CamB

Well that would be another rule change (the 3rd). http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/virm-in-...en-8-brakes.pdf BAsically it says they have to meet in-service requirements, which means: Note 3 just says the fittings can't be disassembled by hand tools (ie typical Aeroquip style fittings).

Bad luck The rule doesn't require a tag, it requires swaged fittings (not ones that can be disassembled). Not quite the same.

Very nice fabrication - I agree! Am keen to see how this turns out.

If you go that way, the boot and doors above the side chrome should be black too: http://cdn.designrfix.com/wp-content/uploa...m-models-10.jpg

So turn the wick down to 600hp? An older RS6 could teach the Stagea a thing or two about servicing/repair costs and bad fuel economy too! Don't get me wrong - I don't particularly like it, but there are some great bits in there.

You can't give a blanket assumption the Stagea would be unreliable (it seems to have been well built and it makes a lot of power on relatively low boost as its made to rev). If anything the issue is that it would be tough to get it on-boost in normal driving (ironically fuel consumption therefore probably not THAT bad). The Porsche, however, could have massive repair bills associated with it (and certainly would have hefty service bills). I'd choose the Porsche every day but I don't think the Stagea is a bad car, just a questionable looking one. What else would you choose if you wanted a really fast station wagon?

^ Me too! Awesome progress (again) Eddie.

That's a hotly debated topic (terrible pun). There's benefits to both and then supposedly material difference in the performance between cheapy (Trademe) and quality bar and plate (edit - you don't really get cheap tube and fin). Heaps of info on Google, but its somewhat conflicting. I've got a trademe one - biggest I could fit (only 180x550x65 from memory). I reckon it'll be fine.

Given the massive cost differential, I still reckon SC is better. I mean, how much power do you need? (and yes, have seen the HPF videos).

Doesn't that just offer the same (with Stage 2, 500hp ish) for more money?

Surely you'd be better with a modern alarm with a new warranty?

Nice car. If you get the Meguiars one, please report back on how good (or bad) a job it does Nice used oil collection by the way - one of the finest I've seen.

I've found the following (and found it very helpful) on backpressure. (Martyn - let me know if you don't want your thread scuzzed up by this semi-off topic stuff). The first is from a guy called Jay Kavanagh who was a Garrett engineer and wrote for a variety of US magazines in a tech capacity: The second is from (it seems) a dude at "Forced Performance":

If the instructions are good (and at the price, one would hope so), it should be in the realm of any competent specialist I would have thought? Heaps more info at the company's website, and it says 14-16 hours for stage 1, so would imagine a little more. http://www.vf-engineering.com/index.php?v=..._bmw_e46_m3.php Reading some of the text, I reckon you need to think carefully about whether the extra 90hp is worth the $$$ and potential damage for stage 2 vs stage 1:

That's what I reckon - the ECU probably (yes, I am guessing but this is "normal" for an ECU) delivers fuel and spark based on airflow vs rpm. The throttle position is an input into extra fuel on pressing the accelerator (acceleration enrichment) and cutting it a little when its lifted (I think!). This is how most aftermarket ECUs work (although with a map sensor not mass flow). So, assuming the airflow remains within the AFMs range, its hard to see how the fueling inputs will be much outside of what is expected by the ECU.

Screw that - I wanna flat crank V8 - OMG it must wail: http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/03/geneva-...v8-porsche-911/

+1 - great photos and the wheels look good!

I'm pretty sure closed loop control is pretty crude compared to what you're imagining as well, on an ECU of that age. Plus, it might see a different mass airflow for any given rpm and throttle setting, but unless the characteristics of the engine are significantly changed I would have thought the fuel requirement for any given airflow (which might be higher) was roughly the same, and that the spark requirement wouldn't be THAT different as you're not changing cam. So, speculating a little, it might be ok (and you should get it tuned anyway). Does that make sense?

Ron - fair points. Just providing a counter view. Maybe exporters to favourable (good growth) markets, if you think the dollar will weaken. Most of the finance company debentures were first ranking and secured. There are two issues with this: 1) it says nothing about the quality of the assets (although the new S&P ratings do); and 2) most of them had other debt ranking ahead of the debentures to some extent, as permitted by the Trust Deeds.

Don't get me wrong - I wouldn't mind if it was interest bearing. I agree there's nothing to stop you doing it and its your liability, so you can/should make your own decisions.

No offence, but this fundamentally underestimates the risk associated with corporate bonds and capital notes (essentially subordinated bonds) / preference shares. They are not "guaranteed" (ok, certain ones are under the govt guarantee, but very few). You receive the income every quarter/semi-annually, but neither the interest payment or principal is guaranteed in the conventional sense of the word. I'm not saying its a bad idea to invest in them, but don't just look at the name and the interest rate. That 100% depends on the quality of the rest of the Hanover loan book and the ability to realise value from it. I'd be nervous, personally, given how much value that book lost this week. Having said that, I personally think there is a point where there's a good speculative investment, but how you figure that out without being able to properly understand the Hanover loan book, I don't know. Why does it have low downside risk and why does it have a high upside? Its major asset, Marac, only has a BB+ (Negative) rating. That's sub-investment grade and an indication from the ratings agency that it thinks life may not be that rosy. It might have a high upside risk but that is, in my opinion, matched by a downside risk. Sorry for the moralizing, but do you really have to do it with taxpayer-subsidised money?

What he said ^ (don't borrow to invest in shares*) and pretty sure ASB is relatively cheap. * I'll give you two "whys" 1) presumably you can't afford to lose it (given you have to borrow it), and 2) shares are already leveraged investments (to the extent that **most** companies carry debt), you don't need to add more debt.

The camera - looks like a flower, good for taking close-up photos: http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Using-yo...macro-mode-4848

Does it have a macro setting?

I'd hazard a guess as "yes", since one picks up off the ring-gear teeth and the other off the since crank position tooth on the flywheel (and these are different jobs). Please tell me you have the pfl flywheel... Don't know on the other question, but I'd guess (again with the guessing) you have a 260 shift cradle and a 240 selector shaft, as I don't think they're the same length.