|
|
Thread: Reproduction Battery Trays
|
kansei
Redlining
Wankelized
Posts: 423
|
posted November 13, 2008 06:36 AM |
|
Reproduction Battery Trays
Guys- I have been working with a machine shop to get them to duplicate an original battery tray I borrowed from a friend. They have been swamped with higher paying gigs lately, but are finally getting to my spot on the to-do list. Since I wanted at least three of them, the owner suggested he make me a set of dies and basically have him stamp them out. Even though the dies will be alot more expensive for me up front, he said the cost per unit afterwards would be much cheaper than if his shop made them by hand one at a time. After I pay for the dies, it looks like he will pop them out for around $75-100 each, though the final price has not been handed down yet. I am moving forward with the project regardless, but thought I'd see if anyone else may want one provided the price stays near what I have been quoted.
I'm not looking for any commitments- I know everyone will want to see a finished one. A side note as well, once I do find out the end price and have one to show, I'll post pics and info. I'm not looking to make money on this if anyone is interested- you'll pay what I pay, plus shipping to your door.
Neal.
____________
Neal A.E. Swigert
Greenville, Michigan
1974 REPU Resto Project
1976 808 Wagon
1977 Cosmo
1978 Savanna RX-7 GT
1980 Leather Sport RX-7
1980 Petty Targa RX-7 #11
1985 GSL-SE RX-7
1988 RX-7 10th Ann
1993 RX-7 VR Touring
|
|
bwaits
Hauling
Posts: 119
|
posted November 15, 2008 06:32 AM |
|
You can certainly put me down for one. Price seems good. Looking for close to stock unit.
-billy
____________
ACT . Accufab . AEM . APEXi . AutoMeter . B&B . B&M . BBK . BORLA . Bosai . Brembo. Center Force . Earl’s . Eibach . Energy Suspension . Fluidyne . Goodridge . Greddy . HKS . INJEN . Innovate Motorsports . INTRAX . K&N . KONI . KYB . Magnacore . MOMO . MSD . NGK . NOLOGY . NOS . NX . Pace Setter . Power Slot . Prothane . ReSpeed . Rotora . Sparco . Suspension Techniques . Tanabe . Tokico . TurboNetics . Unorthodox Racing
ReSpeed Online Catalog
|
|
EricS
1st Gear
Posts: 48
|
|
posted November 15, 2008 09:45 AM |
|
battery trays/ boxes
I would just like to chime in here: I laid out nearly $1000 building boxes for people who said they would buy one when I polled, but once they were ready to go I sold only 2- one was to UPS because they damaged the first! If anyone is interested in a box, they are still available!
|
|
bwaits
Hauling
Posts: 119
|
|
posted November 16, 2008 06:37 AM |
|
I took this to be the slide out "TRAY" not the "box"
As far as your "box", was it not made from diamond plate as well as did not include hinges nor latch?
-billy
____________
ACT . Accufab . AEM . APEXi . AutoMeter . B&B . B&M . BBK . BORLA . Bosai . Brembo. Center Force . Earl’s . Eibach . Energy Suspension . Fluidyne . Goodridge . Greddy . HKS . INJEN . Innovate Motorsports . INTRAX . K&N . KONI . KYB . Magnacore . MOMO . MSD . NGK . NOLOGY . NOS . NX . Pace Setter . Power Slot . Prothane . ReSpeed . Rotora . Sparco . Suspension Techniques . Tanabe . Tokico . TurboNetics . Unorthodox Racing
ReSpeed Online Catalog
|
|
EricS
1st Gear
Posts: 48
|
|
posted November 16, 2008 10:14 AM |
|
|
No, the box was not made from diamond plate. I made 1 door from diamond plate just to see what it looked like. I don't like it. ALL the rest have a steel door. The latch I offer is nowhere close to original, so I didn't put them on until a buyer requests it so that those who want to keep them as original as possible can do something different. The hinges are pretty close. Really, what could one expect for the minimal price anyway? See what it costs just to make a tray, or for a little more I have the complete box, less the tray.
|
|
bwaits
Hauling
Posts: 119
|
|
posted November 16, 2008 03:40 PM |
|
quote:
No, the box was not made from diamond plate. I made 1 door from diamond plate just to see what it looked like. I don't like it. ALL the rest have a steel door.
To be honest, all I ever saw was your diamond plate cover. Did not know you made anything else.
quote:
The latch I offer is nowhere close to original.....The hinges are pretty close. Really, what could one expect for the minimal price anyway?
I think you will find that most here want original looking parts. Most expect quality, original looking parts. Most in this market will pay more for what they want.
quote:
See what it costs just to make a tray, or for a little more I have the complete box, less the tray.
I know what it cost to make parts. Cost comparison does not matter. The two of you are not offering the same part.
Maybe it is your marketing. Are you advertising your boxes elsewhere? Ebay? Maybe figure out a way to replicate the stock box with hinges and latch and charge accordingly.
...........Like I said before, to the OP, put me down for a tray.
-billy
|
|
ovquick
Redlining
Posts: 253
|
|
posted November 17, 2008 10:00 AM |
|
Battery Tray
Put me down for one please, at your quoted price, +- $50.00.
I'm sure you won't have to worry about making any money Neal, but you will need to keep folks up to date on your progress. When you hear nothing about a project for a long time, you might think it's been abandoned and spend the commited dollars elsewhere.
Boy Neal, dies are pricey, I would have opted for laser or water jet. You own the program and your vendor just runs it on his equipment. Die cut parts have nice edges compared to laser or water jet though, less hand work.
____________
Manteca Mazda Asylum
where a boy and his cat live, without adult supervision
|
|
Brad
Rotorhead
Posts: 1672
|
|
posted November 17, 2008 02:56 PM |
|
stamping parts
Can they stamp some trim rings for the tail lights too? Out of a thicker material that won't tear the bolt holes off?
|
|
kansei
Redlining
Wankelized
Posts: 423
|
|
posted November 26, 2008 03:28 PM |
 Edited By: kansei on 26 Nov 2008 15:30 |
I'll do my best to keep everyone updated on this project as it (hopefully) progresses.
To address a few of the points made-
-Billy- remember who is commissioning these trays- Mr. Anally Retentive Stock Guy.... ME! ;) Don't worry- they'll be as close to stock and as identical to the "real" one we're copying as humanly possible, given my bank account balance...
-due to the raised "vents/drains" in the bottom of the tray, and the raised lip around 3/4 of the tray, even if they were laser or water-jet cut, they would still need to be bent up and all- and I'm not convinced it would be consistent every time, since those steps would be done by hand in a metal brake, most likely. Good points, though, but I figure the die method will likely yield more consistent results.
-I asked about the taillight trim rings about a year ago, and they thought they couldn't do it, and keep the repro ones as thin as the originals, but maybe since we all need those, I'll back off the anal-correctness on that part and just see if they can copy them, at all, even if they need to be a bit thicker than original. I'll let y'all know next week (soonest I can check on it).
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Neal.
-
|
|
repu510
Hauling
Posts: 141
|
|
posted November 26, 2008 10:16 PM |
|
|
IMO, the stock tail light trim rings were too thin anyway. a slightly more robust duplicate ring would in some aspects be preferable. i'd be down for a set if they were to become available.
|
|
repufever
Revvin Up
Posts: 68
|
|
posted December 14, 2008 01:10 PM |
|
|
kansei
Redlining
Wankelized
Posts: 423
|
|
posted February 09, 2009 05:47 AM |
|
Still moving forward, but...
I stopped by the machine shop last week and prodded the owner to try and get moving on the project. You all probably know the economic hurt Michigan has been feeling for the past 5-6 years, and unfortunately, the county I'm in is one of the worst (highest unemployment rate in the state). Due to this, the shop has been (understandably) paying attention to the money making jobs- the ones that will keep the lights on and the doors open, especially since there aren't that many around here to be had. He knows I still want this done, and he has said he will do his best to get at least the first one to me before the weather turns nice again (realistically, less than two months away). I promise as soon as I have the first completed tray and a final cost that he will charge me for them, I'll get pictures and info up right away. I picked up another parts truck a few months ago that despite being rusted beyond repair on the cab rockers and corners, the battery box was spotless, so I'm really itching for a tray for it for the first Spring drive.
Neal.
|
|
|
|
