180 Out
3-12-06: "Working out the final geometries"
3-26-06: "Our first prototype is in the car . . . putting the finishing touches on the Watts. In the next week or two we should be done with everything."
4-27-06: "We should have a production prototype next week for verification, then the production run completed after that...We made a few tweaks and just want to check a few things."
7-22-06: "just got an email from Mike - they are starting to ship next week."
8-22-06: "I got my Watt's last week, but am waiting on installation instructions from EvM"
Two weeks late, and no instructions in the box? Five months from prototype to production of a rudimentary
suspension component? These guys seem to have their adherents on this board, but there's nothing about this scenario that doesn't scream "flake" to me. And you're going to put their stuff on your car?
Hmmm. Does this even warrant a response. So lets see, two weeks to get the Watts developed (3/12-3/26), then off the mfg for the prototype. Mfg of the prototype took around 3 weeks because tooling needed to be developed, then add another week for our verification and that puts us at the end of May. Production pieces were ordered with a quote of 4 weeks to delivery. Production pieces slipped a week, so delivery hit the first week of July. We were not satisified with the powder-coat finish, so everything was shipped back. A few days to ship back, a week to sandblast and recoat, then a few days return shipping. That puts us to the end of July…Then we shipped product. This is how it worked out.
As for a rudimentary component and the term “flake”. Well we took away a SEMA award for our Watts link a few years back, I guess the SEMA folks reward rudimentary products. Following the success at SEMA, all of our products have had an overwhelming positive response. Obviously, we cannot please everyone, so we will be content with the masses.
Keep in mind we are not designing just a Watts, we are developing a complete rear
suspension. Our cradle is designed with pick-up points for our TriLink and adjustable rear stabilizer bar. We already know you are not going to be a customer, you have the Fays system. Hell for all we know you have a relationship with Fays. We were out with a Watts before Fays, and to the best of my knowledge, all Fays offers is the Watts. So if developing a product based off of our SEMA award winning watts in two weeks, then enforcing QC on the finish of our parts is flaky, so be it.
Instructions... Our instructions are very detailed and complete, so they take time. In the interim we decided we could reference our current Watts instructions, and a phone call to explain the procedure to those who were chomping at the bit.
http://www.evolutionmsport.com/pdf/watts.pdf
Good luck with the Fays….
Sundance
I'm very frustrated that they haven't released the three link yet and I won't buy the watts until the three link is complete. The three link
suspension was to be completed prior to the watts, yet still no three link.
We are sorry if you were under the impression that the TriLink would be released before the Watts. The TriLink requires the Watts link, so it has to come after. We had the general design, as well as a stabilizer bar design completed when we prototyped the Watts. We wanted to wait for the production pieces of the watts to finalize everything. This way we can be sure everything will work properly. We have the production pieces, so now we can complete the TriLink. Hopefully that will be in the early fall. Once the design is finalized, it’s typically a month for prototype and a month for production.
To your comment that you will not buy the Watts before the TriLink is complete. We understand that, but we also use the preorders to gauge interest. We had a tremendous response on the first pre-order, then when we asked for actual orders, there was a drop in interest. We are developing products for the GM vehicles as well. We put the Vintage Mustang crowd first, based on initial response. So, when there is a drop in interest we are faced with where to put our resources. In the end, we will finish up the Vintage Mustang stuff.
As for investing money, no one was charged for the Watts until the product was shipped, so everyone was charged in the end of July.
Regarding updates. The last thing on our to-do list is to scan all the message boards and comment on our daily activities. I monitor our traffic and if I see traffic coming in I will post accordingly. If you were one of the ones that ordered the Watts you would have received our update emails over the past few months. If you need a question answered and we haven’t surfaced on a message board, email us directly.
Thanks...Mike