Brad's 1970 Challenger, living the dream! The evolution continues!

[brads70]

[IMNCARN82]

nice brad,ya metal beaver.           

[BIGSHCLUNK]

  

[Chryco Psycho]

 

[Topcat]

Ever thought about doing this full time making Mopar parts?   

[73440]

Nice work, I second that for selling items.
Is that thermostat housing one piece?
Just bought this billet timing pointer.$49 it is nice , hope it fits well.

http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/73440/slideshow/bilitt%20timing%20marker

[brads70]

Ever thought about doing this full time making Mopar parts?   

I used to do quite a bit for circle track racers, custom bike, hotrods etc.... the problem is to make any money production wise you really need  CNC machines. One of is fine with manual machines but  more than that CNC wins time wise. I've also noticed material costs have gone up quite a bit.  Just the power steering bracket cost me $30 in materials.Add in 3-4 hours labour ...... factor in equipment, electricity, tooling ( that wears out)  some endmills are say $100 easy.Carbide inserts for various tooling is super expensive too.  what would you be able to sell that bracket for? $100-150? When you do the math a burger flipper would make more.
I used to work in a mold shop making prototypes of various automotive parts and as a mold maker for 25 plus years.  I enjoyed that, machining , woodwork ( foundry patterns)  welding etc.... but technology has taken over those cool/fun jobs. I've become a dinosaur . Once in awhile  I can help someone out with something but it's more of a favour than a business venture. 
So once in awhile I get inspired to crank up some classic rock and let some chips fly building my own stuff! It's like therapy for me!
Member johns cuda shop does the same thing down in SC  I think we both have the same equipment.

[brads70]

Nice work, I second that for selling items.
Is that thermostat housing one piece?
Just bought this billet timing pointer.$49 it is nice , hope it fits well.

http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/73440/slideshow/bilitt%20timing%20marker

Looks nice! 
Thermostat housing is one piece with the tube added. I still need to tig weld it to finish it up.

[Chryco Psycho]

Well then it is time to buy a CNC 

[YellowThumper]

Very nice bracket setup there.
I hear ya on the need to make chips. I call it therapy.
I also am a mold maker for 30+ years now. But as the manufacturing world has changed I also do very little machining now. My build is to fill that need...
I get the same build them questions but low volume cost is indeed prohibitive.

Nice to still see the old school stuff still in use. My crank trigger setup.

[wantone]

nice brad,ya metal beaver.           

He makes metal look like play-doh'

[brads70]

Well then it is time to buy a CNC 

That would be cost prohibitive..... at least 100k and up.....

[brads70]

Very nice bracket setup there.
I hear ya on the need to make chips. I call it therapy.
I also am a mold maker for 30+ years now. But as the manufacturing world has changed I also do very little machining now. My build is to fill that need...
I get the same build them questions but low volume cost is indeed prohibitive.

Nice to still see the old school stuff still in use. My crank trigger setup.

Cool stuff . I feel the same way ( therapy) No such thing as "can't" or " won't fit"    I have a bunch of old school equipment here in the garage, dividing head etc..... funny most " newbies" have no idea what it is let alone how to use it. CNC is much quicker but it's still fun to "tinker"  I used to run a mill equipped with acu-rite millpwr and loved it .It's like a "semi"2D CNC real easy to run. I've looked at used ones but just can't justify the cost. If I ever win a lottery I'll have one though!    I don't know about your neck of the woods but around here mold makers are just not in demand and any remaining jobs pay very little. 

[HP2]

I've also noticed material costs have gone up quite a bit.  Just the power steering bracket cost me $30 in materials.Add in 3-4 hours labour ...... factor in equipment, electricity, tooling ( that wears out)  some endmills are say $100 easy.Carbide inserts for various tooling is super expensive too.  what would you be able to sell that bracket for? $100-150? When you do the math a burger flipper would make more.
 

Exactly. 4 hours at $90 an hour burdened shop rate, plus materials, plus mark up...is anyone willing to pay $800 for these bracket?, because that is where the numbers would add up for retail sale.

Otherwise, very nice work.

[EB3-GranCoupe]

Cool stuff!