Mik_m666

Bit of background first, I own/run a remotely operated vehicle company and as such have access to some fairly decent engineering equipment. Some of which we use on a fairly regular basis to re-manufacture/reverse engineer components, parts can then be essentially converted into editable CAD models and as such sent out for manufacture or manufactured in house.

Now, the interesting part... Having got to grips with the tech and having a network of not only our own engineering workshops, but also a large amount of sub-contractors I'm starting to look at other uses for the equipment.

My question to you is... If you could have any rare/desirable/obsolete parts re-engineered and released again for sale... what would they be???

We can scan anything from an M1 nut, right up to cars/aircraft, so body components etc are a possibility, but fibreglass isn't one of our current consumables for decent/sensible manufacturing costs.

P.s. Hello everyone - Red Blobeye owner Doesn't go down well at meetings etc

Codders

iTrader: (5)

Prodrive diff guard comes to mind...

big_rob_sydney

If you can knock out replacement bits for 22B's, you'd have a good shot at making some decent money, I would have thought. The rear arches in particular are very expensive, but almost anything for that car is over the top.

Not only that, a lot of Type R owners might be tempted, because a lot of the fibreglass kits, which look good in the early days, will wind up looking pretty crap once it all starts to unravel. If you can sort out some metal components (not just the rear, but front as well), you could have a very enticing kit to sell.

Just a suggestion.

Steve001

iTrader: (7)

Before you go fully into this I would consider any patent/copyright infringements. Just a thought

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

And paying to be a trader.

yabbadoo4

iTrader: (8)

rear arch sections and sills.

Mik_m666

Yes, it can be a mine-field, although a lot of re-engineering is so in-depth that you would actually end up with your own model/intellectual property, which probably will differ from the OEM's in some way/shape/or form, especially given engineering tolerances, wear rates etc.

Certainly this is less of an issue in some other areas of the business - hand made Aston Panels, heritage race car components, etc, as the suppliers may have ceased to exist or there is in fact no tooling to replicate from.

But yes, I'd imagine if someone was to completely reverse engineer say a sequential box, there would certainly be more of a case for patents/copyright infringement (if they are in place).

Mik_m666

Thanks for that... As you can see I haven't actually posted anything for sale at the moment, I was simply floating an idea to the forum.

JGlanzaV

iTrader: (3)

Don't worry CDF post way more stuff about their products on here and don't pay. They actually have products to sell too unlike you who doesn't even have anything to sell!

Pro drive diff guards, rear panels, anything 22b, braces etc,

You could make a good little business out of it, copying stupidly expensive parts such as beatrush and the such what's. ...

joe v3sti

iTrader: (8)

^^^^ never understood all the excitement about beatrush...

banny sti

iTrader: (68)

They look fancy Joe, other stuff works just as well without the price tag

joe v3sti

iTrader: (8)

Fair enough banny I'll take that , in all fairness the diff brace looks good. Non the less I'll still be making my own!

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

No problem. An interesting first post though.

jazzyjembreaze

iTrader: (11)

Custom brake cooling ducts , various under braces , fuel cells , fire walls , foot well box enclosures , custom intercooler pipe work set ups for many applications , skid plates , diff & gearbox guards , inner wing braces / etc etc
All would have to be cost effective
For you to manufacture sell + make profit
Customer to pay less than what's out there / but also feel confident your product was reliable & value for money

Regards mic

GH80

I was after a group A full exhaust system from the works 1995 Impreza, made to fit an 05 Sti - although its just a "pipe" dream. Would love to re-create that noise, best sounding car ever IMO.

joe v3sti

iTrader: (8)

Lot more to that noise than the exhaust system matey

GH80

its a start! but alas I am only dreaming

Nismoboy

iTrader: (2)

big disc conversion kit would be nice for the brembo setup on the newage cars
350mm front discs and caliper brackets to suit stock brembo calipers complete with hardware ready to bolt on. Please lol. And...

A redesigned inlet manifold which doesn't cover the turbo and allows a much better flowing turbo Inlet pipe to be used.

If you could get these into production ASAP many thanks lol.

Mik_m666

Things like intercooler pipework, ducting, fuel cells etc are all 'fairly' easy to fabricate, so I can't imagine it would be cost effective versus the amount of small fab shops and ebay parts sellers pumping stuff out into the market.

Proper bracketry for brake conversions, some of the trick inlet dimensions etc would be of more value, although probably to less people given the application.

All interesting stuff though guys! Lots of interest in wheel centre caps from the VW boys and JDM split rim centres etc.

jazzyjembreaze

iTrader: (11)

The only place your goin to get brake cooling ducts wich are tailored to a individual model
Is in the USA , Japan parts or WRC spares , & belive me , they ain't cheap ... So your wrong about loads of fab shops churning out , ... Do some homework , check out Japan parts or WRC spares , as for split rims on a Subaru / well .... I'll leave it at that

Mik_m666

Hi, I never said there were loads of fab shops churning them out, I said that they would be fairly easy to fabricate, prices change according to the amounts ordered on a production run, so clearly the more popular/standard the item, like fuel cells and intercooler piping, the cheaper they are.

Items that are more niche will of course have a higher price due to limited production.

Split rims aren't just aimed at Subaru market, plenty of other vehicles out there that run expensive wheel set-ups, VW/Drift guys etc etc.

Ash Webster

this

Norman Dog

iTrader: (1)

Get some pics up, I used to own a red blob and I'm not a million miles away from you either.

Mik_m666

Any excuse to ***** out a shiny pic...

Norman Dog

iTrader: (1)

Looks good.