New LT1 Intake
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,162
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From: St. Augustine, FL
^^^ haha.. how about a primer black bondo intake? Might lure some ricers to the hotrod scene.
No really though.. this new intake is a cool idea and hopefully isn't just BS. I'm interested
No really though.. this new intake is a cool idea and hopefully isn't just BS. I'm interested
Thoughts:
Have you ever tooled up a complex molded composite part like a FAST manifold? You are not talking 5 figures, you are talking 6 as in $100,000 and up. That's after your development costs. You can't make changes easily after it's tooled. Now divide those costs by the number of manifolds you can reasonable expect to sell in the first two years and add that to the normal selling price. At just $100,000 tooling, and 200 mainfolds, that's a $500 add-on to each. Personally I think 200 manifolds would be high.
If you are looking at carbon fiber, even hand laid up, you are talking part costs well into 4 figures per each, as well as maybe $5-10K of molds.
There is no where near the demand for LT1 intakes compared to LS engines by a factor of hundreds. That's why we don't see them. Hey, it's a great idea, but when they cost over $1000, you'll be lucky to sell a dozen.
Hey, maybe you are made of money and don't mind losing a ton of it. If that is the case, go for it, and offer the manifolds at the street price of a FAST. You'll lose a lot on each sale...but you can make it up in volume.
Have you ever tooled up a complex molded composite part like a FAST manifold? You are not talking 5 figures, you are talking 6 as in $100,000 and up. That's after your development costs. You can't make changes easily after it's tooled. Now divide those costs by the number of manifolds you can reasonable expect to sell in the first two years and add that to the normal selling price. At just $100,000 tooling, and 200 mainfolds, that's a $500 add-on to each. Personally I think 200 manifolds would be high.
If you are looking at carbon fiber, even hand laid up, you are talking part costs well into 4 figures per each, as well as maybe $5-10K of molds.
There is no where near the demand for LT1 intakes compared to LS engines by a factor of hundreds. That's why we don't see them. Hey, it's a great idea, but when they cost over $1000, you'll be lucky to sell a dozen.
Hey, maybe you are made of money and don't mind losing a ton of it. If that is the case, go for it, and offer the manifolds at the street price of a FAST. You'll lose a lot on each sale...but you can make it up in volume.
Last edited by SincalT/A; Oct 6, 2007 at 08:50 PM.
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 160
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We atleast want to see 15whp, otherwise I dont know if its worth it. Of course thats up to you LT1 guys since thats who we are making it for. As for price, I dont know. I would hate to see this go north of $500 but realisticly it just may. At first, we were just going to make 3. One for myself and 2 others for friends of ours with LT1 corvettes. We were going to just hand make the 3 out of aluminum so there was little expence. But after the strong showing of support for this idea, Someones just going to have to step up to the plate and build this thing.Yeah, it may cost a good bit, and we may take a loss, but personally I would rather lose money than respect any day of the week. Making a huge profit is last on the list. We just want to build something that works because I'll be using it as well. Hear that, Edelbrock?
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Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Decatur, TN (N-W of Athens)
We atleast want to see 15whp, otherwise I dont know if its worth it. Of course thats up to you LT1 guys since thats who we are making it for. As for price, I dont know. I would hate to see this go north of $500 but realisticly it just may. At first, we were just going to make 3. One for myself and 2 others for friends of ours with LT1 corvettes. We were going to just hand make the 3 out of aluminum so there was little expence. But after the strong showing of support for this idea, Someones just going to have to step up to the plate and build this thing.Yeah, it may cost a good bit, and we may take a loss, but personally I would rather lose money than respect any day of the week. Making a huge profit is last on the list. We just want to build something that works because I'll be using it as well. Hear that, Edelbrock?
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Verdad Gallardo TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,564
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From: Decatur, TN (N-W of Athens)
Well, it is true if you read what i say, if it is setup for both bolt patterns then you would sell allot more, you need the postion to habe a water cross over too. It is a good idea, the TPI boys would be happy as hell. I personally am sticking with a carb on my 89 but i found a holley commander 950 for my 95.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 521
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From: Spencerport, NY
We atleast want to see 15whp, otherwise I dont know if its worth it. Of course thats up to you LT1 guys since thats who we are making it for. As for price, I dont know. I would hate to see this go north of $500 but realisticly it just may. At first, we were just going to make 3. One for myself and 2 others for friends of ours with LT1 corvettes. We were going to just hand make the 3 out of aluminum so there was little expence. But after the strong showing of support for this idea, Someones just going to have to step up to the plate and build this thing.Yeah, it may cost a good bit, and we may take a loss, but personally I would rather lose money than respect any day of the week. Making a huge profit is last on the list. We just want to build something that works because I'll be using it as well. Hear that, Edelbrock?
Thats because of the cost of tooling and the molds, no one would ever make that money back or even come close to making a profit for making a plastic LTX intake. There just isn't a big enough market for it.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,265
Likes: 1
From: CHITOWN
Thats AWESOME MAN! I would buy one too! I also would be willing to bet there are enough people in the Fbody and corvette world that would buy one, especially if it performs well! And perhaps guys considering having a sheet metal intake made would have a second option that also could be a better bang for the buck! Like those on a tight budget.
plus us bbody guys also.
Well, it is true if you read what i say, if it is setup for both bolt patterns then you would sell allot more, you need the postion to habe a water cross over too. It is a good idea, the TPI boys would be happy as hell. I personally am sticking with a carb on my 89 but i found a holley commander 950 for my 95.
12 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 876
Likes: 0
From: Catlettsburg, Ky
plastic would be awesome, but if aluminum meant actually getting it in to production for a reasonable price, then do it that way.
more over PROVEN RESULTS are the major concern..
I'd buy one if you could show me a worth-while gain on a heads/cam car...
more over PROVEN RESULTS are the major concern..
I'd buy one if you could show me a worth-while gain on a heads/cam car...
