Billet LS1 LS2 Valve Covers
Originally Posted by Brandon
parbreak, nasty's valve covers are under 400 for tall versions...
Negative on that: $375 for covers, $40 for oil cap fitting, $25 per AN fitting for PCV provisions and $20 for coil bracket bungs.
Point is someone should be able to make a nice set of cast or even billet
valvecovers for under $300. This guy who started the thread has his on EBay starting at $225, so it can be done.
Well, forget everything I just said. Just checked Ebay and this guy has them listed at $350 and $485. Guess all the interest we've shown here has made him re-think his pricing and profit potential. The old supply and demand kicks in again!! Oh, well, if no one buys them maybe we can get some better pricing.
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TECH Senior Member
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From: Gainesville, Denton TX
katech makes cast covers
but they are hellaciously expensive too.
Everyone is interested in the valve covers, but then the prices jumped ot hell, and no one will buy.
No way in hell am I going to spend nearly 500 on a set of valve covers.
The demand is there for the valve covers, the pocket books arent.
but they are hellaciously expensive too.
Everyone is interested in the valve covers, but then the prices jumped ot hell, and no one will buy.
No way in hell am I going to spend nearly 500 on a set of valve covers.
The demand is there for the valve covers, the pocket books arent.
That' what I'm saying. There's no way these people are selling very many sets of these at these prices. I can't imagine with all this interest that the prices can't be lowered some and at least they will recoup their design and materials cost. Hell, there's probably a 1/2 dozen people in this thread right now that would pony up $250-$300 for a nice set of billet covers.
Bryan
Bryan
There is no way to do it that cheap the stock is at least that much alone then time on the machine and welding involved. It cost money for a good quality product. Katech covers are about $600 and they are ugly cast. I think our covers are more than fairly priced.
Nate
Nate
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2005
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Parbreak, I have to say you are way off base here. You shouldn't make such assumptions for things you obviously know very little about.
Yes, those are my valve covers on ebay. The first set I put out there with a starting bid of $250 was just a promotional price, introductory offer. As I stated earlier, these are a new product of mine and I am trying to gain some visibility to them. I'm sure you have seen introductory offers before. My retail price has been $350 from a long time ago. I couldn't say the pricing here because I honored the sponsorship deal. I also couldn't say what my website address is but the $350 price has been on that for weeks, before the first ebay auction.
If billet valve covers are not worth $350 to you, I have no problem with that. They won't be for everyone, just like most things you see for sale don't apply to everyone. From what I have seen, $350 ahould be an aceptable price. If it isn't the product will die a very short death. The alternatives are labor instensive fab'd units that cost more and look less appealing imo. There are 2 other billet cover manufacturers I've seen and their prices are $450 and $550 respectively.
You should consider the cost of material and machine time these things take. Even above the material cost, think about how much material has to be removed (read> machine time). And don't forget there is 2 of them per set. Go price a 2.5x5x20 block of vergin 6061 and double it. I'm not talking scrap remnets here, they don't do you any good for repeatable production tooling and setup. Now go to a machine shop and tell them you want billet valve covers. First they will charge you an arm and a leg for CAD work, then they will consider the machiine time, give you a price that will run you out the door. If you are still there they will give you a minimum order that will require a house mortgage to finance.
I have a brand new full industrial grade CNC in my garage. I have no labor, or building costs overhead. I'm telling you that $350 is a good price. If it isn't I won't be selling them, plain and simple.
Yes, those are my valve covers on ebay. The first set I put out there with a starting bid of $250 was just a promotional price, introductory offer. As I stated earlier, these are a new product of mine and I am trying to gain some visibility to them. I'm sure you have seen introductory offers before. My retail price has been $350 from a long time ago. I couldn't say the pricing here because I honored the sponsorship deal. I also couldn't say what my website address is but the $350 price has been on that for weeks, before the first ebay auction.
If billet valve covers are not worth $350 to you, I have no problem with that. They won't be for everyone, just like most things you see for sale don't apply to everyone. From what I have seen, $350 ahould be an aceptable price. If it isn't the product will die a very short death. The alternatives are labor instensive fab'd units that cost more and look less appealing imo. There are 2 other billet cover manufacturers I've seen and their prices are $450 and $550 respectively.
You should consider the cost of material and machine time these things take. Even above the material cost, think about how much material has to be removed (read> machine time). And don't forget there is 2 of them per set. Go price a 2.5x5x20 block of vergin 6061 and double it. I'm not talking scrap remnets here, they don't do you any good for repeatable production tooling and setup. Now go to a machine shop and tell them you want billet valve covers. First they will charge you an arm and a leg for CAD work, then they will consider the machiine time, give you a price that will run you out the door. If you are still there they will give you a minimum order that will require a house mortgage to finance.
I have a brand new full industrial grade CNC in my garage. I have no labor, or building costs overhead. I'm telling you that $350 is a good price. If it isn't I won't be selling them, plain and simple.
Originally Posted by Natchamp
Parbreak, I have to say you are way off base here. You shouldn't make such assumptions for things you obviously know very little about.
Yes, those are my valve covers on ebay. The first set I put out there with a starting bid of $250 was just a promotional price, introductory offer. As I stated earlier, these are a new product of mine and I am trying to gain some visibility to them. I'm sure you have seen introductory offers before. My retail price has been $350 from a long time ago. I couldn't say the pricing here because I honored the sponsorship deal. I also couldn't say what my website address is but the $350 price has been on that for weeks, before the first ebay auction.
If billet valve covers are not worth $350 to you, I have no problem with that. They won't be for everyone, just like most things you see for sale don't apply to everyone. From what I have seen, $350 ahould be an aceptable price. If it isn't the product will die a very short death. The alternatives are labor instensive fab'd units that cost more and look less appealing imo. There are 2 other billet cover manufacturers I've seen and their prices are $450 and $550 respectively.
You should consider the cost of material and machine time these things take. Even above the material cost, think about how much material has to be removed (read> machine time). And don't forget there is 2 of them per set. Go price a 2.5x5x20 block of vergin 6061 and double it. I'm not talking scrap remnets here, they don't do you any good for repeatable production tooling and setup. Now go to a machine shop and tell them you want billet valve covers. First they will charge you an arm and a leg for CAD work, then they will consider the machiine time, give you a price that will run you out the door. If you are still there they will give you a minimum order that will require a house mortgage to finance.
I have a brand new full industrial grade CNC in my garage. I have no labor, or building costs overhead. I'm telling you that $350 is a good price. If it isn't I won't be selling them, plain and simple.
Yes, those are my valve covers on ebay. The first set I put out there with a starting bid of $250 was just a promotional price, introductory offer. As I stated earlier, these are a new product of mine and I am trying to gain some visibility to them. I'm sure you have seen introductory offers before. My retail price has been $350 from a long time ago. I couldn't say the pricing here because I honored the sponsorship deal. I also couldn't say what my website address is but the $350 price has been on that for weeks, before the first ebay auction.
If billet valve covers are not worth $350 to you, I have no problem with that. They won't be for everyone, just like most things you see for sale don't apply to everyone. From what I have seen, $350 ahould be an aceptable price. If it isn't the product will die a very short death. The alternatives are labor instensive fab'd units that cost more and look less appealing imo. There are 2 other billet cover manufacturers I've seen and their prices are $450 and $550 respectively.
You should consider the cost of material and machine time these things take. Even above the material cost, think about how much material has to be removed (read> machine time). And don't forget there is 2 of them per set. Go price a 2.5x5x20 block of vergin 6061 and double it. I'm not talking scrap remnets here, they don't do you any good for repeatable production tooling and setup. Now go to a machine shop and tell them you want billet valve covers. First they will charge you an arm and a leg for CAD work, then they will consider the machiine time, give you a price that will run you out the door. If you are still there they will give you a minimum order that will require a house mortgage to finance.
I have a brand new full industrial grade CNC in my garage. I have no labor, or building costs overhead. I'm telling you that $350 is a good price. If it isn't I won't be selling them, plain and simple.
You just made my point. And that is I personally don't think the market will sustain a $400 set of valve covers. I have spent $1000's on my car, most in appearance items( I have every piece MBA made) and yes they were high priced. But, people bought them so the market was obviously there. I wish you much luck and if the market calls for that price then so be it.
I did not resort to personal attacks on you or question your knowledge, so please don't question mine when my business is making custom engine pieces for LS1 cars. I am intimately familiar with the price of raw materials and how much time and effort goes into making a custom piece. I have been questioned numerous times on here about my pricing on my custom fuel rail covers but close to 500 people agree that it is a good price, so my market has been established.
Good luck with your venture.
Bryan
parbreak
