This is the first post for me, so here it goes! I have been trying to buy a Thickstun PM7 intake for my flathead. 3 places advertise they sell them, but no one is able to get them from Barron. Anyone else have this issue? Anyone no why? If heard a dozen stories and excuses, and can make no sense of any of them. Its sounds to me like there is demand, but for whatever reason the owners of the patterns dont what to produce any parts. Being an engineer, and not able to accept the above problem, I have been designing my own version of a high rise intake. I think I can produce and sell it for about 40% of what these other guys are advertising but unwilling to produce. So the question im asking is..... Anyone think they would purchase one from a new no name guy. But someone who has proven dyno data to support there product. I mean no disrespect to these great pioneers. But can someone please enlighten me.
Pick someone on here, Bruce Lancaster, or ME(hehe)or whoever, who knows flatties and knows how to test and tune them. Send them one free of charge to give a report back to the HAMB. Not only would it be a great Tech article, but it would open up your world from a very knowledgeable source's stand point. Also pick someone who knows how to port and polish, as they could make a few adjustments to pick up more HP/torgue or more MPG's......... I for one can tell you that this would give me more of a reason to buy a new item, especially if it was cost effective. Less money paid for a good part leaves more money in the pot for other things that get left un-done due to the $$$$$.... Mott
Not to be unpleasant, but of the last 100 people who said "I think I can produce and sell it for about 40% of what these other guys are advertising", they're divided into roughly 3 categories. 1. blowing smoke 2. 5 years and $100,000 later: "we had to raise the price a bit to $1,500., and I absolutely promise, this time, that the first one will be available by Christmas of 2011. Maybe." 3. Vic Edelbrock
Cast your own manifold, you do it people will buy it.... I would assume the pattern cost will be in the 20K range... You going to have to cast about 100 at a time to get a fair price I would say each casting will cost about $250-300 and to machine that manifold can range from $100-150... Dividing the cost of the pattern + the cost of each poured manifold + the cost of the machining each one will cost you about $600 on the low side... But once you have the pattern paid for you can start making some money.. OH YA ... Don't forget about doing prototypes, when I cast my intake it took 3 of them, and man do the foundry's like to charge a arm and a leg for 1 finished prototype manifold ($1000ea) is what I paid....
I think what your doing is pretty cool, but I'm still hoping that some day maybe someone can cast an alumunim intake manifold for streetable port injection (no velocity stacks) for a flathead. One that can be sold without the rest of the hardware (no ecu, etc) for a reasonable price?
I'm a dealer for Barron Racing.And sell the PM7 intakes. I'm not sure why he's not producing. I keep increasing my order,and still nothing. My guess is he doesn't feel like laying out the cash to do a run right now. And it's alot of cash money.And you don't see a profit till the very last ones sell. Hey 53flatheadmerc,tell us s'more about what you do. If I read you post right, you will have dyno time etc.to show how good the new intake is. Leave any name or logo's off is my opinion for a new cr on the bottom.
To answer your question - yes I'd buy one from a no name guy, whether you make 2, 10 or 100, if you can make any with most of the work done by yourself, you've left your legacy. I talked to the foundry that cast up D Orosco's repro Elco Twin Heads, they said that the casting was cheap, the cost was in the pattern and machining. There's a lot of clever guys out there, Good luck
the plan is to leave it plane, or a logo that can be ground off. PLEASE DONT MISUNDERSTAND This intake only resides in CAD now. Im trying to prove out the runners in simulation at this time. My plan is to use one of my bone stock motors to dyno it on. I know the old timers say it will cost an arm and a leg, but I do all the design, modeling, myself. My company has rapid prototype equipment which is how im going to build the pattern for the runners. I have taken 3d scans of 1 intake to date just to get a starting point, but I think im going to use my own surfaces offset for wall stock around the runners. Here in Michigan there are some very hungry small foundries. Also my normal tool shops are interested in doing the machining because the auto industry is slow. Look, I know its a long shot at this point, but I dont see the costs being what others are saying. I do my prototyping in CAD, its too expensive to do it trial and error. I just posted this to see if people would consider purchasing from a nobody.
VAPHEAD... I was a vendor at the pile up this weekend, I had 2-3 guys asking me if I had any of Barron PM-7s, they too have been trying to get one... How long has it been since you have had your hands on one?
I'd look at one for sure. Me thinks it would be cool to have a first off production...You never know, You may become famous
98.5% of the flatty guys on here buy a part because of the name on it. If you make a part, even if it's brand new, make sure to put a name on it. An indistinct, plain part will have no fans. How can they talk about it? "I bought one of those new intakes." "Which one?" "You know, that new one....." If it works so great, maybe some day you'll be the new Vic Edelbrock.
No sure I agree. I like the idea of no name. Gets people thinking. Personally, I don't care about name brand stuff. If it works right, performs as it should, and is made in the USA, I'm all for it. There are a lot of intakes out there with names on them which perform like crap. Why not one that performs well without a name. To each his own I guess
got something against vic? Yes - he and the other manifold manufacturers are why NHRA doesn't allow manifolds that you can afford to make, on "safety" grounds - you know, the ones that make many OEM manifolds illegal? Stifling innovation and competition is a bit annoying, coming from someone who has already dominated the market all his life.
I've always been a fan of one-off, little known stuff. A guy named Norm Frick comes to mind. . . Put me down for one, if and when they become available. Why not call it a PM-8? Just don't call it a Demon!
I'd buy one - especially if there was some real dyno time that compared it to other manifolds. If you need a "mule" test engine - let me know (we can work out something). I'm in Columbus and travel to Detroit every once in awhile. I have quite a few engines - so I'd be willing to setup and run one on an engine dyno - as I trust the real numbers. Also, I have a few "super" duals from some of the greats - along with some good cams, heads, ignitions that are all part of a typical flathead "full house" package. Dale PM me if you are thinking of moving forward . . . could be some real fun!
I agree. You will never get the traditionalist to buy the manifold. They will want an original. So now you are down to a specific target market. The only benifit to a no name manifold is if it is poor quality, doesnt look cool, and performs poorly no one will be able to hate on it. If you put a name brand on it and it looks cool and performs well you could develop a cult type following. Sort of like motor city flatheads. People will embrace the perceived "rarity" by having an uncommon brand.
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