Any Interest in RallyBob Fabricated Parts?

[RallyBob]

Some thoughts

underdrive crank pulley with a means to mount a toothed wheel

Travis, I took a pic of a pulley I drilled and mounted a toothed wheel to for an Electromotive crank trigger (Nissan SR20). I just layed the holes out, drilled and tapped the pulley, bolted the trigger to it, and then brought it to the local auto machine shop where I ground the OD of the trigger wheel on a crank grinder to true it.

[opelenvy]

I agree with a bunch of the ideas that are already being tossed around.
(EFI, LSD, shackels, engine kits, intakes, etc.) Here a few that haven't been talked about yet.
-How about a bolt-on oil cooler kit?
-A bolt-on seat adapter kit (GT) so one could pick up a pair of say, Miata seats, and slap them in. Or even some off the shelf seats that are available from some of these performance houses.
Though I realize it not always practical, I think "bolt-on" (or PnP ) stuff will reach the largest audience. People are lazy. Well, I am.
Glad to see you doing this, Bob.

[RallyBob]

-How about a bolt-on oil cooler kit?

Too many variables. GT, Manta, Ascona and Kadett would all require different mountings. What size cooler? Depends on engine size, environment (street, racing), and locale. What size oil lines and what material? Remote filter? Thermostat or not? I'd have to offer 15 different kits, so this is not practical.
And again, I would be buying parts at retail prices and just reselling them at a higher price. Anyone can do this themselves really, and certainly for less money.

-A bolt-on seat adapter kit (GT) so one could pick up a pair of say, Miata seats, and slap them in

I'd like to stay away from creature comfort items such as this. I think my niche is going to be performance enhancing items.

I'm not trying to shoot these things down, I just need to concentrate on one format rather than spread myself too thin by covering too much ground.

Bob

[BQS4]

George;
I just picked one of those (oil coolers) up. It's used, but, it was in a Manta that was raced. A friend had the Manta just sitting at his shop. It's being slowly stripped for parts. I was bringing him a few items to sell, and ended up trading for it. But, you can find them on the German Ebay quite often.
Gene

[RallyBob]

George;
I just picked one of those (oil coolers) up. It's used, but, it was in a Manta that was raced. A friend had the Manta just sitting at his shop. It's being slowly stripped for parts. I was bringing him a few items to sell, and ended up trading for it. But, you can find them on the German Ebay quite often.
Gene

Gene, you really should have that cooler ultrasonically cleaned. Any used cooler is suspect, but a racing cooler can easily have metal and debris stuck in the passages from the previous engine which can be released into your engine after a few hot/cold cycles. In fact it's common practice in the racing community to throw away any cooler and lines that have been in use during an engine failure.

Just a warning!

Bob

[opelenvy]

George;
I just picked one of those (oil coolers) up. It's used, but, it was in a Manta that was raced. A friend had the Manta just sitting at his shop. It's being slowly stripped for parts. I was bringing him a few items to sell, and ended up trading for it. But, you can find them on the German Ebay quite often.
Gene

I have been working with Martin Reimer and he is helping me set one up for my GT. I was just saying it would be a good idea.
I thought it would be more universal.
No biggy.

[opelenvy]

I'm not trying to shoot these things down, I just need to concentrate on one format rather than spread myself too thin by covering too much ground.

Bob

Bob, no offense taken. We are all just brain storming here. I figured you were concentrating more on "performance items" And I have seen some great ideas. I just wanted to throw out some stuff.
I guess this thread could spawn a list of "Things we would like to see available for our Opels".
Heck, maybe someone else in the group will see something that they want to make up a batch.
I know that all the parts for the oil cooler are readily available for everyone to buy. It's just nice to get a "kit".
Marty has told me I need to get this here and that there, and this thing you have to call this place...
I haven't done it yet...needless to say.
Keep the ideas coming folks.

[BQS4]

Bob;
Trust me it will cleaned 6-ways from Sunday, as we say down here, I was just mentioning that rather than you (Bob) trying to make 15 different kits, that you (everyone that wants one) can find one fairly easy. As in my case, I knew from the start it'd have to be cleaned. I'm also going to hunt down one of those little tools that help straighten the cooling fins.

[cherokee]

Keep us posted on how things are going. There are a couple of items on the list of "do-able" items that I would order today.

I wished I lived in your neck of the woods...I would pay for your expertise in a hot minute.

[namba209 (R.I.P.)]

A little off topic, kinda, but, Gene if you find one of those radiator combs, you know, one of those little thingies to straighten out the fins, if you would be so kind as to get two of them. I would be more than happy to forward the coins for purchase and shipping. I hit every one of the parts stores within 20 miles and there are none to be had so far. As far as cleaning out an oil cooler, a suggestion, use a submersible aquarium pump and put it in a container of Marine Clean and let it run/cycle over night, using the pump to push the cleaner through the core and dump back into the container. The Marine Clean is water soluble and is so strong straight from the bottle it will pull the oils from your skin, and probably some skin with it. I guess that's why they recommend dilution of up to 10:1. Good stuff, too.

[RallyBob]

A little off topic, kinda, but, Gene if you find one of those radiator combs, you know, one of those little thingies to straighten out the fins, if you would be so kind as to get two of them.

Ron, I believe The Eastwood Company still sells a plastic radiator comb.

HTH,
Bob

[RallyBob]

Yup Ron, they still offer the rake and pliers.

http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/p...yword=radiator

HTH,
Bob

[chris]

Bob, How about a bump steer kit for a lowered GT similar to the kits that are sold for mustangs. They have a tapered stud with different size spacers and rod ends.

[T-6 driver]

Bob,
How 'bout an ecotec conversion kit, or CD rom? when looking at the cost of overhauling you motor, or putting a low mileage ecotec, the costs might be similar. If you are interested, I'd buy 2, one for you, and one for my gt. let us know.

neal

[namba209 (R.I.P.)]

Thanx, Bob, I checked out the site. I don't really need the pliers, I've needle nose pliers x 4, I checked the next product a couple of times and found just the rakes, 2 different sizes for right at $11 a piece and that will do me just fine. Now my AC condensor will look spiffy on the outside/front as the new 3-row radiator will look on the inside. Appreciate the link.

[Wolf Spyder]

Simple if you have vacuum-forming equipment! Actually, I just remembered there's a business out there that will make small runs of pillar pods if you give them a prototype to make a mold from. ABS plastic IIRC....
I'll do some research into that.

Yes, many times I've considerd writing a book, to the point of having started writing one numerous times. Problem is, by the time I got to the end of it, the stuff I wrote in the beginning is already old news. And yes the market is very small for this sort of thing, so it would never get published. At best a CD version or pdf version could be made, more likely a zerox machine version...

Maybe instructional videos instead....easier to stay up to date!

Bob

In todays world a CD-ROM or DVD is cheeper and the up dated could be done via an on-line service for the CD-ROM. For that matter set up you own web server with the "videos" and sell subcriptions!!

[madhatterpdc]

...set up your own web server...

Ahem, I can help here. Bob, if this is at all interesting to you, mention it to Gregg.

[oldopelguy]

Things I would like myself from the crafty hands of Bob:
-Timing chain cover modified for the oil cooler lines and remote filter (just like the one currently under your work bench)
-modified oil pan, based on the core I would send you, with a larger sump fabricated in it by kicking it out to the driver's side a bit (would require aluminum welding, which I'm terrible at, as the oil pan I modified myself leaks terribly)
-Solid mounting straps for the Kadett and GT steering racks (get a proper suspension upgrade started off easily and quickly)
-Lower control arms with Chrysler ball joint sockets welded in already (I'd send you mine, and tell you how much lower I wanted the set-up to be, etc...)
-Weber carb "box" to allow for "blow through" turbo applications similar to the Vortech one available for 4-bbl carbs. (The whole carb is enclosed in a box, and the box is pressurized by the turbo, after an intercooler.) Alternatly, a Weber carb suitably modified to work under boost would work as well. (I think the box would be a lot easier, though.)
-Fabricated aluminum oil catch cans/ breather tanks made to fit right into our cars, ideally a dual chamber one to catch oil and coolant that sits high on the fenderwell out of the way, along with a modified valve cover or head side cover to hook up the oil breather and the required hose(s).
-Weber carb "hats" to allow them to hook up properly for once to a stock GT air filter

Just some ideas of mine.

I also want to take this opportunity to test the waters for my own Opel fabrication project. I started looking into making a "kit" to properly install a GM alternator, including the required wiring plugs and such, and the project sort of grew into a real mess. The end result is that I hope to be offering a "kit" that includes the mounting brackets for a GM alternator, and a wiring harness with pre-terminated ends (plug and play, if you will) to do the following:

-Wire the alternator properly, including the voltage sensing line
-Equips the car with a starter relay to help save the ignition switch
-Provide correct wiring for a Pertronics unit
-Provide the required wiring for an electric choke if required
-Fuse the headlights and their associated wiring
-Provide a fused oil pump relay that shuts off on no oil pressure
-Provides a fused relay for a set of fog lights, hooked up to the factory switch if equipped
-Provides the option of a remotely located "starter-kill" switch to keep the car from starting
-Possibly provides a cranking push button under the hood for turning over the motor from the engine bay (still not sure about that)
- A 4 slot fuse box and all the relays will mount in the engine compartment to the holes currently drilled for mounting the voltage regulator, so no additional holes there, and the whole kit will have it's own taped or laced wiring loom that installs in the car along side the factory wiring.

This is being designed for a GT, which I don't have. That means the lead time may be a couple of months off, as I will need some product testing for fitment and instruction review before I sell anything. I expect the final price to be in the $100-125 range, but I'm hoping some of you would be willing to pay that much to do all of the "normal" upgrades all at once in an afternoon.

Any interest? PM me or we'll get Keith or Gary to split this off into it's own thread.

[madhatterpdc]

I also want to take this opportunity to test the waters for my own Opel fabrication project. I started looking into making a "kit" to properly install a GM alternator, including the required wiring plugs and such, and the project sort of grew into a real mess. The end result is that I hope to be offering a "kit" that includes the mounting brackets for a GM alternator, and a wiring harness with pre-terminated ends (plug and play, if you will) to do the following:

-Wire the alternator properly, including the voltage sensing line
-Equips the car with a starter relay to help save the ignition switch
-Provide correct wiring for a Pertronics unit
-Provide the required wiring for an electric choke if required
-Fuse the headlights and their associated wiring
-Provide a fused oil pump relay that shuts off on no oil pressure
-Provides a fused relay for a set of fog lights, hooked up to the factory switch if equipped
-Provides the option of a remotely located "starter-kill" switch to keep the car from starting
-Possibly provides a cranking push button under the hood for turning over the motor from the engine bay (still not sure about that)
- A 4 slot fuse box and all the relays will mount in the engine compartment to the holes currently drilled for mounting the voltage regulator, so no additional holes there, and the whole kit will have it's own taped or laced wiring loom that installs in the car along side the factory wiring.

This sounds like a good idea, I'm interested. However, I think that you may want to make some of your additional features optional or delete entirely. It seems as though it may not be worth your time to include, for example, wiring for an electronic choke to customers that are using an aqua or manual choke. My rookie opinion thinks that the less you try to incorporate into this project the more likely you are to enjoy doing it. Less mess, fewer customers expecting more *and* less.

Bracket, Alternator, pulley and simple wiring, done. That to me is worth it. Then MAYBE add one or two simple circuits that would apply to all cars. Examples, fused headlights, starter relay.

[jerseyopel]

I would personally leave out the push button remote under the hood switch just for liability issues alone. Did you ever see anyone wire one, leave the car in gear, and hit that button while leaning over the fender?? Saw my uncle do it and wound up laying across the engine with the hood closed on him. JMTC