This forum has had multiple group buys proposed and successfully executed over the past three years. We've had multiple for John @ ESP and his high-quality traction bars, strut bars and now T-brackets. We've also had a very popular one with the guys at FFC with their billet rear LCAs. The most recent one we did was with Cheddas Auto and their rear top hats. That was fairly successful and with a very short time span relative to the others. Even a few members here were a part of the Vibrant header group buy that was organized on Facebook.
My point is that despite the waning popularity of these cars as a whole, something really cool has been happening. Years ago we would tell ourselves that we just had to weather the storm of idiots knowing that a day would come when the kids who bought these cars as junkers and wanted to throw coilovers and XXRs on them, would finally run them into the ground and move onto something else. Ever since the closure of the Facebook group, this forum's population has seemed to take on a new life as those of us who are truly dedicated to the chassis and those who are just starting, but doing so with some level of seriousness.
As there won't be any scenario for a large-scale company to generate any new products for this car with any expectation of making a profit, we'll have to turn to either universal parts or begin to make them ourselves. Each option requires creativity, but that's something we're likely not concerned with if we still have a '93 Accord in 2016.
So what I want to know is if anyone has any ideas or suggestions for parts that this chassis needs that we could send to some of these smaller fab shops to have made for us. We've proven that the market is there in the group buys and the market certainly isn't getting better for this car on its own. Let's come up with a few things we've been thinking about that you think might do well in a group buy setting.
I'll list some criteria for your response.
What do you want made?
What would the benefit be?
Would it be specific to this chassis, or would it be adaptable to others?
Would this be something the average consumer could afford?
Does anything on the market exist that functions similarly?
I'll give two examples for a couple of new things I'm thinking of.
I'd like an alternator bracket made that fits in the OEM location that fits a J-series alternator. I'd also like a TIG-welded airbox made similar to the ARC box that incorporates a catch can and coolant overflow.
What do you want made? I'd like an alternator bracket made that fits in the OEM location that fits a J-series alternator.
What would the benefit be? Ability to use an OEM-quality, low-priced, 140A alternator. Would also be lighter weight as well as an aesthetic improvement.
Would it be specific to this chassis, or would it be adaptable to others? It would be compatible with any F/H-series engine. You could also make it with two different bolt patterns so that it could be made to relocate the alternator or use in factory location.
Would this be something the average consumer could afford? Yes, easily. Innovative and ESP have already made alternator brackets affordable. Their offerings seem to have a larger market, but add $30 to the price tag to cover the smaller quantity and I think it's feasible.
Does anything on the market exist that functions similarly? There are some that relocate the alternator which allow for a lighter weight over the OEM bracket, however none of them will allow use of the J-series alternator.
What are you guys wanting made?
My point is that despite the waning popularity of these cars as a whole, something really cool has been happening. Years ago we would tell ourselves that we just had to weather the storm of idiots knowing that a day would come when the kids who bought these cars as junkers and wanted to throw coilovers and XXRs on them, would finally run them into the ground and move onto something else. Ever since the closure of the Facebook group, this forum's population has seemed to take on a new life as those of us who are truly dedicated to the chassis and those who are just starting, but doing so with some level of seriousness.
As there won't be any scenario for a large-scale company to generate any new products for this car with any expectation of making a profit, we'll have to turn to either universal parts or begin to make them ourselves. Each option requires creativity, but that's something we're likely not concerned with if we still have a '93 Accord in 2016.
So what I want to know is if anyone has any ideas or suggestions for parts that this chassis needs that we could send to some of these smaller fab shops to have made for us. We've proven that the market is there in the group buys and the market certainly isn't getting better for this car on its own. Let's come up with a few things we've been thinking about that you think might do well in a group buy setting.
I'll list some criteria for your response.
What do you want made?
What would the benefit be?
Would it be specific to this chassis, or would it be adaptable to others?
Would this be something the average consumer could afford?
Does anything on the market exist that functions similarly?
I'll give two examples for a couple of new things I'm thinking of.
I'd like an alternator bracket made that fits in the OEM location that fits a J-series alternator. I'd also like a TIG-welded airbox made similar to the ARC box that incorporates a catch can and coolant overflow.
What do you want made? I'd like an alternator bracket made that fits in the OEM location that fits a J-series alternator.
What would the benefit be? Ability to use an OEM-quality, low-priced, 140A alternator. Would also be lighter weight as well as an aesthetic improvement.
Would it be specific to this chassis, or would it be adaptable to others? It would be compatible with any F/H-series engine. You could also make it with two different bolt patterns so that it could be made to relocate the alternator or use in factory location.
Would this be something the average consumer could afford? Yes, easily. Innovative and ESP have already made alternator brackets affordable. Their offerings seem to have a larger market, but add $30 to the price tag to cover the smaller quantity and I think it's feasible.
Does anything on the market exist that functions similarly? There are some that relocate the alternator which allow for a lighter weight over the OEM bracket, however none of them will allow use of the J-series alternator.
What are you guys wanting made?
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