncro.org" spring, Steve tried different things over
>> time. Looking for data from Steves satisfied customers
>> (of which I am one) will result in a confusion of data
>> from old springs, new springs, and in between springs,
>> some of which were further customized for individual
>> users.
>>
>> There are a lot of upgrades that syncro owners would
>> love to have that are not on the market. I'd feel much
>> better if your inquiries were about developing a new
>> product, not reinventing something another syncro
>> supporter has developed with a considerable investment
>> of time and money.
>>
>> Tom F.
>>
>> --- Ben McCafferty <ben@volkscafe.com> wrote:
>>> Hi all,
>>> I am doing some research and need some measurements
>>> on syncro.org rear
>>> springs. If you have these installed, could you
>>> please provide the
>>> following measurements:
>>>
>>> --inside diameter
>>> --outside diameter
>>> --rubber bumper to its contact point on the a-arm,
>>> compressed (normal van
>>> weight)
>>> --rubber bumper to its contact point on the a-arm,
>>> uncompressed (van on a
>>> jack, wheel hanging free)
>>> --total spring length, compressed
>>> --total spring length, uncompressed
>>> --length of the rubber bumper
>>>
>>> Thank you in advance for any assistance. Again, I
>>> only need this for the
>>> rears. Also, if you have added a solid gold poptop
>>> or other accessories
>>> that dramatically change the weight of the van from
>>> stock, please don't
>>> respond.
>>> tx,
>>> bmc :)
>>> Ben McCafferty
>>> ben@volkscafe.com
>>>
>>> Volks Cafe
>>> 1823 Soquel Avenue
>>> Santa Cruz, CA 95062
>>> 831-426-1244
>>> http://volkscafe.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> If you would like to modify your subscription
>>> settings (including unsubscribing), visit:
>>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro
>>> Please remember that rude or offensive language is
>>> not allowed on the Syncro list. Please try your best
>>> to resolve differences privately and keep them off
>>> the list.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
>>> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> __________________________________________________
>> Do you Yahoo!?
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>> http://shopping.yahoo.com
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