Yet another Vent Window Question

[CycloSteve]

As noted above Kurt is going to be the new "point-man" on the project. I took it as far as I could go as an enthusiast. Kurt is a professional, and without a doubt has many more connections in the industry who can help to get these reproduced.

Also, if anyone has decent copies of the CAD drawings or other related items which Robert originally had posted, please send them to Kurt. The more information he has to present to manufacturers, the better.

Stay tuned and be patient, as this will not be an overnight project.



Steve

 

[cruiseroutfit]

CAD files obtained

Next step is get the samples, survivor gaskets and CAD drawings to my CAD guy for re-check and update into an actual CAD file. Then get with manufactures. Not going to have new W/S tomorrow but we will continue to move forward as the pieces of the puzzle come together

 

[jskfj45]

I'm on this list as well here in Texas! Really, really would like to have them as well!

 

[RustyNailJustin]

Great news! Glad you are on board Kurt.

 

[TXFJ45]

FJ45 Bug Catcher Rubber

I've been following the promising thread about getting some new bug catcher rubber. I snagged some screen shots from Robert's webpage a long time ago if they'd be of any help. No CAD drawings. I've got a 45 with the removable top and I'm still not sure if they're different height from the fixed top?
I'm in for 3 sets if/when we can get them and I'd be willing to pay up front to help get production going.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[RustyNailJustin]

I've been following the promising thread about getting some new bug catcher rubber. I snagged some screen shots from Robert's webpage a long time ago if they'd be of any help. No CAD drawings. I've got a 45 with the removable top and I'm still not sure if they're different height from the fixed top?
I'm in for 3 sets if/when we can get them and I'd be willing to pay up front to help get production going.

Thanks,
Jeff

the fixed tops are 17"

 

[tornadoalleycruiser]

there are 2 different "Tops" to the doors.. One style has about an inch worth of sheetmetal on top of the window channel above the door. the other doesn't and has just the window channel above the door. So if the the extrusions are longer than exact.. just cut to length.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Progress has been made. I was able to meet in person with reps and and even engineers from a half dozen different w/s and rubber manufacturing companies. I was able to show them samples and drawings, pricing is still totally in the air and really all over the place based on rough numbers given to me. They need their tooling guys to look at the actual samples but I had one company tell me $5-8k for a full molded vent gasket i.e. no gluing or cutting and another tell me the tooling would be more like $30k.

Totally guessing but how many 45 owners are out there and would be interested? I'm totally guessing 25-50 in the first 30 months and then perhaps another 25-50 sets in the following year, then maybe 25-50 in the following 5 years? So worst case 75 sets may last 5 years or we may be able to really drop the per/set pricing by getting 150 sets made? Thoughts?

 

[jskfj45]

i'm in

well, let's see, split the difference of 5 & 8K for tooling at 6500 and making 150, that's 43 a set.

Worst case, split that in half at 75 and it's still way reasonable for the set at $86.

I would venture to think retail somewhere near $180 for the set which 36 of these things need to be made...

of course this does not include material/labor cost which I think to be nominal.

I think it would be worth their time to do that and perhaps make some money on top of that. However I wish these cruisers parts people would get together on this....if in fact the set up charge is between 5 and 8.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

That $5-8k is per mould, L&R required so double it. The labor and material costs would be nominal at 500+ sets, at under 100 I fear it will be a chunk. I'll know more on that as I start hearing back from manufacturers.

I do plan to network with my vendor partners before we get too far along, we buy and sell parts to over a dozen different Cruiser shops on a weekly basis and I have full intentions to have them involved both initially as wholesale buyers down the road.

 

[ctcv1984]

vent window rubber

I'm in for two sets if, say, it's under $150-175 per set. I think that's not out of line. Yeah, count me in. Pete.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I'm in for two sets if, say, it's under $150-175 per set. I think that's not out of line. Yeah, count me in. Pete.

Thanks Pete, that is the kind of feedback I'm hoping to hear. The loose stuff that Robert did (nice quality stuff) required cutting & fitting @ $100 and that was 4-5 years ago.

 

[RustyNailJustin]

I have been ready to throw down 300$ for a set happily! Finally scored a set to get 1 of my 45 doors finished up.

 

[hdjtachtig]

I have been ready to throw down 300$ for a set happily!

X2 for paying 300$ if that is what it takes.

 

[tornadoalleycruiser]

The loose ones were for the 2 heights of the frames. One style is an inch taller

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using IH8MUD

 

[hdjtachtig]

No expert in this, but there are some 3d printing companies who can print with a rubber-like material. Maybe too much 21st century for our 60's trucks, but maybe worth checking out?!

Big pro: once you have the cad file, you can have it printed unlimited and at low numbers.

 

[ctcv1984]

Vent window rubber

You know, you guys are right. Having a new set or two at $200+ per set isn't out of line and would be nice to have around when I rebuild this thing again in about 20 years (yikes! do I want to rebuild this 45 when I'm 77?). Count me in still. Pete.

 

[CycloSteve]

$150 would be a smoking deal for a pair, and $200 well within range of what I would expect to pay for a factory or better quality fitting part which needs no cutting or gluing involved. IMHO $300 may price-out a few folks.



Steve

 

[RustyNailJustin]

$150 would be a smoking deal for a pair, and $200 well within range of what I would expect to pay for a factory or better quality fitting part which needs no cutting or gluing involved. IMHO $300 may price-out a few folks.



Steve

IMO if you need it you need it. It's not like you are competing with someone else thats selling them.

I know I have offered a few people 300$ for the robert version and I haven't found a seller.

 

[CycloSteve]

I know I have offered a few people 300$ for the robert version and I haven't found a seller.

Simple supply and demand equation. When there is no supply, people are often willing to pay what it takes to get what they need. With no way at this time to replace their pristine new Robert sets, few are willing to part with them at any price.

What we are trying to do here is to secure a long-term supply at a price which allows the manufacturer and vendors to make a profit on their investment. The biggest issue with the repos is the fixed cost of making the tooling / moulds. There is definitely a price point where more units will be sold, thus spreading out the tooling costs. If priced too high, fewer will sell. Will the new ones be worth 3x what Robert produced? 2x perhaps.



Steve