Re-chromed rotor housings
#102
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Just have to pick up a fitting today and we've got everything we need to start our pre-trials!
We'll get on it next week and see how everything works out.
Will update again soon
We'll get on it next week and see how everything works out.
Will update again soon
#103
Rotary Enthusiast
I'm very much looking forward to seeing progress on this.
I would be a buyer for sure at $250 per housing as this is in line with normal machining costs for rebuilding a typical piston engine. Until this point, rotary rebuilds always seemed like a bargain because there was virtually no machining costs in an average rebuild.
By my estimations, if you were to continue to offer this service at $250 per housing, the average builder would be able to put together a 13B with machined housings, lapped irons and all internal seals replaced at around the $2500 mark (cost, not retail price). This may seem high to the people that have been around, but for a rebuilt engine that is properly machined that price is equal to what it would cost to machine and rebuild your average performance piston engine, and in some cases less.
I'll be following your progress as I am interested in being an early adoptor of this. This really has the potential to save the hobby from housing scarcity.
I would be a buyer for sure at $250 per housing as this is in line with normal machining costs for rebuilding a typical piston engine. Until this point, rotary rebuilds always seemed like a bargain because there was virtually no machining costs in an average rebuild.
By my estimations, if you were to continue to offer this service at $250 per housing, the average builder would be able to put together a 13B with machined housings, lapped irons and all internal seals replaced at around the $2500 mark (cost, not retail price). This may seem high to the people that have been around, but for a rebuilt engine that is properly machined that price is equal to what it would cost to machine and rebuild your average performance piston engine, and in some cases less.
I'll be following your progress as I am interested in being an early adoptor of this. This really has the potential to save the hobby from housing scarcity.
#104
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^^ We will not be selling them at $250, that was a special price to get some out there if anyone wanted them immediately. I was offering them at a loss but guess what.......no one was serious and took me up on it.
As I have said before we are aiming at half of new but there is no guarantee of that
As I have said before we are aiming at half of new but there is no guarantee of that
#105
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Ooof, that's going to be a tough sell.
If we're talking $800-$900 a pair, then spending the extra $900 to just get brand new Mazda OEM housings becomes a much more attractive prospect.
So, from a cost perspective as a builder here's what I'm seeing for actual engine build costs assuming irons are within spec and can be machined:
Rebuilt 13B, used housings ~$2000
Rebuilt 13B, re-chromed housings $~3000
Rebuilt 13B, New Mazda Housings $~4000
While I can see where there is some value in this product, at that price point the fact is that using new OEM housings only represents a ~20% increase in total build cost over the re-chromed housings. For customers spending that kind of money the extra ~$900 to go Mazda OEM is negligible in the overall price of the rebuild. When you take into the account the uncertainty of this new product compared to the known quality of OEM housings I'm not really seeing the marketability. I think to see any sort of volume sales you're going to have to come in at 33% of Mazda's pricing at most.
This is all of course just my opinion as a small volume builder. At $450-$500 a piece for this service it wouldn't even be worth my time to offer it to customers or even use it in my own rebuilds once you factor in the extra time and shipping costs involved compared to just buying new housings.
I still wish you the best of luck and will watch this thread for updates!
Fine print: $900 per housing is high estimate used. Some models such as S4 Turbos have housings as low as $700 new where S6 Housings run into the $900 range.
If we're talking $800-$900 a pair, then spending the extra $900 to just get brand new Mazda OEM housings becomes a much more attractive prospect.
So, from a cost perspective as a builder here's what I'm seeing for actual engine build costs assuming irons are within spec and can be machined:
Rebuilt 13B, used housings ~$2000
Rebuilt 13B, re-chromed housings $~3000
Rebuilt 13B, New Mazda Housings $~4000
While I can see where there is some value in this product, at that price point the fact is that using new OEM housings only represents a ~20% increase in total build cost over the re-chromed housings. For customers spending that kind of money the extra ~$900 to go Mazda OEM is negligible in the overall price of the rebuild. When you take into the account the uncertainty of this new product compared to the known quality of OEM housings I'm not really seeing the marketability. I think to see any sort of volume sales you're going to have to come in at 33% of Mazda's pricing at most.
This is all of course just my opinion as a small volume builder. At $450-$500 a piece for this service it wouldn't even be worth my time to offer it to customers or even use it in my own rebuilds once you factor in the extra time and shipping costs involved compared to just buying new housings.
I still wish you the best of luck and will watch this thread for updates!
Fine print: $900 per housing is high estimate used. Some models such as S4 Turbos have housings as low as $700 new where S6 Housings run into the $900 range.
#108
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Half the price is half the price no matter how you slice it and I think is very reasonable as a refurbished item. Saving $1000 per build is nothing to scoff at that's for sure.
It won't be long until Mazda's stock is depleted. Then what do I charge?
It won't be long until Mazda's stock is depleted. Then what do I charge?
#113
I wish I was driving!
#115
Rotary Enthusiast
As of right now I'm still able to get any series OEM housing brand new and have purchased S6 housings as recent as May of this year.
From the pricing standpoint, for 50% the cost of an OEM housing, your product needs to be at least 50% as good (durable, etc) as an OEM housing. Is it? I don't know. Maybe we will know after we get some housings in a car for a few years of use. I truly hope it happens for you as I do want to see this product succeed.
Keep in mind you also do have competition as J.H.B performance is doing refurbishing with Cermet products starting at $350 each which is rougly 40% cost of new OEM.
#116
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The JHB housings for that price are clear out with blemishes or one off with problems. If you wanted a cermet x housing you'd be lucky to get it for $850 wholesale. If you could even get it
We have 2 re-chromed housings in 2 different vehicles for 5+ years. Neither have been back to Rob for any reason.
We have 2 re-chromed housings in 2 different vehicles for 5+ years. Neither have been back to Rob for any reason.
#118
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Chris's engine is running superb.i just talked to him a couple of days ago.i think he has a few thousand miles on it now.he drives it for work every day.i would guess 100 or so miles a day.
#119
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Do you have different customers running different types of seals? It's entirely possible that in some situations with your new coating non Mazda seals may perform better or worse so it would be great to get all the data on which seals work best with your specific chroming under real world conditions.
I just picked up a Turbo II shell for a personal build ... I think I might be willing to take you up on giving these a try in the near future. Perhaps I'll use one "resurfaced" and one "rechromed" housing and see how they compare. Now I have to begin the hunt for a decent core as I'm fresh out of good T2 rotors and short a rear housing. I'd love to talk in more detail once I can source a cheap core that I don't mind destroying and see the results of compression tests over long term use that you have so far.
#123
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I'm extremely happy to report that we are finished!
I'll be taking the 2 FD housings SFD01 and SFD02 on Monday to get chromed next week.
Of course pics will be posted as soon as they are done.
Happy Trails!
I'll be taking the 2 FD housings SFD01 and SFD02 on Monday to get chromed next week.
Of course pics will be posted as soon as they are done.
Happy Trails!